Pessimism reigns by Georgia fans about Florida game (video added)
Mark Richt and Dogs beat Florida last season but they're underdogs this year. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Remember how high optimism was about Georgia football before this season? Well, that seems to have eroded.
The recent loss to South Carolina, several unimpressive victories – including the latest win at Kentucky — and a perceived talent-loaded defense that hasn’t nearly lived up to expectations has led to many Georgia fans expecting the worst when the Bulldogs face Florida in Jacksonville next Saturday.
Loading ...How do I know this? Because when I relayed via Twitter that Florida was anywhere from a 3½ to 4½ point favorite at most sportsbooks, the responses could all be reduced down to these three words: “Is that all?”
In fact, as I type this, I have yet to find a reader who would take that bet (Georgia plus the points).
Georgia is 3-8 against Florida under Mark Richt, including last year’s win. But Florida is 7-0, ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings and destroyed South Carolina 44-11.
On Betonline.com, the Gators opened as 3½ point favorites, the line dropped to 3, then went up to 4½. Vegasinsider.com lists the consensus line at 3.5. The Las Vegas Wynn opened with Florida at 4½ and it went up to 5.
Here is the early feedback on the point spread. Feel feel to weigh in below with your thoughts and I’ve put up a simple poll question: Does Georgia win or lose?
Your responses on Twitter
• “That ain’t enough Jeff. It should be at least 7.5.” — @pierceoutlaw
• “If I was going to bet, I’d bet on Fla.” — @wrigmuff
• “Should be 21.” — @johnarwinhart
• “Should be 7 or 8 or 21.” — @therealclutch
• “I’ll take Florida up to 10. Amazing how far we have fallen from preseason hopes.” — @wwatl34
• “Smart money on UF” — @CharlesMcCollum
• “I’d say it should be 10 points.” — @rwsportscards
• “They know something we don’t I reckon.” — @J_T_Hoffman
• “I’ll take Florida up to -6.5.” — @Tony Mission
• “Way too low for me. We had trouble run-blocking Kentucky last night and stopping their backs. Florida far superior to UK.” — @RedDevilDawg
• “Depends on if the determined to prove themselves Dawgs show up or the i’m down with whatever the hype says Dawgs show up!” — @GeorgiaGunOwner
• “I agree. I’d say gators by 10. I’m a Dawg fan. Hoping for the best but expecting the worst like most Cocktail Party endings.” — @NikkiFree
• “How often are the guys in and around Vegas are wrong? Personally, I do think it is low.” — @vsu96sdd
• “Surprised it’s not 14.” — @jltdawg
• “If we only lose by 4.5 I’ll be very happy. Another SC performance and its time for a change.” — @bulletstheman
• “Could be that Vegas still doesn’t know what to make of the Florida offense and their inconsistent play.” — @DavidMaldridge
• “If UGA can avoid costly turnovers, they should be able to keep it close.” — @MattBankston
• “UGA grad here and I’d have the line at least 7.5.” — @VinylmationKing
• “Umm have you been watching this year?” — @ChandlerRDB
• “When we beat Kentucky by just 5 points, we know we are going to get blown out in Jacksonville.” — @TylerBurgess
• “Really surprised it’s not at least a touchdown. I thought 10 or so.” — @jbcincy512
• “Dogs will be crushed like a bug by the gators.” — @rbray1
• “Good for the Dawgs. Vegas is dangling that small spread so people will jump on FL.” — @TheJoeyBrowning
• “Sadly, with how unfocused/underperforming Dawgs are this year, 2012 game has 2008 potential. Grantham sold us a Monorail.” — @SideshowRhett
• “Should be gators by 14.5 the way the dawgs defense has been playing. #fromadawgfantoo” — @Zack_H_Martin
• “The spread is way too low. There is no indication the game will be that close. And that is coming from Dawg fan.” — @MarlerMedia
• “Jeff I’m a dog fan and I just put 1500 on Florida, what is Vegas thinking, did they see Kentucky and Carolina game, d is bad” — @ParrishV
• “About 10 pts to low…uga fan here” — @MattAnthem
• “I think Florida should be -7 but Vegas wants people to bet both sides of that -4.5. #godawgs” — @KoodenAaron
