What will be the Dawgs’ biggest ‘don’t miss’ game?
I saw where ESPN.com’s SEC blog was polling readers about the biggest in-conference “don’t miss” game of the 2011 season.
Last I checked, LSU at Alabama was way ahead of the pack with 48 percent of the vote, followed by Alabama at Auburn (19 percent), Arkansas at Alabama (14 percent), South Carolina at Georgia (10 percent) and Georgia-Florida in Jacksonville (9 percent).
I was a bit surprised that the South Carolina-Georgia game, which many observers figure could be a big factor in deciding the SEC East this year, didn’t draw more votes. Looks like a lot of SEC West fans read that blog.
Anyway, that got me to thinking about which of UGA’s games (including nonconference foes) should be considered this year’s don’t-miss game.
Loading ...But then a week later the Gamecocks come Between the Hedges, and the winner of that game will be an early favorite in the SEC East.
Of course, the Gators don’t believe that. Asked this week by a booster in Tampa how his team will do in the division, former Dawg Will Muschamp flatly stated, “Yes, sir, we’re gonna win the East.” Florida’s definitely in a rebuilding mode this season, however, so a lot of folks think the Dogs might have a great chance to notch a rare Jacksonville win.
Which raises another question: Does any win over the Gators trump beating the Old Ball Coach in what may be a more important game for Georgia in terms of conference standings?
What about defending national champion Auburn returning to Athens in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry? That’s always a big game, and with the dirty play on the Plains last year having left a lot of bad feeling on the Georgia side, it’s probably even more so this year. But this won’t be the same Tiger team as last year, by a long shot.
And then there’s the annual grudge match with the Yellow Jackets, this year at Grant Field in Atlanta, where the Dogs embarrassed the eventual ACC champions two years ago. Can the in-state rival ever not be considered a don’t miss game?
They’re all don’t-miss games, frankly, but if I have to pick the biggest one of the season, I’m opting for South Carolina in Athens. The loser will have a tough time making it to the championship game in Atlanta.
What do you think is the biggest don’t-miss game? Vote in the poll, sound off in the comments, or do both.
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196 comments Add your comment
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
May 14th, 2011
5:32 pm
Wow “A rare Jacksonville win”
Boy I miss the Dooly days
We sure have sunk to the level of GT with comments like that
Lets give this coaching staff a 50% raise for every loss to FL they have,
Im all for this backword, quitter mentality we have now
Ca dawg
May 14th, 2011
5:41 pm
Florida. Always always always Florida. We should always beat sc and we normally do. Its the gators.
DIT
May 14th, 2011
5:48 pm
Ca Dawg – I agree with what you said, but the article is about this year. We have to come out of the shoot in SEC play and beat SC. If we some how manage to beat Boise and SC, that will set an awesome tone for the year. Loose both of those games and we are looking at another 6 win season. If we beat SC we beat UF… Of course that is just my opinion.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
May 14th, 2011
5:55 pm
DIT
IF we do that this coaching staff will find a way to lose to FL
I will take a believe it when I see it approach to beating FL
chazzo
May 14th, 2011
6:15 pm
I truly hope that it is the Auburn game. I hope that IF our Dawgs go 2-0 to start the season that they won’t decide like President Bush that the mission is accomplished.
Fortress of Solitude Dawg
May 14th, 2011
6:23 pm
Let’s dust off some “good ol’ reliables” aka “excuses” for use this season. How about:
1) The refs are against us
2) The other team plays dirty
3) We had all our first team out sick/injured/whatever
4) We had to ride the bus after riding the plane
5) ESPN is against us
6) Every team brings their A-game when they play us
7) We played all walk-ons and still only lost by 4 touchdowns
8 ) The other team’s coach is a jerk. Ours is the only stand-up coach in the country.
9) If our players didn’t spend 60 hours a week studying and getting 4.0 GPAs we’d be better.
DIT's spell checker
May 14th, 2011
6:32 pm
Not to nitpick, DIT, but I believe you meant to say “chute” and “lose”. I imagine it was just the excitement of the on-coming new season.
