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
Sunshine
August 13th, 2009
4:27 pm
Haha JD, too true!
Otto
August 13th, 2009
4:27 pm
DawgFan, Why should the offense be better. Long balls were often overthrown or forced by Stafford. Cox won the accuracy contests. The OL will be better, AJ should be better. Yes MoMass is gone but I am sure someone will step up that was in the shadows last year or Brown will be this year’s AJ.
The RBs are deep and healthy. No UGA does not have the starpower of Moreno but he was fighting to get 3 many times last year. The OL should be sure to get 3 much more often just by hitting the gap.
UGA also has 2 TEs that look very promising. TEs were a vital part of the Greene and DJ years. TE was up there with DE as UGA’s least productive position last year.
Also the kicking game if the new kicker keeps doing what he did in Junior College will help the field position battle which was more times than not lost last year.
The secondary and how long it takes the team to act as a team are the 2 things that concern me. OSU may exploit a young secondary. The lines have veterans but very little playing time together. I don’t think OSU’s DL will be able to fully exploit that. UGA must play a ball control game allowing the OL to open up holes for the backs.
Otto
August 13th, 2009
4:29 pm
JD most know about the Crytal girls because they were the only ones that would talk to him in Athens.
UGA 55 OSU 42
August 13th, 2009
4:30 pm
Cant wait for big game bob stoops to get his butt handed to him in another BCS bowl. You guys really miss Josh Heupel. I cant wait to get to oklahoma city and see the non hillbillies. I just hope to duck the tornadoes and the lack of people.
Joe Schmoe
August 13th, 2009
4:30 pm
Otto, as you probably already know winning an accuracy contest, and throwing on a field with a defense are two totaly diffrent things.
JD
August 13th, 2009
4:34 pm
Im not familiar with this Crytal, but I am completly aware of UGA’s finest fat Krystal’s chicks. I wouldnt be bragging.
InferiorityComplex
August 13th, 2009
4:36 pm
And there it is! Just a matter of time until a UGA fan started beating the conference drum. OK State fans you will soon learn that when UGA can’t win anything itself, her fans start touting the accomplishments of other SEC teams. Bravo “UGA 55 OSU 42″!
Otto
August 13th, 2009
4:38 pm
Joe no doubt. We will see ina few months. I never really was that impressed with Stafford’s results and Cox has shown to be a more vocal leader so far. Worst case he stumbles UGA puts in Gray or Murray, and get things sorted out for Atlanta.
UGA 55 OSU 42
August 13th, 2009
4:41 pm
to the clown inferiority complex,
are you serious? Does the losses to boise state and USC not count as BCS losses? What about West Virginia? I dont see them in the SEC. Dosent matter who they play in a BCS bowl game, bet the house they lose
Otto
August 13th, 2009
4:41 pm
JD wouldn’t be bragging but he stall has knowledge hmmmm…. Its ok if you went hogging if you go to Tech where there are no women. It happens….
ThaMan
August 13th, 2009
4:43 pm
Whare FirebirdFred is?
PMC
August 13th, 2009
4:43 pm
Pretty good poll from SI, it’s all guess work, I see they dropped LSU Alabama and Penn State down a bit from other polls as well.
Obviously Va Tech is too high now that they lost thier starting TB… and It’s going to be very very tough for Ole Miss to live up to the expectations being placed on them after losing Oher and Jerry.
That’s a pretty solid poll. I don’t think the drop off to Joe Cox will be as severe as others do. Being a good pro QB pick and being a good college QB aren’t necessarily the same thing and Cox should have the benifit of a better line with one of the better LT’s in the country and they should be much more stout inside with Jeff Owens.
I think Tech is going to play very opportunistic ball in their secondary but I don’t know if they can be as good up front on defense as they were last year. Those guys were monsters.
I think the blocking and passing should improve on offense.
Mark Bradley
August 13th, 2009
4:49 pm
I must have missed something. Who mentioned Oklahoma? (Not Oklahoma State, but Oklahoma.)
Joe Schmoe
August 13th, 2009
4:49 pm
I think your team will end with a diffrent quarterback than what it started with. Might be a rough year for UGA, but you guys have tallent for the future.
