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
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 15th, 2011
12:39 pm
The buckeyes will get in a bowl.
They will have to drive to it in cars, but I hear they got some pretty good deals on that mode of transportation, LOL.
Fisher
May 15th, 2011
12:49 pm
Western Carolina 77, TECH 6 (missed the extra point kick)
1eyedJack
May 15th, 2011
1:20 pm
Thanks Fisher, I guess our wild guess is just as good as theirs.
1eyedJack
May 15th, 2011
1:32 pm
UGA 100 GT -21. For all you calculus guys, before you whip out your slideruler, that’s a negative number. Afterwards Tech reveals that Al Groh has been dead for two years.
Trenton
May 15th, 2011
1:34 pm
Boise will be the only win against a ranekd team in 2011, Georgia will lose to SC, Aubrun & Florida.
Trenton
May 15th, 2011
1:36 pm
Unfortunately, out of 21,000 voters, 61% say Richt’s on the hottest seat in the SEC.
Only 8% think Richt will win the SEC.
So basically, UGA doesn’t have a ‘don’t miss’ game.
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/41996/poll-which-sec-coach-needs-to-win
Pago Pago DAWG
May 15th, 2011
2:01 pm
loganvilleDAWG; PLZ hit the “enter” button every 10,000 lines, gessh.
bubba4dawgs
May 15th, 2011
3:04 pm
It’s SC without a doubt. Dawgs gotta stop Clowny and Lattimore…..tough assignment! Hey Dawgs, you can do!! You got the talent, now use it!!! Go Dawgs!!
That was no fluke; Johnson let up!
May 15th, 2011
3:42 pm
johnson will become .500 this year against the dogs. After they “loose” most of the sec games and find out the dream’s a nightmare, the will have quit.
Delbert D.
May 15th, 2011
4:00 pm
I’ll vote for Georgia-South Carolina. Both teams have capable QBs and pretty even talent in other areas except for RB. It could go either way.
14-0 or else
May 15th, 2011
4:07 pm
It seems Loganville Dawg forgot to take his medication.
south carolina
May 15th, 2011
4:49 pm
has richt ever been able to win two straight back to back meaningful SEC games?
someone should name them. two straight v ranked opponents…don’t think its happened in 10 years.
ok, koolaiders, before you spill your drinks, and rush to your keyboards to start bashing, you cannot count Kentucky, Vandy, Ole Miss or MSU….
AZDAWG
May 15th, 2011
5:08 pm
Hey South Carolina? Richt has played in three SEC Championships, winning two. How many in ten years have USC played in, and ya’ll still didnt show up!!
AZDAWG
May 15th, 2011
5:11 pm
UGA will be back again this year!!! Dont miss games of 2011 are 1a.Boise St.-need to look like SEC Champs. 1b.USC-need to prove Richt has prepared his team to be SEC champs of 2011
old time dog
May 15th, 2011
6:02 pm
Look at the schedule and how many games do you see? Then you have the answer to how many “can’t miss” there are. Each and every one of them had better be important to this staff and team. Don’t let our strengths be our weakness!
Trenton
May 15th, 2011
6:14 pm
Only 8% of sports fans think watching a UGA game is a ‘must see’ game.
Richt has underperfomred so poorly with his NFL talent, that people pretty much know what Richt can do.
Looking forward to the Bama-LSU game, it’ll be the game of the year.
Mettenberger probably gets the ‘W’.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/22753/poll-secs-dont-miss-game-in-2011
Dawg4ever
May 15th, 2011
6:22 pm
Any team UGA plays that has a winning record this year will be a don’t miss game. Don’t miss that is another UGA loss. It is funny how all UGA fans are so confident about the Fl. game. All i hear is how Fl. is rebuilding. What about UGA? Seems to me that a team that wins 6 games, and didn’t beat a team with a winning record would be rebuilding also. UGA has no r.b, no go to wide receiver, no dominant offensive lineman, no proven play maker in the front 7 on defense, and no play maker at safety, yet UGA fans are confident UGA will beat Fl. UGA has gone to jax. with RIcht as head coach with a more talented team several times only to get their asses handed to them. Will believe this team will win a game against Boise, S.C, Fl, Miss St, and Auburn when i see it. Sorry, but Richt’s kool-aid tastes mighty bitter to me.
LoganvilleDAWG
May 15th, 2011
6:34 pm
Hey pago pago dawg & 14-0 or else, can ya’ll write more than one line. When both of you know the ins & outs of college football, maybe you will have 2 lines. The only way to get ones like yorself is have a detailed blog. But based on the one liner’s from ya’ll its show us that is too complicated for you to understand. . I actually wanted to flush out the so called fans that do not know ANYTHING about this program. And pago you need to learn how to count better. Hope both of you have a lovely day!!!!
This Dawg Want Hunt!!
