Georgia the underdog? Not according to these rankings
"Remember, men: This year we're No. 1 -- plus four." (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Here the Georgia Bulldogs were, getting all comfy with this “nobody’s-giving-us-a-chance” mentality, and here comes CollegeFootballNews.com to ruin it for them. Can’t anybody just leave an underdog in peace?
The top four teams in CFN’s preseason power rankings: Florida, Southern Cal, Oklahoma and Texas.
No. 5? Georgia.
Hey, wasn’t this supposed to be a rebuilding year?
Here’s CFN on UGA, which is listed under “National Title Contenders”:
“The Dawgs will let Florida hog the spotlight and should fly under the radar without the pressure and expectations of last season when they were almost everyone’s preseason No. 1. Mark Richt’s teams tend to do better when no one is expecting much, but this year’s squad is loaded. The O might lose Knowshon Moreno, but there are more excellent backs than carries available. The return of Trinton Sturdivant should be a big boost to a fantastic offensive front, Rennie Curran is an All-America leader for a phenomenal linebacking corps, and there aren’t any major holes to worry about …
“If everyone is healthy, there won’t be a deeper more talented line in America. There’s so much talent and so much versatility that the coaching staff can play around with the lineup whenever needed and get production. It happened last year with decent results, and there’s no reason the line can’t be better with so many key parts returning …
“With Jeff Owens back after missing almost all of last season, and with Geno Atkins choosing to return for his senior year rather than be a millionaire as a first round pick in this year’s draft, the Bulldogs are loaded on the inside. Throw in 320-pound veteran Kade Weston, who’s trying to get healthy after playing banged up last year, and emerging star DeAngelo Tyson, and Georgia will be phenomenal on the defensive interior.”
You’ll be surprised — well, I was surprised — that these rankings slot Georgia above LSU (No. 7), Oklahoma State (No. 8), Alabama (No. 11) and Ole Miss (No. 12). And poor Georgia Tech sits way down there at No. 21.
Loading ...Then again, these same rankings have Miami at No. 22 and Clemson at No. 24, which is way higher than those teams deserve. But that’s why CFN’s list is such fun: It’s different.
And here it was just this week Mark Richt said: “It’s a whole lot better to be preseason No. 2 than No. 1.” From that, we can assume he won’t much mind being No. 5. Except it means that shock-the-world pregame speech has been rendered inoperative, at least until Halloween in Jacksonville.
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55 comments Add your comment
big dawg 89
August 5th, 2009
7:56 pm
first
big dawg 89
August 5th, 2009
7:58 pm
i’m telling ya, i’ve got 5k riding on the dawgs with vegas to play texas in the NC. please don’t let me down, boys
Fair Weather Atlanta Fan
August 5th, 2009
8:12 pm
Gatorz! Gatorz! Gatorz! Percy Harvin for the Heisman!
jp
August 5th, 2009
8:13 pm
i think we play USC this year in the NC.
Mark Bradley
August 5th, 2009
8:15 pm
Actually, Georgia plays USC on Sept. 12. Hee, hee.
Georgia the underdog? Not according to these rankings | Mark Bradley | Georgia Today
August 5th, 2009
8:17 pm
[...] See original here: Georgia the underdog? Not according to these rankings | Mark Bradley [...]
George P. Burdell
August 5th, 2009
8:25 pm
Clean Old-Fashioned Hate. Get some.
Blondie
August 5th, 2009
8:33 pm
*Yawn* Every year it’s the same thing – Georgia ranked in the top 10. Hey here’s a fun question – when was the last time they actually lived up to the hype? Or even better – when was the last time they won a National Championship? 1980… and in total, they’ve only been National Champs TWICE. Call me when they’ve won four – oh wait, that’s Georgia Tech. UGA is going to stay right where they belong this season… trampled underfoot by Oklahoma, Florida, LSU, and Tech.