TampaDAWG
May 14th, 2011
7:08 pm
Lots of haters today. How interesting and pathetic. Good news for the haters though is there can not be any excuses this year including injuries. UGA does have the talent to compete with everyone, especially with 2 true NTs, a more athletic line backer group, and year 2 in Granthams scheme. Every game on the schedule is winable, we have a 5 star running back coming in along with Ken Malcome. And we have lots and lots of speed coming in with the Freshman class. Hopefully Coach Friend can coach all the touted offensive lineman better than Searels did so we do have a better running game and give Crowell some room to show why he is so highly touted. Its only May, can’t wait til Sep. Go DAWGS!!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
May 14th, 2011
7:08 pm
FJR just took the cake for blind homerism. People think GEORGIA fans are bad? WOW! First so what if it was only 2 Beers before attending a LEADERSHIP Conference. When you are Garcia and have had multiple incidents involving Alcohol you should know better. I would have berated his ass too if he showed up smelling of booze. He deserved it. He may get another shot but it is simply because OBC in his late 60’s is desperate to validate not SC but his personal legacy after walking away from UF and getting embarrassed in the NFL. Lets not kid ourselves here.
OldFan
May 14th, 2011
7:34 pm
It has to be Auburn. UGA will be 5-4 then. A win, and we’ll likely go 8-4. A loss, and a winning season becomes a challenge.
Buh bye, Mr. Queen
May 14th, 2011
7:34 pm
Caleb King will never play another down for UGA. He’ll either fail his remedial studies and/or he’ll spend too much time in the Athens jail.
It’s either sanitation or custodial services for the punk. Or a shopping cart.
Chris
May 14th, 2011
7:40 pm
It will always be Florida until we start beating them more often, or at least level off what has been a one sided series for over 20 years.
Dirty Dawg
May 14th, 2011
7:42 pm
It starts with Boise St….ends with whatever bowl game we go to…and has a lot more in between. Needless to say this is a critical season for Georgia if for no other reason to shut the naysayers the hell up…as if that were possible, but at least we’ll know whose nose to rub in it when The Dogs make a great season out of twenty-eleven…and we do know who you are.
Dawg Squeeze
May 14th, 2011
7:43 pm
South Carolina. Spurrier to bring Richt era to a close.
Ca dawg
May 14th, 2011
7:44 pm
I take your point DIT– definitely will make things easier to come out strong. But remember 2007, when we lost to SC at home and then took it to FL later in the year. Honestly I think the realistic goal this year has got to be to win 2 of the 3 big SEC east games (SC, FL, UT). We do that and I like our chances.
Dawg Squeeze
May 14th, 2011
7:45 pm
By the way dawg fans, Era means “period of time”. You know…like …….”since I graduated from UGA, I’ve worked at Waffle House for an era”.
Bogey
May 14th, 2011
7:49 pm
USC and Fla are equally important. Win both and a trip to Atlanta is virtually assured as both will lose another game in conference which means Ga could lose two as well and still represent the East. Just get it done.
Class of 93
May 14th, 2011
7:53 pm
The Boise State game is the first and the biggest. An 8pm kickoff will bring the loudest crowd the GA Dome has ever seen. Will they sell beer like they do for the Chick Fillet bowl? I hope not. I saw some crazy things when booze was sold in our last game their agaisnt Va Tech. A guy in front of use passed out, turned purple(we thougt he was dead) and had to be taken away on stretcher. I saw a guy get punched in the face so hard I think it broke his facial bones. I saw a VA Tech fan try to steal a little boys bulldog flag, the daddy had to fight him to get it back. There is a very good reason that we do not sell booze at SEC game.
Say What ?
May 14th, 2011
7:56 pm
Tampa Dawg: there can be no excuses this year ? ! ?
I guess we just need to fast-forward a bit, eh ? You, my friend, gave me the laugh-of-the-day. (and I use the term “friend” lightly.)
TampaDAWG
May 14th, 2011
8:05 pm
Say What?,
How is that funny? Whats funny is someone who likes to talk smack but isn’t even brave enough to let us know who they are backing “friend” To be as bitter as you, well maybe thats why you just stick with say what since you really have nothing to say…
powerhouse?
May 14th, 2011
8:10 pm
if you let boyz beat you, then SC becomes super important. So if you beat SC you still have a reason to play hard…the division title. Lose both the first two and all you will hear is “rebuilding” and whimpering. And possibly “Good Bye”.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
May 14th, 2011
8:35 pm
The Biggest ‘ Don’t Miss ‘ Game
could be against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.
Criminal Justice
May 14th, 2011
8:40 pm
Boise State will end all of the hallucinations about a “Dream Team.”
It’s ludicrous to think that a bunch of illiterate bozos in Athens could win anything, much less a BCS championship.
I-DOG
May 14th, 2011
10:05 pm
Boise State is a huge game. If Georgia loses, there will be more “noise in the system” than we have seen since the last days of Goff. Fair or unfair, right or wrong… if UGA was to lose that game, there will be enormous pressure on the staff, players, and admin. Lose that game and SC becomes Richt’s last stand. The pressure would then double with a loss to South Carolina and I personally believe it is likely the team would impload. Again, not saying that is fair or unfair… just what I believe would happen.