Otto
August 13th, 2009
4:50 pm
InferiorityComplex Okie State fans, atleast the ones that made it to Athens, already know UGA can win on their own.
lamar
August 13th, 2009
4:51 pm
BRADLEY, YOU ARE PATHETIC! I know you love your Bees but get a life! GT should never be mentioned in a story with GA because GT is not in GA”S league! Last time I checked GA has beat them like a redheaded stepchild 8 times out of 9 so THIS MAKES GT AS PATHETIC AS YOU & GA”S BITCH! IF you cant get GT out of your mind then do stories on them AND LEAVE GA TO SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS FOOTBALL! GA WILL WIPE THE FLOOR WITH GT THIS YEAR! SCORE GA 34-17. GT ???? WHO ARE THEY??? A NOBODY WITH NO FANS! COME TO ATHENS & WATCH A REAL TEAM!
Buzz
August 13th, 2009
4:54 pm
Breathe Lamar, Breathe! and step away from the caps lock button (it shows your ignorance)
Dawg Pound
August 13th, 2009
4:56 pm
The Dawgs will end up 10-2. Who cares about Tech and their cupcake schedule. Joe Cox will be just fine and we will domintate up front on both sides of the ball. Our defense will come into its own this year. Too much speed and talent on that side of the ball not to twice in a row. Willy will be better this year, but not sure he’ll stick around after the season.
BleedWhiteNGold
August 13th, 2009
4:56 pm
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.
Thats funny, take a look at every college PJ has coached at and see that the 2nd year of his tenure the teams are drastically improved on offense. Combining that and our massive increase in depth this year, at all posistions, we are most definitly going to have a horrible year and show that last year was a fluke. Thank you Dawg Max for setting us all straight with all your wonderful knowledge of our team! I will look forward to our 3-9 predicted season again and another loss against UGA!
Joe Schmoe
August 13th, 2009
4:56 pm
Ok lamar, back on you rocker with the moon shine. Who let you out of the old folks home?
BS Patrol
August 13th, 2009
4:57 pm
wORLD TOUr, I believe that is the funniest thing I have ever read on these posts! Every time I read that I just about bust a gut!
BigTimeTECHFan
August 13th, 2009
4:58 pm
1. Florida
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. LSU
5. USC
6. Utah
7. Bama
8. Califonia
9. Ga Tech
10. TCU
Otto
August 13th, 2009
4:59 pm
Joe we shall see. If UGA does pull Joe, the fans will know Stafford was the correct call. I am not sure Gray should not be starting but Cox has the leadership roll established. Do not understimate leadership it is what kept JP in at Bama last year when most say McElroy is the better QB looking at the drills.
Eitherway it will be settled early in the season. Stafford played national champs Florida to a close 7 point game in ‘06. If Joe is not the answer it would not surprise me to see a season much like ‘06 and the next year to be like ‘07 where UGA came close to winning it all. The OL should return most of the players next year and UGA’s skill palyers are young.
SatchelBuzz
August 13th, 2009
4:59 pm
Lamar,….we did come to Athens. We watched a real team,…..they were wearing Gold and White. No big deal,…we’ll be back for some more.
45-42,..ain’t never gonna change.
Who’s got the pitchman?
GT
August 13th, 2009
5:00 pm
The problem is Georgia will beat Ok. State like a step child ,like they beat Arizona State, last year. Everybody will act like this is the team to beat, they will get the swell head come back east and play a real South Carolina team that no one is talking about and loose. The local press always buys into the national hype and plays up teams they know nothing about like Ohio State, or Arizona State, which are not as skilled as any given team in the SEC conference and most of the ACC. It is like be married to Miss America and thinking a west coast girl is cuter, get too use to good home cooking. No conference is better than the Southeastern, no players better than southern breed, Ok State has lots of money lots of PR machine but no cattle.
BS Patrol
August 13th, 2009
5:01 pm
All right everyone. To the tune of “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.
HAW HAW HAW!
Dawg Foot
August 13th, 2009
5:07 pm
Flag boy says Tech is # 1 at being gay.
Steve
August 13th, 2009
5:09 pm
I really wonder how many people have not written anything on here because this is so stupid. There are a lot more things of importance that a bunch of pencil neck, no football playing idjits writing about something like this. I only came here to laugh at the 3rd grade dropout THUGA fans that think they walk on water. There is more to life than Mark Richt being Mark Rich because you have been flim flammed.
