The 2009 Georgia Bulldogs: They’ll go 8-4, it says here
Joe Cox takes the reins, and it could be a bumpy trip. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
As rallying cries go, this one is a bit weird: “We’re better off now because nobody thinks we’re the best team in the country.” But this is college football, where anything is grist for the motivational mill.
A year ago the Georgia Bulldogs found themselves ranked No. 1, and they didn’t like the way that turned out. So now they’ve decided it’s better not to have drawn a single vote to finish first in the SEC East. (Florida was a unanimous choice at the conference’s Media Days.) It’s better being considered not nearly as good.
Mark Richt told the Greater Atlanta Bulldog Club last month that he feels he “has a lot more juice” going into this season. Last year, he recalled, he’d gone on a mission trip and had returned to face a barrage of questions on two fronts – the number of off-field incidents involving Georgia players, which hasn’t been an issue this time, and being the first team in school history ranked preseason No. 1, which isn’t an issue, either.
And there is a compelling recent precedent. In 2005 the Bulldogs were picked to finish third in the East for what seemed good reason: They’d lost their longtime starting quarterback. Indeed, that’s what some players chanted during the celebration on the floor of the Georgia Dome after they’d beaten LSU for the 2005 league title: “Third in the East … third in the East …”
We don’t yet know if Joe Cox can do as D.J. Shockley did four years ago – steer his team to a championship after waiting his turn – but the parallel alone gives the Bulldogs hope. So does the return of two anchors from injury: Trinton Sturdivant, the sturdy left tackle, and Jeff Owens, the forceful defensive tackle.
Georgia’s hope this season is to be strong where it was weak in 2008 – up front. Nobody is suggesting Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno won’t be missed, but the Bulldogs should never lack for talent at the skill positions. Cox doesn’t have Stafford’s arm and Caleb King lacks Moreno’s wiggle, but these are still SEC-caliber players.
Loading ...That said, this will mark only the fourth time in Richt’s tenure at Georgia, which is entering its ninth season, the Bulldogs have approached a season with an untested No. 1 quarterback. In 2001, David Greene’s first season as starter, they finished 8-4. In 2006, the season that began with Joe Tereshinski III as No. 1 and saw Cox start at Ole Miss and finished with Stafford in control, they were 9-4.
Put another way, the two worst seasons under Richt – not to say that a four-loss campaign is “bad” – have come when the No. 1 quarterback was a relative newbie. The belief here is that 2009 will be a similarly lesser year, that four losses will again be the result, that this will be more like 2006 than 2005.
Then again, I was among those who believed Georgia would be the best team in the land in 2008. So I’m already one of the prime motivators. Glad to be of service, guys.
Bradley breaks down the Bulldogs’ season
Sept. 5, Oklahoma State at Stillwater: Some Bulldog fans see OSU as another Arizona State. Different league, folks. OSU 30, Georgia 20.
Sept. 12, South Carolina at Athens: The Evil Genius marred 2007 season by winning at Sanford Stadium. Not this time. Georgia 24, South Carolina 14.
Sept. 19, Arkansas at Fayetteville, Ark.: Tempting to go with the Hogs, but the Richt road mojo will carry the day. Georgia 21, Arkansas 20.
Sept. 26, Arizona State at Athens: OK, here’s the real Arizona State, and here’s the first easy win of 2009. Georgia 31, Arizona State 10.
Oct. 3, LSU at Athens: Big-time opponent enters big-time environment and leaves with big-time victory. LSU 24, Georgia 23.
Oct. 10, Tennessee at Knoxville: Any letdown potential after LSU will be overridden by the Kiffin Factor. Georgia 24, Tennessee 13.
Oct. 17, Vanderbilt at Nashville: Another road game in the Volunteer State, this one tougher. But still a Georgia “W.” Georgia 27, Vanderbilt 20.
Oct. 31, Florida at Jacksonville: Strange things happen on Halloween, don’t they? Nothing this strange, I fear. Florida 30, Georgia 17.