May 15th, 2011
7:02 pm
How can UGA fans continue to say that Murray will be the best Q.B. in the SEC next year, especially that he is better than Garcia. Last time i checked Garcia beat Florida, UGA, and Bama last year, and he has beaten alot of teams with winning records the past 3 years. Murray hasn’t beaten any team that was any good, and he has stunk the place up when the game is on the line in big games last year. Yet to hear UGA fans tell it, the guy is like Tom Brady in the 4th qtr. of big games. Just because the guy beats Vandy, Tenn, and Kentucky in succession and throws for alot of yards against these teams, doesn’t make him a winner or the best q.b. in the SEC. Until he beats someone that matters, he will be no more than a guy that puts up big numbers against inferior competition. Same can be said for the entire UGA program right now, and that goes for Richt also. At least UGA fans can’t say he is the best coach in the SEC. Hell, right now there are about 6 that are better and counting.
Pago Pago DAWG
May 15th, 2011
7:07 pm
What Pago DAWG is saying…..USE “paragraphs”..it’s not rocket science!
Troll Power Ratings
May 15th, 2011
7:16 pm
I’m still trying to figure out what it is the dawg would like to hunt. Very, very profound post, too.
Tony is a drunk EM EFFER!
May 15th, 2011
7:51 pm
Nuff Said!
the REAL Phil
May 15th, 2011
7:55 pm
Did Tony just TONY just say that Garcia was one of the best three offensive players in the SEC?????????? HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa
Garcia is the best player South Carolina’s opponent has!!!!!!!!!!
Tony is a moron on the order of Tide Roll
Effie's of Athens Boarding House
May 15th, 2011
8:17 pm
Gotta beat Boise State on Georgia soil in Atlanta.
Say what you really mean
May 15th, 2011
8:21 pm
The sad little friendless haters are out in force again. I guess they have a lot more time to hang out on the AJC what with no jobs, no friends, no life etc…
Ed (The Original)
May 15th, 2011
8:43 pm
Florida, because it’s always huge and this season might represent Richt’s last chance to save his job.
Delbert D.
May 15th, 2011
8:56 pm
South Carolina defense front 7:
DE 6-7, 248
DT 6-4, 298
DT 6-4, 273
DE 6-2, 271
MLB 6-0, 229
WLB 6-0, 229
Spur 6-2, 208
VA DAWG
May 15th, 2011
9:07 pm
The next game is the biggest game….therefore its Boise without a doubt. GO DAWGS!
trupert
May 15th, 2011
9:58 pm
Ga vs Boise St= Great matchup and the win will put Ga in the top12-14 and the dawgs will be playing for respect and conference pride.
Ga vs SC= Biggest home game of the year. It’s the most important game of the season as far as winning the East is concerned and a win in this one puts Ga in the top 7-11 in the nation.
Ga vs Fla. This series has never made sinse and this will be the year that Ga turns the tables in the rilvery, win this one and Ga’s in the top 5 in the nation.
Ga vs Aub= UGA ranked in the top 5 and Auburn ranked between 26-45 but this will be by far the biggest game against a non contender of the year and that’s including GT because these tigers need to get some payback for multiple cheap shots and a game plan to take out the Ga qb Murray, as a way to help out their last in the SEC secondary.
The SEC’s oldest rilvery took at turn from one of two teams that had respect for each other and one that was played very clean for the most part to one where Auburn and Chizik showed just how low class they truly are. I don’t think the Ga fans will show the Auburn people the usual respect because of their teams classless play and if the Auburn fans thought the Blackout game was loud, y’all aint seen nothing yet.
Trenton
May 16th, 2011
2:02 am
Richt was 0-6 against winning teams in 2010.
2-9 vs. ranked teams since 2009
Look for Richt to go 0-6 against winning teams SC, Boise, MSU, Florida,Tenn, MSU, Auburn.
Look for Richt to go 5-1 against the losing teams, Losses to G Tech & Kentucky.
5-7, just a repeat of 2010, winless against teams with winning records, only lose 1 against teams with losing records.
Rick S
May 16th, 2011
8:42 am
Not sure about Georgia winning the East due to the uncertainty on the running game but one thing I know for sure Will Muschump is no longer a Georgia Bulldog and needs to know he is never welcome back in Athens! He has burned his last bridge with the Georgia Fans.
Trenton
May 16th, 2011
8:47 am
I am the troll that posts under dozens of different names. It just kills me the Georgia gets so much attention. I’m scared to death they may put it together this year. I know its inevitable.
Trenton
May 16th, 2011
9:04 am
Cool, I have an imposter, who can’t debate and thinks I am so powerful he tries to act like me. Flattering.
Bill, ban the 8:47 a.m. May 16, fake troll masquerading like me. Likely the fake troll aka as DLex, Rick, trupert, etc.
lizard man
May 16th, 2011
9:55 am
thats an easy one———Florida and Ga Tech
Trenton
May 16th, 2011
10:02 am
I just had three Red Bulls and two packs of Skittles for breakfast. I’m ready to rumble.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 16th, 2011
10:12 am
I would have to vote Coastal Carolina. I think the Dawgs have the talent to pull that one off. Wuff Wuff!
