Which game (besides South Carolina) will be Georgia’s toughest?
Marcus Lattimore is one of the reasons South Carolina looms as Georgia's toughest opponent in 2012. (Associated Press)
This time last year, I conducted what had become our annual survey to see which game you thought would be the toughest for the Dogs, other than the showdown in Jacksonville.
Because of the Florida game’s history over the previous couple of decades, I had decided to put it in a category all its own. It was, of course, the toughest game Georgia would face. The monkey on their back. The discussion was over which game was the next toughest.
But no longer. I think it’s fair to say there’s been a sea change in the SEC East over the past couple of years and, at least for now, I don’t believe the Florida game qualifies any longer as the automatic biggest hurdle on the Dawgs’ schedule.
Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks have taken over that spot.
Consider: South Carolina, which last year was picked by 65 percent of Junkyard Blawg readers voting in the poll as the likely toughest game on the schedule aside from Florida, has won two in a row against Georgia, which beat Florida last year.
Yes, I know I said a few weeks ago that I consider the showdown with Florida a more important game than South Carolina, and that’s still the case. Because, let’s face it, the Dawgs can lose to the Gamecocks and still win the SEC East if they win the rest of their conference schedule (which admittedly is again easier than the Gamecocks’ schedule this year). Plus, winning two in a row in Jacksonville would pretty much park the “jinx” talk on the back shelf.
But we’re not talking most important game here, or the game you most want Georgia to win. We’re looking at which game will be the toughest for the Dawgs, and I don’t think there’s much argument there. Most college football observers are picking the Oct. 6 game in Columbia as the most likely loss in a Bulldog schedule that otherwise is deemed quite manageable.
The fact that many of those picking the Gamecocks to beat Georgia are also picking Georgia to win the SEC East again in spite of that drives Spurrier absolutely crazy.
Is this a great world, or what?
So, for the sake of this exercise at least, let’s stipulate that South Carolina is the toughest game on the schedule, thanks in large part to the Gamecocks’ perennially tough defense, the assumed presence of a healthy Marcus Lattimore in the lineup and the fact that Spurrier wants it practically more than life itself.
The Bulldogs certainly don’t want to lose a third consecutive year to South Carolina for the first time ever, but it wouldn’t derail their season.
So, let’s turn out attention to which game besides South Carolina looms as Georgia’s toughest challenge.
Is it the Gators, who are still going through their post-Urban renewal? You could make a good argument that because of the series’ history and the rivalry between the two programs (and the closeness of last year’s game thanks to Georgia’s awful special teams play) that the Jacksonville classic is the next toughest game on the 2012 schedule. Florida should be tough on defense, but at this point they’re still a big question mark offensively.
James Franklin could be a big challenge for a UGA defense missing several starters. (Associated Press)
From what I’m hearing, though, more fans are concerned about the conference opener against Missouri. Not only will it be Mizzou’s SEC debut — which means they’re sure to be jacked for it — but Georgia is entering the game with an automatic handicap in having several defensive starters suspended. Plus the Dawgs will be going without last year’s SEC freshman of the year at tailback. Also, recent history shows Mark Richt’s teams have a tendency to get off to a slow start early in the season, especially on offense. And Tigers quarterback James Franklin probably will be the most dangerous two-way threat Associate Head Coach Todd Grantham’s defense will face all season.
As for the rest of the non-cupcake part of the schedule, there’ll probably be a bit more interest in the game with Vandy this year, thanks to the chippy nature of last year’s visit to Nashville, but it still would require a definitely subpar performance on the part of the Dawgs for the Commodores to win in Athens.
Loading ...Kentucky has been known to be surprisingly tough against the Dawgs in recent years, but on paper it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen this year.
Ole Miss? Still pretty much a disaster.
Auburn, of course, always has the potential to be a tough game, though the Tigers remain something of an unknown at this point.
And Georgia Tech and its tricky offense are always dangerous.
