This won’t be your typical Georgia-Florida game, thank goodness
Aaron Murray should be a key playmaker for the Dogs against the Gators. (Associated Press)
Predictions of how the 2010 Georgia-Florida game will turn out seem to be falling into two categories.
On the one hand, you have those folks like the Vegas oddsmakers who look at how the teams have performed to date and figure the rebounding Dogs, who’ve been clicking offensively the past three weeks, have an edge over the stumbling Gators.
On the other hand, you have prognostications that basically boil down to this: The Dogs will choke and Florida will win because Florida usually wins. Typical of this school of thought is erstwhile AJC-er Terence Moore, who declared on WSB-TV’s “Sports Zone Sunday” that because of the fallout from the infamous end zone dance of 2007 the Dogs will never ever beat the Gators again as long as Urban Meyer is coach.
While Moore’s stance hardly ranks as reasoned analysis, there’s no question Florida has tended to feed off its dominance in the series over the past two decades while the Dogs often press too hard in this game.
But will that Jacksonville mojo really be a factor for the Gators this year? After all, this is sort of an unprecedented match-up of a pair of unranked teams that both have lost to Mississippi State and both count a win over Kentucky as their biggest victory to date. That’s uncharted territory for the Gators.
One thing seems clear: Mark Richt’s Dogs need to continue their recent trend of stopping their opponent from scoring on its first drive and getting the first points. When Georgia has scored first this year, it has won; when it hasn’t, it has lost. And the same applies to Georgia-Florida games in recent years. Fortunately for the Dogs, Florida has been extremely slow out of the gate this season.
The Gators have the best defense that the Dogs will have faced so far, but Florida hasn’t been very effective defending the run, and that’s been Georgia’s strong suit the past few weeks. Washaun Ealey’s “tweaked” knee could be a factor, though, as could some rust from two weeks off for Caleb King. But Georgia has the better quarterback in Aaron Murray and the best receiver in A.J. Green. The Gators do have a terrific secondary, but I don’t think Green will be denied in any one-on-one battle, and if he’s double-teamed, Georgia has other options.
On defense, the Dogs have given up a lot of yards through the air, though the Gator passing game hasn’t been very effective so far this season. And the Dogs have had trouble with mobile quarterbacks, which might make Florida backup Trey Burton in the Wildcat a potential problem. But barring a miracle transformation from Meyer’s bye-week “modifications,” Florida’s offense looks pretty ordinary, even with a gimpy Jeff Demps and stalker boy Chris Rainey returning.
Special teams appear pretty even. Both teams have fine punters; Georgia ought to have an edge in placekicking, since the Gators’ Caleb Sturgis won’t be able to play, but that depends on whether the Dogs’ Blair Walsh can shake off a few recent misses.
So, yeah, there are a lot of question marks hanging over this game. But Florida looks vulnerable for a change and the Dogs aren’t going to come into Jacksonville as intimidated as they have the past couple of years. Turnovers are always big in this series and Georgia has been looking good in that regard recently while the Gators have had problems holding on to the ball. And I think dual-threat Murray will be the big difference.
Bottom line is that Georgia has the momentum and the more dangerous offense this year, which should be enough to overcome any lingering Jacksonville jitters.
Go Dogs!
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198 comments Add your comment
funny...
October 29th, 2010
5:33 pm
20 years of this has taught me to reserve any judgement or comments until after the game.
try not to ruin the beaches you rednecks
October 29th, 2010
5:44 pm
http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/st-simons-tells-uga-700759.html
my goodness. what an embarrassment
fred mertz has lost his mind and his calculator
October 29th, 2010
6:09 pm
florida wont score 49 points combined for the rest of the year thats the worst attempt at a spread offense ive seen. we can only hope burton QBs a lot cuz it will be pick 6 for georgia all day !!!