Mark Bradley
August 13th, 2009
5:14 pm
“Who’s got the pitchman?” LIke, “Punt, Bama, Punt!”
Camden Mark
August 13th, 2009
5:16 pm
The glaring teams that are a bit to elevated to me in the polls are,Penn State/Ohio State.How long do those clowns in the big 10 have to keep getting humiliated on the national stage before the media ends thier love affair with that 2nd class confrence.
2nd weekend prediction;mid level B-10 Minnesota gets clobbered by Mountain West mid level AFA Falcons by 17.
jeff
August 13th, 2009
5:17 pm
GT–Good points but comparing Ohio St. to ASU is a little off. Don’t the numbers but you would be hard pressed to find a program that’s put more people in the NFL over the last 10 years or so than Ohio St. That includes people at the skill positions. Check out last years super bowl mvp Santonio Holmes.
LET THE BIG DAWG EAT
August 13th, 2009
5:17 pm
UGA GOES 11-2, LOSING TO LSU AND Florida. WE WIN OUR BOWL GAME AGAINST A BIG 10 OPPONENT. TECH GOES 7-6 LOSING TO CLEMSON, MIAMI, VA.TECH,AND ONE OTHER ACC OPPONENT, AND GEORGIA BEFORE ANOTHER LOSS ON THE BLUE FIELD.
stan
August 13th, 2009
5:29 pm
Tech Nor Uga should be High.Pussaay fans, especially uga fans,
should be lower
1eyedJack
August 13th, 2009
5:31 pm
We’ll go undefeated!!!! Until we lose one.
Go DAWGS!!!!
Volman
August 13th, 2009
5:42 pm
UGA had a GREAT spring game this year… What was the score…6-3? What a pathetic showing by Joe Cox and the rest of the “reloaded” offense. UGA looks lost on the offensive side of the ball. Yes, they get their O-Line back…but what about anything else? Seriously…6-3 spring game? That had to have been embarrassing (and it was televised on ESPN).
Eeek.
Big Dawg
August 13th, 2009
5:43 pm
Pi$$Nerd:
I’ll take a leash all day to whatever is in your will (NOTHING!!). Stan, boy you are a tough cookie with that big, mature talk. I’ll bet you are something with the ladies!! ScrotumBuzz,
you won once this century!! It won’t happen again for 7-8 years. BTW, how many one and two win seasons have you had over the last 25 years? Man ya’ll suck!! SmallTime Nerd fan: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA……….HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. FUZZ: isn’t there a Star Trek: New Generation marathon on tv? Why so jealous of Georgia?
I’m a ramblin nerd from Georgia Tech
and a helluva modern queer
I love men in tight underwear
and drink my piss that’s clear
I am so jealous of UGA
And like you guessed I am gay
I’m a ramblin nerd from Georgia Tech
and a helluva modern queer
Jealous of UGA?
August 13th, 2009
5:46 pm
Volboy,
are you back to take some more. Man, you really love Georgia. Where does the spring game go in the record book? What is the Orange’s record vs. the White? You freakin loser moron!!!
Volboy
August 13th, 2009
5:50 pm
The Orange should be preseason #1 because the total length of Skoal spit beat anyone else!!!
Volboy
August 13th, 2009
5:52 pm
I love Lucas Cox and PJ….can I join in with the Star Wars dress up parties at RAMBLE ON’s parents house?
Denver Dog
August 13th, 2009
5:59 pm
Bring on the Cowboys, again, another ho hum opener. Why couldn’t we open with a national power like Jacksonville State.
Tech looks like it does have a decent schedule for the ACC. No BC, No Maryland, No NC State. They could be really good, and we should not be on the field with them, they are that good, and everyone in the country knows it. Things are so good, they are thinking of pardoning the Jacket Al Queda, and the new porny teeny bopper.
I hope Tech does well in al the games except the last one. I don’t know how good they will be or not be. The same with my dogs, but I will bet this. The game in Atlanta with Ga/Ga Tech will be a good slugout. The thing we never know is how injuries will play out and what effect they may have on the teams involved. With all those last year, UGA still managed 10 wins, and still ended up int he top 10. We will have to see what happens as they year goes on. For now I say GO Dogs!