DawginLex
May 16th, 2011
10:17 am
Lots of haters and 5 year old TROLLS on this blog.
The biggest game of the year is the opener.
Richt must win this game.
Lose this game and the wheels are off the wagon before it gets out of the driveway.
Lose and the replacement lists start.
Lose and Boise finally beats an SEC team and its UGA.
McGarity won’t be happy.
The pressure to win the SC game will be overwhelming.
UGA must beat Boise State.
Trenton
May 16th, 2011
10:42 am
DLEX is wrong. A NON-CONFERENCE game is the biggest game of the year???? duh. Show everything you’re going to do to South Carolina, who is a division rival, who you play in week 2? Typical DLEX drivel.
LilburnDawg
May 16th, 2011
10:43 am
The biggest “don’t miss game” is either September 17th against Coastal Carolina or November 5th versus New Mexico State. Hopefully the mighty dawgs can squeak out a victory against these dreaded foes.
Goooooooo Dawgs! We ruin this state.
Still@theBAR
May 16th, 2011
10:44 am
UGA missed 7 big games last year. I figure they have ( Big Don’t Miss games this year IF they want to KEEP RICHT’S job safe.
Delbert D.
May 16th, 2011
10:45 am
Celebrate *after* every win; however, this Boise State team doesn’t have many of the horses they’ve had for the past 2 years. On the other hand (not looking ahead, can’t do that), South Carolina has much of the same cast as last year.
On offense for SC, new starters at a WR spot, LG and FB. The RG and TE started 1 and 2 games last year, respectively.
On defense, new starters at one DT spot, one LB spot and FS.
NeumanDawg
May 16th, 2011
10:54 am
I agree with DIL, Boise may be the most important game of the season. Georgia has no more room for losses to the Colorado’s, Central Fls, etc. of the football world. It is a game that will have HUGE national hype. Georgia desperately needs that game to set the right tone going forward. How a loss to SC might play can’t be determined until deeper into conference play – they may be the best team in the SEC. But Georgia simply cannot lose to Boise, and if they lose to Boise and SC I’m afraid it’s the end of Richt.
DumDawg
May 16th, 2011
11:04 am
I agree with the other guys, none of the conference games are important.
Nonconference games against Boise State, New Mexico, Georgia Tech and Coastal Carolina are clearly the most important and biggest games of the year.
Ain’t I reel smert?
DawginLex
May 16th, 2011
11:10 am
Trenton your criticism is tainted by the fact that you are the same TROLL who changes his blog handle repeatedly and posts this awe inspiring set of comments:
Mett transferred
Mett will start for LSU
Gray is an SEc caliber QB
Gray transferred because of Richt’s favoritism
Lemay will start vs Boise
Ealey transferred because of Richt’s favoritism
I’m not going to bother and list the actual truth regarding all of the above because everyone who reads your crap knows what the truth really is.
And the truth is not anything you post/claim.
DumDawg
May 16th, 2011
11:12 am
I gree with DLex on Boise, it, lie all non conference games, is much mroe important than dum games like South Carolina or Florida.
I em sooooo smaert.
DawginLex
May 16th, 2011
11:15 am
Anyone who has ever played, KNOWS that the first game is the most important game of any season.
WHY?
Because it is the next game.
Trenton obviously never played.
MD
May 16th, 2011
11:19 am
Boise, start the year w/ momentum. Lose and it’s time to press, rumors of Richt being fired, etc.
schmeckdawg
May 16th, 2011
11:20 am
@DawginLex
I am with you 100%. The next game is the most important. From listening to what the players are saying andhow important this game is to them, we lose the opener and then what is our mind set going into the South Carolina game and possibly for the rest of the season. The BS game is HUGE!
Great call!!!!!!
TechRedNeck
May 16th, 2011
11:22 am
UGA at Spurrer is always a good game. I’m no doggie fan but I will not miss that one. As for Tech, CPJ better get some talent at the flats. We can’t compete with the SEC as long as we have so so players. (TRUTH HURTS).
DumDawg
May 16th, 2011
11:22 am
Me and DLex is sooosmert, who keers if Jefferson at LSU was ranked #102 in passing last year and #100 in passing offense, don’t mean Mettenburger will win the job, even though Mettenburger outplayed Jefferson in the Spring game?
Mettenburger didn’t tranfur, he still plays for Georgia.
Just bekuz Gray was drafted by UGA and beat Gray in Spring game doesn’t mean he’s good.
Gray transfared because he thought richt was a great guy.
Lemey won’t start vs. Boise, even though he beat Murray in the Spring game.
Ealey didn’t transfer bekuz of favorticims, even though Ealey said he didn’t like being roatated and felt like he should have been the premere back.
Me & DLex are reel smurt. We win’t very dum.