SI has Tech No. 12 and UGA No. 15, and I say, “Close”
Two good Jackets: Josh Nesbitt dodges Derrick Morgan. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
A year ago Sports Illustrated, like pretty much everyone else, ranked Georgia No. 1. This year the venerable magazine has the Bulldogs No. 15, three spots behind Georgia Tech. And I saw that yesterday and said to myself, “That’s pretty darn close.”
The USA Today coaches’ poll was released last week, and it surprised me. Georgia was No. 13, two places ahead of the Jackets. And that, you should know, made me go, “Hmmm.”
Flying home from the Capital One Bowl, I did a back-of-the-envelope estimate and guessed, without Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, Georgia would be ranked No. 21 to Tech’s No. 9, but I realize now I might have been suffering from jet lag. (Yeah, I know. Orlando’s in the same time zone. But it’s only excuse I can find.) I probably had Tech a tad too high and definitely had Georgia too low.
Were I doing the same computations today, I’d put Tech No. 10 — I think this is a Top 10 team that will win the ACC and play in the Orange Bowl – and Georgia No. 15. I think the Bulldogs will lose four games, each to a team SI ranks above them, but no more. So that’d be, in my mind, a good 8-4 season. (I know from the tenor of your response many among you don’t feel there’s any such thing.)
I also agree with SI’s choice for No. 2 — Texas. (In fact, I see Texas, which was also No. 2 in the coaches’ poll, beating Florida in the BCS title game.) I think the magazine has Virginia Tech and Ole Miss way too high at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively, and Alabama a bit elevated at No. 8, but other than that I have no real disagreement. But I do have a mathematical quibble:
Loading ...SI has both Tech and Georgia finishing 9-3 and second in their respective divisions. (Tech to Virginia Tech, Georgia to guess who.) The magazine also has Georgia going 5-3 in SEC play, which would mean finishing unbeaten against non-conference opponents. Which would mean beating Tech. But if Tech and Georgia both go 9-3 and the Bulldogs win at Bobby Dodd Stadium, shouldn’t they be ranked higher?
The magazine also has Oklahoma State, which it ranks No. 7 in the land, going unbeaten in non-conference play. Both things cannot happen. Either Georgia or OSU must lose Sept. 5 in Stillwater. And with that I’ll step aside, mindful always of what Agent Mulder once told his winsome partner:
“Nobody likes a math geek, Scully.”
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304 comments Add your comment
CamaroDave
August 13th, 2009
3:30 pm
THAT DUMY FROM OKLAHAMA NEDS 2 GO BACK WE AINT GO NO ROOM 4 UR TYPES HEAR THIS IS DAWG CUONTRY!!
NUFF SAID
Soccer Mom
August 13th, 2009
3:32 pm
Football is too violent which is why I won’t let my sons Josh and Jason play. Soccer is far better.
Pulpwood Smith
August 13th, 2009
3:32 pm
SI rankings (and rankings in general) are pretty meaningless. I think Georgia handles OSU, and it amazes me how many people seem to think OSU’s going to beat the Dawgs. What has OSU ever done to merit all this respect? They play no defense, and Georgia will dominate them at the line of scrimmage. Georgia’s schedule is very difficult though, and the Dawgs could easily lose 3 or 4 games, I expect, though I hope they win them all. Georgia has won more games than ANY SEC team this decade, and that ain’t too shabby. It amazes me how many people trash the Dawgs on these boards, particularly these Tech folks that come out of the woodwork with one win in eight tries. Comical. GATA!
Runs with scissors
August 13th, 2009
3:34 pm
Preseason polls are nonsense. No polls should be released until the first Sunday in October. By then, things have begun to settle and we have a better idea of who should be where.
wxwax
August 13th, 2009
3:35 pm
I guess I’m one of the few who believe that preseason polls have less to do with football, and more to do with various businesses creating a clumsy, ugly product to monetize the interest fans have in college football.
Not only is it absurd to judge and rank teams before having seen them play, it deals out a season-long penalty to good teams that are ranked low by “pollsters” who are dong little more than guessing.
