‘How are the Dogs gonna do?’
Mark Richt's seat will be slightly less warm after this season. (Associated Press)
I’ve been getting the question all summer, seemingly everywhere I go. In the elevator at work. In restaurants. At a funeral.
“How are the Dogs gonna do? How many wins do you think they’ll have?”
So now it’s time to make that annual venture out on the limb and share with you what I’ve been telling those folks, though I first must remind you that my record as a seer is mixed.
Most years since I’ve been doing this blog I’ve been fairly conservative in my predictions, with the Dogs even bettering my forecast a couple of times. And then there’ve been a couple of seasons like last year, when I predicted a 10-2 regular season and Georgia winning the SEC East. That didn’t go so well.
Of course, I wasn’t alone. In a poll we did here last year, only 18 percent of you thought Georgia would have less than nine wins and 44 percent expected at least 10 wins.
I’m not going quite that far this year. I think Mark Richt’s team will do well enough to turn the heat down a notch under his seat and, depending on how many times South Carolina and Florida mess up, they might still be in contention for the SEC East late in the season.
But 10 wins in the regular season? Can’t quite see that.
I think Todd Grantham’s defense will be much improved this year, though I’ll feel much better the first time I see Kwame Geathers or John “Motel 6″ Jenkins stuff a big-time running back. I’m excited about the linebackers and I feel a whole lot more confident about the secondary than I did back before spring practice.
But the offense has a lot of question marks and is very thin at key positions. As my son put it, “the O-line is a scooter accident away from disaster.” The Dogs also are ridiculously shy of depth and experience at running back, and while the talent looks promising at receiver, a step down in production there sort of has to be expected with the departure of A.J. Green and Kris Durham. Plus, of course, the Dogs still have hot-and-cold Mike Bobo calling the plays.
So I’m expecting Georgia to wind up 9-3.
Here’s why: I see the Dogs splitting those tough first two games. No, I wouldn’t be shocked if they won them both or lost them both, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. Then comes a stretch of five games where Georgia ought to be the favorite every week. However, the pessimist in me sees them losing one game they shouldn’t this season and it’ll probably be in Knoxville. Finally, I think Georgia likely will lose to either Florida or Auburn, but not both. Again, at this point it looks like the Dogs ought to be favored in both of those games but Jacksonville is still Jacksonville, and Auburn-Georgia is always tough.
I’ll admit I flirted with 10-2 again while reading about how his teammates all say Isaiah Crowell is the real deal. But I also gave serious consideration to 8-4 as I watched Georgia’s depth get downright precarious at several positions over the past few months.
How satisfying would a 9-3 season be? Well, a win over either Boise State or South Carolina would look awfully good. And if one of those nine victories is over the Gators, I don’t think there’d be too much reason for grumbling, even if Georgia doesn’t make it to the SEC championship.
Anyway, that’s what I’ve been telling all the folks who ask me how the Dogs are going to do. Feel free to join me out on that limb with your own season predictions.
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238 comments Add your comment
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 31st, 2011
4:25 pm
Quick reminder — SCar hasn’t won.
———————————–
Yes
I’ll take a defensive win, though. I can see it now – Jadeveon Clowney sacks Aaron Murray, picks up a fumble, and scampers into the endzone for a touchdown to ice it.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 31st, 2011
4:26 pm
Oh, and doesn’t celebrate like that one time AJ Green did to cost the game vs LSU.
Dawg Tell
August 31st, 2011
4:29 pm
Mr. Bill King, You should stick with the 8 and 4 season. 9 and 3 with breaks and a win over the Gators.Could happen but we are not at that level. Next year maybe.
BMOC
August 31st, 2011
4:39 pm
Nothing Could Be Finer
Then he better stop breathing and tip-toe out of the endzone.
Face it: Fact is until SCar beats UGA…lets see… more than TWICE in 10 tries, I don’t think the UGA players will take SCar all that serious.
BMOC
August 31st, 2011
4:40 pm
Good Day.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 31st, 2011
4:41 pm
Fact is until SCar beats UGA…lets see… more than TWICE in 10 tries, I don’t think the UGA players will take SCar all that serious.
———————————–
Well, last 4 games are tied at 2-2. A win here for SC would be more than twice in 5 tries.
Beast from the East
August 31st, 2011
5:03 pm
8-4 with losses to SC, UT, UF and one other upset somewhere along the way (Auburn, MSU or Kentucky).
Kick some butt in the Dome this weekend, Dawgs!
where is st. simons
August 31st, 2011
5:07 pm
well, where is he?!!
