Oddsmakers see Dogs going 8-4

Las Vegas oddsmakers place the odds of the Georgia Bulldogs winning the 2009 SEC Championship at 10/1 and see the Dogs with 8 regular season wins this season in their over/under betting lines, MrSEC.com and VegasInsider.com report. That win total is “shaded” slightly on the over side, VegasInsider says. 

Florida, naturally, is the favorite to take the SEC with 1/2 odds, followed by Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss (all at 9/2 odds). From there the odds go from 20/1 for South Carolina and Tennessee all the way up to 75/1 for Mississippi State.

Will the Dogs have over or under 8 wins in the regular season?

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The Las Vegas Sports Consultants’ SEC regular season win totals run like this: Vanderbilt with 4.5 wins, Kentucky with 6, Auburn with 6.5, South Carolina with 6.5, Tennessee with 7, Arkansas with 7, Georgia with 8, LSU with 8.5, Ole Miss with 9, Alabama with 9.5 and Florida with 11 wins. They didn’t bother to estimate Mississippi State’s win total.

Like most polls so far, Brian Edwards of VegasInsider.com sees Georgia coming in second in the SEC East. His summation of the Dogs: “Georgia was overrated last season, but I think it is an underrated squad this year. The Dawgs are flying under the radar mostly due to the departures of QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno. However, it says here that fifth-year senior QB Joe Cox is going to be better than expected and third-year sophomore RB Caleb King looks poised for a breakout campaign. The offensive line, riddled with injuries in 2008, should be stout thanks to the return of OT Trinton Sturdivant. I have UGA finishing 8-4 but it could easily go 9-3 or even 10-2 with a few breaks. The Week 3 trip to Arkansas is a big swing game.”

I’ll be making my annual venture out on the limb with my season prediction in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime, what do you think of what Vegas says? Will the Dogs win over 8 wins this season or under 8 wins? Feel free to comment and vote in the poll or do both.

143 comments Add your comment

chazzo

July 30th, 2009
9:32 am

Trade school,

MB said the same thing like two days ago. He probably just read the odds and went with it.

JaxDawg

July 30th, 2009
9:33 am

god and greyhound

July 30th, 2009
7:29 am
“Ill say 6-6 and a loss to tulsa in the independence bowl”

Thanks for giving us your GT prediction, sounds about right for the bugs!

As for the Dawgs, games are won and lost in the trenches. The so-called experts are singing the “Stafford-Knowshon gone blues”. The truth is, they made up for the injuries we suffered last year on the O-line. People always notice the high profile players and pay little attention to the lines.

Look at what strong trenches did for Bama last year. JPW looked all-world at times because he had plenty of time in the pocket, and J.Cox will benefit from an experienced and deep line this year.

Here are some things to consider regarding the team as we head into summer practices:

2 = the number of consecutive weeks we had the same starting 5 on the o-line last year. This year we go almost 3 deep at every line position with starting experience.

Last year we missed 2 of the biggest components to the 07 defense in J.Owens & M.Washington. Rod Battle also missed signifigant time last year. Owens and Washington were a huge reason why teams had trouble running on the 07 defense. note: M.Washington missed the 07 tenn game.
This year we will be able to rotate 4 outstanding DT’s in J.Owens, G.Atkins, K.Weston, and D.Tyson, more pressure up the middle means fewer big runs and more QB pressure which will lead to more sacks, mark it down.

Another position that will help in the running game this year are the two fullbacks Chapas & Munzenmeir. Both are outstanding and know the playbook well and will help the younger backs like Thomas & Ealy transition easier.

Wish the “experts” would do a little homework. Since Richt has been head coach, how many times have we heard “8-4, 9-3 at best” predictions? CMR finished 8-4 his 1st season, and 9-4 in 06 breaking in a true freshman QB. The other 6 yrs? 3- 10 win seasons, 3 11+ win seasons. So keep predicting 8-9 wins, I’ll take the over everytime!

Go Dawgs

Top Dogg

July 30th, 2009
9:34 am

GayRoot 38-3 sounds like LSU was really confused.You know little about football but a whole lot about sucking on roots .

jm

July 30th, 2009
9:43 am

8-4 sounds good but one luck bounce and they could win 9. One bad bounce and they could win 7.

dude

July 30th, 2009
9:44 am

8 wins sounds right. my guess would be 7. inexperienced qb will show first few games.