• “UGA fan here. I would’ve guessed Fla -6.5. Wouldn’t take the dawgs at +7.” — @Hookey12
• ” What’s the over/under? I think it needs to be 7.5, but I could see them winning 42-35. They will hang 35+ on our D.” — @Litigatingdawg
• “It’ll be bet up closer to -4.5 or 5 by Saturday.” — @ParrishWalton
• “Casinos are smart & in the business of making money. They made the line low so people will bet on #UGA, the sure loser.” — @UGABugKiller
• “I had it around -9 for florida. UGA’s d can’t stop anyone. Only solid Defensive effort was vs Vandy.” — @JDB426
• “Uneven stats/score from SC game have obscured public projections for UF. I think -5 is the max line.” — @RittyRich
• “Florida should be a 13.5 point fav” — @BostonDawgsfan
• “I was thinking AT LEAST 14″ — @GillmanD
• “Mentality of GA fans is perplexing. Most pessimistic I can ever remember, even under Goff.” — @TrevinB
OK, we have our first Tweeter who takes Georgia:
• “I hope you didn’t have me confused. I’ll take that line.” — @Mitchelldavenpo
By Jeff Schultz
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624 comments Add your comment
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 22nd, 2012
9:55 am
Thomas Brown
Yea I saw Brainiac briefly last week and asked him 3 times what happened against SC with no response
Altamaha Dawg pops in once in a while but doesnt have much to say right now since once again my pre-season predictions came true again
oh
I hope we see DawginLex he was probably the one who got me banned on Chips blog since I gave him a dose of reality after he posted some stupid article about how UGA will win out and win the NC; he then preceded to call me names as usual but Im the one being banned
gdawginkalamzoo
October 22nd, 2012
9:55 am
Win this and Richt and the Dawgs get a huge repreive from the grief they constantly face. Regarding the Kentucky game, I think we call it “taking care of business” when we go out and destroy a 1-6 team by four touchdowns in the week prior to the Florida game. A confidence booster too. Unfortunately that didn’t happen so we have no idea where this team is at. Were we saving the running game for Florida? Was our defense preparing for Florida all week and wlaked through the Kentucky game? Who knows? I do know that this is the biggest game for Coach Richt and Aaron Murray that they will have in their careers. Win this and the goals for the year are indeed intact. Win this and the year is validated. Well here’s to hoping.
Dizzy
October 22nd, 2012
9:57 am
We beat Muschamp last year.
Muschamp is 0-1 vs. Richt.
Muschamp is ALWAYS on the losign team in the Florida-UGA game
As player or coach
LOSER.
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
9:58 am
Mark Richt hasn’t beat Florida ?
Mark Richt still hasn’t beat Alabama either.
We beat Alabama when they won 4 games all season. That doesn’t count.
kingdaddy picked on Alabama for losing to Louisiana Monroe. We beat Alabama that same year. That doesn’t count, according to kingdaddy. They were 7-6 and Mark Richt beat Alabama ? Hardly.
The other win Mark Richt has is in 2002. Perhaps you remember 2002 ? The only other SEC team to make the Coaches’ Poll Top 25 in 2002 was 4-Loss Auburn 2002. Mark Richt beat Alabama while they were on probation and did not make the AP Poll Top 10 and like I say didn’t make the Coaches’ Poll Top 25. That win may count; but, there is the 31 to nothing half-time LOST GAME in 2008 which is the most recent and the one against Nick Saban, whom Mark Richt has a LOSING RECORD to.
_______________________________________
16 losses last 18 games vs teams making top 25
14 losses last 17 games vs teams making top 10
_______________________________________
Mark Richt has damn few real wins and a hell of a lot of losses to the top teams, doesn’t he ?
LawDawg
October 22nd, 2012
9:58 am
This is the definitive guide for making a team with JUCO of 1AA-level talent look like worldbeaters against UGA.
How to hang points on UGA (also known as what every team has done):
1) Run up the middle, let 9 and 52 get late tackles. Consistent 6-26 yard gains.
