2012 SEC schedule works in Bulldogs’ favor
UGA fared pretty well in the revamped 2012 SEC football schedule released Wednesday morning.
It’s official that Georgia travels to Missouri Sept. 8 and the South Carolina game, traditionally the conference opener for the Dogs the past couple of decades, moves to Oct. 6, replacing the previously scheduled trip to Alabama.
The Dogs lose the open date ahead of Florida as the visit to Kentucky, originally scheduled for Oct. 13, moves to Oct. 20. But the Gators will have it even tougher, playing host to South Carolina the week before playing Georgia.
Here’s Georgia’s revised conference schedule: Sept. 8 at Missouri, Sept. 22 Vanderbilt in Athens, Sept. 29 Tennessee in Athens, Oct. 6 at South Carolina, Oct. 20 at Kentucky, Oct. 27 Florida in Jacksonville, Nov. 3 Ole Miss in Athens, Nov. 10 at Auburn. The nonconference home schedule looks to remain the same as before, facing Buffalo (Sept. 1), Florida Atlantic (Sept. 15), Georgia Southern (Nov. 17) and Georgia Tech (Nov. 24).
The bottom line is that the Dogs will again have a favorable conference schedule. South Carolina, on the other hand, must face LSU and Arkansas as its SEC West opponents. You can bet they’re not happy in Columbia.
As for the SEC opener against Missouri, that was widely anticipated so I tried to get a feel for Mizzou by watching a good bit of the Independence Bowl the other night. Unfortunately, North Carolina was such a dismal opponent that it was tough to tell just how good the Tigers were, though it’s obvious quarterback James Franklin, who passed for 132 yards and led Missouri in rushing with 142 yards, is dangerous.
Georgia looks to be the likely favorite again in the SEC East, barring too many losses of key players to the NFL draft. I wasn’t thrilled to hear this week that Branden Smith is one of the Dogs considering leaving early. No doubt the uncertainty about Smith is a factor in the Georgia coaches considering having star wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell possibly also play cornerback some next year, though it’s difficult to gauge just how serious they are about that. Let’s hope the continuing development of Nick Marshall at cornerback makes that unnecessary.
So, overall, I’d say the Dogs are sitting pretty for 2012. What do you think?
Got something on your mind concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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232 comments Add your comment
really
December 28th, 2011
11:56 am
beanster- This was just the SEC schedule. the Dawgs open Sept 1st and play week 3 as well.
beanster
December 28th, 2011
11:58 am
“The coach and the AD can make it happen, if they have the desire.”
Um…what? Do you lie to yourself on a regular basis or is this just a every now and then type of thing?
MizzouMike
December 28th, 2011
11:59 am
Watch out for Mizzou. We were a couple missed field goals from 10 wins this year. Can’t wait to play football with the big boys.
Deputy Dawg
December 28th, 2011
11:59 am
Smith is indeed delusional. Unfortunately for the Dawgs though Rambo’s risk/reward ratio is probably higher on the reward side say 45/55. Charles will probably opt to get paid. Face it people, the college game is now just a farm system the NFL doesn’t have to pay for.
SEC Rolls out 2012 Schedule Based on Division Play – ABC News | Global News
December 28th, 2011
11:59 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
BG
December 28th, 2011
12:01 pm
Love the schedule. GO DAWGS!!
beanster
December 28th, 2011
12:02 pm
Thanks really. Big ol’ “Duh” on my part. I think I am a little too excited about our SEC schedule.
DIT
December 28th, 2011
12:02 pm
@MizzouMike
Smart Dawgs fans(key word smart) would not take Mizzou lightly. I feel that most of us respect your program and know it will be a tough game. Never seen a game there and would love to take a road trip up there in the Fall.
beanster
December 28th, 2011
12:03 pm
@MizzouMike — How many seniors/draftees is Mizzou losing this year?
TigerinGA
December 28th, 2011
12:07 pm
@beanster – ummm…..yes – the AD and the coach have a lot of control over the non-conference schedule and they filled it with three cupcakes and GT (who lets be honest, isn’t far from that). Who do you think decides those games??? If the AD and Coach wanted a tougher schedule, they had four games to play with and make it happen.
SSIgator
December 28th, 2011
12:09 pm
“Unfortunately, North Carolina was such a dismal opponent that it was tough to tell just how good the Tigers were”
That’s kind of like the SEC CG. With the UGA meltdown it was hard to tell just how good LSU was.
DIT
December 28th, 2011
12:09 pm
@MizzouMike
Congrats on your win against UNC. Y’all already fit into place in the SEC because y’all kicked the crap out of an ACC team.
You’ll find out that it’s almost like having a scrimmage aginst your second & third stringers when you play that weak conference.
Heck, Ga. Southern will not schedule tek because they would drop their strength of schedule. That’s pretty bad.
Welcome aboard!