Mr. Bradley, I’m afraid you’re included among the businesses trying to monetize fans’ interest. Your only saving grace is that your “poll” isn’t one of those which eventually influence who gets to play for the national title under the ongoing absurdity known as the BCS.
InferiorityComplex
August 13th, 2009
3:36 pm
Funny how rankings are “meaningless” when you are looking up at your two biggest rivals. How “meaningless” was last year’s #1 ranking?
Island Dawg
August 13th, 2009
3:37 pm
Idiots, I don’t think Bama exactly helped matters on the MWC front in New Orleans either. At least we made the SEC look good against the Rainbow Warriors and Colt, who probably lost at least $10 mil that night in draft status. They shut up for a bit after that smackdown but thanks to Bama and the Spooners choking we may have to hear this crap for a while.
CamaroDave
August 13th, 2009
3:37 pm
HAY WXWAX DONT U MEAN MONOPOLY FANS INTEREST?
Pez Hilton
August 13th, 2009
3:39 pm
Heeeeyyyyyy Saint Simey!!! I just picked us up some margarita mix for Saturday night. The pool man came by and put the new pump on the hot tub(Yay!!). So after some good seafood, I look forward to us getting into the hot tub and making a a big bowl of man soup! Toodles.
J Smurf
August 13th, 2009
3:40 pm
In 2005, Georgia opened the season ranked #13. This was after losing David Pollack, David Greene, Reggie Brown, and Fred Gibson. Georgia went on to win the SEC. From top to bottom, that team is not near as good as this year’s team, especially on the line of scrimmage.
The 1998 Vols’ preseason ranking was #10 after losing Peyton Manning (#1 pick), Marcus Nash, and Leonard Little. We all know what happened.
Oklahoma State is going through what UGA went through last year. They’re being over-hyped, because of a few “superstars”. Their true colors will shine soon. This is the best OL/DL combination Georgia has had since Richt has been coach. I’m not predicting a National Title, nor am I predicting a SEC Title, but I think too much stock is being put into the losses of Stafford and Moreno.
Jacksonville State 88 Tech 16
August 13th, 2009
3:40 pm
hahahahahahaha, im as retarded as oklahoma st 45 UGA 3
D&D fan
August 13th, 2009
3:41 pm
Another okie st whupp’n in the making; Class of ‘98 vs.Oklahoma St 45 UGA 3,
I bet Oklahoma St 45 UGA 3 runs around in circles, yelling I’M A MAN, I’M A MAN, I’M A MAN, I’M A MAN, and when Class of ‘98 punches him the mouth, OKIE will say, COME AFTER ME I CANTAKE IT! lol!
J Smurf
August 13th, 2009
3:41 pm
Island Dawg, we didn’t help the cause when we got knocked off by West Virginia. So, UGA is not completely innocent here.
PT
August 13th, 2009
3:42 pm
You can read these post and you know who is just a cheerleader and who really knows football. Mark, you believe you have never been right so I know where that puts you.
(45-42) wORLD TOUr
August 13th, 2009
3:44 pm
Mine eyes have seen the glory
Of the stomping of the Dogs
We will teach the poor dumb farmboys
They should stick to sloppin’ hogs
When the Jackets are triumphant
There will be a mighty cheer
We’ll do the same next year!
To Hell, to Hell, to Hell with Georgia,
To Hell, to Hell, to Hell with Georgia,
To Hell, to Hell, to Hell with Georgia,
The cesspool of the South!
CamaroDave
August 13th, 2009
3:45 pm
I DUNNO STANFORD WAS THERE BEST QB EVER 2 BAD HE GONE NOW
BEN
August 13th, 2009
3:46 pm
Why shouldn’t the Dawgs be ranked higher than Tech? Sure they beat us but then they were blown out against LSU and we won our bowl game. We finished 10-3, Tech 9-4…
CamaroDave
August 13th, 2009
3:46 pm
HAY 45 – 42 THERE IS NO PALCE 4 GUY LIKE U HEAR IF U DONT LIKE THE DAWGS THEN GET LOSS!