Ralph

July 30th, 2009
9:47 am

And this was in the linked Vegasinsider.com article about the more balanced, non-top heavy ACC:

–Va. Tech is the plus-250 favorite to win the ACC Championship Game. FSU and Clemson both have plus-400 odds (risk $100 to win $400). With 6/1 odds, I think a wager on Ga. Tech to win the ACC is worth heavy consideration.

Huh?

July 30th, 2009
9:48 am

We were damn lucky to be 9-3 regular season last year so 8-4 this year is hardly a stretch. I can understand where the oddsmakers are coming from. They are objective. I am not. I went to the spring game and was not overly impressed by what I saw. I am concerned that Joe Cox will not have the big play ability that Stafford had if our defense is not doing well. I am concerned that we’ve got a bunch of good but not great running backs that won’t be able to pick up yards unless our line blows open a mile wide hole for them. I am concerned that if anyone of our 6 scholarship recievers, D-lineman, or O-lineman gets injured we could be in some serious trouble. Nevertheless, something tells me deep in my homer gut that Richt is about to open up a serious can on some folks this year. I’ve seen it before. This whole preseason seems so errily familiar. Even if we do go 8-4, it is going to be a fun 8-4. We’re going to take down some of the top guns on our schedule with us. Dismiss the Dawgs at your own peril…

Evan

July 30th, 2009
9:49 am

Rivals has GA tech ranked higher to start the season. Ga came in today at 15. Too high imo.

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=954694

GUY

July 30th, 2009
9:49 am

IDK I THINK THEY WILL HAVE 8 R MORE WINS BUT BCAUSE OF THERE INEXPERIENCE QB BRIAN COX I DONT REALLY NO.!!!

pd

July 30th, 2009
9:49 am

I believe that Joe Cox will be better than any of you suspect.

However, I believe that the defense will lose a few games for the dawgs.

im

July 30th, 2009
9:53 am

Just think of how many games joe cox is going to win on leadership alone!

phil

July 30th, 2009
9:55 am

I think the dogs go 10 – 2, the defense rebounds in a major way, and we win in Jax, spoiling the title run for the Gators. The comparison below comes from the NCAA web site. Except for the unexcusably high number of TD’s last year, Martinez would outshine VanGorder. Hey, I’m no Willie fan, but it’s interesting to see what really happened over the last 8 years.

St. Simon – this is not for you, just stats and numbers here, no raw meat buzzed by flies and a toothless reflection in the mirror.

These stats are by calendar year, not season, so if the records seem a bit off, that’s the reason
Martinez
National Total Total Average
Rank Yards TD’s Yds/Game W’s L’s
2008 22 4,056 42 312 10 3
2007 14 4,202 29 323 11 2
2006 8 3,357 28 258 9 4
2005 18 4,078 27 313 10 3 SEC

Van Gorder
2004 8 3,467 23 289 10 2
2003 4 3,876 23 277 11 3
2002 15 4,249 28 304 13 1 SEC
2001 49 3,976 26 361 8 3

Averages by Coach Rank Yards TD YD/Game W L Titles
Martinex 16 3,923 32 302 10 3 1
Van Gorder 19 3,892 25 308 11 2 1

S.C. DAWGS

July 30th, 2009
9:55 am

WHY CAN’T YOU PEOPLE LEAVE MARK RICHT ALONE JUST LET HIM PLAY HIS GAMES THIS YEAR QUIT SAYING HE CAN’T WIN THE BIG GAME. THE NEWS MEIDA IS ALLWAYS STARTING SOMETHING ALL MOST ALL WAYS YOU ARE WRONG.

JBIzzle

July 30th, 2009
9:57 am

UGA focus for ‘09 needs to be;

1. Penalties.
2. Receivers have to catch the ball. (The spring game scared me)
3. Special teams.

If they tackle those three issues they could be looking at a nine win season. If not, 7-8 wins at best.