Nov. 7, Tennessee Tech at Athens: Don’t look now, but Georgia’s sixth victory will be its third in a row over a team from Tennessee. Georgia 42, Tennessee Tech 10.
Nov. 14, Auburn at Athens: Yes, the road team tends to win in this strange series. But not when Gene Chizik coaches the road team. Georgia 24, Auburn 14.
Nov. 21, Kentucky at Athens: Three in a row for the surging Bulldogs, setting the stage for the big game in Atlanta. Georgia 33, Kentucky 17.
Nov. 28, Georgia Tech at Atlanta: Willie Martinez has had a year to figure out Paul Johnson’s offense. He’ll need another. Georgia Tech 30, Georgia 24.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
481 comments Add your comment
Bill' Sass
August 12th, 2009
1:58 pm
“tebow goes down…” is not a game plan. Did you go to prom alone because you were waiting for the queen’s date to get hit by a bus? It sounds like you did.
Will
August 12th, 2009
1:58 pm
One thing Mark is not factoring in his hypothesis ……….. A nasty, nasty UGA defense this year. Probably CMRs best so far. I have been watching at practice and these guys are big, strong, fast and extremely hungry to prove. I know many people will say we are only returning 7 starters but I think that our new players will outperform the 08′ group. I say Sanders Comings and Bacarri Rambo are major upgrades in the secondary. I also say our depth at LB with Marcus Washington is an even bigger upgrade. I believe having all three big boys up front is paramount. Don’t be shocked if we only give up 21 to OSU and beat them like a drum. We are that talented folks on that side of the ball. Is anyone reading the reports about how the D is performing in practice. Those articles understate what is really happening on the field as far as their dominance. The depth of this squad is sick.
DawginLex
August 12th, 2009
1:59 pm
I love all the florida predictions. Bring ‘em on. florida gets 40 and we won’t get to 17 unless it’s against the backups???? Keep it comin’.
The game last year is no indicator of what awaits this year. A series of stupid turnovers and a missed FG turned that game from being a nailbiter into a blowout. Florida is talented but the talent gap is nowhere near what these blowhard gators are spewing.
I’ll give you Tebow over Cox but after that, where is the big talent gap? Our D line may be better than florida’s. Our OL may be better, much better than florida’s. Florida has unproven RB’s just like we do. They are missing Harvin, we are missing momass.
I see another 7-10 point game which is the norm over the last 8 years without last year.
Reality
August 12th, 2009
2:01 pm
TampaGator; with all due respect to Meyer (seriously) didn’t he win the 1st NC with Zooker’s players? It wasn’t an issue of talent/rebuilding under Zooker, just coaching (of course we made him look better than he was).
Otto
August 12th, 2009
2:01 pm
Jeff, Even as a UGA fan TampaGator is correct at 1:54.
If Urban does have to rebuild it will not be this year or next.
59bulldawg
August 12th, 2009
2:04 pm
There’s definitely danger in this year’s schedule but strangely, as the season draws near, I feel a quiet confidence that we might very well be on the verge of a special season. But even if they go 0-11 for the rest of my life, I’m still going to enjoy watching them play. I pull for my Dawgs because I’m an alumnus of that illustrious institution in Athens and they’re my team. I think the opener at OK State is going to be a brawl, but I also feel that we’ll prevail something to the tune of 28-24. Should be one of the better games of the year and perhaps turn some heads in Georgia’s direction. But after that there’ll be 11, perhaps 12 more rounds to go! The Dawgs would do well to keep the chip on their shoulder and use it as motivation because they’ll have to bring their A-game almost every week this season. If they can stay healthy and motivated, and slick Willie can learn to scheme, this talented group of athletes with something to prove could make for an exciting year. Go Dawgs!
MightySEC
August 12th, 2009
2:05 pm
I believe that the Tennessee game is one we should be more scared of. Dismissing them with the Kiffin factor comment just shows how most are considering this an automatic win. Last time we did that at Neyland it was 28 – 0 at half time and we had only one first down. Word out of Knoxville is that the team will be imroved this year and that means we need to take it seriously.