Mike Vick
August 5th, 2009
8:43 pm
Blondie :every year its the same thing..Georgia ranked in the Top 19..when was the last time they actually lived up to the hype”
They have finished in the top 10 in at least one poll 6 of the last 7 years..so looks like a/ the Dogs HAVE lived up to the hype, and b/ you are a moron.
eddiedawg
August 5th, 2009
8:46 pm
HEY BLONDIE:
2 SEC Championships in 7 years. How many ACC championships does that stupid team from North Avenue have in the modern era? One?? Before they added more teams?? Boy that’s impressive since the ACC is such a LOADED conference. What next-you gonna post 45-42?? That would be original.
How is finishing in the top 10 seven out of the past 9 years not living up to the hype?? Sounds like a machine to me. Tech will be handed its @zz again in Nov and all will be right with the world again.
UGASlobberknocker
August 5th, 2009
8:47 pm
Georgia Tech has won 4 titles..in what dream?
In the poll era (that era since 1936 when the polls started).Tech has only won their pathetic half of a title in 1990. All of the others were before 1936 when every year about 10 teams claimed a championship. Check the NCAA site..every year at least two and sometiems as many as 5 teams claimed a title. Those prior to 1936 are4 meaningless.
Just be happy with that co-title since Tech wasnt even in the Top 10 terams talent wise that year (although honesty and painful memory makes me admit they ran over the Dogs that year like a dump truck over a possum.)
The Grinch
August 5th, 2009
9:05 pm
Blondie must be a troll; otherwise he/she is likely typing from Georgia Regional.
Michael
August 5th, 2009
9:16 pm
It’s really a bit of a joke to put meaningful rankings on college teams before they play. On average, about 20 percent of the previous year’s roster is gone. At least the same happens with starters, if not more. You’ve got freshmen that may be AJ Green or may be duds. King and Samuel may be Cadillac and Brown, but we don’t know until they consistently play.
Oh yeah, don’t forget the injuries. They obviously play huge roles in college, especially in the overlooked line areas.
Innocent Bystander
August 5th, 2009
9:28 pm
Slobberknocker- I’m pretty sure Tech claims one of its NCs in 1952. Last I checked, that is indeed after 1936. I’m also pretty sure they “split” the NC with the same Colorado team that benefitted from an infamous 5th down win, not to mention a loss. Tech posted a .958 win% against the Buffaloes’ .885.
Hunkerinmybunker
August 5th, 2009
9:46 pm
I don’t believe any poll that says the dawgs aren’t the best team ever. That Coach Mike Rich is like a god, or at least a jesus.
Dang ol’ Dawgs forever man!
Oh yeah, if I recall, when GT won that championship in 1990, they beat Sweetbriar like at least twice and only beat Vassar by a point. Frieakin’ crazy man! Dawgs would beat the Packers by at least two hundred points.
12-0
Jeff
August 5th, 2009
9:52 pm
Say goodbye to that 5K, big dawg.
Did anyone in Vegas have you examined? Were you on the bad end of a three-day bender when you placed this wager?
Do you ever hear voices in your head? And if yes, do they tell you to do insane things, such as wagering 5K on UGA to be in the NC game?
I hope you AT LEAST received +2000 on this wager.
the truth
August 5th, 2009
9:53 pm
Yippie!! I just so happy my team is ranked high, let me write an article about it!
Dawgs Rule
August 5th, 2009
10:02 pm
The dawgs are loaded on the o-line and d-line—they will upset florida, win the SEC and make the BCS–mark it down!!!! Richt has the florida game date circled on his calendar, and is ready for payback after meyer insulted him with those 2 late time outs! Dawgs finish in the top 3 and blow out tech, which will be lucky to win 6 years with that phony offense!
Another Dawg
August 5th, 2009
10:04 pm
“I’m also pretty sure they “split” the NC with the same Colorado team that benefitted from an infamous 5th down win, not to mention a loss. Tech posted a .958 win% against the Buffaloes’ .885″
Thank for reminding me. I forgot how bad the 1990 Tech team was that, even surrounding all those circumstances, they still couldn’t win an outright championship.
cyptomcat
August 5th, 2009
10:15 pm
UGASlobberknocker, if Tech counted all the championships from polls it would be 6 actually! Instead we take the 4 awarded by independent CFBDW evaluation.
If you are contesting Heisman’s 1917 title, you are clueless because it was ANONYMOUS between ALL POLLS that year. It’s not something a single random poll gave.