45-42

July 30th, 2009
9:57 am

I am a tech fan, fyi my name, but i will agree with most people up here and say saint simons is getting very annoying. I like to reminisce about the game, but not nearly as much as saint simons. That being said, how can some of yall uga fans say you are going to crush us? its gonna be a hell of a game as it usually is, with that one 51-7 exception. We are not gonna drub you, you are not gonna drub us, its gonna be a hard fought game with some breaks deciding the winner, much like this year when we got a little lucky with Roddy not stepping outta bounds. Also, UGA will have another good year, 10-2 is the best possibility, sorry but you are not beating UF and good luck running the SEC table and beating Tech. But a 9-3 or a 10-2 is considered a success, so dont complain. 8-4 at the very worst, UGA just has too much talent to do otherwise.

Saint Simons

July 30th, 2009
9:58 am

Uga will go 6- 6 this year if their lucky!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

godawg

July 30th, 2009
10:02 am

Sanford Drive

July 30th, 2009
10:03 am

I’d say 8-4 is pretty accurate given the loss of Moreno. Hope Cox doesn’t try to throw a bunch of bombs like Stafford did. That worked out for Stafford about 15% of the time. Cox just needs to JPW his way down the field. If he can do that, and if D comes back, we’ll be OK.

49-10

July 30th, 2009
10:03 am

WTF is 41-30….surely you aren’t talking about a win in 07 after the Gators beat that butt in 08 by a much larger margin, but if you must, atleast get the score right!

and I will bet ANYONE here that uga does NOT win 8 games. LSU, UF, OSU, and GT will be 4 losses for the little puppies and they will lose atleast one more btwn USC, Ark, UT…

also, as far as Joe Cox being better than we suspect and the guy who says this team has more heart and all that other crap….what are you basing this on? Did you have a dream? Is it something you just feel? If so, nobody cares. We only care about facts and there is NOTHING you have seen to make such stupid statements.

Now, sit back and enjoy UF win their 4th NC while the puppies are still stuck in 1980…HAHAHAHAHA

Gary

July 30th, 2009
10:09 am

It sure is funny how many of you pay attention to the little Tech wannabees and the prognosticators. I remember in 03, they predicted UGA to be 8-4 and we ended up 11-3, in 05 it was 9-3 with a loss to Boise State and finish behind UT in the east. Yet we ended up 10-3 and SEC Champs. Don’t take predictions to heart because I remember a time Tech was supposed to beat FSU and win the ACC and go to a BCS game. Yet those little nats are still waiting for their shot at the BCS. Predictions, as we should all have learned from last year, mean zilch. This is a complete team and from everything I hear and see from the players and coaches, look for the Dawgs to have a good season.

Those of you complaining about the spring game need to grow up. The spring game is a scrimmage and most freshmen are not even involved. Also, DJ Shockley didn’t look too good in a spring game and ended up taking us to the SEC Championship his senior season.

49-10

July 30th, 2009
10:11 am

SC Dogs….he can’t win the big games…and if you want us to stop saying that, tell us what big game he has won.

Red Elephant

July 30th, 2009
10:12 am

8-4, 9-3 sounds about right to me.
Definite L’s: LSU & Florida
Swing Games: OSU & GT

frank

July 30th, 2009
10:13 am

sounds about right for “nice guy” football.. probably 3-4 games giving up 50 points and playing a 10 wide receivers rotation.

Making sure everyone is happy just like little league.

ATL GATOR

July 30th, 2009
10:13 am

8-4 is about right. I do think they lose to Okie State to open season.

O'Malley Dawg

July 30th, 2009
10:13 am

Hey saint simons, your mom called. She wants to know if you and yellow fuzz want to go pay hide the weenies before your Calculus tutor get here

Gary

July 30th, 2009
10:15 am

Ah, its good to know that school is almost back in session. That way the 45-42’s, the Saint Simons, the 49-10’s, the yellow fuzz’s, etc…..can all be back in class during the school day and we can have a good discussion on College Football and not some playground shouting match.

Hey AJC, its time to do a register to blog and hire a moderator. It is not that hard to do and other sites do it.

BG

July 30th, 2009
10:17 am

This article must be about Tech. The Dawgs win 10 games with ease.

JDAWG

July 30th, 2009
10:20 am

Saint Simons,
GET OVER IT! The trade school got lucky once in 8 years! When you give up 42 points and win, it’s pure luck, anyteam (including UGA) that gives up 42 points should be ashamed! You know your little brother and hit 1 lucky shot to beat big brother—Now you go back to your pocket protectors and leave football to the real men!

49-10

July 30th, 2009
10:21 am

Hello…..my name is special Ed and I am a tool!