So how do I vote? I’m going with Missouri as the toughest game this season after South Carolina.
What about you? Feel free to share your comments, vote in the poll or do both.
Don’t forget the Junkyard Mail! 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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199 comments Add your comment
Florida owns you Mutts
July 11th, 2012
1:50 pm
Clay-
How is that leather helmet fitting you? At what point does it not become a trend for you idiots? 21 years not enough of a sample size for you? Still dreaming about 1980 and double complete rainbows Clay?
ARdawg
July 11th, 2012
1:52 pm
The Trolls are now out in full force
Dale
July 11th, 2012
1:53 pm
Haha at the Florida fans! I wish we could play you one year. You’re terrible now. Didn’t Furman take you to OT? Bwahahahahahaha!
george
July 11th, 2012
1:59 pm
FINALLY beat Florida and the sec east has changed??? HA HA HA HA. And if you win this year the jinx is over????? 5 out of 22 and the jinx is over??? Really?? You cant be that nieve. Fact is the pups have 4 games that are toss ups. Mizz,fl,usc, and AU. Split those 4 and trip up somewhere else like they always do and another average 9-3 season. Let the crying and whining begin.
dougmo2
July 11th, 2012
2:02 pm
Georgia vs. Athens-Clarke County Police
It’s hard to win when the opponents have home field and a lot more weapons.
UGA- now #6 in the Fulmer Cup Standings.
Dawg Haus
July 11th, 2012
2:05 pm
It’s an ambush, ARdawg!
Westicles
July 11th, 2012
2:07 pm
Yo, Dale!
One huge drawback of the Conference expansion over the last few years is that the opportunity for UGA to play Clemson doesn’t come around too often, unless we meet in the Peach Bowl. (Chic-Fil-A can suck it. I still call it the peach Bowl.)
UGA / Clemson used to be a great rivalry. We should all do away with the “tune up games” against schools like the University of Northern South Dakota and fill in our non-conference schedules with teams that boost each others’ strength of schedule.
Sweeny has an idea that I love; UGA and Clemson playing each other in a spring scrimmage.
Dawg Haus
July 11th, 2012
2:10 pm
Couldn’t agree more, Westicles. The spring scrimmage would be a great way to get the Clemson rivalry going again while still satisfying the AD’s appetite for cupcakes. Gotta give it to Dabo on that idea!
Cloonan
July 11th, 2012
2:11 pm
Vandy will spoil the dawgs party this year. Book it!
Dale
July 11th, 2012
2:12 pm
Haha at Dawg Haus. Your jaw would drop when you saw Sammy Watkins. He would outrun any Dawg in a hundred yard dash by ten yards, and I’m not exagerating. Youtube him and drool.
Our offense would be to stout for the Dawgs. We win by 7-10.
Dawg Haus
July 11th, 2012
2:22 pm
Dale, I didn’t call Clemson a cupcake. I said I liked the idea of playing them in a spring scrimmage so the AD can still have the cupcakes on the regular-season schedule. I actually have a lot of respect for Clemson regardless of the bowl game last year. I thought they’d kill WV, but I thought UGA would do the same back in 2005.
Abnerish
July 11th, 2012
2:24 pm
Until we can win consecutive games against Florida, that game will continue to be our toughest. Winning one game against them means nothing. We need to go on a winning streak before we can honestly say that we are over the psychological hump.
Dawg Fud
July 11th, 2012
2:29 pm
Dale,
I married into a Clemson family….actually from Clemson. If you are a Clemson grad then you must also eat lead paint sandwiches.
P_The_Ricker
July 11th, 2012
2:29 pm
UF- toughest
Mizz- most dangerous
UT- most surprising
Duncan Hines has the best Brownie Mix
July 11th, 2012
2:40 pm
Should go 11 and 1 with D and talent.However,past history and current coaching staff will end the season 8 and 4. Gators,Mizz,Vols and Chickens will be in the loss column.