Athens Dawg
August 31st, 2011
5:12 pm
Nothing finer, I like you even though we all know your a GT fan. But anyways. SC has never beaten UGA in back to back seasons. Something to think about.
Bob
August 31st, 2011
5:16 pm
Beast…I agree with you, and this would be the end of the Mark Richt era at UGA. Wonder why he quit coaching?
Lucky
August 31st, 2011
5:19 pm
Might as well add another comment. There is one item that has not been examined. This team is in shape and to me that will make the difference. This team will consequently be a winning team and could possibly be a great one barring injury. If the most optimistic predictions should come true then I will lay the credit at the door with the name Tereshinski stenciled upon it.
RedandBlackDAWG
August 31st, 2011
5:19 pm
Let’s just get the games on and see how they go. Predictions may make for blog hits but have little value other than that right now. Nobody, incliuding a lot of the journalist, whose job it is to write these sort of articles has a good idea of how this season will go. Heart is not a measurable statistic.
All of us, haters and fans of UGA alike have any idea what UGA is capable of right now, when all is said and done. We all have wishes and opinions but opinions are like butt holes. Everybody has got one. Some just use theirs to speak out of a little too much on these blogs though.
I don’t even see an original comment coming on these blogs anymore for the most part. Everything has been rehashed so much, we can even figure out what others are going to say before we read it.
I know what I wish for in UGA so I am just going to stick with it, and hope I am right. Others will wish for UGA to not even win one game and still others will wish that the HC and OC are gone and fail miserably this season.
Let’s just see how it all plays out.
GO DAWGS and GATA
BMOC
August 31st, 2011
5:24 pm
Nothing Could Be Finer
But SCar HASN’T won! Don’t count your chickens before they hatch!! (pun inteeded)
Athens Dawg
August 31st, 2011
5:34 pm
All the “experts”, all the trolls, and all the haters and people that don’t want Georgia to win are basing their predictions of how UGA will do this season SOLELY on what happened last season. Our of the 7 losses, 4 could have gone either way. That makes a big difference. Nobody blew us out. Nobody. Even Auburn didn’t blow us out. If our defense makes a few stops then we have a chance to win. But no excuses. It is what it is. What I’m saying is, don’t underestimate the power of attitude. Our attitude has changed. We want to win. We want to prove ourselves.
FLA DAWG
August 31st, 2011
5:37 pm
8 – 4 or 7 – 5 season and Richt knows he’s a gonner after the South Carolina loss.
Athens Dawg
August 31st, 2011
5:39 pm
Boise State is a good team, no doubt about it but according to the media, and everyone else enticed in the game thinks that Georgia doesn’t stand a chance and I just can’t wrap my mind around their logic. How do we not stand a chance? We have the athletes, we have the home crowd behind us, we have the best special teams unit in the country, 2nd year in the 3-4 defense with better personnel, 2nd year under Murray’s belt, new S & C program, better attitude, running game will be better, etc, etc. People say Georgia won’t win. Well we’ll find out the truth in 3 days. It’s almost here and on Sunday morning, I can’t wait to hear what you’ll have next. It’ll probably be….
“Yeah you beat Boise, but just wait till next week when a “real” team comes to town.” Yap, yap, yap. All this long you’ve been talking about how Boise is going to mop us but now they’re not a “real” team? Get real. You loser.
Athens Dawg
August 31st, 2011
5:42 pm
And I KNOW Florida fans are not on this board talking down on our team. I guarantee you Murray has a better season than Brantley. Brantley stinks. Your O-line is worse than last season, etc. The only thing Florida has going for them is their front 7. That’s it. They have an inexperienced secondary, as a matter of fact, every face back there is new. You better hope that front 4 can create tons of pressure or your defense will be in for along night Gator fans. Hope your front 4 can kick, return, and score touchdowns for you too because Brantley won’t. 9 touchdowns with 10 picks? Come on man. That’s pathetic.
Columbus
August 31st, 2011
5:53 pm
How do you respond to talk that you are on the hot seat?
“I don’t think much about it, to be honest with you. I just know that this program is in a good place right now. Our players are having a good camp and we are excited about what’s going to happen this year and in the future. I’ll let whoever wants to write stuff write it.”
Bob
August 31st, 2011
5:54 pm
Athens…you know better than most on here, with a Richt coached team, you can’t ever relax and enjoy the game. For the past five years, we’ve been the jokers on ESPN. I’ll be glad to see his era finished.
Columbus
August 31st, 2011
5:55 pm
Can you believe that you are the longest-tenured SEC coach?
