LIVE: Bulldogs, Jackets vie for more than bragging rights
The early scene from Sanford Stadium, site for the final regular season game for Georgia and Tech.
ATHENS — Good morning. Before we get to the game, I have a small request: Let’s be civil.
I understand emotions (and beer) often cause sports fans to jump the rails a little bit. Because we will have both Georgia and Georgia Tech fans on this blog, the chance for a verbal inferno becomes even greater.
But the same rules apply: no profanity, no profanity that is cleverly disguised with punctuation marks, no racist comments, no sexual innuendo, no stealing of screen names to give the impression that somebody wrote something when they really didn’t, no … well, you get the idea. You can praise, mock, laud and criticize all you like. But let me share something an old editor of mine once told me: If you have to ask, “Can I write this?” the answer is probably no.
Fair enough?
OK, onto the game. Georgia and Georgia Tech is, first and foremost, always about 364 days of bragging rights. But it’s so much more than that today.
– Georgia needs a win to keep hopes alive for a berth in the BCS title. That’s also contingent on the Bulldogs upsetting Alabama in the SEC championship game next week. The Dogs would still play for the conference title even if they were to be upset by the Jackets. But obviously a lot of steam would come out of the game, and certainly it would deflate the fan base.
– Georgia Tech needs a win for a credibility boost and, in that sense. It also would give Jackets fans some hope for the ACC championship game against Florida State and/or a better bowl game. Tech has won three straight. But it has been a largely rocky season and they slipped into the Coastal Division title and a conference championship berth through the backdoor, benefiting from Miami’s decision to bow out in hopes of minimizing expected NCAA sanctions.
Georgia fans have reason to be concerned: Even though the Dogs have shown themselves to be the better and more talented team, there’s a possibility of players being distracted by all of the SEC and BCS talk.
Georgia Tech fans have reason to be concerned: Even with the late-season bounce back and the added skills that quarterback Vad Lee brings to the lineup, the Jackets’ defense hasn’t stopped anybody. Georgia has a balanced offense led by quarterback Aaron Murray (12 touchdowns, zero interceptions since the fourth quarter against Florida) and freshman running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall.
Bottom line: This is a rivalry game, and strange things often occur in rivalry games. At the risk of sounding cliche, I suspect Tech’s best chance to win today will be based on turnovers and winning the special teams battle. Georgia probably also doesn’t want to get into a scoring battle (as was the case in 2008, when the Jackets won 45-42). Red zone production is key for both teams.
That’s it for now. Have fun all. I’m here to serve.
And with that, the cyber venting lines are open.
By Jeff Schultz
Post-Thanksgiving blog blowout sale
• Upsetting Georgia would give Tech needed boost for future
• Weekend Predictions: Georgia will win on Red-and-Black-Saturday
• Vince Dooley: Joy from Georgia’s resurgence, pain from son’s firing
• Wonder why SEC is on top? Look at other conference finals
• Falcons win — but run before somebody changes their mind
• Short takes: Ryan awful, defense great, win important
• Georgia’s new reality: From on the brink to BCS title possibility
• Upsets launch Georgia into BCS title picture (updated game column)
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1,171 comments Add your comment
Strange Murphy
November 24th, 2012
1:36 pm
Hey GTBob! Are you enjoying this as much as the I am?
Josh Chapman
November 24th, 2012
1:36 pm
Scott Norwood plays for Georgia Tech?
DAWGS
November 24th, 2012
1:36 pm
BUAAWAAAHAHAHAHAH!!!! Missed a 36 yarder. Tech is AWFUL. PLEEEASE keep CPJ around for a few more years. Please.
USMC DAWG
November 24th, 2012
1:37 pm
Even though Mark Richt drives me crazy sometimes, he is an absolute class act!
son's who?