However, on the positive side… if UGA wins the first game against Boise it changes things tremendously. The following week a SC win would sprinboard the Dawgs into the top 15 and maybe just out of the top 10 and would give everyone involved with UGA football confidence and excitement towards the SEC East race. Losing the SC game after a Boise St. win, would be tough, but the team can bounce back from it and the pressure on Richt wouldn’t be something that can’t be overcome.
Saban
May 14th, 2011
10:46 pm
The beatdown by Coastal Carolina at homecoming.
RabidDawgFan
May 14th, 2011
11:08 pm
I think the game that we can’t miss is Mississippi State in Athens. Those boys over in Starkville are getting better and better and we can’t afford to lose to them. I agree that our SEC East schedule are must wins, but the game that I’m excited to see is that game vs. Mississippi State.
truedawg
May 14th, 2011
11:17 pm
Enter your comments here
RomeDawgs
May 14th, 2011
11:17 pm
EVERY game is BIG, however, with that being said, after Auburn rejuvenated the “good ole fashioned hate” I think I look forward to that one the most. You can’t really count Tech as relevant seeing as they NEVER beat us and aren’t even in our conference. Why don’t we start scheduleing someone in their spot that can improve on national standing?
truedawg
May 14th, 2011
11:28 pm
We have beat AU enough that we look to them like UF looks to us. even if we loose, We believe We’ll get them next year. USC is dilusional. We had no AJ and no Huston, and Murray was a freshman QB, and last years game and played @ USC, and they still barely beat the Dawgs!!! USC has no QB. will they be better than last year? the same? if they are just the same, then Dawgs get that win. UF those stinking Gaytors…That the biggest game!! As a dawg fan seeing Urban Cryer calling those time outs to drag the game, the heart break of last year, and know that if the dawgs could have beat UF every year we lost, the dawgs would have 2 BCS titles on the shelf. If I was Richt and the Dawgs and could beat UF 109-0 I’d say do it, everytime! no game is ever bigger than UF-UGA. GO DAWGS!!!!
sports
May 14th, 2011
11:30 pm
Boise St. will be a big test and will show if the defense has improved. The quarterback for the Broncos is a veteran with lots of weapons and they have a solid defense…Georgia will be very lucky to win this one.
We will find out a lot after that first game.
sports
May 15th, 2011
12:00 am
My name be Rufus, I’m corn bread fed and can lift a tractor, I be goin’ to Auburn…what state that in? Coaach say don’t “don’t worry about academics”, what that is? He gonna make me a star for bussting some heads.
UGA FRIEND
May 15th, 2011
3:38 am
The SC game followed by UF game are the two most important. Boise St. and GT are irrevalant compared to conference games. I believe the Dawgs will finish regular season no worse than 10-2.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
May 15th, 2011
7:23 am
The Boise Sta game is big to see if the defense has improved? Look, BSU is going to rack some yards up on us, probably score over 28. Thats the reality of there offense. Couple that with a possible Heisman trophy candidate at QB? To think UGA will shut them down is naive. UGA simply has to contain the offense, and find that running game to control the clock.
The next week against South Carolina is where we will find out how much truly the defense has improved. I think Lattimore is still eating up yards and T.O.P against us. Fans cannot point to the Boise game as a measuring stick for the defense. Again it will be possibly the best offense they will see all season and perhaps one of the best in the Nation.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 15th, 2011
7:42 am
My vote goes for the Boise state game, simply because it is the opening game of the season and will set the tone for the rest of the season. UGA will not be favored but if they win, it gives the team a big boost. SC game is second. Gt tech. game is probably not that important since most of the time, UGA puts it away.
GO DAWGSSSSS
Pago Pago Dawg
May 15th, 2011
8:31 am
The Lady Diamond Dawgs blow a 4 run lead and lose the SEC to UT. Can UGA win anything in the SEC!?
Beast from the East
May 15th, 2011
8:43 am
Somewhat surprised by the poll results. I figured it would be a landslide for USC or UF since they are such important games in the East. I guess the fact that BSU is the first game overrode that for lots of the UGA faithful. Interesting.
MikeP
May 15th, 2011
9:45 am
As an Auburn fan I’m looking forward to going back to Athens. Auburn usually wins there and it’s a nice trip from East Alabama.
Hope it’s a day game, the Autumn foliage is really beautiful driving back after another “W” over the Dawgs between the hedges. The late afternoon sun and the win do something for the North Georgia trees.