“When I took this job, my goal was for it to be my last. I didn’t want to leave Florida State [where he had been offensive coordinator] unless I felt like I was going to a place that I could make my home for good. My intention from the beginning was to be here a long time. So I’m not really shocked. It has been my plan all along to try to make decisions that would be good for the program in the long haul and try to handle my business in such I way I could perpetuate it for some time. So I’m not shocked by it.”
Columbus
August 31st, 2011
5:56 pm
Do your religious beliefs help you in football?
“Bottom line is I’m a born-again leader in Jesus Christ. No matter what happens on earth, it’s nothing compared with forever. That gives me peace to go about my day and life. But God also wants us to live our lives abundantly, not to just wait until we get to heaven to enjoy it. He gives us His word. There is no better guide to parenting, discipline, marriages, work, to money management – everything is in there. To have that type of guide from almighty God, it just gives you some peace that you are moving in the right direction and doing things that hopefully will be pleasing to Him. And the rest of the stuff, people can do or say what they want to say.”
Columbus
August 31st, 2011
5:58 pm
How have things changed at Georgia in the past year?
“Biggest change: We went through an expansion of our football facility. Last year we were living out of trailer and it was really dysfunctional. It was not easy. … Now that this thing is finished and I’m sitting in my office, looking at our practice facilities and weight room, indoor area, new meeting rooms, the strength room, the whole thing is awesome. I really do feel like a brand-new head coach even though it is year 11. Some of it is because of the newness of the facility and some of it is because our new A.D., Greg McGarity, has come to me many times asking me what we need to do to help Georgia football have success. That has revived me in a lot of ways. I’m energized right now and feeling great.”
Tom Dienhart is a national senior writer for Rivals.com
Bob
August 31st, 2011
6:00 pm
And I ask again, why do you suppose Richt stopped coaching? With our tradition, facilities, talent, and resources…go figure.
Dr. Morpheus
August 31st, 2011
6:10 pm
We will defeat Boise State and go 9-3. Or better.
Columbus
August 31st, 2011
6:28 pm
Bob thinks Richt’s era is over! LOL. It’s just beginning at UGA so PLEASE TO ALL THE HATERS, GO ROOT FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL, ANYBODY WHILE WE REAL UGA FANS ENJOY THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY IN THE NEXT 3 YEARS.
You enjoyed watching UGA on ESPN when UGA had 10 or more wins 6 times in 8 years under Richt didnt you? Than NEVER happened in UGA history I do not believe. Richt’s record is FAR above any in UGA hostory ESPECIALLY WHEN FIRST BECOMMING A COACH AND HE DONE IT IN THE MODERN ERA IN THE SEC! YOU IGNORANT LOW IQ PEOPLE. So wnjoy UGA with Mark Richt for the next 15 years why dont you? Remember when Mark Richt was on the hot seat cuz he had ONE losing season then he led them to 7 10 win season in a row and to the national championship game 2 times and coached UGA for 15 more years and won 5 more SEC titles? You will 16 years from now.
Richt is NOT going anywhere in THIS decade except to SEC Championship games. Bank on it. SO all you haters will be just hatin life for 15 more years! Best record by far for a head coach in first 10 years in DIV 1 history except for Paterno…better than Bryant, Dooley, Bowden Saban, and ALL of them. Saban was close but not as good, especially in 10 win plus seasons. Look it up. You are trashing and wanting one of the best coaches at this point in his career as any and better than most. NONE won a NC in first 20 years so why are you all crying? None were in position to win one really and Richt had us there but BCS picked LSU when we ROMPED Hawaii.
Give Richt a break he DESERVES it because HE EARNED IT. LOOK THROUGH COLLEGE COACHING HISTORY IN FIRST 10 YEARS….Look it up haters. LOOK IT UP instead of running your traps. Nobody wins NC in forst 10 years and NONE win 10 plus games 6 times in first 10 years as being a head coach except RICHT AND PATERNO. You will see it in black white and color but you will still be ignorant and keep hating cuz you are HARDHEADED AND CLOSED MINDED.
Last 2 years were down. GET OVER IT OK? 2009 was expected. So was 2010 just not to that extent. To those that persevere and make it through, they come out stronger for it. Some did not make it thorugh the last 2 years, some did. Richt did. Look for a better coach that is now ready to take the team up a level the next 3 years in Richt.
ALL COACHES GO THOUGH IT. ALL OF THEM! TEXAS WAS 5-7 LAST YEAR! ALL LOSE SOME YEARS! Paterno wass dow nfor a few years last decade but he has them playing good again. Some teams just dont get the job done. GET OVER IT! How old are you people 12? 16? 22? I know you are not over 35 because hopefully by the time you reach that age, like most of us, we have maturity and wisdom to a much higher degree and that brings understanding and patience. Knowledge. Wisdom.
