LIVE: Georgia goes for SEC East clincher against Auburn
Georgia hopes to have something to celebrate on Auburn's field after tonight's game.
AUBURN, Ala. — Hello, and welcome to something you probably didn’t expect five weeks ago when Georgia got body-slammed at South Carolina: A potential SEC East Division-clinching game against Auburn.
Every trend and statistic says the Bulldogs should win this game. Easily. But if they needed any reminder that anything can happen on a college football Saturday, just check the Florida game.
I stopped at an Auburn tailgating spot to watch a few minutes of Florida’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette, and the Gators were trailing 20-13 with just under four minutes left. I figured, worst-case scenario, Florida ties it and I’ll watch overtime in the press box, so I walked away. But as I walked into the box, the Gators were kicking an extra point following a blocked punt and return for the go-ahead touchdown.
So much for that monumental upset. Nonetheless, it should serve as a monumental warning for the Dogs — and it’s certainly easy fodder for coach Mark Richt’s pregame speech.
OK. The Tigers stink. They’re 2-7 overall and 0-6 in the SEC. A brief summary of their statistical woes: They rank 13th in total offense (305.2), total defense (428.7) and scoring offense (19.2), 10th in scoring defense (27.3), last in rush defense (199.2) — no reason to wonder about Georgia’s plan of attack — last in sacks allowed (29), last in third-down conversions (28.8) and 13th in turnovers (20) and turnover differential (minus-nine).
In short, there’s probably no reason for Gene Chizik to refinance his home because he’s going to be putting that sucker up for sale soon. It would be an upset it Chizik wasn’t fired, especially with a drumming by Alabama still expected to come at the end of the season.
(As I write this, Texas A&M just took a 20-0 lead over Alabama. Like I was saying …)
No such problems for Richt and Georgia. The Dogs had the perfect confluence of events following their 35-7 loss to South Carolina: 1) They didn’t faceplant in the next three games; 2) They beat Florida; 3) South Carolina imploded. So here we are, with Georgia on the verge of clinching its second straight East title and a trip to the Georgia Dome.
Before I open the cyber-venting lines, here are a few links from this week to pass the time until kickoff:
• The setup for this game from Chip Towers.
• How the backdrop for these teams (and coaches) was flipped two years ago, by Tim Tucker. (Auburn was on the was to a BCS title with Cam Newton; Georgia was on the way to a 6-7 finish.)
• The work of the UGA’s offensive line to protect Aaron Murray, by Chip.
• The Dogs will face their last two defensive coordinators (Brian VanGorder and Willie Martinez), by Tim.
• My column on Richt’s disclosure that he will need hip replacement surgery, thanks to an old swing set injury.
• Finally, here’s my prediction for the game (and other sound investment advice) in Weekend Predictions.
One last observation: Chip, Tim and I encountered far less traffic than usual for an Auburn game. Could be an indication of the crowd for this one.
That’s it for now. Commenting opens in 3 … 2 … 1 …
By Jeff Schultz
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
786 comments Add your comment
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:15 pm
Bama is not coached by God afterall…..and not every player on Bama is Superman……
Jeff Schultz
November 10th, 2012
7:15 pm
That was about as impressive an opening drive as you can have. Georgia never got to third down until touchdown play. Three first-down plays. 7-0.
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:15 pm
Alabama goes down
Derrick
November 10th, 2012
7:16 pm
And now its gone
atlfalconsfan0125
November 10th, 2012
7:16 pm
This helps UGA’s NC chances!
Draggin' Fly
November 10th, 2012
7:16 pm
Down goes Saban…Down goes Saban
VP
November 10th, 2012
7:16 pm
The game is off ESPNEWS & Duece is blacked out. WTF? DirecTV btw.
jeffrey d
November 10th, 2012
7:16 pm
That was about as impressive an opening drive as you can have. Georgia never got to third down until touchdown play
Sounds like a heck of a drive. Too bad I just had a black screen for most of it.
kingdaddy
November 10th, 2012
7:16 pm
Action is fast and furious…
rockdawg
November 10th, 2012
7:17 pm
So I guess the game is totally off direct tv now. Anyone know if it’s on another channel?
Dawgs65
November 10th, 2012
7:17 pm
Dang. Now we will have to play a supremely pissed off ‘Bama. Rather have them fat, happy and undefeated.
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:17 pm
Tide Roll……BAMA LOST, BAMA LOST………..BAMA LOST…..LOST TO A TEAM FLORIDA BEAT……LOST TO A TEAM FLORIDA BEAT…….LOST TO A TEAM FLORIDA BEAT.
You should see the looks on the BAMA fans faces……as if their lives just ended. SWEET. VERY SWEET.
Jeff Schultz
November 10th, 2012
7:17 pm
A loud cheer went up at Auburn when they put up the Alabama score. Might be all Auburn fans have to cheer about.
Mike
November 10th, 2012
7:17 pm
I’m about to loose my $h!t…Where is the game directtv? not on 207
Brickmason Bobby
November 10th, 2012
7:18 pm
great scene in Tuscaloosa…
kingdaddy
November 10th, 2012
7:18 pm
Good special teams….