2) Wait for safeties to play in the box
3) Run a simple cross route
4) Look for whoever 19 is covering.
5) Throw a TD to a wide open WR.
6) Put up 14 points before everyone wakes up and realizes football is happening.
How to stop UGA from scoring:
1) Make sure that UGA has not managed to import an OL from a different team.
2) Push all the OL off the ball with a 4-man rush. There is a good chance at this point that at least 2 of 3 of the OT and C are now either on their back, or way out of position to have any effect.
3) Tackle the RB or QB.
4) Repeat.
Predictor
October 22nd, 2012
10:01 am
Voters in the SEC region have voted Georgia up in the polls to benefit Florida’s SOS. Alabama and Florida are the NC contenders in the SEC. LSU is the dark horse. MSU is a pretender, and Georgia isn’t even that much. Dawgs are paper tigers pumped up in the polls via wins over cream-puffs.
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
10:01 am
Florida in 2011 is a 7-6 team in Will Muschamps 1st season. That’s a great win by Mark Richt ?
No, it’s not.
Of the 7 “wins” by Florida 2011, not 1 – none – nada, were against teams who made a wining record.
BigJim
October 22nd, 2012
10:04 am
Mark Richt is 2-15 against ranked teams, since 2009! PITIFUL!!!
BigJim
October 22nd, 2012
10:04 am
The entire coaching staff should be shown the door!
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
10:06 am
Oh, Florida won their bowl game 2011 ?
Excuse me, Florida beat 6-7 Ohio State in 2011 in their bowl game 2011.
That doesn’t count.
Anything can happen crowd brags you don’t make the schedule, you just play the games. Such pitiful excuses shoved back down their own throats when the same measure is used for a Florida 2011 team who could only beat teams with LOSING RECORDS.
Florida win by Mark Richt does NOT count 2011.
Look, numskulls, you are attempting to refute :
16 losses last 18 games vs teams making top 25
14 losses last 17 games vs teams making top 10
You don’t refute that by saying Mark Richt beat Florida 2011.
Or Alabama in 2007 or 2003.
Or, any of the other hogwash about Mark Richt winning all these games BS
dawgfacedboy
October 22nd, 2012
10:11 am
4 wins in 20 years and a glaring disparity in how the teams have looked up until this point in the season and I’m supposed to be confident in the Dawgs on Saturday? I think not.
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
10:11 am
“Dawgs are paper tigers pumped up in the polls via wins over cream-puffs.”
Actually, Predictor, Georgia is ranked pre-season # 6 because voters look at the # 108 Strength of Schedule and say Georgia loses at most 2 games 2012. The facts are all our games all 2012 season long are 25-40 on the season. # 108 SoS. That’s why we’re ranked high. It’s why Boise state college gets ranked high. It’s why Oregon is ranked high this season, too. This is one of the methods voters use to determine their rankings. Look at the schedule. Figure out who they might lose to. Come up with a record. Rank the records.
Still leaves us with :
16 losses last 18 games vs teams making top 25
14 losses last 17 games vs teams making top 10
Let’s say Mark Richt beats Florida. Those numbers going to look better ?
No.
Tide Risi
October 22nd, 2012
10:12 am
Enter your comments here
Tide Rising
October 22nd, 2012
10:13 am
Dawgs dont have a chance.
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
10:16 am
______________________________________________________
“Look for whoever 19 is covering. Throw a TD to a wide open WR.”
______________________________________________________
It doesn’t matter who is supposed to cover their wide receivers; they all get burned. I said pre-season that our secondary SUCKS.
Guess what ?
Now, everyone is saying it.
Do I get any credit for that ?
Nope.
I also said pre-season 12-2 or 11-2 and we would not have beat anyone.
Do I get any credit for that ?
No.
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 22nd, 2012
10:19 am
Thomas Brown
You should add
UGA hasnt beaten a top 20 team in 4 yrs
Richt hasnt beaten all the SEC East teams in the same year yet Spurrier did it at a program that has only won 5 bowl games in 100 yrs of playing football yep thats SC
Richt has back doored every championship game he has been in
Richt hasnt beaten FL 2 yrs in a row
The Richt tenure has put more players in the NFL than any other SEC school and yet FL LSU and AL have won 2 NC each during this time frame yet UGA has never sniffed the NC game
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
10:20 am
LawDawg,
That’s a great post, sir.
