Oddsmaker likes Dawgs to win SEC East … and BCS!
Georgia's schedule has the Dawgs in early conversations about the BCS championship. (Associated Press)
So far, Mark Richt’s 2012 Dawgs are having a terrific silly season, that time of summer when all teams are undefeated and fans and prognosticators alike can go crazy with predictions.
Here’s a headline on the handicapping site Beyond the Bets sure to quicken a UGA fan’s pulse a beat or two: Who will win 2013 BCS national title? Our pick: the Georgia Bulldogs, currently a 19/1 long shot
At 19-to-1, Georgia has the seventh-best odds to win the national championship. Here are the reasons why BTB likes the Dawgs to do so: 1. They’re good. 2. Schedule 3. They can afford to lose a game.
Under the first reason, the site notes that quarterback Aaron Murray heads up a bunch of returning starters, the passing game should be among the nation’s best and “Georgia should finally have a running game to complement it.” Also, the defense, which returns 20 of 22 players on its depth chart, “will again be dominant and could be the best in the conference.”
They do note that “the offensive line will be the major concern, as the Bulldogs must replace both tackles and add depth along the interior. Nonetheless, they should have no trouble improving upon last year’s 10-win season.”
One of the main reasons why, BTB says, is the schedule, with Georgia again avoiding Alabama, LSU and Arkansas during the regular season. Says BTB: “Georgia will play seven games at home, four on the road and one — the annual matchup against Florida on Oct. 27 — at a neutral field. That’s as manageable a schedule as any you’ll find, particularly when you consider that they’ll be favored in three of the four road games — at Kentucky, Missouri and Auburn.”
BTB notes that the toughest game on Georgia’s schedule will come against South Carolina, which is the only game in which the Las Vegas oddsmakers haven’t installed the Dogs as a point-spread favorite. (The Gamecocks are favored by 3.)
But that brings us to their third reason: “Georgia is one of the few teams in the country that has the potential to lose a game and still appear in the national championship. Assuming the Bulldogs open the season in the top 10 as expected, they’ll likely rise as high as fifth or sixth prior to their big swing game against South Carolina on Oct. 6. If the Bulldogs lose, they’ll have two full months to climb back into the top 5 of the polls and should still have a chance to earn a second straight SEC East crown. With a win over LSU or Alabama in the SEC championship, Georgia will be in position to play for the national title.”
To bolster their case for the Dawgs, the BTB folks cite Saturday Down South, which has picked Georgia as “the safe bet” to again win the SEC East, with South Carolina and Florida as “sucker bets” to do so, noting that “The Bulldogs are one of the most talented teams in the country. I put them on the same talent level as LSU and even slightly ahead of Alabama.”
SDS also cites the talent level and the schedule, saying, “This is a huge year for Richt’s legacy, and I think Georgia puts it together and wins the East — and maybe more — in what could be a special year for Georgia football.”
Is that enough to get you pumped up for fall, or do you think the oddsmakers are underestimating Georgia’s task in rebuilding the offensive line and repairing its dismal special teams play? How do you feel about the upcoming season?
Got something you want to discuss concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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282 comments Add your comment
Mobile Dawg
June 7th, 2012
9:46 pm
I can think of two games in 2008, of magnitude, that inept coaching had us out of the game before we ever had a chance to be competetive. Our season was, for all practical purposes, over after the humiliation Alabama piled on Richt and the Dawgs. I can’t for the life of me understand why some of you think Richt became such a better coach overnight. My two cents and cliche for the night.
NorthernDog
June 8th, 2012
4:26 am
the only team on Ga’s schedule with Ga’s talent is sc—Ga will upset them this year and win the sec east with ease again. fla will be way down and the dogs will beat them by 13+. Ga upsets alabama this year for the title–book it!
AltamahaDawg
June 8th, 2012
8:02 am
I can’t understand why you keep wanting to put words in peoples mouth. WHO has ever said Richt has changed overnite? Any logical person knows its been a maturation over the years. I’m not sure who all these folks are that have said anything different. For example, even the failures of 2008, have lead to some changes since, not overnite, but over time.
As far as the Alabama game. Would it not be a lot more interesting to talk about what actually happened in the game? ie, we could not protect that left side with our freshman 3rd string line over there, taking our passing game out, allowing them to load up and stop Moreno. Also we had no answer on defensive pressure as our best interior and both out or best outside D-linemen weren’t playing, so those short passes were just thier to sit back and pop one after another.