SSIgator
December 28th, 2011
12:11 pm
Yes, I’m still extremly mad because we will suck for the next 3 years….. at least, so I will come on a UGA blog and act just like a tekie hoping that no one will notice just how much of a woman I am.
beanster
December 28th, 2011
12:11 pm
I was referring to SEC play. To suggest that Mike Slive would go easy on UGA is hilarious to me.
We have tried a tough OOC schedule for years now. It hasn’t worked out well. Personally I am glad we have a former UF guy to show us how to schedule cupcakes early while the team is still ironing out the kinks.
TigerinGA
December 28th, 2011
12:12 pm
Agreed – welcome aboard to Mizzou and A&M – I think they will be wonderful additions to the SEC and only continue to prove our National dominance!
Chi Town
December 28th, 2011
12:12 pm
Bama dodges a bullet not playing the mutts? More like the other way around.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. U idiot redneck losers are hilarious.
Who is Richt blowing over in Birmingham to keep getting these easy schedules?
SSIgator
December 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
“So, overall, I’d say the Dogs are sitting pretty for 2012″
The puppies are always “sitting pretty” before the season starts. Problem is, once the games get under way, then reality sets in. How are those 2012 Pre-Season National Champions tee shirts coming along?
SEC releases schedule with Missouri and Texas A&M – SportingNews.com | World News
December 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
DIT
December 28th, 2011
12:15 pm
Shows the intelligent level most of us have to deal with when someone blames the HC of scheduling when throughout all the blogs that talk about schedule it is discussed that the AD and the league plan the schedule out.
Must be that Mark Richt envy you have.
Laughable
December 28th, 2011
12:16 pm
@TigerinGA
Here is Alabama’s out of conference home schedule when they won the nat’l championship in 2009-2010. FIU, North Texas, Tennessee-Chattanooga. The blueprint in the SEC is win the conference, win the national championship. Why deviate from this?
DIT
December 28th, 2011
12:17 pm
How’s the 2012 Pre-Season SEC EAST Bottom Dwellers tee shirts coming along SSI?
TigerinGA
December 28th, 2011
12:19 pm
I wish the SEC would strongly encourage every conference member to put at least one opponent (maybe two) from a BCS conference (preferably top 25) on their schedule. Whereas it may not work out as well for Vandy, UK, Ole Miss – I think it would go a long way to improve the National perception of the SEC. That being said – it was pretty stupid for LSU to schedule Oregon as the first game of the season, a little warm-up would not have hurt. Who knows what the long-term SEC schedule will look like – but the ADs have control over the other parts.
beanster
December 28th, 2011
12:21 pm
@Social Security Income Gator — How does the reality of being 4th best in the SEC East feel?
Y’all will be much better next year. Muschamp knows what he is doing, don’t worry.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Texas Dawg
December 28th, 2011
12:21 pm
I was really looking forward to playing Alabama. I thought it would be a good game to tell us if we can play with the big boys. If you wanna be the best you have to beat the best….we haven’t beat a really good team in a long time….and yes I’m a die hard dawg fan…
beebee
December 28th, 2011
12:23 pm
Seriously this time.
Georgia, at this stage, more formidable non-conference opponents are in order, especially at home.
You have a whole lot of talent and the team, if it is to become elite, needs to show that on the field against at the very least one national power.
You all do have a very interesting prospectus in 2012. But those Buffalo’s you all are playing just takes away a whole lot.
bee
DIT
December 28th, 2011
12:23 pm
Texas Dawg I agree 100%. I hate this schedule for next year.
TigerinGA
December 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
@ Laughable – If the SEC wants to remain a dominant conference, they have to continue to put difficult non-conference games on the schedule. Its a national trend, especially early in the season (think the chick-fil-a kick-of game). If the SEC consistently had the best bowl record every year, this would’t be neccessary.
@DIT – if you think the HC doesn’t have an open dialouge with the AD in regards to scheduling then you are crazy. Yes, the AD makes the final decisions, but good ADs always listen to their HC (not just FB)
TigerinGA
December 28th, 2011
12:28 pm
@Texas Dawg – “If you wanna be the best you have to beat the best” – Amen!!!!!!!
SSIgator
December 28th, 2011
12:30 pm
Texas Dawg -
Don’t worry. Unless UGA poops in their own bed (again) they should somehow back into the SEC CG in 2012. Too bad no matter who they face from the west will dish out a beatdown similar to what LSU did this year. “Big Boy Football” as you call it is not in the UGA lexicon.
DIT
December 28th, 2011
12:30 pm
@TigerinGA
I’m sure they get some feedback. However, it’s the league and the AD that put the schedule together. I’m not even sure how much the AD can control any of it.
No one said crap about UGA’s schedule for about 3 to 4 years running a few years ago. This year and next year do look easy. AT least in recent memory UGA has gone out and got some tough OOC opponents. There are some other SEC teams that have yet to travel outside of their area to get that tougher opponent.