You’ve written a lot of great posts here for a long, long, long time LawDawg.
Always enjoy your posts. They are always right, spot-on.
This is your best post ever.
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
10:25 am
________________________________________________
“Richt hasnt beaten all the SEC East teams in the same year yet Spurrier did it at a program that has only won 5 bowl games in 100 yrs of playing football yep thats SC”
________________________________________________
Mark Richt has not beat an SEC team who put-up a winning SEC Record starting with Kentucky game way back in 2007, when the 2007 season was 6 seasons’ ago.
So, I don’t talk about just SEC East. Mark Richt for 7 consecutive seasons’ now has not beat a single SEC team who put-up a winning SEC Record.
No one ever talks about that one of mine.
I wonder why ?
dawgfan
October 22nd, 2012
10:29 am
Hate to say it, but: Florida 49 UGA 3. Seriously.
uga4ever
October 22nd, 2012
10:31 am
Now now we’re writing Schulz’s columns for him. The death of journalism at the AJC.
Spurlock
October 22nd, 2012
10:36 am
GAYtors will go down. I’ll take the DAWGS even Stephen all day long. Moosechump sucks.
Dawg Doo
October 22nd, 2012
10:37 am
Spurlock = typical Georgia fan.
It Is What It Is
October 22nd, 2012
10:38 am
Maybe Richt will break out the Double Secret Probation play book for this game because lord knows we only have about 7 plays we’ve run all year. Richt and his underling Bobo play to not lose. It’s maddening. I don’t think the trust Murray and maybe for good reason. But then again those idiotic sideline passes that go for one yard when successful also end up in pick 6’s when they aren’t. We are so vanilla and predictable on both sides of the ball. Every team has us pegged. Easy pickings in JAX for the Gators this year.
Mike Franklin
October 22nd, 2012
10:52 am
The Dawgs have some of the worst fans in college football… it’s always been that way. But this group is by no means a majority. Their best role, it seems, is to give the media something in-hand to harass the other UGA fans with.
Rick James
October 22nd, 2012
10:53 am
@GTBob
Honestly, them beating UNC shocked me. I thought they were headed for a down spiral as their schedule got much tougher. Kudos to them for becoming bowl eligible. I still doubt they will win anymore games though.
—————————————————————————————————————————–
Obviously you cant predict sunrise and think with your heart and not your head. Yet you make my point.There will be a lot of money lost on Florida this weekend.
GG
October 22nd, 2012
10:55 am
all of the talk about how bad Georgia has looked the past several weeks will be over if UGA pulls off this game agaisnt UF. This should be treated like a playoff game. Empty the playbook offensively and defensively. Hold nothing back. if UGA can pull this one off, it can run the table and go to the SEC Championship!
ughA!!!
October 22nd, 2012
10:57 am
UGA plays with the same enthusiam as there coach…Richt needs a hot poker shoved up his A$$…cmon…is boring a stat??? if you cant get pumped up why should those that follow you ..fans , nation, players….Bring it Richt !!! or we will be embarrassed at a national level, consider this the highest ranking we will ever see again!!!! we have a great schedule , way to take advantage of it….ughA!!!
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
10:58 am
gdawginkalamzoo October 22nd, 2012 9:55 am
“Win this and Richt and the Dawgs get a huge repreive from the grief they constantly face. I do know that this is the biggest game for Coach Richt and Aaron Murray that they will have in their careers.”
_________________________________________________________
gdawginkalamzoo, I read your posts every time. I read them all. All these years. It will not change Mark Richt’s 14 losses in his last 17 games against teams who made the top 10 nor his 16 losses the last 18 games against teams who made the top 25, and I know likewise, that it is not going to change Aaron Murray’s 10 losses in 10 games against teams who made the top 25, either. (Plus his 2 losses to teams not making any top 25.)