Mark Bradley
August 12th, 2009
2:12 pm
I’ll wait and see before I reassess Mr. Kiffin. But I’m always open to re-education. (If it wasn’t for re-education, I’d have no education at all.)
The 2009 Georgia Bulldogs: Banking on being unloved | Mark Bradley | Georgia Today
August 12th, 2009
2:17 pm
[...] Read more from the original source: The 2009 Georgia Bulldogs: Banking on being unloved | Mark Bradley [...]
DawginLex
August 12th, 2009
2:19 pm
Tennessee couldn’t score 28 points this year in a game if you pulled the defense off the field. BUT, make no mistake, that game will be tough for UGA. A D coordinator from the NFL facing a traditional I formation team. Could be 17-10 or something like that.
FalcsFan
August 12th, 2009
2:20 pm
Mark,
I figured you wouldn’t respond to my earlier comment. “Ignore it or it will be legitimized.” Was that your thought process? I’m sure it was.
Smitty
August 12th, 2009
2:22 pm
Amen 59bulldawg….
KJ
August 12th, 2009
2:26 pm
“he will be replaced by a future NFL star in Jeff Brantley.”
LOL @ anointing someone a “future NFL star” that has thrown a whopping total of 28 passes in college. How’d that work out for Ryan Leaf and Todd Marinovich?
gdawginkalamazoo
August 12th, 2009
2:26 pm
Please, I would give Willie the lead against Tech with a year to figure out how to shut it downfrom scoring as many points as they did last year. Better D this year with the middle of the line back and our O will not be slowing down one bit. Even if Tech wins the ACC whatever division they will be going to the “empty seat-what channel is it on-oh the outdoor channel-championship game” with a loss. Also that LSU game can go either way since Richt seems to have LSU’s number. Joe Cox will do fine at QB, he has been reading D’s and the play book for 4 years, plus he has the fire. But all speculation doesn’t mean anything. People have to stay healthy all season long.
Let’s speculate on Rick Pitino and his situation.
USCTrojan
August 12th, 2009
2:26 pm
Never heard of this writer but apparently he is not very smart. I can see UGA losing 5 games easily. Keep making fun of Kiffin, he is one helluva coach and did us proud in Southern Cal. I think UGA loses to Ok St, Tennessee, Florida, Tech, and Auburn. You guys can just sit back and watch us whip Florida in the championship game.
TampaGator
August 12th, 2009
2:33 pm
Reality…no, you are somewhat mistaken about that….Meyer did not win the NC with Zook’s players in ‘06. Zook’s players could barely win 8 games in ‘05 and before then. When Meyer arrived on the U of F campus, the Florida program was in really bad shape…both attitude wise and talent wise. What Meyer did do was take a the left overs from the Zook days (he actually got rid of a bunch of big time recruits for bad attitudes) and “re-conditioned the ones left with new cool aid” and then added some of his own key players (like Harvin) and won a NC against all odds in ‘06. That is how great a coach Meyer is. Meyer also had a little luck in ‘06. Meyer just acknowledge this week that his cubboard is now full of top players and that he intends to keep it full in the future.
Otto
August 12th, 2009
2:35 pm
USCTrojan Kiifin followed in Chow’s footsteps. USC will have to get past Ohio St to whip UF which I don’t see happening. Enjoy playing in the Rose again against a Big10 nobody.
Wayne
August 12th, 2009
2:37 pm
Bill sass….did I hear you say the might teblow cant go down. Of course that’s not in anyones gameplan for injuries- my point is should it happen- FLA is toast.