49-10

July 30th, 2009
10:21 am

Gary, you can’t be serious! First of all, preseason rankings don’t mean anything when you are a ga fan and can’t handle the pressure. UF did just fine with the expectations in 95(undefeated until they played the best team ever),96,06,08 and will again this year. USC and Texas did just fine in 05. LSU did just fine in 07. Preseason rankings do matter. Are they 100%….obviously not, but they do matter.

Now, what have you seen to make you think this is a complete team? Seriously!!!! Your DT’s are strong and you have a really good LB, but your DE’s are weak and have zero pass rush. Your other LB’s can’t tackle anyone(see GT game) and are constantly out of position and don’t even get me started on you DB’s. They are terrible. Jones is decent, but not as good as he was hyped to be. Your rb’s aren’t as good as Moreno so that is a huge step back. Your qb isn’t as good as Stafford so that is a huge step back. UGA lost their 2 of their top 3 wr’s and their tightend so how in the heck do you say this is a complete team when they bring back guys who just weren’t that good and the good ones left? The oline can only get better, but the only position where UGA is ‘complete’ is DT. As for the spring game, it does matter…just not to you because you don’t want to admit that UGA looked like garbage in it. Brantley threw for 3 td’s and ran for 1 against the first team defense in UF’s spring game and finished for right at 300 yards through the air. Tebow has looked good in every spring game and you can’t say it is because UF’s defense isn’t good since it is arguably the best in CFB. How did Cox do in the Spring game? Did he even a single touchdown? I really don’t know…hahahaha….but yes, I would be complaining as well when my starting offense can’t score against that pathetic defense.

Lost dog

July 30th, 2009
10:22 am

The games still have to be played. A lot will happen both good and bad for UGA and GT. GT will move the ball, but can they stop anyone else? UGA should have a strong defense that keeps them in their games. It will all be about injuries to key players and playing sound football on special teams and in the kicking game, especially kickoffs.

49-10

July 30th, 2009
10:22 am

And I like to play with my gator tail…….yeah that’s what I call it.

austindog

July 30th, 2009
10:24 am

49-10, SECCG against LSU was the last big game CMR won. Big underdogs, for a title. Your previous post is probably right on though.

CW

July 30th, 2009
10:25 am

45-42, good post. Nice to see there is ONE tech fan on the planet that actually has football knowledge. Both Tech and UGA will win 9 fwiw this year. I have no idea about the head to head

49-10

July 30th, 2009
10:25 am

get offended much…..???? You guys are pathetic. You are just as ignorant and arrogant as any of your rivals on here. Do you honestly feel we shouldn’t be allowed to post because we simply don’t agree with all of your homerism? Get a life and get a clue!…and to the poster who said we all go back to school, does that get you through the day? Don’t be mad because you just don’t like what we say. We BOTH know it is the truth…and JDog, don’t talk about Tech winning once every 8 years because UF can say pretty much the same to you.

homer

July 30th, 2009
10:26 am

The RBs scare me. I am okay with the rest of team. We don’t have any studs besides Curran and A J Green, but all around solid. I think we will miss Knowshon more than Stafford. Caleb King and Samuel have not impressed me yet.

9-3

49-10

July 30th, 2009
10:29 am

Austin….you are right….but Russel did leave the game early in that one and one game out of 8 years isn’t that much. I have said for a while that Ricth isn’t that great of a coach…coordinator yes, Head Coach, not so much….but you are right…he did win that one big game

CW….someone that picks a team to win x amount of games doesn’t translate to “football knowledge”….get a clue! You just threw that compliment out there because you like what he said, but nothing he said should make you believe he does or doesn’t have any “football knowledge”

and I do think it is sweet that I have a secret admirer…..I’m blushing….just not gay…sorry

austindog

July 30th, 2009
10:31 am

49-10, but I will say that each of Florida’s titles were only allowed because another top team was upset late in the season. CMR hasn’t been lucky.

49-10

July 30th, 2009
10:31 am

I will say this though homer, if Marlon Brown turns out to be as good as Green, and Orson Charles ends up being good, that will open up huge holes for the tailbacks..

Dooley's Cardiologist

July 30th, 2009
10:33 am

I agree with the odds makers on this one. Too many teams are better this year.