NOW, if you want to blame “coaching” for not having a deeper Oline in August.(which was never a surprise and every writer had said was going to be our weakness, then it got dramatically worse from injuries)..sure, thats right. Or not having more versitile cross trained DL, or any number of actual tangible thing going into that season, thats fine. Its thier job. Thats fair. But its pretty vague to just say that game came down to “inept coaching”. I actualy thought they did a decent job responding and adjusting in the second half. The fact is: 08′ Bama was one of the best team in the nation and we were FAR from it, by the time that game rolled around. Should we have got so far down by halftime…….no. Should Bama have blown such a huge lead to Au in one half a couple years ago…..No. Was that just inept coaching? Or how about Bama’s bowl game in 2008. Inept coaching?
And, is it really hurting your feeling so much that some of these Georgia Football fans are going into this season believing that we have a pretty good team, and talking about it as if they expect to have a fine year? Why must every single post be 100% negative and only about just the one aspect of the team,the name of the head coach and how terrible he is? The article was about a solid returing defense, and sure to be potent passing game, and an anticipated improved running game. Thats what, for the life of you, people are talking about, not some imagined overnite transformation.
FurmanUGA
June 8th, 2012
8:26 am
I’m as big a UGA fan and a Richt fan as anyone. But, I’ve seen this kind of hype before only to get burned by this program. I expect 8-4 and will be pleasantly surprised by more. Prove to me first that you can rise above expectations and then I’ll be inclined to beleive such lofty expectations. We just don’t get lucky in these ways. But, it’s a very nice summer fantasy!
Jborodawg
June 8th, 2012
8:54 am
Altamahadawg…don’t expect reasoned and logical posts on these blogs.
Good lord folks, it’s only June and it’s only one betting outfit. Even the ESPN guys call their list the “way to early top 25″, or some such. Some read the betting site’s article and call Dawg fans delusional. Don’t assume that I’m (or any fan is) delusional over someone else’s betting line or Top 25 ranking.
Altamaha…right on about 2008; some people just look at the record and not what actually transpired. As I recall it was also one of the better coaching jobs on a make-shift OL ever.
“Richt has no concept of the running game.” As I recall, last year he and Bobo tried a LOT of players at RB. Lord, if I read one more time about how stupid Bobo is for running up the middle…I’mo ’splode. Half the time the RB was met in the backfield or stuffed at the line. Murray had to scramble or was sacked WAY too often. That’s the OL; not Bobo and not CMR.
OK, one betting outfit ‘kinda’ picks the Bulldogs…in June. Interesting reading, but that’s about it. Nothing to get in an uproar over. But of course about any article on the Dawgs will get a rise outa some people.
A person SMART enough to know......
June 8th, 2012
9:11 am
No matter the Schedule
No matter the Talent
Would Any of you guys really BET a bunch of money on BOBO to be a National Championship Winning OC?
Wilson Pickett
June 8th, 2012
9:30 am
19-1….yep….History shows you what Mark Richt has to offer and that’s average. Average doesn’t get a glass ball but keep wishing and dreaming. Glad you locked up Richt for two more years so then you can fire him with the reduced buyout. Pitiful. Heck old yellafell spent 5 million for one phone call to Houston Nutt to get Tubbs out and you wish to hold on two more years in order to be able to fire Amen Mark for 2 million. Get serious about football other than from March until August….UGA the Mouth of the South….1980 and it will be that for many many more years.
Kingdaddy
June 8th, 2012
10:40 am
Who else could they pick to win the east? S.C. , the red-headed step-child( I apologize to all red-headed step-children) of the east? We will beat them like a drum. As far as an N.C., when the dust clears, it could be us…
flatsdawg1
June 8th, 2012
10:47 am
I always wish for the Dawgs to be prognosticated at #26 in the nation.
Roll Dawg
June 8th, 2012
11:05 am
Slightly ahead of Alabama? In talent, ummm…maybe. But the coaching chasm is massive. I really like Mark Richt, and think he’s great for Georgia. But can you imagine Aaron Murray’s fumbles and interceptions happening under Nick Saban? It grieves me that the Dogs’ coaching staff hasn’t been able to teach “the SEC’s best quarterback” the elements of ball security.
And while I’ve got the floor, how ’bout that fourth quarter? Anybody remember the refuse to lose mentality under Vince Dooley and Erk Russell?
Still@theKool-aidBAR
June 8th, 2012
11:09 am
Who would want a 65 year old Pimp?
Why did they show the working girls?
Can we find these chicks on Craig’s List?