If you are contesting the 1928 title, again it was pretty much ANONYMOUS.
Well if you are contesting the 1952 title, that was after a 32-win unbeaten run by Bobby Dodd and again recognized by CFBDW unlike your random championships.
unemployed
August 5th, 2009
10:30 pm
I am a Fan Coach Richt, but I gotta say I think the schedule is too tough. My NC is Oklahoma versus Virgina Tech.
La Jolla Dawg
August 5th, 2009
10:52 pm
Mark, did you actually type the words: “Hee, hee”? There’s no crying in baseball and there’s no “hee, hee” in sports blogging.
The Dust
August 5th, 2009
11:03 pm
Who cares? Apparently the mentally incompacitated are in charge of this publication. UGA lost way too much to matter this season. They had all the talent in the world last season, and still lost 3 games. Florida will play USC for it all. Go Jackets and FIGHT ON USC!!!!
David Granger
August 5th, 2009
11:03 pm
I sure as hell hope we’ve got enough damn sense to keep our mouths shut this year, and not start squawking. Worst thing that happened to us last year was that preseason number one ranking.
Fellow Dawg fans, if you hear anybody running their mouth this year, tell ‘em to blow it out their tailpipes. Means absolutely NOTHING! (And I was a bit surprised and disappointed that so many of my fellow UGA fans didn’t seem to know that last year.)
Mark Bradley
August 5th, 2009
11:09 pm
I stand corrected, La Jolla. Heh, heh.
Objective SEC fan
August 5th, 2009
11:33 pm
CFN is usually either right on or way off. UGA will be better than people are giving them credit for with an improved defense and O-line, but top 5 might be a bit of a stretch, especially with their schedule. 9-3 plus a win in a New Year’s Day bowl vs an overrated Big 10 team and a top 10 finish would be a solid season.
Dawgs Rule – Meyer insulted Richt with the 2 timeouts after Richt lost control of his team and nearly started a riot. He had something coming and knew it, the 2 timeouts was pretty mild. I’d cut your losses and call it even at this point. Let it go.
Jay
August 6th, 2009
12:03 am
anonymous? priceless…
god and greyhound
August 6th, 2009
12:15 am
I remember CFN had Tech in its top 5 two years ago after they smashed ND. They also said both Tech’s OL and DL were among the five best in the country.
TechDan
August 6th, 2009
12:15 am
cyptomcat, I appreciate your defending Tech’s titles, but they were “Unanimous,” not an “Anonymous.”
god and greyhound
August 6th, 2009
12:19 am
So some random website has uga listed top 5 when nobody else has. Why does the ajc feel the need to write so many stories on it? This is the fourth one I’ve seen in the last two days
god and greyhound
August 6th, 2009
12:24 am
cyptomcat, tech could claim 7 titles. 1916 1917 1928 1951 1952 1956
god and greyhound
August 6th, 2009
12:25 am
And 1990 of course.
Reality Check
August 6th, 2009
12:33 am
Isn’t this the 29th anniversary of UGA’s last National Title???
Ouch.
Keep believing that Georgia’s program is in the same league as Florida, Bama, Texas, SoCal or any other national power, Georgia faithful.
It gives the rest of us a good laugh every Fall!
Publisher's Clearing House
August 6th, 2009
12:40 am
Here are some other encouraging Georgia rankings from some other reputable sources:
US magazine- Georgia #3
Cat Fancier- Georgia #4
Tiger Beat- Georgia #1
Looks like another title run for the Dawgs!
Reality Check
August 6th, 2009
12:47 am
Reading Georgia and GT fans argue over which program is better is like watching two retarded kids battle it out in a spelling bee.
Panties in a wad
August 6th, 2009
2:03 am
“Reading Georgia and GT fans argue over which program is better is like watching two retarded kids battle it out in a spelling bee.”
Yeah except one is an actual football program and the other is Tech.
Panties in a wad
August 6th, 2009
2:04 am
“And 1990 of course.”
That was a half a title, and undeserved at that. No legitimate national champion would have ever been tied by the joke known as Wake Forest.