It is only the biggest games in their careers because they don’t win them. It will not be a huge reprieve from this grief that Georgia a Top 10 All-Time Football Program in Wins
_________________________________________________________
LOST 14 OF THE LAST 17 GAMES VS TEAMS MAKING THE TOP 10
LOST 16 OF THE LAST 18 GAMES VS TEAMS MAKING THE TOP 25
_________________________________________________________
Maybe to you, gdawginkalamzoo, this will earn them a huge reprieve. I don’t think it changes anything, either way.
Everyone forever, will say that Mark Richt didn’t win enough of these type games and everyone forever will say that Aaron Murray didn’t win enough of these type games.
Then there is Florida who has already beat just this season alone : Both USCe & LSU.
They don’t do that.
G
October 22nd, 2012
11:01 am
This will either be a presure or motivation game for Flawda. Either presure because they are #2 and “expected” to win, or motivation based on losing to UGA last year. My money is that motivation wins, and so shall Flawda.
Have to admit the Flawda Gecko have a physical defense. Not so sure UGA has the push to match them at the line.
Alphare
October 22nd, 2012
11:06 am
This game is UGA’s NC game for 2012. This is the best time to beat FL, while they are ranked high at #2.
UGA’s OLine has to step up to overwhelm those gators so that Gurshall can run.
Step up the D so that FL’s new QB is harassed thru out the game.
This is your NC. Go get them!
While you guys are all doom, I am all in for UGA.
UGA 34-FL 20!
SKB
October 22nd, 2012
11:08 am
I wouldn’t be surprised if UGA won.
UGA beat Vandy worse than Scar and FL combined.
Norwegian Blue
October 22nd, 2012
11:15 am
@TheJoeyBrowning’s tweet (within the article) and Bill Stanfill’s comment (at 7:27 p.m. on 10/21) both say it all. Vegas is smarter than we are, and the Dawgs are still loaded. Hopefully they’ll play with character and pride, and we catch a couple of breaks.
DawgFanInBama
October 22nd, 2012
11:16 am
To be honest, I just don’t know.
Florida beat SC because SC turned over the ball FOUR times…
Driskel only threw for 94 yards….It is easy to win games when the other team fumbles the ball off punts and kick offs on their own 20.
It Is What It Is
October 22nd, 2012
11:16 am
The good news is that CMR and CTG just signed new contracts so they’ll be around a few more years.. wait, er, what? “I know what the hell I’m doing, alright?” Um, no. And neither does your OC. Your offensive coordinator running on 3 and 14 trying to “catch” a team off guard is proof you don’t. That and not being able to beat a Top 10 team. Bobo couldn’t call a Madden game correctly.
RNB
October 22nd, 2012
11:17 am
Georgia fans need to be realistic. I have zero confidence this team will be ready to play or come close to winning. I really feel Richt is tired and ready to step down.
Dude
October 22nd, 2012
11:18 am
Dude, I’ve watched Florida play and their defense is actually better than LSU’s! The are good and they know how to make real-time game adjustments to whatever an offense throws at them. They are quick and hungry so look out UGA. Florids has an inconsistent offense, but they can run the ball well at times and UGA has not stopped the run all year! Georgia’s defense was manhandled by Kentucky O-line in the first half so I am pessimistic that they will stop Florida’s run game. If Florida contriols the clock and UGA has tp play catch-up, its all over! I think that Florida will win by 21pts!
evansdawg
October 22nd, 2012
11:19 am
Looking at our roster, the Dawgs should be able to beat or at least be competitive with anyone. We have the players to play lights out like the best teams out there, but there is a disconnect SOMEWHERE. This pattern of losing big games can only be boiled down to coaching. Its time for new leadership in Athens. We have grown predictable and stale. Morale is WAY down for fans, and that spells trouble for the athletic department at UGA. Florida with rip the Dawgs up 38-13. Yes…thats a missed extra point.
SKB
October 22nd, 2012
11:21 am
RNB “I really feel Richt is tired and ready to step down.”