SadDawg
October 29th, 2010
6:11 pm
Bill, why even write the name Terence Moore into your blog. He is a bigoted jerk, and who cares what he thinks about UGA?
aladawg
October 29th, 2010
6:22 pm
CJ_ NC Dawg You sure are stupid, I doesn’t matter how Green threw the ball until Cold McCoy he won more games that any other quaterback. He continues in second place.
aladawg
October 29th, 2010
6:28 pm
KFC. you are an idiot, Richt has already won the SEC twice.
aladawg
October 29th, 2010
6:44 pm
To all of you negative dawg fans running your mouths about how GA will loose need to go pick up your Well Fare Checks get your weekly pizza and stay the hell off this blog.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 29th, 2010
6:50 pm
aladawg
I see you have a great Alabama and Georgia education. Would that be Welfare? You your computer for something besides football and the blogs please.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 29th, 2010
6:51 pm
Sorry
Use Your computer
hairydawg1
October 29th, 2010
6:51 pm
The florida boys on the offense should have a big day. Look for Murray to Charles. If you can’t beat em out recruit em. Dawgs win a close one.
Swampdog
October 29th, 2010
6:56 pm
it’s a feeling that has been growing all day. Something familiar followed by something surprising os going to happen in Jax tomorrow….
UGA is going to stumble out of the gate, maybe even give up the first score…… but sometime in the second quarter or early third at the latest the Dawgs are going to explode and blow the Lizards back to the swamp by an embarrassing margin…… say 42-21……
Any takers?
MAR_DAWG
October 29th, 2010
7:21 pm
Hunker it down!
NashDawg
October 29th, 2010
7:28 pm
KFC get lost.
MAR_DAWG
October 29th, 2010
7:33 pm
KFC – RATS leave a sinking ship. I bet you are the BIGGEST rat of them all.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 29th, 2010
7:57 pm
SwampDawg
If that feeling has been growing all day I think it says on the Bottle to see a docter.
Dawgs will not score 42 no way. I can’t see that happening.
the two sec champs won by ga, mr aladog
October 29th, 2010
8:28 pm
were with other coaches players…what have you don lately?
kfc's lover
October 29th, 2010
8:36 pm
he does have a small unit!
hairydawg1
October 29th, 2010
8:45 pm
To our new AD. I was a little taken back by your comments as to why Florida means more to Dawg fans(at least south Georgia fans) than S.C., Tenn, etc. It is because the SEC east usually runs thru JAX. As a member of the other team for the last 18 years you may not have noticed. Being able to go down to J-Town and lay the wood to the gators usually means an excellant Georgia season. Just trying to catch U up.
Delbert D.
October 29th, 2010
8:54 pm
Some crib sheet Florida stats
Florida – Opponents
Scoring by quarter
1Q 14-29
2Q 59-48
3Q 61-31
4Q 59-23
Rushing yards/game 142.1 – 131.3
Passing yards/game 186.9 – 166.6
(Total Sacks_yards) (13_67) – (10_69)
(Total Tackles for loss_yards) (41_147) – (47_174)
Game Results
Miami W 34-12
Tenn W 38-14
Kent W 31-17
Ala L 6-31
LSU L 29-33
Ms.St.L 7-10
Delbert D.
October 29th, 2010
9:02 pm
Rainey, the difference maker?
Season stats (2 games):
4 carries for 16 yards.
6 receptions for 36 yards, 1 TD
Darren
October 29th, 2010
9:18 pm
3 keys to beating Florida in the Georgia-Florida game under Richt.
I looked at the past 9 games. Over 100 variables.
3 keys were:
1- Georgia gets a 100 yard rusher = 100% win
2- Georgia’s TE gains more yards than Florida’s TE = 89% win
3- Win the 1st quarter = 89% win
bart
October 29th, 2010
9:20 pm
Meyer has Richt’s number. Gators win.
Delbert D.
