Bradley’s year in picks: Good on Tech, bad on the Vols
Not to say I told you so ... (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
It was the best of years, it was the …
OK, that’s a a lie. It wasn’t the best of years, prediction-wise. It was only OK. I’ve had better. I’ve also had worse. (Lots worse, as you know.) And our annual Accountability Scoreboard begins with the obvious high point:
I picked Georgia Tech to go 10-2 and win the ACC title. It went 10-2 and won the ACC title. I was wrong about the the games Tech lost — I had the Jackets succumbing to Florida State and, for reasons I’ll never understand, Vanderbilt — but I was, big-picture-wise, dead on.
Regarding Georgia, I wasn’t dead on. But I was pretty darn close. I had the Bulldogs going 8-4, which many among you insisted was way too low. They went 7-5. Until the season’s 11th game, I had picked every game save one (Tennessee) correctly. Then things went ka-blooey. Georgia lost to Kentucky, which I didn’t think could happen, and then it beat Tech, which I insisted would never happen.
I was half-right about the participants in the SEC title game. (Right on Florida, wrong on LSU.) I was half-right about the participants in the ACC title game. (Right on Tech, wrong on FSU.) I’m half-right about the participants in the BCS title game. (Right on Texas, wrong on Alabama.) I was wrong about Colt McCoy winning the Heisman, more wrong about Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer finishing fifth.
This year I endeavored to pick every SEC game, and I did OK, if I do say so myself. I picked Florida to go 13-0 and win the conference title; it went 12-1 and lost to Alabama. I picked South Carolina to go 7-5; it went 7-5. (I also maintained Steve Spurrier would resign, which hasn’t happened.) I picked Kentucky go 7-5; it went 7-5. I picked Vandy to go 5-7; it went 2-10.
I picked LSU to go 11-1 and win the West; it went 9-3 and finished second. I picked Alabama to go 11-1; it went 12-0 (now 13-0). I picked Ole Miss to go 8-4; it went 8-4. I picked Arkansas to go 8-4; it went 7-5. I picked Auburn to go 6-6; it went 7-5. I picked Mississippi State to go 4-8; it went 5-7.
Where I really messed up (other than Vandy) was on Tennessee: I thought the Vols would stink. They didn’t. I picked them to go 4-8, losing to Georgia and Vanderbilt and Kentucky. They went 7-5 and beat all three. (I was also wrong about Florida scoring 63 points on Tennessee; the correct total was 23. But what’s 40 points among friends?)
I also sought to predict the postseason destination of every SEC bowl-eligible team, and I got exactly one (of nine) correct — Ole Miss to the Cotton. But I did have Virginia Tech opposing an SEC opponent in the Chick-fil-A. Half-credit, right?
Turning to professional doings: The Falcons will not go 10-6 and win the NFC South. Good news: Through 14 games, my preseason breakdown has been right 11 times. (I had them losing to Carolina here and winning there, and it was the other way around. And I had them beating the Saints here.) Bad news: I didn’t see anyone in this division flying past them, which New Orleans rather obviously did.
The Braves did not win the wild card. (Though they had a chance with six games to play, whereupon they neglected to win again.) I had them winning 89 games and finishing second to the Mets. They won 86 and finished third behind Philadelphia and Florida. Brian McCann didn’t win MVP, as I maintained he would. Jeff Francoeur did not hit .285, as projected in this space, nor did Kenshin Kawakami win 12 games.
The Hawks did, however, beat the Heat in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs. I had them prevailing in six games. They needed seven. Details.
I picked three of the correct Final Four — Villanova, North Carolina and UConn — in the annual Fiasco, an achievement for which I’d ordinarily award myself a passing grade. Alas, the one I missed — Louisville — was my national champ. More details.
I’m sure there were one or two predictions I’ve forgotten — write 520 posts in a year and you try keeping track — and if you find one feel free to bring it to my attention. And, as has become Accountability Scoreboard tradition, I leave you with one forecast for the new year. The last time it didn’t pan out: I picked the Falcons over the Giants in the NFC title game. I’m thinking this one just might.
Nov. 20, 2010; Tuscaloosa, Ala.: The Georgia State Panthers cap their inaugural football season by shocking the world. They score against Alabama! Three whole points!
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369 comments Add your comment
KJ
December 26th, 2009
8:00 pm
DDT, that’s only because they weren’t playing an SEC team, you know. Just ask m.
DDT
December 26th, 2009
8:02 pm
And your point is Benjamin?
TampaGator
December 26th, 2009
8:02 pm
Yep….when I think about it…Dan Mullen will be the new HC at Florida. Mullen is a great coach and would love to come back to Gainesville, I am sure. Gator fans would love to have him back. Go get him, Foley. Quick.
Without-a-clue
December 26th, 2009
8:04 pm
If the Dawgs had beaten Kentucky(and they should have), they would be playing in the Music City Bowl. This is the weather report for tomorrow night’s game: Temp in the mid to low 30s with wind chills in the 20s. There is a chance of flurries. Does that make \Shreveport sound better? And word to the Dawgs: If you want to play in a better bowl next year, have a better record.
DDT
December 26th, 2009
8:05 pm
Pitt was a 1 pt favorite Benjamin. You act like they were some prohibitive favorite. LMAO! And anyway Benjamin, most teams are favored over the ACC when bowl season rolls around.
How Tough Is the SEC?
December 26th, 2009
8:10 pm
Urban Meyer quit because he’s a cry baby pansy just like the rest of the SEC.
GTBandwagonmaster
December 26th, 2009
8:10 pm
UF will get a great coach just as UGA will get a great DC. We’re not talking about a school like Tech that has to go find a circus act.