November 24th, 2012
1:37 pm
Is there any point in a game more useless than the quick sideline interview with a coach going into Halftime?
glory between the hedges
November 24th, 2012
1:37 pm
The fact that tech played for a field goal there said it all
blamegame
November 24th, 2012
1:38 pm
after halftime GT is gonna make some adjustments and come roaring back using what’s called an
“offense”
ARdawg
November 24th, 2012
1:38 pm
It’s GREAT to be a Georgia Bulldog!!! Isn’t it GTBob?
Andy
November 24th, 2012
1:38 pm
The SEC has at least 6 very good teams, (UGA, FLA, SC, AL, LSU, AM). A comparison to the ACC is ridiculous!
son's who?
November 24th, 2012
1:38 pm
Lou Holtz just slobbered out a compliment to UGA ……… and vomited shortly thereafter.
kingdaddy
November 24th, 2012
1:38 pm
Poor Bumbles…
USMC DAWG
November 24th, 2012
1:38 pm
Not scoring even a field goal before halftime is huge for Georgia and horrible for Tech!
(Keep it CLASSY Georgia Fans!)
Go Dawgs!
Nard
November 24th, 2012
1:39 pm
AS MUCH AS I LOVE PAUL JOHNSON. IT’S NOT WORKING AT TECH. DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS IS THE WORST IN NCAA FOOTBALL #fact
playmeortrademe
November 24th, 2012
1:39 pm
Hope that the 2nd string D gets in by the 4th quarter. Wish they would start the half and the offense runs the ball until Tech stops them, which their D can’t.
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
1:39 pm
Hey GTBob! Are you enjoying this as much as the I am?
I have some good beer and some good food. I am doing just fine.
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
1:39 pm
Here’s how unimportant time of possession is: Georgia Tech 21:23, Georgia 8:37.
Bring back Jim Donnan
November 24th, 2012
1:39 pm
At least Tech could whip him – I long for those days …..
VP
November 24th, 2012
1:39 pm
Thank You Nerds for ruining a saturday afternoon football game. Just quit football.
Cuz
November 24th, 2012
1:39 pm
Up since way before dawn hunting. I hope I don’t fall asleep in the second half.
kingdaddy
November 24th, 2012
1:39 pm
Lou Putz…
MisterT
November 24th, 2012
1:40 pm
Hurry up and hire a new AD so we can make the other changes necessary. The experiment is OVER!
THWg!
juice sourcer
November 24th, 2012
1:40 pm
ESPN half time studio announcers just said…can we please just have Clemson and Florida State play in the ACC championship game…GA Tech needs to do what Miami did…declare themselves ineligible.
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
1:40 pm
It’s GREAT to be a Georgia Bulldog!!! Isn’t it GTBob?
I wouldn’t know. Ive never been arrested and I don’t own a giant pickup truck with a confederate flag on it.
Will
November 24th, 2012
1:40 pm
Tech fans had all that mouth all week. Yet down 28-3 at the half. To me, GT is playing scared. Scared coaching, scared players, UGA is in their heads.
billyho55
November 24th, 2012
1:40 pm
USMC,
THANK YOU AS WELL FOR KEEPING IT CLASSY! COULDN’T DREAM OF ANYTHING LESS FROM A MARINE! I’LL TRY TO KEEP THE VODKA TO A MINIMUM…GONNA BE HARD THOUGH! NO DRIVING OF COURSE…GOTTA THANK GOD FOR A GREAT WOMAN WHO UNDERSTANDS AND IS WILLING TO DO ALL THE DRIVING TODAY!
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
1:40 pm
Buzzman — Sorry. I was napping.
son's who?
November 24th, 2012
1:41 pm
Watcha eating and drinking Bob?
Nard
November 24th, 2012
1:41 pm
I’m a DIE HARD TECH FAN, THIS IS NOT A RIVALRY ANYMORE. NOTHING ABOUT IT SPEAKS OF A RIVALRY.
paint
November 24th, 2012
1:41 pm
Any significant injuries? Noticed Marshall pulled himself out.
