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
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786 comments Add your comment
Big Crimson 75
November 10th, 2012
7:27 pm
Congratulations to A&M.
When your beat, your beat.
No excuses.
The SEC streak is over.
6 in a row by one Conference with the parody in college football is quite the achievement.
DawgNole
November 10th, 2012
7:27 pm
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:20 pm
Tide Roll…..
Where are you????????
Blackoutanyone…..
Where are you????????
_______________________
The ONE positive about a Bama loss for AJC bloggers: A HUGE reduction in the number of Bama numbskulls on here!
Jeff Schultz
November 10th, 2012
7:28 pm
That Auburn drive went nowhere after those big gains got them 1st down at UGA-30.
DawgNole
November 10th, 2012
7:28 pm
I make an exception for Big Crimson–one of the few Bama fans I’ve seen on here with sensibility and class.
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:29 pm
Did you hear that announcer, “…didn’t mean to use the word, “conservative” post election.”
Draggin' Fly
November 10th, 2012
7:30 pm
Except most of the “Bama numbskulls” on here were Tech numbskulls.
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:30 pm
Delbert D……
It is fortunate that Georgia does not have A&M instead of Ole Miss on their schedule this year….at any time. Florida’s D is the fastest in the SEC…..and would shut down A&M again. You beat Florida with a power running game….as in Georgia this year.
kingdaddy
November 10th, 2012
7:30 pm
Jeff is still mad at me for making fun of his buddy JJS, LOL…
Hairy Dawg
November 10th, 2012
7:31 pm
Of course Bammer is lower. They looses at home to a Big 12 team. We has one bad game on road but at least it was SEC team. Now we just win out and we natoinal champs. This best year for Dawgs and it only getting better with the next years.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 10th, 2012
7:31 pm
@ Jeff
How does the Bama loss affect UGA’s Championship chances?
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:31 pm
Wonder what the national media will say about Bama now?
Will they fall to number 4 on Sunday? Or will they fall farther like every other team has?
Delbert D.
November 10th, 2012
7:32 pm
Tampa Gator – You said your impression was based on Georgia’s previous 2 games. Look at the 2 games prior to those, and it looks quite different.
Brickmason Bobby
November 10th, 2012
7:32 pm
Bama will be the highest ranked One loss team in the BCS ranking and rightfully so…Georgia will have to take it from them…sorry, 35-7 is a bitter pill.
kingdaddy
November 10th, 2012
7:32 pm
Schultz
Come over and get some pie…
Draggin' Fly
November 10th, 2012
7:32 pm
TG ..I’m just happy UGA didn’t have Looseyanna Lafayette on the schedule.
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:32 pm
Georgia beat Florida. Florida beat LSU. Florida beat A&M. Florida beat SC. SC beat Georgia. Based on that…….Georgia, Florida, and SC all should be ranked higher on Sunday than Bama.
BubbaGolf
November 10th, 2012
7:33 pm
Put in Timeout/justblah: What a fun guy!
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:33 pm
Hairy Dawg,
I don’t think we play for the MNC unless two of the teams ahead of us falls.
And…given the media bias for Bama, they might get in the MNC even if ranked lower than UGA at season’s end…even with two losses.
Billyho55
November 10th, 2012
7:33 pm
FROM READING HIS POSTS ON THE FALCONS BLOG I CAN ASSURE YOU BIG CRIM IS CLASS PERSONIFIED!
Brickmason Bobby
November 10th, 2012
7:33 pm
Hairy Dawg, your posts make me miss the Bama bunch.
Jeff Schultz
November 10th, 2012
7:34 pm
To those asking about BCS rankings — Not sure if Georgia would pass Alabama with win (I doubt it). But it doesn’t really matter because either team still has to win SEC title game to have shot at BCS. Actually Alabama’s loss hurts UGA more than helps them because of strength of schedule. If UGA pulls SEC title upsets, Dogs now will have beaten a one-loss Alabama team instead of an unbeaten one. Similarly, it would’ve hurt Georgia if Florida lost today.
Muttley
November 10th, 2012
7:34 pm
Did Georgia take the mangy, worm-ridden mutt with them?
Jeff Schultz
November 10th, 2012
7:34 pm
Kingdaddy — No idea what you’re talking about.