Another Dawg
August 13th, 2009
6:07 pm
Is this poll supposed to be a predictor of how the season ends, or a measure of pre-season relative strength?
I mean, Tech is liable to end up with a better record than Georgia because they play a cupcake schedule. So what? That doesn’t make them a better team. The knock on Georgia is the difficulty of our schedule and overhyped questions on offense. Does anyone believe Tech’s defense will be better than Georgia’s? Honestly?
So if this is a prediction of the final poll of the season, I’ll buy this. If it’s a measure of strength, then I’m laughing. Tech is a 9-4 team whose only improvement will be the ease of schedule. Give me a break.
(After the latest injury reports, there isn’t a single ACC team that belongs in the Top 10. UNC 2009 Champs lol)
weston
August 13th, 2009
6:11 pm
“Oklahoma St 45 UGA 3″ is obviously a Bug dressed up in an OK costume, else when asked when the last time OK won a BCS bowl game, s/he would have answered with the actual date. But a Bug wouldn’t know, and would thus blow it off with a retarded comeback of “a lot more recent than UGA winning a national title…even Tech has won a national title since then”. BUSTED! No OK fan would make a STUPID comeback about National Titles, and even attempt to put the Bug school in a better light, all in response to such a question EXCEPT a yellow wig. LMAO. Even the stupid chick Ramble is smarter than to get caught with her panties down like that.
heeldawg
August 13th, 2009
6:13 pm
I’m so tired of all of this crap. I mean, really, how many prognostications can we all make? And what does it really matter? In a short three weeks all of this pointless conjecture will be swept away in a tsunami of fact. Injuries will happen, teams will either gel or not gel, and then we’ll see who is really good about 3-4 weeks into the season. Preseason polls are ridiculous because you can usually tell very little abotu any team until it actually hits the field.
weston
August 13th, 2009
6:15 pm
If UGA had the pansy schedule that the Bugs do they would finish undefeated and the offense wouldn’t score less than 50 points a game.
Come to think of it, if Jacksonville St, that cupcake with pink icing on top, beats the girls from North Ave, I will not be able to stop laughing.
Chris
August 13th, 2009
6:18 pm
Ga. Tech is not a top 10 team or top 15 team for that matter, as they prove year in and year out.
Yes, I know Tech beat my DAWGS last year 45-42 and blah blah blah. A blind hog picks up an acorn every now and then. Vanderbilt and Kentucky did it in 2006, and now they are back where they belong. Ga. Tech will take there place as our annual Saturday after Thanksgiving beyotch again this year.
Mark, when are you going to pull your head out of Tech’s azz??? You are pathetic.
BIG BEE
August 13th, 2009
6:26 pm
This is a reminder to all the UGA and GT idiots on tnis blog. I’ll bet all my Wachovia stock that none of you know the scores to any of the afore mentioned games until after they are played, and some of the coaches will have to tell the players who won.
Pete
August 13th, 2009
6:27 pm
Mark, “That’s pretty darn close”…like you are the end-all. You are full of yourself.
Gordon
August 13th, 2009
6:29 pm
Speaking of meaningless rankings, I have noticed some UGA types on this blog and others forgetting their place in the academic pecking order of this state lately, referring to some ranking by Forbes magazine that says UGA is the 200th some odd ranked school and Tech is the 600th some odd ranked school. I found that very suspicious, and sure enough what I found was that over half the ranking was based on things like student satisfaction with their courses, likelihood to graduate in 4 years, and estimated average 4-year student loan debt. This is like ranking a football team on who has the best looking uniforms.
Tech has a fine football program, but UGA is better most of the time. UGA is a fine school, but Tech is better all of the time.
Mark Bradley
August 13th, 2009
6:33 pm
Big Bee, I know what the score of the Georgia Tech-Valdosta State game will be before it starts.
0-0.
TechBuzz
August 13th, 2009
6:47 pm
If ga fans are counting on Joe Cox for anything, they better go back to their trailers and rethink. He’s not any good, and caleb king isn’t that good either. How will UGA score points? I think Ga will be lucky to win 8 games and will end up in some bowl in Shreveport or Nashville, freezing their a##es off while Tech is in a BCS bowl after winning the ACC title! Paul Johnson—much better coach than Richt. Tech beats Ga again—but this time, it will be easier. Tech 40 Ga 23