Evansdawg
December 28th, 2011
12:32 pm
And here we ONCE AGAIN have the Tech Wannabees embarrassingly (to themselves) spewing crap on top of crap. You guys should give it up.
robodawg
December 28th, 2011
12:33 pm
The Kentucky game has moved back to its traditional weekend, which is how the Lexington people like it so they get the Georgia people in town for the horse races.
I don’t mind at all as long as Florida plays that weekend too.
Laughable
December 28th, 2011
12:35 pm
Here’s another one for you. Auburn’s home non-conference schedule from last year: Arkansas St, Clemson (went 6-7), LA-Monroe, Chattanooga. Worked out well for Auburn…They didn’t seem interested in helping out the conference perception and they only get to shine their rings and go to Wal-marts around the state with the crystal ball.
RomeGADog
December 28th, 2011
12:35 pm
SSI, you are one sad little boy.
LawDawg
December 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
My team has no shot at doing anything significant next year, so rather than go to a Tech blog and have nothing to say, we come here to be annoying little b tches. We are an envious, pathetic lot.
Signed,
Every GT fan who posts on the UGA blog
DIT
December 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
More like an angry little girl!
robodawg
December 28th, 2011
12:39 pm
I’m with Texas Dawg. I was looking forward to the Bama game.
South Carolina still looks to be a tough game. I wonder how long before Florida and Tennessee are contenders again. You would think it shouldn’t take Florida long, if they can find an effective offense.
Evansdawg
December 28th, 2011
12:41 pm
Whats more funny is that UGA is playing Georgia Southern the week before the Tech game. So…the Dawgs will get to tune up against a triple-option team before they play a bigger triple-option team. Prepare yourselves for yet another loss, Techies. We run this state.
TigerinGA
December 28th, 2011
12:41 pm
@DIT – yes, the SEC 100% controls the conference schedule. Just saying the AD has A LOT of control over the other four games. Many SEC opponents have built in rivals like GT, Florida State, and Clemson that must be put on the schedule for sake of tradition, but that still gives three games to play with. Moving to GA from Louisiana recently, I will say having the easy schedule at the beginning would be comforting and LSU has totally ruined some seasons in the first couple of games; however, big wins can set up big seasons (LSU vs VT in 2007 and LSU vs Oregon this year). Props for Boise this year – I was even wearing some red and black that day (though it didn’t turn out like any of us wanted)
robodawg
December 28th, 2011
12:42 pm
So … what do the schedule changes look like for the rest of the conference? Did Mizzou and A&M become each other’s permanent cross-division rival?
DIT
December 28th, 2011
12:42 pm
Florida has a lot of good athletes. They will be back sooner than UT.
RomeGADog
December 28th, 2011
12:45 pm
A&M opens sec play against fla.
Jan
December 28th, 2011
12:45 pm
Nice of Georgia to intentionally duck Alabama, even with that cupcake out of conference schedule they play. What a joke. I guess they’re too chicken to play Alabama. How can you duck playing the Tide year after year? I guess this is why the SEC invited Missouri. They’re the new Vanderbilt.
DIT
December 28th, 2011
12:46 pm
I totally give props to LSU for their schedule this year. No one is arguing, well maybe a few Bama folks, that LSU is the clear cut #1. They deserved it for the schedule they played.
I was upset over the Boise State game as well, but thankful for the tough opener.
Evansdawg
December 28th, 2011
12:52 pm
Jan, Georgia doesn’t decide who is and who is not on the schedule for conference play. Georgia ducked no one. Learn a thing or two about football before you spew such ignorance and stupidity.
beanster
December 28th, 2011
12:52 pm
Jan — Based on your insightful comments, it’s no surprise to anyone on this blog that you are an Alabama fan. Alum? Probably not. But “fan” all the way.
By the way, Mark Richt is 3-1 versus Bama. Just sayin.
Ugadawg16
December 28th, 2011
12:53 pm
Seems very favorable for the Dawgs. I don’t like the years we have so many home games in Sept but that’s just me wanting to be in Athens for football games in Oct and Nov when the weather is so nice and football-like.
TigerinGA
December 28th, 2011
12:56 pm
Just checked out LSU’s schedule for next year – our non-conference is also laughable (its going to be a down year anyhow). Picked up A & M on the schedule as well as USC and FLA from the East. With the normal SEC West foes – Bama, Arkansas Auburn – its still no easy schedule. I predict LSU at 10-2 at the end of the regular season.
ole yeller
December 28th, 2011
12:58 pm
Bill, I have often stated these dawgs will hunt not bark at the moon. The 2012 Uga team is no different. With some loses in personel the “D” will be strong again. Look for new faces at some positions that will look like no one left. One thing for sure, There will be a stable full of horses and the “O” will run, count one it. There will be DEPTH at “RB”. The “O” line will have DEPTH, count on it. I am exicted about the 2012 season and th chance to repeat as East Champs. Maybe SEC Champs.
beanster
December 28th, 2011
12:58 pm
Down year? Please explain. Who do you lose?