Derrick
November 10th, 2012
7:18 pm
This is bs!
80sDawg
November 10th, 2012
7:18 pm
Back on 209
Layinlow
November 10th, 2012
7:19 pm
All the loud mouthed obnoxious BAMA fans can officially STFU!
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:19 pm
Folks…….
I think Georgia has a better team than Bama based on watching them last week and this week. I think Georgia wins in Atlanta.
VT>GT and neither holds a candle to UGA
November 10th, 2012
7:19 pm
I actually have the espn news on my 207
talking about the F’ing lakers
rockdawg
November 10th, 2012
7:19 pm
I guess enough people called and complained because it’s on now.
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:19 pm
Alabama just blew the ratings for E$PN
Brickmason Bobby
November 10th, 2012
7:19 pm
209 mike
Derrick
November 10th, 2012
7:19 pm
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/source/espn3/id/639568/size/condensed/
VT>GT and neither holds a candle to UGA
November 10th, 2012
7:20 pm
whew
just came in on Espn 2
FGD-135
November 10th, 2012
7:20 pm
Nevertheless, Bama will roll over Georgia like they were slimy bacteria wilting under the onslaught of super-antibiotics and the purity of essence. Whatever, it won’t be pretty for the dawgs as they suffer another slaughter at the hands of the western division.
Rick Julian
November 10th, 2012
7:20 pm
game’s on 209 on DTV now
DawgNole
November 10th, 2012
7:20 pm
Well, Bama didn’t help us. No more hope for an NC. Just gotta win out, Dawgs, and let the chips fall . . . .
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:20 pm
Tide Roll…..
Where are you????????
Blackoutanyone…..
Where are you????????
jeffrey d
November 10th, 2012
7:20 pm
A loud cheer went up at Auburn when they put up the Alabama score
Sounds like it was a pretty cool moment. Too bad I was hearing a discussion about Phil Jackson.
kingdaddy
November 10th, 2012
7:20 pm
Try ESPNEWS OR ESPN3
Hairy Dawg
November 10th, 2012
7:21 pm
Yes! That sorry Bammer and Dirty Sabans lost! Now Dawgs is best in SEC. We just win out and we national champs. We top ranked of SEC and goning get Coach Richt his champs. Go Dawgs!
Delbert D.
November 10th, 2012
7:21 pm
Tampa Gator – It was fortunate scheduling to get A&M for the first game under Sumlin, but all wins are good wins.
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:21 pm
Georgia can beat anybody in the country if they come ready to play.
That’s the key.
Sometimes they look like they have no motivation on the field.
They have yet to play a big game and look like the team they should be and could be.
Jeff Schultz
November 10th, 2012
7:21 pm
Auburn finding some seams.
kingdaddy
November 10th, 2012
7:22 pm
If that doesn’t work, go to a good bar…
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:22 pm
I get so tired of watching holding go uncalled.
Hairy Dawg
November 10th, 2012
7:22 pm
And another thing i tell you is that Muschump almost lost to LA Laffy. HaHa! We get the double whammy win tonite of a putting Cheese Dip out a misery as War Tiger Coach and that what he desreving for $180K Clam Newtons and cheap shotter Farley. And then we also getting to stuff Visor Boy in East for second year. Not much better than also seeing Dooley Boy sent packing for daring to coach against Dawgs with the loser Orange Pumkins. Go Dawgs!
DawgNole
November 10th, 2012
7:23 pm
Dawgs65
November 10th, 2012
7:17 pm
Dang. Now we will have to play a supremely pissed off ‘Bama. Rather have them fat, happy and undefeated.
___________________
Absolutely! But we gotta get past Auburn first, and they’re rolling down the field on us–until that SACK!
BIGWIN
November 10th, 2012
7:24 pm
Why are we blacked out on ESPN2? I can find the game on any other channel.
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:24 pm
Yeah…where are the braggarts today?
The arrogant B turds aren’t here.
They will be back before the SECC.
jeffrey d
November 10th, 2012
7:25 pm
It’s back on ESPN2 for me, BIGWIN
Dawgs65
November 10th, 2012
7:25 pm
Agreed. We gotta get past Auburn. And they would dearly love to ruin our season.
Delbert D.
November 10th, 2012
7:25 pm
Hasn’t everybody switched over to TCU – K-State?
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:26 pm
The question is whether Bama will be ranked higher than UGA come Sunday night.
kingdaddy
November 10th, 2012
7:26 pm
Worry about auburn, then whatever else comes up later. Win this game first…
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:26 pm
Seriously folks……Bama is very beatable in the SEC title game.
Sonny B. Layne
November 10th, 2012
7:27 pm
After Notre Dame gets beat, I am sure that the Network would love an Oregon-Kansas St. matchup.
Would probably have the lowest ratings of all time.
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:27 pm
Will Bama be ranked higher ASSUMING a UGA win tonight.