Dale
July 11th, 2012
2:42 pm
So what if you married into a Clemson family, Dawg Fud? What’s that got to do with anything?
Spanky
July 11th, 2012
2:59 pm
Clay, good post! Same to dmr… This is not crazy-talk, and I do believe this, but I think the Ga/SC game will be a low-scoring game, but the dawgs take it by 10..hear me out,hear me out, before you laugh into a tissy!! 1) this game being in the middle of the schedule is HHHHHuge!! We get all of our D back and well primed! 2) By this time, Malcom Mitchell will be back on offense-with the other receivers getting plenty of reps, and he will be looking to make a big impact. 3) The D’s front 7 is the best we’ve had in a long time, with plenty of depth. This will be our best shot at controlling Lattimore, who will be forced outside. 4) Our O-line might be a bit better than a lot of folks think! Coach Friend did a nice patchwork job last year. With Theus coming in, this just might be protection Murray needs. 5) INTRODUCING CHRISTIAN LEMAY !! People, watch out for this kid to come in with some lightning! You’ll see him more and more as the year goes..By the time we play Carolina, he will develope into a difference-maker…and finally..6) Carolina lost some really good players that made a bunch of plays last year, especially on Special Teams and Offense…aaaand..with LSU coming a week later, they might get caught looking ahead!
Well, that’s my 2 cents…have a good day!
Ty
July 11th, 2012
2:59 pm
Is it just me or is it extremly comical how we now have ClemPson people talking trash on the blogs. You tools crack me up. Tech people have got to love this because how many time has tech beaten you in a row now. Series. Please do us all a favor. Beat tech at least 2 times in a row before you can start possing off!!
Oh, watch out, WVU just scored again. I mean, how embarrassing was that bowl game.
Silly ClemPson people!
Dawg Haus
July 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
Nothing against Murray, but I’d love to see Lemay get in on the action next season, Spanky.
DIT
July 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
@Spanky
Hard for this Dawg to see LeMay getting the time needed. I would like to, but as long as Murray is healthy Lemay will not get the playing time he needs. I just hope that if Murray goes down the coaches will have him or Hutson ready to go.
It will be interesting.
Dawg Haus
July 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
Agreed, DIT. I’d love to see Mason or Lemay in as a change-of-pace QB from time to time. I just don’t know if that will happen.
DIT
July 11th, 2012
3:19 pm
Who knows Dawg Haus if Murray can greatly mature this year and perform under preasure, rely on the rest of the team, we will not be calling for the other QB’s.
If Murray would just cut out the stupid, forced mistakes, this kid would be the best QB in the SEC. Big “IF”
Dawg Haus
July 11th, 2012
3:21 pm
No argument here, DIT. I still support Murray, but that bowl performance was demoralizing. Getting the running game going should help Murray out a good bit.
Spanky
July 11th, 2012
3:33 pm
DIT and Dawg Haus, I’m with ya’ll on the Murray issue!! Hutson Mason will redshirt this season, for more future playing time, so it will be LeMay as back-up. I have heard (not sure of validity) that LeMay will come in for specialty plays and mop-up work….you should see him in the second quarter of the Buffalo game…alot!! LOL Also, I do think Murray is too short…I’d love to be proven wrong on this, but I doubt we’ll see him in the league!
Dawg Haus
July 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
Is anybody following this series on ESPN? Murray the #1 QB in the SEC?! http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/45685/sec-position-rankings-quarterbacks-4
sc fan
July 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
I believe that I am tired of hearing SECLeast. Look at it. Down year and Ga. was a couple of bumbling receivers from the championship. SC was one bottle of bourbon from Atlanta. Vandy scared the H out of Arky. SC thrashed #1 alabama the year befor. So let’s quit agreeing with the western clowns
P_The_Ricker
July 11th, 2012
4:30 pm
I don’t believe murray is even the best qb at UGA.