I have been watching UGA since the 1970’s and Richt is the best thing to happen to UGA besides Herschel Walker in 50 years! Dooley wasnt all that, Herschel made him what he is today. He won 1 SEC title and tied for another without Herschel. Herschel led him to 3 others. He might have had one other one in the early 60’s but I do not think so.
Richt has much more potential also than Dooley EVER had. You younguns better be ECSTATIC to have MARK RICHT. I can tell you what it was like for the 50 years before he left FLA. ST. and came here. Remember just a couple years ago when schools were trying to lure Richt away from us? Yeah who would we have now? Dooley jr? Nobody else out there but cheaters besides Stoops, maybe Saban, Brown, Miles. None are coming to UGA so who is going to coach? Another assistant getting his first shot? I dont think so.
UGA is in the VERY BEST POSTION POSSIBLE UNLESS SABAN TOOK OVER AND THATS NOT HAPPENING. I will take Richt over EVERYBODY ELSE and Saban will be retiring soon so I will STILL TAKE RICHT! You should too….
Cuz
August 31st, 2011
6:29 pm
Part of me says 10-2. The other part says 6-6. Schizophrenia does not work well with football predictions.
Cuz
August 31st, 2011
6:30 pm
Well we know in what city Bulldawg moved.
Chris
August 31st, 2011
6:50 pm
Well, let’s see. We will lose at least two games because of Bobo’s pitiful play calling. We will lose to either Boise State or South Carolina, we will loose to Florida since we always lose to Florida, and we will loose to either Tennesssee or Auburn.
I’ve got us finishing 7-5. Not acceptable, and Richt gets fired basically for not firing Bobo last year. I will never understand why that fool is still our O.C.
mountainman
August 31st, 2011
6:57 pm
A big flaw in Richt’s coaching scheme, he doesn’t give a second string QB much playing time, if any. Suppose Murray is injured early in the season, then UGA will suffer another losing season and all y’alls hoopla will flush down the toilet. UGA alum unhappy with Richt!
ga gator
August 31st, 2011
7:11 pm
Talent-wise I think this team stacks up evenly with UF and slightly behind SC, the schedule is manageable but the way they have performed in crunch time the last 3 years would be disturbing if I were a diehard Dawg like most on here. I root for UGA (and go to home games with my wife) except in Jax and what I saw from Richt against UCF gives me doubts whether he still has the fire to win in this tough conference. If it were talent I would say 11-1 and losing against SC but with what has gone on there in recent years, I predict 8-4 with losses to SC, MS St, UF and Auburn. Sorry Dawg buddies but that is where the program is at.
BS
August 31st, 2011
7:13 pm
9 and 3’s ass!! they will be lucky to match last year’s record.
edumacated
August 31st, 2011
7:56 pm
Dogs are going to punish Boise. The Broncos will score on a trick play maybe, and it would not surprise me to see a missed blocking assignment in our backfield cause a fumble that is returned for a touchdown. Other than that, Murray will nickel and dime them to death passing, and Crowell is going to bust a big touchdown run or two late. Those guys will be physically out of the game midway by the 3rd quarter IF our Dawgs have improved their S&C. We win by 10.
USC, on the other hand is going to put a hurting on us. Our only chance with them is to shutdown Lattimore early and make Spurrier put the game on that drunk QB’s shoulders. I don’t think we can shut him down. We lose by 14.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
August 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
Ha Columbus, I agree with most of that. The meat heads that always call for CMR’s head don’t know what they are talking about. Overall he’s done a damn good job. They seem to think experienced coaches are waiting and banging on the A.D.’s door to come to Athens. If they will remember some well known coaches turned down the job. And NO I’m no Techie. I like and respect CMR. I still beleive he WILL get the job done.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 31st, 2011
8:16 pm
Boy free kool-aid must have been given out in Columbus today
Got your red pants on Columbus.
Ready to show up late to the game Columbus.
How about sobering up before a game for a change Columbus.
Holding up your 10 wins sign again this year Columbus
Since Dooley wasnt all that without Herschel. Neither has Richt been without VanGorder
Glad to know 10 wins is all important Columbus
ChainConsq
August 31st, 2011
8:18 pm
Clearly Richt should be fired…we have yet to win a game, and it’s already the end of August. If not now, when? I say nothing less than a NC is acceptable. Fire Richt and get another coach…New coach gets same deal…NC or fired…and we do that until we win an NC…it shouldn’t take long for the NCs to start rolling in…who wouldn’t want that job?
Hairy Perry
August 31st, 2011
8:29 pm
I tend to agree with Mr. Columbus Flat Tire.