Tampa Gator- what was urbans record after the last national Championship……no rebuilding….ever??? and yes, it would be ashame for any player to get hurt- especially one like Tebow- I would never want to see any player hurt but the fact is, FLA would be easily 9-3 without him. Bradley may be the latest and greatest (ala Stafford) we shall see. Many of the so called next best thing to hit have not lived up to it
TampaGator
August 12th, 2009
2:38 pm
KJ….cause I have watched the kid play and practice…and he is none of the players you mentioned. He is more like Ryan, the QB for the Falcons. He is that good, my friend. Very smart, very talented, very gifted, very athletic, very professional, very dedicated. Very determined to be great. You will see in time…and during games this year, in fact, because the Gator coaches are so excited about him that they plan to play him a lot this year and give Tebow some rest. He is a very gifted passer with a great arm.
Eric
August 12th, 2009
2:40 pm
I’m thinking Gene Chizik surprises you. Auburn wins in Athens.
TampaGator
August 12th, 2009
2:45 pm
KJ….I have also seen your freshman QB from Tampa play. In time, he is going to really help Georgia to become a top 5 team again. He is a natural born leader like Tebow…but not the same type of player or QB. His HS team got behind him because of his leadership abilities and willingness to play hurt. He is also a very smart kid…so smart that he realized he would not play until he was a senior if he came to Florida because Tebow and Brantley were already in Gainesville. The next great QB out of the Tampa area has committed to the Gators already and has already said he is looking forward to learning to play QB by watching Brantley during the next two years.
Lance
August 12th, 2009
2:46 pm
UGA wins the opener and the ender. CMR is way too good on the road to lose to a horible D team like OSU and a 1 trick poney 2 years in a row. Probably lose one additional game in the middle to a hard hitting AK or AU team.
TampaGator
August 12th, 2009
2:47 pm
Eric…in your dreams Auburn beats Georgia this year. Not going to happen. Your coach has a lot of rebuilding to do.
SeniorChiefDawginDC
August 12th, 2009
2:48 pm
bradley, put a sock in it..I regard Phil Steele’s much more accurate analysis anyday over yours. You are just a shock jock reporter that like to stir the pot. You have some agenda it seems against Richt and the Dawgs..I can’t wait to smoke tech at bobby dudd. You’ll be eating your predictions..break out the crow!
Herschel Talker
August 12th, 2009
2:49 pm
TampaGator – how will the offense adjust if Brantley replaces Teblow? I know TUrban is trying to make it a little more NFL friendly to get Timmy ready for the pros, but surely putting in Brantley would have enough hiccups that it would cause some problems. Though the D would likely pick him up.
TampaGator
August 12th, 2009
2:52 pm
Wayne…almost every player on the ‘07 Gator team was a Fr. or a Soph. Yes, it was a rebuilding year for Meyer and he finally had all his players on board and working hard to get better. The results of that hard work…and a few more recruits…was another national title in ‘08 and a good chance of another in ‘09…and a probable another shot at it in ‘10, etc. My point is…the Gators under Meyer will probably be mentioned for the SEC and NC titles every year from now on.
Tide Rising
August 12th, 2009
2:52 pm
Most of Mark’s picks I agree with but some are kind of odd and under the radar. For example
1) Kentucky- Last year’s game went to the wire and could just as easily gone to Kentucky, UK won 3 years ago and is a program that’s gradually getting better and better. So you pick the dawgs to beat them by 17? I think UGA wins but by 17 over a team that’s played them tight the last 3 years including 1 win and 1 play away from another win last year?
2) LSU- This team has been thrashed every time they’ve come to Athens. They lost 7 starters on their D including the whole D line, their qb who everyone is jazzed about is a career under 50% completion qb and has all of 2 starts under his belt. And yet you think they come into Athens and win?
3) Ok state- You would think you woulda learned something from bowl season about how the SEC pounds those big 12 south teams. Georgia is just too big, too strong, too fast, too many athletes for OSU to keep up with. And even if the dawgs were to lose you think they lose by double digits?
I can see the dawgs going 10-2 with a loss to UF and they drop one either to Tech or they get upset somewhere along the way. Dogs always do better when no one is thinking they will .