Too Much
August 6th, 2009
3:03 am
I’ve just reached an ANONYMOUS decision that Tech fans are idiots. And their team is going to fall flat on it’s face (like usual when they start buzzin’ around).
patrick
August 6th, 2009
3:42 am
hey blondie. Since all NCs are opinions and all opinions are subjective. Lets count UGA for 6 shall we.
1980 (12-0-0) – Vince Dooley coached the Bulldogs to a perfect 12-0 season, Georgia finished as the only team with no losses and no ties and was declared No. 1 by almost every poll.
Other National Championships
1968 (8-1-2) – Litkenhous
1966 (10-1-0) – Massey Ratings
1946 (11-0-0) – Williamson System
1942 (11-1-0) – Berryman; DeVold; Houlgate System; Litkenhous; Poling System; Williamson System.
1927 (9-1-0) – Boand System; Poling System
Georgia the underdog? Not according to these rankings | Mark Bradley | College Sports Nation
August 6th, 2009
3:44 am
[...] here: Georgia the underdog? Not according to these rankings | Mark Bradley addthis_url = [...]
Hunkering my sister
August 6th, 2009
4:43 am
Saint Richt said it was ok to sex up my sister!!!
Saint Simons Lover
August 6th, 2009
8:26 am
God I hate you Tech losers. We are going to put you back in your place come November. Then you can shut your faces and hangout at your D&D parties. When you are actually relevant again and can beat us more than one time in a row then talk. Until then just shut the hell up!
Georgia News - 8/6/09 | MrSEC.com
August 6th, 2009
9:46 am
[...] to this notes column, you can count on sophomore Nick Williams to stay at linebacker.CollegeFootballNews.com ranks Georgia #5 in the nation and calls the Bulldogs’ national title contenders. Apparently the folks at [...]
jones
August 6th, 2009
10:22 am
Once again the UGA band wagon kicks it in gear for the upcoming season, No. 5 is straight bull…”God I hate you Tech losers”….Saint Simons ain’t nothing but a sore loser, we won UGA lost in Athens, the cesspool of the south. Can’t wait to see that “No.5″ team in ATLANTA getting whooped by Tech again this year.
“No legitimate national champion would have ever been tied by the joke known as Wake Forest.”
–Colorado and GT idiot, and even if you don’t count a tie we still have three and UGA has less, so suck on that.
D.N. Nation
August 6th, 2009
10:41 am
“Keep believing that Georgia’s program is in the same league as Florida, Bama, Texas, SoCal or any other national power, Georgia faithful.”
How is Georgia not in the same league as Alabama? One game does not a program make or break.
Hey, here’s something for fun: How many times has Nick Saban won 10 games twice in a row? Go ahead, guess. It’ll be fun.
D.C. Dawg
August 6th, 2009
11:14 am
Leave it up to a confused Alabama fan to declare that they are in the same league as SoCal, Texas, Florida.
The Bear is gone and the 90’s aint coming back!
follow the money trail
August 6th, 2009
12:29 pm
To all the HATERS- maybe UGA will win a NC soon, maybe they won’t, time will tell. But one thing I DO know; you don’t kick a dead dog. I think it shows an extreme lack of maturity to just constantly post criticism on another’s blog about a team you don’t like. And by the way, Athens GA ranked in the top five places to live in both Fortune magazine and Forbes.
Panties in a wad
August 6th, 2009
3:55 pm
jones-
“No legitimate national champion would have ever been tied by the joke known as Wake Forest.”
–Colorado and GT idiot, and even if you don’t count a tie we still have three and UGA has less, so suck on that.
You must be a Tech grad because you have poor reading comprehension. You were tied during the regular season. I mistyped WF when it was the national powerhouse N.Carolina 13-13. What a joke. Just like you moron.
MCSD Coach
August 6th, 2009
10:48 pm
I blame Tech for the BCS. You guys went undefeated in 1990 and still could not beat out Colorado who had 1 loss and deserved another. That split title led directly to the BCS. Thanks losers. We might have a playoff by now if you didn’t play the softest schedule known to man every year.
Jonny Diesel Dwyer
August 6th, 2009
11:48 pm
45-42