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
redneckDawg
May 16th, 2011
11:25 am
Agree with DLex, Boise game and all unconference games are the most important. Makes perfect sense to me.
redneckDawg
May 16th, 2011
11:27 am
Boise is bigger, cuz it’s on tv with espn pit crew. and like DLex said, it’s more important because itr’s an unconference game.
DawginLex
May 16th, 2011
11:48 am
i agree with the TROLLS.
Let’s skip the opening game on national TV and just go ahead and take a loss and get ready for SC.
Let’s just not worry about playing that game at all.
We had the spring game right?
We have to be ready to play SC right?
mexdawg
May 16th, 2011
11:53 am
Just beat the gators like a red headed step child.Get Dooley to give the pre game locker room speech.He has the MOJO that all the gators fear.LET THE BIG DAWG EAT.
Dogs Smell
May 16th, 2011
12:12 pm
Georgia doesnt feel GT is big just like UF doesnt feel Uga is as big as they see it. Look for UGa to lose 6 or 7 this year.
Dawg Gone
May 16th, 2011
12:17 pm
Dogs Smell we will beat your bunch……
redneckDawg
May 16th, 2011
12:30 pm
Yeah, like DLex says, Boise isn’t important, skip it, just win South Carolina.
I is rell, reul smert.
Delbert D.
May 16th, 2011
1:13 pm
I am announcing today that I will not see the Republican nomination for president, joining Donald Trump and Mike Huckabee as official non-contenders. Also, I would not even think of stooping to be on anyone’s ticket as VP, echoing Newt Gingrich on that.
I will be devoting all of my attention to analyzing the Georgia-Boise State game, which is the most important game on Georgia’s schedule. After that game is over, I will be analyzing the Georgia-South Carolina game, which becomes the most important game on Georgia’s schedule. After that…never mind.
Woof! Woof!
May 16th, 2011
1:19 pm
How’s the ugly mutt doing? Oh, I forgot, he croaked.
Dawgdoo
May 16th, 2011
1:22 pm
They may want to schedule Georgia State since that could be the only win.
WDE
May 16th, 2011
1:35 pm
Dawgdoo what we might do is schedule the Bugs 11 weeks straight and go 10-1 or 11-0 every year.
Ogeechee Dawg
May 16th, 2011
2:30 pm
What’s the BIGGEST don’t miss game for 2011?
A loaded and trick question – as the situation your are in is fluid.
However, as all teams are 0-0 – and UGA’s staff seat is on the warm side:
Game #1 – Boise St – set’s the tone – need to win this game.
UGA wins – builds momentum to SC
UGA loses – huge pressure to compete against SC.
Next Biggest Game?
South Carolina – win this game – and UGA start’s our with a leg up to win the SEC East.
However, Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Vandy, Kentucky and AUBURN – are all HUGE.
There are NO guarantees we will beat any of these teams – no matter if they are rebuilding or reloading.
Florida’s overall talent is better than UGA’s – they need some organization and a QB. If their offense adapts to Coach Weiss – they will beat UGA…….again.
Like I stated – the BIGGEST don’t miss game is whatever the next game is on the schedule for UGA.
If UGA starts out in a huge hole – and is out of the running for a title by 7th game of the season – the only relevency left is who is employed by seasons end.
DawginLex
May 16th, 2011
3:21 pm
http://colorado.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp
*********************************************************
LOL at the idiot troll who said Logan Gray would start at QB for Colorado in 2011.
What an idiot.
DawginLex
May 16th, 2011
3:23 pm
http://www.allbuffs.com/showthread.php/41374-Colorado-Buffaloes-Roster-for-2011
Sorry wrong link.
DawginLex
May 16th, 2011
3:31 pm
http://www.dandydon.com/lsu_football_depth_chart.php
Double LOL at the Zach Mettenberger is going to start at LSU comments.
He is 3rd string coming out of spring practice.
Dawg Gone
May 16th, 2011
3:35 pm
@ Delbert D. your 1:13 post was LOL funny…
dawgcrzy
May 16th, 2011
4:08 pm
has anyone heard anything about caleb kings or aj harmons academics today?
Timbodog
May 16th, 2011
4:14 pm
Lots of Bulldog fans will talk tough and act like this game or that game is the biggest, but the reality is as long as we beat up on the little school down the road most of them will praise Richt for a job well done.