What part of signing a new contract extension early this year do you not understand?
old dawg
October 22nd, 2012
11:21 am
Coach Buddah will lead the dawgs to at least a 14 point loss. If the dawgs have 2 or more turnovers in the first half, it will be more like 21 point loss. But, quoting coach buddah, “its only a game”. So let’s get real, get over it, let’s focus on auburn, we still have a chance there.
The dawgs would have to play at their full potential for 4 quarters (every single play), which they have not done in a long time (have not beat a ranked team since 08).
Remember what the old ball coach said, “i don’t know what happens in athens, but they get all this talent and never fully develop it”.
when the season is over and the smoke clears, the draft occurs, and everyone is excited because 6 dawgs are drafted in the first 2 rounds, will anyone seriously ask “why did they have the record they have and so grossly underachieve, based on the talent on hand?”.
no.
St Johns River
October 22nd, 2012
11:32 am
Nothing funnier than seeing UGA fans compare their win over Vandy against UF’s win over Vandy. I appreciate the optimism, but if that’s all you’ve got, then you ain’t got much!
K
October 22nd, 2012
11:33 am
Not only do we lose Sat but we will even lose to auburn
NYVol
October 22nd, 2012
11:36 am
Somebody needs to take MattinAtl back to rehab. He has fallen off the wagon and is really smoking some bad stuff.
You have absolutely no run defense. It is almost as bad as Tennessee’s. We gashed you for almost 200 with pip squeeks for rb’s. We also did not have a running qb. Everytime you have faced a team with a qb who could run, you got gashed. Buffalo qb ran for almost 90 on you. Connor Shaw ripped you a new one and he is half the athlete Jeff Driskel is. Gillisee is also a serious runner and their special teams make your look like a junior high cheerleading squad. I hear Richt is thinking about returning punts himself and doing the kicking. Florida’s defense is ranked 7th in total yards per game given up and 10th against the run. They are a better defensive team than SC.
You put up gawdy passing numbers against a 1 and 6 Kentucky team. Woo Hoo! Bully for you!!!! KY gashed you for over 200 yards rushing! My daughter’s high school team could have done that against you. I would put money that Marist High School could score on your defense. After all they do run the ball a lot!
The facts say you will lose and lose big. You will then win out and again go to the Outback Bowl, one more time where you will manage to embarass yourself against a Big 10/11 team and then blame the loss on UGA having diarhea.
bruce benedict
October 22nd, 2012
11:42 am
Our lack of motivation on defense will doom us against Fla. Murray usually plays poorly in big games, and the Gators will give us a supreme butt whipping in the line of scrimmage (both sides). We need some intensity and passion from our coach, and to get an early lead (and not turn the ball over) in order to have any chance.
georgedawg
October 22nd, 2012
11:46 am
The AJC, Bradley and Schultz is part of what we have to overcome as dog fans. Their constant criticism and scrutiny keeps the best players from Georgia going elsewhere. Who would blame them.
Florida has built a solid team their fans can be proud of. We have a collection of great players but due some weak areas we can’t measure up against the best teams. What happenned to our defense? Maybe it was going against our offensive line everyday at practice and making it better but not being challenged to get better themselves. Who knows but that’s the big disappointment to me. Go Dawgs.
HoneyBooBooDawg
October 22nd, 2012
11:55 am
once again OVERATED!!! Go DWAGS!!!
Tiger Dan
October 22nd, 2012
11:58 am
I dont have a horse in this race…but i always loved Fla-UGA week.
This will forever be embetted in my memory. ( I seen first hand at my 1st cocktail party in 2002)
http://www.gatortailgating.com/content/the-real-story-behind-gators-wear-jean-shorts
Kirby Smart
October 22nd, 2012
12:11 pm
Just beat Florida! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD… just beat Florida!
Thomas Brown
October 22nd, 2012
12:12 pm
Rick James October 22nd, 2012 10:53 am
“There will be a lot of money lost on Florida this weekend.”
______________________________________________
SC Old Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
12:13 pm
I think i will take the dawgs……by 8.
ddawgs
October 22nd, 2012
12:21 pm
Surely this will be the year that Richt replaces BoBo and his predictable play calling. I think the Florida game is going to be another “beat-down” like Steve Spurrier laid on us.