Island Dawg
August 13th, 2009
3:46 pm
Smurf, West Virginia is Big East, buddy, a guranteed berth, BCS conference. Not exactly an upstart either.
BIG UGLIES WIN GAMES!!!
August 13th, 2009
3:47 pm
Yes we lost Matt and Moreno,but is that a bad thing? Look back at teams that have lost “super stars” and it is not as bad as you think. UT lost Payton then won the MNC. Uga lost Green,Pollock won the SEC..FSU lost several 1st rounders for several years in a row but always stayed in the top 10. Uga will have a dominate line on both sides of the ball, that will solid QB play will get them a 10-2 record, if not 11-1.
OK
August 13th, 2009
3:47 pm
Enter your comments here
RAMBLE ON!!!
August 13th, 2009
3:47 pm
I got my crystal ball out and I see Paul Johnson at GT losing 6 games…in the next 5 years.
There’s going to be one of those this year. WF or FSU…that’s still a little fuzzy.
I can’t find my blue bird.
Oklahoma St 45 UGA 3
August 13th, 2009
3:49 pm
D&D Fan….What are you talking about? And why must you use “lol” We need to be reminded something is funny? If you have to illustrate that point, then it is not funny.
Saint Simons
August 13th, 2009
3:49 pm
(((((((((((45-42)))))))))))))hahahahahahahahahaha
DawgFan
August 13th, 2009
3:51 pm
some of you are funny. How you all think we will lose all the skill players on offense and not miss a beat is stupid to say the least. Hell, some of you think our offense will even be better. WOW. Expect for UGA’s offense to struggle.
brewdawg
August 13th, 2009
3:51 pm
Um InferiorityComplex, turns out UGA’s #1 ranking last year WAS meaningless. Thanks for making our point.
CamaroDave
August 13th, 2009
3:52 pm
RAMBLE ON U MUST NOT BE 2 SMRAT 2 THING TECH WILL ONLY LOSS 6 GAMES IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS U NEED 2 GO A WAY 2!
J Smurf
August 13th, 2009
3:53 pm
Mark Richt has never lost more than 1 game in an opponent’s stadium in the same year. We go to Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and Tech. Something has got to give.
Larry Munson
August 13th, 2009
3:56 pm
When I talk, no one knows what I mean….Wait, this is not the Kiwanis Club!
Pi$$onaDawg
August 13th, 2009
3:58 pm
DAMN I need to get DRUNK and kiss HERschel TALKER. He just loves to talk about men so much.
I think we lose CU on a bad day/night and UNC.
“Country come to city” will be fun after finishing the TURKEY and waiting to head to the FLATS. “DADDY why is that Black Rooted Blonde Drunk Bimbo Squating in the bushes?” Son she is a bit*h dawg and that is what they do. See, the town they call home has septic problems and they just crap and pee anywhere. Now you understand why I tell you to beat the dog when is is stupid in public.” Dad, sis is dating a UGA fan that spends his money on UGA crap and goes hunting.” Well, buddy that is why you are in the will and your sister gets NOTHING but a dog leash.”
J Smurf
August 13th, 2009
3:59 pm
Island, Utah started their football program in 1892. What’s “upstart” about that?
J Smurf
August 13th, 2009
4:01 pm
Dawgfan, we didn’t lose all of our skill players. Our leading receiver is returning. Also, see 2005 when we lost David Green, Fred Gibson, and Reggie Brown. True, Thomas Brown returned, but he didn’t give us a 1,000 yds in 2004.
juvenal
August 13th, 2009
4:02 pm
MB & SI AGREE_GT DOOMED!(ncaa lists champs for football only in divisions they have PLAYOFFS!)
Dawg Max
August 13th, 2009
4:05 pm
Tech had a lucky fluke year last year. This year, UGA comes prepared and will blow them out in Atlanta–mark it down. Richt already has the date of that game circled on his calendar. No let downs this year.
Joe Schmoe
August 13th, 2009
4:06 pm
Im with CPJ, I dont care where we are ranked. Shouldn’t rank till at least after 3rd week. I dont care about being preseason #12, only thing counts are the actual games played on the field.