LogicalUS
August 31st, 2011
8:33 pm
UGA will go 17-0 with a 45-0 win against the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLVI.
How you ask, well UGA listened to the delusions of UGA fans on this forum and decided that they were just too good for the mere NCAA and have decided to move on to the NFL.
They have also agreed that they will only play their starters for only a half to make it fair for the other poor NFL teams.
Really, I suspect a 7-5 team, as just like last year UGA lets their first loss beat them in the following game which sends the season into a tail spin. There are simply too many questions which this version of the team has to find an answer. Some answers will be found but not enough to get this fragile team to the type of success which UGA are demanding.
Beast from the East
August 31st, 2011
8:33 pm
“And I KNOW Florida fans are not on this board talking down on our team. I guarantee you Murray has a better season than Brantley. Brantley stinks. Your O-line is worse than last season, etc. The only thing Florida has going for them is their front 7. That’s it. They have an inexperienced secondary, as a matter of fact, every face back there is new. You better hope that front 4 can create tons of pressure or your defense will be in for along night Gator fans. Hope your front 4 can kick, return, and score touchdowns for you too because Brantley won’t. 9 touchdowns with 10 picks? Come on man. That’s pathetic.”
Athens Dawg,
What will you say when we notch our 19th out of 22? If UF is so pitiful, then why does your team and coach crumble when they face the Mighty Gators?
Hairy Perry
August 31st, 2011
8:34 pm
Mark Richt is the best thing that ever happened to UGA. All you winy little spoiled brats need to can it!
If he can’t get things turned around he will be the first to admit it’s time for him to move on. I think most people hate him because of his faith in Christ is unacceptable to them. Get over it Nazis.
Hairy Perry
August 31st, 2011
8:37 pm
Beast from the East,
I was thinking it might have something to do with the game being played in UF’s back yard and UF having a week off before the game 90% of the time. Just guessing.
Hairy Perry
August 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
Buenos Noches! Amigos!
Beast from the East
August 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
Hairy Perry,
Why did that not matter until this current streak? Could it be that UF has just had the far superior program during that timespan? Nah, that would just make too much sense.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 31st, 2011
8:46 pm
Hairy Perry
Let first let you know I have nothing against his faith in Christ. His faith has nothing to do with it. Vince Lombardi, Steve Walsh, Joe Gibbs, Tony Dungy, and Tom Landry were Christians and amassed over a decade worth of NFL championships.
So dont dare lump me into that category.
Im for giving Richt this year to right the ship but Im tired of hearing about 10 win seasons. No one cares about 10 win seasons
No one remembers 10 win season winners of any year.
They remember champions. National Champions and Conference Champions.
I have yet see a team fly a flag saying they won 10 games. But I do see teams fly a flag that shows the conference championships and NC’s that they have won
Please tell me what Richt has done to garner such praise for an extension of his contract. Other than win 2 conference championships that I might add were lucky to play in due to FL losing out those years there’s not much to add.
What 10 win seasons who cares
ugab
August 31st, 2011
8:56 pm
Let’s go Dawgs.win or lose. PLAY YOUR HEARTS OUT!!!!
no dog
August 31st, 2011
9:11 pm
Bill, I enjoy reading your blog.
Delbert D.
August 31st, 2011
9:12 pm
“…the Dogs still have hot-and-old Mike Bobo calling the plays.”
Huh? Bill, that’s downright cruel.
wins-by-a-link
August 31st, 2011
9:20 pm
Georgia will beat Boise, This after all is the SEC and the Dogs are a lot better than they were last year, The D will be much improved with a lot of added talent, A lot stronger up the middle, But of course it all depends on injuries, Abit thin on offense where injuries could prove to be the difference, South Carolina will be a toss up, A battle of the tailbacks will determine the game. Auburn will not be near as good as last year and will lose to Ga, This should be our year to beat Fla, So I think we should win 10, If we stay healthy.
TampaDawg
August 31st, 2011
9:33 pm
Ban the Raybans hasn’t quite figured out that there is a high probability that his own school allegiance, whoever that may be, is most likely worse. He knows NOTHING about Mark Richt. Most school presidents would consider themselves lucky to have someone with that level of integrity. How clueless can old Raybans be? A football factory? Look at UGAs grad rates versus, say, oh someone like Boise State. Ban the Raybans should be ban from his computer if that level of incompetence is going to come out of him.
icedawg
August 31st, 2011
9:42 pm
8-4
SEC Fan
August 31st, 2011
9:44 pm
8-4 with Richt and his sidekick Bobo. Good enough to get him back, even with another loss to FL.