October 29th, 2010
9:28 pm
I knew those didn’t look right
Game Results
Miami W 34-12
USF W 38-14
Tenn W 31-17
Kent W 48-14
Ala L 6-31
LSU L 29-33
Ms.St.L 7-10
WoodstockDawg03
October 29th, 2010
11:28 pm
gaytor fans know what’s coming tomorrow, you can hear it in their timid comments. the physical Dawgs will control the game and win, let’s say 38-24 or so with UF scoring a late garbage TD to make it look somewhat respectable….
Dallasdawg
October 30th, 2010
1:58 am
JUST WIN BABY !!!!!
jc_dawgs
October 30th, 2010
3:59 am
Ga is smelling blood in this one.
Dawgs 31-23. I hope its much more lop sided than that.
Boxscore
1 2 3 4 T
UF 3 7 6 7 23
GA 10 7 14 0 31
Techenvy
October 30th, 2010
4:02 am
Tech at this point could take two weeks off, it doesn’t matter. I have always been told that cpj stays somewhere as long as he is winning, he always leaves when it catches up to him. Didn’t believe it. I do now.
The Red Clay Hound
October 30th, 2010
4:58 am
Lets say Oscar Myer…I mean Urban Myer is able to get the Florida offense to play better coming off the bye. They are not the type of offense that will play smash mouth. Instead they are more finess and track like. But…there skilled players on offense lack toughness. So….if they run a lot of reverses…screens and flatpasses….can Ga’s OLBs and corners contain and matchup speed wise? I know they will be able to shed blocks. But…are they too slow and subject to giving up big plays in todays game?
On offense….Ga….with Green now back in the lineup for the last several weeks…is rolling. The OL is starting to play like they are one of the best in the country. That and Green were Ga’s strengths coming into this season and we are starting to see that now. So Ga will score pts today even with Ealey a little gimpy. King and that other scat type back are more than capable to carry the rushing load. And lets not forget about Murray’s rushing ability. Lets just hope he is smart and does not fight for that extra yard every time.
So what do you think….do Ga’s OLBs and corners have the speed and will they maintain conatainment. on the defensive side of the football? Ga must play a bend but dont break style of defense and allow UF to make the mistakes they are so accustomed to making lately.
as for special teams….clearly Ga has the edge in the kicking game.
I say Ga….38-10. I think the D is going to come to play and they are going to physically beat on those less physical Florida track stars for 4 qtrs. Lots of Florida turnovers in this one….maybe even close to a record number for this series. Track stars generally don’t hang on to the ball very well when they start gettin popped. And Ga…though not blazing fast on defense….they have some hitters, dont they?.
Rabid Dawg
October 30th, 2010
5:26 am
“3RD DOWN ON THE 8. BUCK IN TROUBLE…GOT A BLOCK BEHIND HIM. GONNA THROW ON THE RUN…IT’S COMPLETE TO LINDSAY SCOTT ON THE 25 TO THE 30. LINDSAY SCOTT 35, 40. LINDSAY SCOTT 45, 50. 45,40. RUN LINDSAY!!! 25,20,15,10,5…LINDSAY SCOTT!! ….LINDSAY SCOTT!!…..LINDSAY SCOTT!!!!!”
30 years ago…..classic! Unbelievable!!!
Rabid Dawg
October 30th, 2010
5:35 am
It would be neat if Belue and L Scott talked to the team before the game today. Talk about being fired up…..they would probably be way over amped at that point.
Bulldog Joe
October 30th, 2010
7:34 am
2-7 CMR vs Florida
1-8 Georgia tek vs CMR
good thing Georgia tek hasn’t played Florida since 1981
Dagny
October 30th, 2010
7:37 am
Thugs lose. The Athens thugs, of course.
joey
October 30th, 2010
8:12 am
Hey BOOBOO. I wana see everything used, including a end-around by the kitchen sink!
Hobnail Boot
October 30th, 2010
8:44 am
Red clay hound, good post. I agree, our OLB should have a huge game and force a few fumbles due to getting the taste smacked out of their mouth.