Jeff Schultz
November 10th, 2012
7:35 pm
Pie? Did someone say pie?
jvillebil
November 10th, 2012
7:35 pm
Stupid ESPN2 blacked out here and can’t find it on the radio, keeps redirecting me. Score on GA-Aub?
Delbert D.
November 10th, 2012
7:35 pm
Tampa Gator – “You beat Florida with a power running game”
No, I’m a 3rd party interested fan in all this. I thought you would recall that.
Paul in NH
November 10th, 2012
7:35 pm
UGA can pick their score in this one.
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:35 pm
Brickmason Bobby
November 10th, 2012
7:32 pm
Bama will be the highest ranked One loss team in the BCS ranking and rightfully so…Georgia will have to take it from them…sorry, 35-7 is a bitter pill
——–
That’s what I think the media will be saying.
Dawgs65
November 10th, 2012
7:35 pm
Let’s go, Dawgs. Let’s keep this going.
phil
November 10th, 2012
7:36 pm
Pathetic start….
Fire Richt!
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:36 pm
Draggonfly……
La-Lay beat La-Monroe by over 20…..and they beat the team you are playing tonight. They are not a bad team. And they are a lot better than Buffalo….I can tell you that…..and Georgia struggled for much of the game vs. Buffalo. So a win is a win in those type of games.
Jeff Schultz
November 10th, 2012
7:36 pm
Does that BCS explainer work for everyone? I know fans get excited about big picture when they see that but I think that’s the reality of situation. The school that’s REALLY kicking itself today is LSU.
Hairy Dawg
November 10th, 2012
7:37 pm
SEC is still best and Dawgs best in SEC. That makes Dawgs best in national champs. SEC has parody of some good teams sometimes cause upsets of goodteams which happen to Dawgs. But SEC not on parody with resr of football. SEC rules football and proves it as best every year. That what make Dawgs national champs this year cause best in SEC and SEC is best.
Go Dawgs!
phil
November 10th, 2012
7:37 pm
7-0 ga
jvillebil
November 10th, 2012
7:38 pm
thank you phil
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:38 pm
“You” was a reference to all teams……not jus the Dawgs. Georgia may be the best team in the SEC right now…..they are peaking at the right time.
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:38 pm
Gurley looked like he had the ball.
Great fake.
Buzz 2011
November 10th, 2012
7:39 pm
OOPS.. Jeff trying to cover his 3###.. GT won and Shultz picked UNC to win..
Tech wins easily by 18.. Sorry Jeff it’s a big miss for you. You taking Duke?
Dawgs65
November 10th, 2012
7:39 pm
Sweet. Two solid drives.
phil
November 10th, 2012
7:39 pm
14-0 GA
Fire Richt anyway!
Jeff Schultz
November 10th, 2012
7:39 pm
That’s 2 drives, two smooth and efficient touchdown drives. 14-0. But I’ll resist temptation to say it’s over.
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:40 pm
Sorry…..my earlier predicted score needs amended.
Georgia 59, Auburn 3…….if they are lucky.
Jeff Schultz
November 10th, 2012
7:40 pm
Figured half the crowd would’ve left by now to go celebrate the Alabama loss.
kingdaddy
November 10th, 2012
7:40 pm
What did we say about starting fast or slow? Getting some great blocking from ends and TEs…
jeffrey d
November 10th, 2012
7:41 pm
Yeah, I don’t get why people root for our opponents/rivals to lose when they’re not playing us. Sure it’s sweet seeing your enemy suffer, but it benefits Georgia to play teams with better records.
Like Florida today….some people were glad Florida almost lost and looked ugly. But how does that make us look? When we squeeked by a team that almost loses to UL
Jeff Schultz
November 10th, 2012
7:42 pm
Aaron Murray now 9 for 9, 71 yards, 2 touchdowns. That’s not too bad.
Draggin' Fly
November 10th, 2012
7:42 pm
TG – Arky State 50 – Looseyanna Lafayette 27
Jimmy
November 10th, 2012
7:42 pm
The reality is that we have to beat Auburn, GT and Bama.
At least two of the teams above us must lose a game.
Then we have our best shot.
But the poll voters and the BC$ has proven in years past…
You can’t take anything for granted.
Tampa Gator
November 10th, 2012
7:42 pm
Folks…..as badley as they played……Florida DID NOT lose today.
phil
November 10th, 2012
7:42 pm
Jarvis!!