MisterT
November 24th, 2012
1:41 pm
Any chance we can self impose a post season ban?
THWg!
harleyman
November 24th, 2012
1:42 pm
Anybody tired of the Notre Dame boot licker announcer yet?
italian_29
November 24th, 2012
1:42 pm
Enter your comments here
Woofy One
November 24th, 2012
1:42 pm
PJ has been genius the first half.
dawgfan
November 24th, 2012
1:42 pm
I just want to get this game over with. We’ve got bigger fish to fry. What a complete waste of time this “rivalry” has become.
Steve
November 24th, 2012
1:43 pm
Jeff do they at least have good food? Or maybe a good book to read?
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
1:43 pm
I agree, Richt has always been a class act.
But why isn’t his team a class act? Why do they get in so much trouble and commit so many penalties?
When we play Notre Dame in Miami, I have to say their stats are very impressive on defense.
Will
November 24th, 2012
1:43 pm
Players must keep up the intensity though and finish. No cheap points. Game is pretty much over unless we collapse but we have to keep it up. Georgia’s offense is fresh because they haven’t been on the field! Yet they have 28 points.
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
1:43 pm
Here’s how unimportant time of possession is: Georgia Tech 21:23, Georgia 8:37.
And GT has forced more punts then UGA has.
Tim
November 24th, 2012
1:44 pm
Jeff,
Of course there’s a lot of game left and anything can happen as Tech has moved the ball well. But obviously UGA has much better talent and Tech is poor defensively. How ’bout giving us a final score prediction now? I assume your earlier predicted score has changed.
VP
November 24th, 2012
1:44 pm
Anybody who says this is a “rivalry”:
10-1 under CMR. This stopped being a rivalry a long time ago.
Army Dawg in afghanistan
November 24th, 2012
1:44 pm
Love watching the dawgs whooping techs ass as we kill the Taliban! Gooooooo DAWGS
VP
November 24th, 2012
1:44 pm
>>>>And GT has forced more punts then UGA has.
You hang on to that Bob.
EastCobbRick
November 24th, 2012
1:45 pm
In a prefect day, in a perfect world, UGA beats GT, S. Carolina beats Clemson, and Florida beats FSU. Today may be that day. It’s happened before! Additionally, it would be awesome if the ACC “Finalists” lost to their SEC in-state rivals the week before their conference championship.
SEC!
Will
November 24th, 2012
1:45 pm
Gtbob, and we’ve forced more turnovers..which is why we’re kicking your azz
kingdaddy
November 24th, 2012
1:45 pm
Unbelievable stat Jeff. UGA flexes a little muscle. Where are Yellow Jacket Fans???
billyho55
November 24th, 2012
1:45 pm
PLEASE FORGIVE GTBOOB GUYS! HE WAS PICKED ON AS A CHILD AND CONTINUES IN HIS CHILDISH WAYS! AS MUCH AS I WANNA CURSE AND ACT A FOOL…I UNDERSTAND HOW TO ACT LIKE A MAN AND ADMIT WHEN WE’RE OVERMATCHED! QUIT THE CHILDISH COMMENTS GUYS BC YOU END UP LOOKING WORSE THAN THE PEOPLE YOU CRITICIZE!
Will
November 24th, 2012
1:45 pm
Final score will be something like 45-10 or 45-6.
Sierra Dawg
November 24th, 2012
1:47 pm
Laughing myself silly at both the game and the Tekkie about-face to academics on this blog! How did Tech win ANY games with this D?
Patrick
November 24th, 2012
1:47 pm
GT will come back very strong in the 2nd half. Watch out for CPJ’s offense as it has never, ever been beaten. Go Jackets!!!!
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
1:47 pm
Watcha eating and drinking Bob?
Chicken wings, nachos, and some desserts left over from thanksgiving. For beer, ive got some October fests and Pumpkin Ales left from October. Good stuff.