Goodbye
May 15th, 2011
9:53 am
Mark Richts last game of his Farewell Tour.
1eyedJack
May 15th, 2011
10:33 am
Is this thing on?
1eyedJack
May 15th, 2011
10:36 am
Must see? That would be the Tech game as that’s the only one you will be able to get tickets to.
Must win? Boise, because it sets the tone and would be a huge confidence builder. CMR you gotta do something different than past years to get this team ready to play.
South Carolina, because it’s the first SEC game and will set the pecking order in the East. Plus it’s Darth Visor and what’s more satisfying than shutting him up.
Florida, no reason needed.
Awbun, just because they need a good beatdown to put them back in their place and get the world back in it’s proper orbit.
The BIG embarrassment for GT is .....
May 15th, 2011
10:52 am
We Dogs, all know that “under CMR, UGA is lousy”, or “they suck” or “they are simply no good” and etc. Right?? Is that not what the Techers scream in the same breath that they declare CPJ a savior??? Hmmmmm??
Under CMR …………………GT has won one game. Yes, the 09 game for GT was a giant FLOP, because all of my GT friends thought that it was in the bag.
Techers ……………always remember, Grant Field is UGA’s SECOND most favorite stadium to play in.
Besides, UGA over history is only behind ALabama, the real USC and PN State in the number of BOWL WINS. This stat says it all. ALL TIME Bowl wins means that the school is invited to a …………….bowl game.
Over the last 12 or 14 years ……………. UGA is one of the top winning programs.
UGA man here, class of 71 & 73
Troll Power Ratings
May 15th, 2011
10:54 am
1IdJ: spot on… funny that TECH is running at about 4%. Can’t wait to hear about how irrelevant Georgia is
.
Buckeye
May 15th, 2011
11:08 am
The return to the LIberty Bowl!
Troll Power Ratings
May 15th, 2011
11:12 am
OState will be lucky to get to the Liberty Bowl. Oh, wait, they play in the Big 10…maybe not.
1eyedJack
May 15th, 2011
11:18 am
The way things are going Ohio St could be banned from going bowling.
Charles
May 15th, 2011
11:26 am
SC is by far the more important game. Boise is a non conference and if we beat SC and lose to UF i think SC has a good chance of beating UF and shaking up the SEC EAST standings
FanSince59
May 15th, 2011
11:57 am
For Richt, the two biggest games of the year are Boise State and Carolina. Lose those two back to back, and I think McGarity will be forced to can him at that time, even if he does not want to. Have a nationally televised meltdown against Boise State a la Alabama and Richt may be gone immediately…if not sooner.
Scorekeeper
May 15th, 2011
12:03 pm
Boise State 67, Athens School for the Lawless and Retarded 13
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 15th, 2011
12:14 pm
Now that’s real funny Scorekeeper, LOL. Want to wager a few bucks on that score?
LoganvilleDAWG
May 15th, 2011
12:16 pm
Like usual, all I read on these blogs is so-called UGA fans wanting Coach Richt fired. Most of you don’t know 1 thing about the program. Most of you never attend a UGA football game. You read something negative in a newspaper and think its true. I guess you think read some junk in the same paper & think we have a great commandor-in-chief running our great country. Like I have said many, many times you look at the 3-4 prior UGA football coaches & they can not come close to Coach Richt’s wins his 1st ten years. You call the players thugs, they are the same kids all the other schools are wanting. Because they come to UGA you think they are thugs. My can’t you be positive toward them, they are not perfect, just like I AM NOT PERFECT. But all of you must think you are perfect, have a perfect life, great role model’s to your community & family. I know I am not perfect but I am not a thug. If we had not had a couple of bad seasons & had great seasons instead, then the bunch of nice’uns on these blogs would be praising the coaches & players. That’s really sad, it shows most of you DO NOT have a clue. You think the glass is half empty instead of half full. Why can’t you support the staff, players & want to the team win some games.I wll tell all of you, all you want to to do is whine about Coach Richt, If you go to a UGA game, then you are the one my son & me see not making any noise at all. Get the team pumped up, make it be a tough place to play like it was when I was at school, class of 1981. The other teams do not fear playing BETWEEN THE HEDGES anymore, Most of the fans, students just stand around complaining about Coach Richt & don’t know the 1st thing about the program. I hate to say this but our so called fans are just wanting to complain about this & that about the football program. When you start knowing something about college football, then write some comments on the blogs. Otherwise keep reading all the crap in our newspapers & think its all true. I hope the negative fans have a GREAT DAY!!!