UGa girls are tops on the SugarDaddy.com
A University of Georgia German professor was arrested Thursday for prostitution, authorities say.
http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/uga-professor-charged-with-1454499.html
Newnandawg
June 8th, 2012
12:01 pm
If Richt has no buyout clause in his contract, why do no other team try to hire him away? Hmmmmm…..I wonder.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
June 8th, 2012
12:04 pm
I hear the 7th grade Atlanta Colts are still trying to hire away Bobo.
Jborodawg
June 8th, 2012
1:04 pm
I think a team just about has to have a Heisman candidate to play for a NC.
BazookaJoe
June 8th, 2012
1:36 pm
Agree with prior posters – historically we do not do very well when expectations are high and I cringe whenever I read stuff like that. Look at the years we won the SEC, at the beginning of the year not much was expected of us. Years we were expected to do something, we flopped. Just shut up, play ball one game at a time and see how it looks at the end.
Angela
June 8th, 2012
2:30 pm
Doomed.
MY Dawg
June 8th, 2012
3:42 pm
In 2007 the coaches let the players drink the koolaid, and lost games where the DAWGS were clearly the better team, but were out coached and outplayed. It is time that the rubber meets the road. The great players are in place. if they are coached well they have a chance for a special season. If you have the talent to win a title and you don’t, look no further than the coaching staff! Go Dawgs!
Newnandawg
June 8th, 2012
4:35 pm
Lost to all 4 teams of any significance last year, but this year we’ll win the National Championship?
Sure, Richt is capable of that.
icedawg
June 8th, 2012
4:40 pm
Dreaming. Dreaming.Dawgs should do well but NC? They’ll have to get by SC, AU and UF, not exactly cake walks. Just because you have 5 star running backs does not mean that you will have a running game. The OL has had a running aversion for the past 3-5 years with some decent backs. How well the OL plays will determine the season.
King Gator
June 8th, 2012
7:39 pm
Kiss of death! Go Gators!
DOUG
June 9th, 2012
8:47 am
No BCS title with Richt as coach. Georgia only wins East & Sec Titles when nobody else wants them.
Q…Who were the last SEC Champs to not win a National Title?
Georgia is the only major Div 1 Football power with a Div 2 caliber coach. Talent alone has carried UGA. Grantham helps but we still need a head coach.
Garry Patterson please sit tight!!!
ugab
June 9th, 2012
11:30 am
Not going to happen..CMR teams take to long to get it going when the season begins. Unprepared. Every one knows what happens when Uga gets to much hype. I see the dawgs losing 5 games, due to suspensions and a weak OL
Techsucks33
June 9th, 2012
1:03 pm
Wouldn’t put my bet on ga tech since ga has won 10 of 11 of their last meetings. It’s not even really a rivalry anymore, just an easy last game win for Mark Richt. You nerds over there at ga tech shoul get that.
wreckmaniac
June 9th, 2012
3:59 pm
The SEC East is the minor league of college football.
Dawg Squeeze
June 9th, 2012
4:12 pm
Good point “Techsucks33″. The dawgs also lead the series in professors posing as transvestite prostitutes. Another bulldog point of pride!
stinger
June 9th, 2012
9:52 pm
You bunch of crossdressing wusses.
Pommostaclenes
June 9th, 2012
10:05 pm
UGA looks great every year… then the season starts. I expect more of the same this year.
DawgBrain
June 10th, 2012
2:41 am
Missouri is the “show me state” and they might show us what 50 points looks like come Fall
YO
June 10th, 2012
1:24 pm
Watch out for Missouri,they seem to spoil alot of teams records.
GO GATORS! were 1 year out…..
W in Austin
June 11th, 2012
10:32 am
Sigh.
1) A bad OL from 2011 loses 3 starters for the 2012 season. So much for the offense.
2) A squirrely QB that has yet to perform under pressure.
3) No proven RB.
4) One true weapon at WR, and he’ll be playing CB to start the season.
5) A D that looked great against really bad opponents, but mailed it in against legitimate opposition.
Let’s face it, folks. UGA’s “10-win” season last year was a fluke of scheduling, not an indicator of UGA’s quality as a team. I frankly can’t recall any team in my 40+ years as a UGA fan that had so much hype coming down on so little actual potential.
DawgBrain
June 11th, 2012
10:56 am
All of us fellas like me should visit Swinging Richards gay sports bar tonight, and really get off on our team.
stinger
June 11th, 2012
10:57 am
Brain, I’m down for that, I love a college dude in a really tight sweaty uniform.