After the mistakes against LSU and MSU to end the season, does anyone really think that the other coaches in the league wouldn’t have re-opened the qb competition in the spring???
richt is loyal to a fault……and that’s the main reason a lot of you guys are expecting a 3 or 4 loss season this year. if richt coached w/out caring about the emotions of his players and embarassing them for taking away starting positions…..UGA could easily compete w/ the LSUs and Alabamas this coming season.
GTown
July 11th, 2012
4:32 pm
I’m looking at Special Teams.
Paul Johnson went out and got a full time Special teams coach.
Vandy blocked a punt, and returned a kick for a td on special teams.
Florida had 3 50+ yard kick returns on us.
Tenn went out and got an NFL guy to head their Special Teams full time.
Spurrier has the Special Teams coach of the year.
As far as defenses:
we face 8 teams that finished in the top 30 in pass defense last year.
we also face Van Gorder at Auburn.
we face Muschamp at UF.
Offenses:
Mizzou
Tenn
Auburn
Tech
South Carolina laid up 45 points on us.
Potential losses are:
Mizzou, Tenn, Vand, SC, UF, Aub, GaTech
Toughest will be Florida of course (18-3 record vs UGA), then Georgia Tech because of improved defense, great running game, and new special teams coach.
We will lose at least 3 games, simply due to special teams.
CHDawg
July 11th, 2012
4:39 pm
This is easy. Bama in the Dome will be the toughest.
BigGAdawg
July 11th, 2012
4:52 pm
Missouri, but only because of the suspensions of the selfish ones who put themselves ahead of their teammates. In terms of talent on the other side of the ball, probably Florida or Auburn.
Rob
July 11th, 2012
4:57 pm
I hear all this worry about Mizzou and our secondary but is anyone mentioning the absolute horror that was the mizzuo O-line again a good pass rush last year?!?!?! We will be rushing Jarvis jones and Corn at them all day and that QB can only be effective if Jarvis’s helmet isnt firmly planted into his chest down after down.
PREDICTION: Our d-line forces franklin into bad throws which in turn makes our scrappy secondary look better and gain much need confidence. Murray owns offense early but then Boo secures the game with 4 yard run after 4 yard run. UGA 28 Mizzou 17
Thomas Harrison
July 11th, 2012
5:24 pm
Richt is a PRIME example of an excellent coach who should NEVER be a Head Coach!!
Saw a Huge Change in Richt while Damon Evans ” panty played ” @ UGA——VERY COSTLY!!!!!
SSIgator
July 11th, 2012
5:26 pm
CHDawg
July 11th, 2012
4:39 pm
This is easy. Bama in the Dome will be the toughest
_____________________________________________
I thought it was going to be a home and home series starting again next year?
dienlafin
July 11th, 2012
5:30 pm
Dale Yo! 70-33.
What the hell you even talking about football for?
SC players refer to your sacred Sammy as “Sammy Dropkins.”
Oh by the way, you think your sacred Sammy misses the Auburn game?
PS I understand that your #1 commit wants the Chick fil A to stay open on Sundays.
Please I’m begging you stay off this football site, you don’t deserve to be here.
bham dawg
July 11th, 2012
5:49 pm
@SSIgator… SEC championship come on
AltamahaDawg
July 11th, 2012
6:02 pm
SSI, what head-to-head position match-ups do you “see in this UGA team” do you count as UF advantages?
We Run the East
July 11th, 2012
6:13 pm
For those of you who say UGA gave SC last years game, listen to this- Late in the 4th qtr and UGA up by 4, Sc had to have a td to get the lead and we drove the ball down the field (lattimore, etc…) to get the td we had to have. Up by 3 after td and then MURRAY gave us the easy td. When we had to have it we took it. that is how it went down.
AltamahaDawg
July 11th, 2012
6:17 pm
Uh, excuse me, but Florida’s record vs Georgia is NOT 18-3. Any more than it’s 0-1. The game has actually been around quite a long time.