Nick
August 12th, 2009
2:53 pm
I just don’t agree with any of it, albeit yes this is an opinion but mine is you’re all wrong here on all accounts. Some pretty conservative scores I think for one thing. Plus, why such a clean score on the USC game? You should know well enough from that series, it would never be 24-14. 19-13, 16-12, 23-15, 27-23, maybe even but 24-14? Never!
Go Dawgs!
Kevin
August 12th, 2009
2:54 pm
lmao….If Georgia loses 4 games this year someone should get fired. This team is just way too good. I know exactly what to expect from this UGA team and thats a record of 11-1 or 12-0 not including the bowl game. IM SERIOUS GUYS… put that in the bank and cash it. This team is so talented and focused this year, I have not seen it like this in Athens before. I am more excited than I have ever been with this team under CMR.
Nick
August 12th, 2009
2:57 pm
Oh and another thing: I think LSU is going to be a big disappointment to their fans and critics. I thought they blew chunks last year and were picked pre-season to win the west and to some, even win in Atlanta. They will be the most overrated team in the SEC this season. The only other exception could be Ole Miss. I know they surprised some people last year (florida, Texas Tech), but come on, THEY’RE OLE MISS!! Even their fabulous Mr. Manning never beat the Dogs!
Oh but wait, didn’t LSU at least wax GT in that bowl game? Could I be wrong? Nah!
Go Dawgs!
DawgCrazy
August 12th, 2009
2:57 pm
Georgia goes 10-2, loses to florida and lsu, and gets a BCS bowl after finishing in the top ten and blowing out Ga Tech—mark it down! Ga’s oline will be the best in the SEC and the defense will be in the top 3. With a little luck, Ga upsets lsu or florida!!!
Tide Rising
August 12th, 2009
2:58 pm
Eric,
Chizik with Malzahn could well surprise some people once they find a qb and get their offense going smoothly. Auburn’s top 22 is talented and can play with just about anyone. But I read that right now Auburn only has 71 scholarship players for fall camp. For some reason attrition has cut their numbers way down and I think this puts them at a big disadvantage. If they had not t lost so many players I would think they could compete with anyone and start making some serious progress. What happened at Auburn that they’re so low on scholarship players at camp?
Nick
August 12th, 2009
2:59 pm
Kevin, I hope you’re right but I think that’s a bit lofty, even for Florida!
Anyway, I’m getting tired of reading about all the what-if’s and what might happen and needs to happen and everyone’s predictions. I’m ready to get the show on the road!
Go Dawgs!
coach smith
August 12th, 2009
2:59 pm
Georgia’s worst two seasons since Richt has been there (9th season coming up) is 8-5 in 2001 and 9-4 in 2006
Every other year Georgia has finished with 10+ wins and in the top 10 or so…..
where the hell is the RESPECT?
The question is….with 16 returning starters (18 counting Owens/Sturdivant coming back) and adding players like M. Brown, C. Thomas, Samuel, Orson Charles…and a 5th year senior QB……… Do you really think the Dawgs will repeat their WORST season ever at 8-4???
EXCUSE ME?
Born2Buzz
August 12th, 2009
3:02 pm
I’m a big fan of Mark Richt and I think UGA’s OL & DL will be vastly improved over last year. But it all comes down to QB play. If Cox hasn’t sniffed the field in 3 years there has to be a reason, and not just because Stafford was better. Your predicted final tally might be right but I think they beat OSU (Big 12 played no D last year – see their bowl games – and they won’t start doing so this year), but lose to a SEC foe, like SC or Arky. If they lose to OSU it might be a rough first half of the year for the doggies. Better hope the D is stout.
Texdawg
August 12th, 2009
3:02 pm
I assume based on your predictions Mr Bradly, that you feel the dogs have no heart and no fight in them and you must also think they will be the same team at the end of the season they are now. You have them losing every tough game of the season whether it is home or on the road and I simply don’t see that happening. They will grow, they will learn and they will win more than one game you have them losing. I look forward to proving you wrong.
Mark Bradley
August 12th, 2009
3:04 pm
I would never assume the Georgia Bulldogs have no heart and no fight. I mean, isn’t Rennie still on the team?