Yellow Jacket Fan

July 30th, 2009
10:34 am

I think Georgia will end up with a 8-4 record and a trip to a bowl game.
The big games being Florida, LSU and Georgia Tech. It is going to be a tough schedule, unlike Florida schedule. Even Vandy will give them a fit this year.

Gary

July 30th, 2009
10:35 am

Uh, 49-10, yes I did direct my post to those like you who come on here and do the HAAHAHAH thing or the 49-10 thing or the totally negative post with no facts whatsoever. Yeah those are nothing more than childish rants you would hear from a kid in middle school.

Btw…..on your last post, UGA vs UF over the last 5 years is 2-3. Florida has a very very good team and I will take nothing away from that, but you people predicting 6-6 or 7-5 for UGA know nothing about this team and thus should really not comment on it.

Now seriously, grow up or you will be get the same treatment as yellow fuzz and Saint Simons.

Pitbull

July 30th, 2009
10:36 am

Georgia will go 10-2 and win their bowl game for a satisfying 11-2 season.

I see a much more aggressive & emotional team this year motivated by a refusal to lose rather than by reliance on 2 outstanding offensive starters to win.

I see a team that is ready to play 60 minutes and pay the price for winning.

I am hoping for a more ball control offence that will control the clock and keep other teams’ offences on the sidelines and pressured when they finally get on the field with limited time on the clock.

Tim Tebow cannot hurt you if he is on the sideline watching the game rather than on the field in the game.

I see a hunger in Athens that was not there last year despite a 10-3 record – which should have been 11-2 if the Dogs defence had tackled against Yech. They will tackle this year, like LSU did in the Chil-Fil-A Bowl.

I see determination in the Dogs faces and demeanor and a single mindedness of purpose.

I see anger. I see victory.

The 2009 season is going to be a great one to be a dog.

UGA Clowns

July 30th, 2009
10:37 am

austin……sure, and UGA only made it to the 05 seccg because UF lost to USC and UGA only made it to the seccg in 03 because FSU beat UF….what is your point? It works both ways. There is always a little luck when you win a NC or CC..Who would deny that, but Meyer has 2 in 4 years and may get 3 in 5. Ricth will have 0 in 9 years. Are you telling me he has had ZERO luck? Sure he has, but it isn’t all luck. It does require some coaching….and don’t forget that Utah finished number 4 and undefeated under Meyer. Not a doubt in my mind that coaching is a bigger part than luck and UF has the better coach

UGA Clowns

July 30th, 2009
10:41 am

gary, treatment?…are you serious…and I am the one who needs to grow up? LMMFAO!!!

IMO, UGA will not win 8 games. I live in GA and know quite a bit about the dogs and they don’t impress me this year. You may not see what I see or may just not want to admit it….and as for the 2-3 record, UGA was a sore shoulder on Tebow away from 1-4….and 16 out of 19 sounds much more accurate

ahope3

July 30th, 2009
10:44 am

JDAWG,
Do you call Tech a trade school because you couldn’t even get looked at on a Tech acceptance list. We ran the ball down your throat last year, no luck just plain old fashioned football. Given UGA is a great team with a large fanbase. I see a 9-3 season for you all. UGA will not come into Atlanta and drag Tech through the mud like many of you dilusional dog fans think. Tech has a great team this year, yes great. They didn’t even scratch the surface of the playbook and were still able to beat you in Athens. There’s really no chance you’re gonna win this year, it’ll b a great game, but a loss for the dawgs.

austindog

July 30th, 2009
10:44 am

49-10, Russell left that game because Georgia beat the crap out of him. Can’t discount a win because the other guy got hurt (JoeT vs Florida)

49-10

July 30th, 2009
10:45 am

pitbull….nobody really cares about what you see or feel or even hope…What football related reason makes you think that crap? Hell, I hope I win the lottery and I feel like my kids will grow up to be doctors? What does that mean?

You said 10-2….do this…tell me who UGA will beat out of LSU/UF/GT/OK ST and why? You are saying that they will win atleast two of these so tell me who and why? And save the typing if you are telling me about feelings and hopes..

Paddy

July 30th, 2009
10:46 am

pittbull…. you are correct. there is something different about this team this year and it is positive. ithink your 11-2 is spot on.

49-10

July 30th, 2009
10:46 am

austin, that is true…..I will give you that.