LogicalUS
July 11th, 2012
6:46 pm
SC game is a loss, you are correct Bill…but ones to look out for are Mizzou and another is the UT game the week before the trip to SC because though UT has many problems their one strenght is Bray and passing game vs the UGA secondary which is going to have very few reps together going into that game and UGA looking past a week. Look for this one to be a huge shootout and with Murray propensity to turn the ball over do not be surprised.
And a note to the Clemson fan, you must be lost as the board for the Ga High School league is elsewhere, this is a board for MAJOR COLLEGE football. Opps…that Big East team just scored again. .
Stewart Mandel article in Sports Illulstrated disses the Dawgs
July 11th, 2012
7:03 pm
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/stewart_mandel/07/11/kings-barons-knights-peasants-mailbag/index.html?sct=cf_t11_a0
Mexdawg
July 11th, 2012
7:19 pm
Dale look out West Virginia just scored again.Do you have any idea what the Ga-Clemson record is.We own you guys.We would beat you like a red headed stepchild just like Carolina did.JUST BEAT THE GATORS BABY.LET THE BIG DAWG EAT.
shankit
July 11th, 2012
7:19 pm
Duz any of our teams have a blog like the AJC where you
can cum on line and berate the Dawgs? If iff’n any of your
Dawg players read this blog, cummin from Dosta, our ol’
coach Baze would paste this crap on his locker room fore
any rival game and use theze blogs to motivate his players
to kick arse against the opponents which use theze blogs
to berate the Dawgs. Dawgs, kick arse.
shankit
July 11th, 2012
7:32 pm
Dawgs, suck it up, quit reading these blogs. Pump the iron,
and get your arse in shape to kick arse against all opponents.
Dosta has kicked arse against all the Bama prima donna high
school schools, Bessemer, who won the Bama state championship
with one loss, against Dosta who kicked their arse, Robert E. Lee
who won the Bama state championship, but Dosta kicked their
arse. As Baze youse to say, they put on their jockey straps just
like you do, they lace up their shoes just like your do, just go out
and let them know who is the boss.
Joey Hanie
July 11th, 2012
7:39 pm
I think its Floriduh. Georgia shot it’s self in the foot with Carolina last year spoting them 28 points. The DAWGS were the better team, and will be this year
jack bull
July 11th, 2012
7:56 pm
Well, looking at recent road trips out west, Ok State and Colorado, I’ve got to go with Mizzou as the being the toughest. Normally, I wouldn’t be saying this, as my BIG 12 guru is telling me we shouldn’t have any problems at all with the Tigers(although he did say for those of us going to this game, we WILL have some issues with their fans…more on this later on our blog).
Typically, I would go with UF, but they are in trouble, big trouble down there. And yes, UT is a ‘trap’ game. Watch out for them!
kingdaddy
July 11th, 2012
7:57 pm
Missouri lost their backup qb (Glaser) and their starting qb is coming off of a surgery, Dawgs too much. Looks like Fla. because of mental block , not because they’re any good…
BabsTolstoy
July 11th, 2012
8:11 pm
Auburn. Here’s why. Late in the season when dawg’s attrition really starts to show. Auburn is young, talented, and getting better, plus has the depth now to be good late in the year. Ga. will be hurt and tired and will get spanked.
AltamahaDawg
July 11th, 2012
8:27 pm
Miss State
Gordon
July 11th, 2012
8:28 pm
Why hasn’t someone said “the team we play in the SECCG”? Don’t you think you’re going to get there?
The Professor
July 11th, 2012
8:34 pm
Here’s your Bulldog Math Problem of the Week
f(x,y,z) = 7.85x + 82.4y•π + 3z²
Solve for f(x, y, z), given:
X = the realistic probability of Mark Richt ever winning a national championship at UGA
Y = the number of legitimate college degrees awarded to UGA football players
Z = the number of UGA students who are not drunks
Congratulations if you came up with the correct answer, which is ZERO