Born2Buzz
August 12th, 2009
3:04 pm
coach smith, see my post. a 5th year senior starting for the first time is not good news. are there any freshmen or sophmore QBs to take over?
Fred
August 12th, 2009
3:06 pm
Let’s just say for the sake of argument Mark, that UGA puts one on Ok St. Does your projection go to 9-3, or does it go to even loftier numbers. If UGA’s D shows up in Stillwater, the Dogs will win that game. The fact remains that OSU’s D horrible historically. Last years UGA D was an anomaly. What do you say Mark? And to take this a little farther, if UGA’s D stands and delivers this year there is no way they lose to GT. That’s it in a nutshell. Better UGA D equates to a very good season. The offense has too many weapons to be held to some of the point totals you assigned.
TampaGator
August 12th, 2009
3:09 pm
Hershel…the offense probably won’t adjust too much to Brantley, except Meyer said Brantley will probably throw more passes than Tebow when he plays. The I-formation is not to help Tebow play in the NFL. Meyer could care less about the NFL. If you don’t believe that, you know nothing about Meyer. If the I-formation would not help the Gators win, then Meyer would not use it. If it helps Tebow with NFL scouts, that is a good thing, too. The I-formation is to help the Gators win games, period. Meyer never sits on what he did the previous year. He is constantly making adjustments and additions to his offense, and that includes adding or re-adding the I-formation and H-back formations (which he ran when Chris Leak was the QB and DeShawn Wynn was the running back). By the way: the I-formation in the offense this year totally depends if any of the 3 players at FB step up and show they can play effectively (that means block well) in the offense. That has not been the case so far I am told. Brantley is very athletic and can effectively run every play Tebow runs in the offense…and does in practice. The difference is Tebow will run over people when he runs and Brantley will run around them. By the way, Tebow believe it or not, is bigger than previous years I have been told. He looks like a monster middle LB. And he is throwing the ball differently, too, with more spiral and a quicker release…at least that is what a friend told me from attending the 2 days of practice available to fans last week. He also said Debose is the real deal and will have a big impact on the Gators offense this year. The WR coach for Florida has also said a lot of nice things about Debose as well.
coach smith
August 12th, 2009
3:09 pm
Born2Buzz
August 12th, 2009
3:04 pm
coach smith, see my post. a 5th year senior starting for the first time is not good news. are there any freshmen or sophmore QBs to take over?
REALLY????????
because the last time Georgia had a 5th year senior first time starter they had just lost Green, Pollock, T. Davis, Moses, Gibson, Brown, Thurman etc….and What Happened? Oh yeah! THEY WON THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!
Coach
August 12th, 2009
3:10 pm
Born2Buzz…show some common sense…even though that isn’t a GT hallmark. The reason Joe Cox didn’t sniff the field for 3 years is called Matthew Stafford. Remember him? You know, the NFL’s #1 pick. Get it now moron?
coach smith
August 12th, 2009
3:11 pm
Oh and by the way…we have AARON MURRAY too who was recruited by every university with a set of shoulderpads and a helmet
Logan Gray will play some too
gdawginkalamazoo
August 12th, 2009
3:11 pm
Trojan, don’t you guys have to get past UCLA and Oregon State first? LMAO! You might have had at least 2 or 3 NC’s this decade if you hadn’t of dropped those. Tough for you guys if you lose one because the only one you have is Ohio State that can actually mean anything. Lose to anybody else and you are toast for the NC game.
Coon-Dawg
August 12th, 2009
3:13 pm
Bradley … Ur an AJC, Tech fan, tool ! … We’ll win a BCS bowl and finish 12-1. Only loss is Fla.
TS
August 12th, 2009
3:16 pm
Bradley- you’ve been accused of being a Tech fan, Gator fan, Dawg lover… can you please confirm where your allegiance lies?
gdawginkalamazoo
August 12th, 2009
3:24 pm
Born@Buzz, what do Tech fans know about QB’s? You guys had Reggie Ball starting for 3.9 years.