Meanwhile Miss State will run us ragged in Athens.
DawginLex
May 16th, 2011
4:28 pm
crowell and jenkins in
no word on king and harmon
Dawgbreath
May 16th, 2011
4:46 pm
I absolutely hate it but I am afraid that Spurrier is going to not only beat us but win the whole SEC and then perhaps at least play in the MNC. Defense is stout and now they add Clowney who is a freak of nature. Just don’t see how we stop Lattimore and Jeffrey. And if any of us Dawgs think that Garcia won’t start our game, well you are dead wrong. Yikes, Spurrier again riddles UGA football and from all places-USCe. Who woulda thunk?
Real Dawg Fan
May 16th, 2011
5:27 pm
DawginLex -
Last I heard it was just a rumor about King and Harmon
chbeyer
May 16th, 2011
5:36 pm
I dont have great respect for Boise State because of the weak schedule they play but the GA/BS game will be the most critical because it will establish the kind of team GA will be this fall. They have to come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders for this one. A loss to BS and Richt is TOAST. I like him very much but he has made major coaching mistakes in the past two years in the area of assistant coaches. Still not sold on BoBo. He is not a bad offensive coordinator, although there were some incredibly bone headed calls last fall in critical games. There are more talented offensive minds out there.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 16th, 2011
5:56 pm
Woof woof,
Is that really the best you can do on a sports blog? My God, man/woman/it, or is it kid, that is pitiful.
high hopes
May 16th, 2011
6:59 pm
run the damn table and you don’t have to worry about it
Mid-season Blues
May 16th, 2011
7:33 pm
If there’s anything left of the dawgs by mid-season, Florida will finish them off, as always.
It Is Rocket Science
May 16th, 2011
7:49 pm
Apparently It Ain’t Rocket Science has lost his job again. He’s spending a lot more time on the blogs now.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 17th, 2011
5:19 am
It IS,
I am retired from the U.S. Military. I can spend my time just about anyplace I feel like. Obviously, with that sad comment, you are in need of one though.
Bama Fan#2
May 17th, 2011
5:30 am
It AIN’T Rocket Science thanks for your military service and thank god for Navy Seal
Team Six!!! American Heroes!!!
Paddy
May 17th, 2011
6:48 am
Tony, you need to catch up on your reading. Garcia does not play for SC now. He is not coming back.
Rev Critter
May 17th, 2011
7:03 am
I say Boise State because it will set the tone for the entire season.
DawginMetts
May 17th, 2011
7:10 am
Lex you are a tool for coming on a blog and dissing anyone who wore the G. Why don’t you save your tedious childish crap for someone who cares, ie no one. You are pathetic. Anyone who slams former players, any player, no matter how their career played out is a piece of crap in my book, you should be banned.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 17th, 2011
8:01 am
BamaFan2,
Thank you and you betcha the Navy Seals deserve all the kudos coming their way. A great bunch of warriors. These young folks in the military today are the true big stories of America. We all like to blog about the football teams, and recruits but never forget those kids in uniform. They go through hell so we can blog like hell on here.
My time was a ways back with Viet Nam. Old story not worth remembering anymore.
mashed potato
May 17th, 2011
8:09 am
Boise State is a little “football factory” out in the middle of nowhere.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 17th, 2011
8:35 am
Mashed Potato,
Out in the middle of nowhere means they can devote more time to football and less time to getting into mischief. LOL. I don’t think our DAWGS are taking them lightly by any means.
NeumanDawg
May 17th, 2011
8:43 am
DawginMetts: Character does count. Mettenberger brought his into serious question. He’s young and can redeem himself, but he got what he deserved and forfeited his opportunity of the privilege of playing football for the University of Georgia.
DawginLex
May 17th, 2011
9:02 am
DawginMetts
in my book, Mett was never a Dawg. He didn’t get injured and forfeit his career. He got into trouble and got booted. Glad LSU took him. I believe in 2nd chances.
My point was that the same idiot who posts all his stupid crap is dead wrong about Mett. He claims he will be starting for LSU this year while the actual depth chart shows him 3rd string.
Your handle on the blog is a new one. You are probably the same TROLL I am talking about.