Island Dawg
August 13th, 2009
4:06 pm
Smurf, meant upstarts on the national/big bowl level. Point was Georgia losing to WVU is not comparable to the Bama and OU chokes and in no possible way influenced Orrin Hatch or the MWC lobby. At least OU stayed in it until the end and suffered a horrible last second loss; Bama just phoned theirs in.
DublDawg
August 13th, 2009
4:06 pm
Hey Sooners Fan:
Delta is ready when you are.
Georgia was a better place before you got here, and will be better when you leave.
And when did you graduate from OU, anyway?
collegeballfan
August 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
If you believe Georgia Tech, with that defense, is going to play in the Orange Bowl, you are out of….something!
Bounty Hunter
August 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
It’s more proof that preseason polls mean absolutely nothing.
CoolBreeze
August 13th, 2009
4:09 pm
GT was recently ranked #8…..in the world. In a listing of the world’s technical institutions. Hey, that and a good football team makes me pretty happy. No other school comes close to that combination.
PTC Jacket
August 13th, 2009
4:10 pm
I think all pre-season polls should be reconsidered now that VT lost their best runningback. Just saying.
Otto
August 13th, 2009
4:10 pm
GT lost on DL not OL. The OL will be fine. GT could win them all they could drop 5. IMO they will finish 2nd in the division and fall to UGA. FSU and VT are the game that make or break the GT season.
UGA will finish 2nd in the SEC East and depending on where they drop the game go to the Sugar, Outback, or Cotton. If UGA gets off to a bad start the losses may mount to a 9 win season. IF UGA gets on a roll early who knows where this team can go as the lines have the depth so far to carry a season. The big question mark is how will the players react together in Stillwater opening an expanded stadium against an explosive offense who returns most of the OL and all of the stars. So far I like UGA in the underdog roll in a tight ugly game. Barnhardt summed it up the players that combined for UGAs #1 ranking were quickly out of the season last year. They are back this year. Also IMO Cox will be better than Stafford. Moreno however will be missed. If Cox does not work out and is pulled IMO 2010 looks very good.
Stafford was not the 2nd coming of Jesus, Greene, Zeir, or Tarkenton. He had 2 (Auburn ‘06, UF ‘07) big wins and did not have the clutch 4th Qtr presence of Greene. IMO Cox has shown better leadership to date. Will it translate into wins? We’ll see soon enough.
IMO their should be no rankings until atleast the 3rd week of the season but they keep people like Mark in business and fans like us chatting.
RAMBLE ON!!!
August 13th, 2009
4:10 pm
whoops, GT will only lose 5 games in the next 3 years. My Bad.
mitch
August 13th, 2009
4:14 pm
Dear Mr. MB–I was going back and forth between Florida and Bloomington back in the early ’80s. Bloomington was a great town and still is, I hear. A lot of really smart people there in those days when I was there. And the greatest music in the whole United States of America, and the worst football team in the Big Ten. Driving through Kentucky and Louisville, back and forth. Your pal, Mitch
CamaroDave
August 13th, 2009
4:15 pm
TECH HAS UGLIE GIRLS SO WHO CARE WERE THEY RANK IN ENGINERING SCHOOL UGA IS BETER AND EVERY 1 NO THAT!
DublDawg
August 13th, 2009
4:16 pm
Uh Dave…..You may want to stop. Your spelling is embarasing us UGA fans.
WTFyousay
August 13th, 2009
4:18 pm
Probably not a fair poll because most UGA fans can’t read, therefore, they can’t vote on this.
Wrek
August 13th, 2009
4:18 pm
CamaroDave – good job. I laughed
Oklahoma St 45 UGA 3
August 13th, 2009
4:20 pm
Hey, DublDawg……In your effort to scold a fellow fan for his spelling, you misspelled embarrassment.
Good work.
JD
August 13th, 2009
4:20 pm
CamaroDave, keep all those fat Krystal’s chicks in Athens for your self. Share a sack full with them.