Joe Cox would have been a four year starter at Tech. A frustrated four year starter but still the starter. He would have started at most D1 schools if he had chosen that path. He chose UGA and will be going in to coaching when he is done this year.
bipolardawg
August 12th, 2009
3:25 pm
On the one-hand, I’m sad by the consideration given to the dawgs. On the other, I’m excited that there will be no blow-outs. All four predicted losses, and throw-in Arkansas, too, are to teams that have an offense that can take control of games. Mark: your predictions indicate a lack of confidence in the defensive plan; especially the game against Georgia Tech. If we have the talent to compete but we are coming up short, then it tells me the strategy employed will not work if, infact, we loose these games; and especially if we loose these games in a wild offensive game or, like Florida and Georgia Tech, we cannot stop anyone’s offense. If that is the case, then I think changes are necessary on the coaching staff starting with the Defensive Coordinator and anyone else on the defensive staff whose units are playing at a level that do not reach the high level of execution needed to win in a major college football program.
Oh, and St. Simmon’s: you’re an idiot. It was funny maybe the first hundred times you did it. But seeing as how you respond to every story about the Dawgs with (45-42 hahahaha!!!) I think you need to take a break from internet porn, put your clothes on, and do something else.
Dawgdad
August 12th, 2009
3:31 pm
Mark you over value Caleb and under value Cox. By mid season Caleb will be scuffling for playing time behind Ealey and Samuel. Cox will be much better than expected. i don’t think he has ever lost a game he started, high school or college.
southgadawg88
August 12th, 2009
3:33 pm
I have a bit of a strange way of looking at preseason predictions and it goes roughly like this.When you look at a teams schedule the best way to predict win/loss is to compare recruiting class strength back maybe 3 seasons.You make an adjustment for rivalry games because true rivals have a way of upsetting the more talented team on occasion.I am an absolute believer in the motto of “He who has the better players will always win the most games over time”That statement applies to any level of football.A dominate DivII program is dominating the other teams in it’s division because it has better players than it’s foes period.I’m not talking 1 good year here and there I’m talking 5-6 yr runs…it’s not all about coaching.Urban Meyer,Saban,Carroll whomever you like is not going to go to MSU with those players and turn them into title contenders…it’s not going to happen…do we really need to look any further than Spurrier at SC?So in that vein the UGA schedule this year looks like this….FLA,LSU and ALA have done better than UGA in recruiting overall in the last 3 years so I would give them a slight edge in overall talent.The numbers break out this way LSU average over 3 years is 3.5,ALA-4,Fla-5,UGA-7..Also I take note that ALA,LSU and FLA has at least one 1st overall class.The interesting thing is FLA is a rival game which means anybody can win that game and for whatever reason LSU has trouble beating UGA and this goes back a few years 2-6 in last 8..Taking a look at this years sched…OKSU-has not beaten ANYONE of note in 4-5 years..I will give them a chance once and awhile against OU because that is a rival game but they have lost with regularity to every team they have played with better talent…I don’t see anything they have done to change that.actually the team that lost in Athens were even more hyped as an outstanding offense than this group.Ark-don’t have the guns..Honestly people keep talking about Petrino and his new QB but this has to be the least talented club overall that’s been at ARK in the last 3-4 years.Folks jump on OKSU and ARK for offensive potential but seem to overlook just how terrible both teams were on Defense.SC,ASU,Kentucky,Vandy and Ten Tech do not have the talent.GT,AUB and Tenn are rivals so anything could possibly happen but in my opinion AUB and Tenn are the trouble spots..AUB is due a win soon and Tenn like or not matches up well with UGA.The Vols run a pro-style offense like we do and have a good Defense.Tenn has also had top 10 recruiting classes 2 out of last 3 years.So Lame Kiffen comments aside don’t sleep on Tenn.My prediction is 10-2 with losses against Tenn and AUB.The two games I have no doubt we will be ready for is OSU and FLA.If we beat Tenn I’m going to be worried about LSU.