Red Panties
October 30th, 2010
8:49 am
Attention, everyone, especially dawgtards. We will now observe a moment of silence in memory of Saint Jan Kemp, who exposed the shameful practices at UGA that were initiated and carried out by slimeball Vince Dooley. Dooley’s image as a coach and a nice guy were forever shattered during the trial, not to mention the one million dollars that dawgtards had to pay Saint Jan. These practices of recruiting morons and coddling them for four years, them tossing them out like garbage, are still going on, but at least the world knows what’s happening in Athens now.
And now, the moment of silence…
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Thank you, you may resume your normal activities now.
DawgNation
October 30th, 2010
9:15 am
Red Panties and kfc,
Please delete that cut and pasted babble you post on EVERY UGA blog. It’s old, tired and irrelevant just like the two of you.
Reality
October 30th, 2010
9:38 am
It will be a miracle if UGA wins this game. I am sorry—–their record sucks against Florida and there is no other way to say it————-they have had the better team before and got their asses whipped. Or should I say blown out. Im done. I guess I will never understand football politics—how can UGA lose to Florida so many years—man this is terrible—is there another coach out there somewhere that could beat Florida every year?
Saint Jan
October 30th, 2010
9:53 am
DawgNation is being disrespectful. Don’t you hate it when he gets his red panties in a wad!
Dawgs73
October 30th, 2010
10:08 am
I would like to think in my delusional mind that my beloved Dawgs will win, but if I’m objective I’d say no. It’s not because I want the Dawgs to lose, it’s due to fact based knowledge that Meyer is immeasurably a better coach than Richt (and HATES to lose).
I believe that Mark will show his true colors today and play to “his favorites”. Here’s what I mean…1. Caleb King will start today and even though Ealey has already stated that he is fine, King will start. I have no problems overall with King, but Ealey is playing at a very high level right now and is in sync with the offensive line (which is very important). King will stagger for the most of the first half and clueless Richt will leave him in there as we fall behind early.
Next, we will see the great “punt safe” return specialist play most if not all returns and gain zero yards (even though we have Smith, Green, and others who are more than above average).
Let's Talk About UGA!
October 30th, 2010
11:20 am
test
Bama Fan #2
October 30th, 2010
11:23 am
The gators are terrible and the dawgs are coming on so the Dawgs will win by 2 touchdowns!!
Let's Talk About UGA!
October 30th, 2010
11:24 am
Go Dawgs!
Whoop them gAytors!
Trash St. Simons!
Trash Jacksonville!
Let’s march on toward our next National Championship!
Go Dawgs!
Bama Fan #2
October 30th, 2010
11:24 am
Let’s Talk About Tech! Better WHO CARES!!!
Let's Talk About UGA!
October 30th, 2010
11:25 am
I think I’m drunk already.
Let's Talk About UGA!
October 30th, 2010
11:26 am
Let’s talk about Coach Shula! Go Dawgs!
Let's Talk About UGA!
October 30th, 2010
11:34 am
I’m ready for the game.
The surround-sound is rattling the trailer.
The beer is cold.
Mama is at work.
I’ve got my Garrison Hearst jersey on.
I’ve got my red panties on (they keep gettin’ tangled in the dangle).
Go Dawgs! Sic ‘em!
Let's Talk About UGA!
October 30th, 2010
11:42 am
I just threw-up on Mama’s keyboard. Time for another beer.
Go Dawgs!
Let's Talk About UGA!
October 30th, 2010
11:47 am
On the way to the fridge, I tripped over my UGA bean-bag and ripped my REM poster of the wall.
This noise is giving me a headache.
Mama’s keyboard is sticky.
Go Dawgs!
Let's Talk About UGA!
October 30th, 2010
11:54 am
The police are outside. I’m typing from under the bed. Go Dawgs!
Pass The Ball
October 30th, 2010
1:19 pm
Our first play should be a long pass to Durham. Open up the field.