Vince Doodley
May 17th, 2011
9:58 am
Georgia loses 3 games at least this year. Boise, Florida and either S. Carolina or Auburn. Possibly both.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 17th, 2011
10:08 am
Not sure there is any way to please a lot of you folks on here when it comes to UGA. You complain and make jokes about UGA being a bunch of thugs and CMR being too soft and then you complain when People get kicked off the team by the coach for having bad behavior. Which is it? Do you want the coach to be a bad dude or do you want him to try and rehab some of these folks that get into trouble. Can’t have it both ways. Can’t be a mixture of the two either. Personally, I think he sees a lot in these kids that maybe we do not get to see. All we know is what they do or don’t do on the football field. I think he is a coach that has a personal interest in these kids and wants to see them succeed. How many chances are too many is only important if you work closely with these kids and not just read about them and comment, without full knowledge about what they have had for a life. Sadly, for a lot of these kids, their environment has been less than ideal, and they look at sports as a way to change their life and surroundings. At the same time, they are ill prepared for the pressures or academics that confront them in college. CMR tries to get them through it all and help prepare them for life. As for folks saying that UGA recruits all these kids and nobody else does. Got a buck for everybody who is a fan for another team, saying that in most cases, except for Tech., that their school didn’t try to recruit them as well.
GO DAWGS and GO CMR
DMR
May 17th, 2011
10:26 am
Boise State. Most years it would be the first SEC contest. However, the last three years have seen the Dogs on a downward spiral…8-5, 8-5, 6-7. Georgia can reemerge as a topic in the national front with a win over Boise. Lose that game and it does not hurt you in the SEC, but the perception will be that Georgia is still on a down slide. Richt knows what’s at stake. The first one is the big one. All the hype leading up to the season and the Kickoff Classic will be huge for this program.
Kent
May 17th, 2011
11:15 am
With few exceptions, Auburn and South Carolina are the closest and most exciting games that UGA plays year after year. The 25 year case of snakebite that UGA has with UF(the worst of any rivalry with roughly equal teams in the country) makes the game a “don’t bother to see” because you already know the outcome. UGA wins roughly every 8 or 9 years so just how excited can you get?
The Truth Hurts
May 17th, 2011
3:09 pm
While reading blogs after the Auburn game last year…I have never heard so many cry baby’s in my entire life posting comments.
I would like to even cheer for Georgia but after reading what I read makes it hard! I do like Richt and wish that he can keep players out of trouble but losing the bowl game to Central Florida might do him in anyway by the end of this season. We will see.
The Truth Hurts
May 17th, 2011
3:19 pm
Hopefully UGA can beat boise st!!! That would be a good start.
Tejas Jack
May 17th, 2011
8:24 pm
LMFAO again at UGA fans. The cheap shot and ugliness was all started by chop blocks and cheap azz hits on Fairley BEFORE he took a little vengeance. While a big deal is made about the losses on our OL, We do have 2 starting tackles back…what do you have coming back in the OL and in your backfield? And you loss A,J. too. You clowns are the most overrated and undercoached team in the SEC and you will go down in flames in Athens. The only barking you will be doing is asking administration to put Richt out of his misery.
Lee
May 17th, 2011
9:33 pm
Dirty play by Georgia, attacking Fairley while he’s on the ground, then 30 players leaving the bench with NONE from Auburn leaving the bench. Which of course, WASN’T penalized by the officials as it should have been. Any Georgia fan or this writer thinking it was JUST AUBURN doing anything is a moron.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 18th, 2011
6:50 am
Tejas Jack,
Think you are using a little made up history on this blog. Folks that covered the NFL draft, other coaches in the SEC and just more than UGA fans were concerned about his late hits and cheap shots on the field. If not, we would not have seen him trying to explain the way he plays by saying he had some type of learning disorder, bi polar or such. He will have to tone it down if he wants to survive the NFL,if they play a game again, because the big ole boys there will not ignore or put up with cheap shots on their team mates. Let him hit someone, say, like Ryan of the falcons and see if the O linemen stand by and let him do it. He is going to the big boy league now.
Steve
May 20th, 2011
1:58 am
It’s the Boise game by far. Should BSU win, UGA will be the shame of the SEC and finally (unlikely however) shut the mouths of SEC fans everywhere for turning their noses to the air when a non-AQ team comes around. We will likely hear about what happened all those years back and then all I will have to show is…a picure of Aaron Murray with his itty bitty “man” purse he seems to be proud of. Google it.