Gym Dawg
December 26th, 2009
8:15 pm
Nobody does a circus act like us, and I mean nobody.
Dawg Central
December 26th, 2009
8:16 pm
Tech fans enjoy the Orange Bowl…..but UGA is stii your “Daddy”!!!!!! 30-24….8 out of 9…….does any of those numbers ring a bell????? Iowa will be the best defense Tech has seen all year…..watch the Hawkeyes shut down that high school offense…..and urban meyer is running for the hills….he knows the gators will be way down next year….some NFL team has promised him an ass load of money…..write it down!!!
YellowJacet
December 26th, 2009
8:18 pm
If your team is in a BCS bowl holla back. Otherwise STFU.
FartsALotDawg
December 26th, 2009
8:23 pm
I make the best chili.
BitDawgBarking
December 26th, 2009
8:25 pm
Until you can manage a win over a 7-5 UGA team STFU. And until you learn to spell Jacket you might just want to GTFOH.
Benjamin
December 26th, 2009
8:26 pm
DDT
December 26th, 2009
8:05 pm
Pitt was a 1 pt favorite Benjamin. You act like they were some prohibitive favorite. LMAO! And anyway Benjamin, most teams are favored over the ACC when bowl season rolls around.
—-
Pitt was ranked 17th in the country. UNC wasn’t ranked.
I don’t care about the whole ACC vs. the world debate. My team is actually the OTHER Georgia team, the one in Athens. I just can’t get off celebrating a loss that most people would’ve seen coming a mile away.
Next time a ranked team beats an unranked one, I’ll clap my hands, I guess…
Benjamin
December 26th, 2009
8:28 pm
If USC beats Boston College tonight, DDT, are you going to come on here and continue the smug argument that the ACC is inferior? Or, better yet, if Boston College beats USC, what will the response be?
In my view, the SEC and Big XII are year in, year out the best conferences in football, but I don’t root for (or against) conferences, nor do I understand those who do.
Matthew Stafford
December 26th, 2009
8:30 pm
I’d rather play for the Lions, and I do.
Techy
December 26th, 2009
8:30 pm
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc
key=0Avbp5i6g0yQndENIS1RQbzZiNHVsRzlab2drd1hsWEE&hl=en
Williebitc%slappedPaul
December 26th, 2009
8:30 pm
GT hasn’t done enough for their fans to even be allowed to speak. I would say be seen and not heard but the thought of having to look at all the fat, pasty cubicle clowns makes me prone to reevaluate. When they speak you can get a laugh from the stupidity. But having to actually look at them is akin to being sent to Guantanamo.
Benjamin
December 26th, 2009
8:31 pm
YellowJacet, huh? I think you might need spell check…
Benjamin
December 26th, 2009
8:33 pm
I dunno, Willie… even though we beat ‘em, I’d take their season over ours any day and twice on Sunday. They’re playing in a big bowl. We’re in Shreveport…
Georgia, without question, has the better program over the past couple decades, but I really do think Paul Johnson and co. are going to be dangerous looking forward. Paul took NAVY places. lol Think about that…
Techy
December 26th, 2009
8:40 pm
Ya’ll need to talk some Braves 2010 baseball is what you need to be doing. That’s why I linked you their 2010 roster as it looks right now.
Michael
December 26th, 2009
8:43 pm
No matter who coaches UF, UGA can’t beat them. Ron Zook proved that after he was FIRED, was a lame duck coach and still beat my Dawgs. I hate it that they own us.
Mr. A
December 26th, 2009
8:59 pm
Michael… being a Tech fan and trying to post as a Dawg fan is not cool! And snapshot…. you are a typical loser Tech fan! Look you lost,and it normally happens against UGA, so deal with it and show some class!
I see
December 26th, 2009
10:11 pm
all the little puppy dogs have climbed out from under the porch since they announced that the big bad daddy gator Meyer was retiring. They will crawl back under there next year when they again get rolled over by the Alabama Crimson Tide. New song same as the old song. 7-5 unranked losers
Ga fans
December 26th, 2009
10:13 pm
I know you all are very very sad to see YOUR DADDY retiring, but don’t worry Uncle Saban is coming to town
Fear The Nerd
December 27th, 2009
12:37 am
I have a prediction. The Dawgs are the awesomest team ever. If you don’t believe me I have 90,000 dudes in visors backin’ me up. We run this cell!
Arf
GTBandwagonmaster
December 27th, 2009
7:45 am
Lil Bengie has his panties in a wad. Did your boyfriend say he had a headache?
BUZZMAN
December 27th, 2009
8:11 am
Mark, I want to thank you and your staff for a great year. You do tell it like it is, great job on the predications. I love to read your column on-line since I live in S.C. two miles from Clemson. All the papers here only print articles about the Tigers. Have a happy New Year and keep predicating. I love it.
BUZZMAN
December 27th, 2009
8:23 am
You have to respect Myers for doing the right thing. Family and Health is your number 1 draft. Best of luck to a great coach.
Thanks for the link!
December 27th, 2009
9:29 am
Jackets21
November 16th, 2009
12:48 am
Even Bradley can see the writing on the wall.
Prince Miller and Bryan Evans are in for a long day. Paul Johnson is a about to show Richt how you come out of a bye week.
But on the plus side dogs, Willie will be fired for getting torched yet again. You’re welcome
Link Report this comment Greg
November 16th, 2009
12:48 am
Tech hangs 50+ on UGA and carries Willie Martinez off the field on their shoulders, a la UGA and Reggie “it’s
charlotte dawg
December 27th, 2009
10:01 am
How you feelin’ Tampa Gator? I hope quite miserable!
All good things come to an end buddy. I knew it was just a matter of time.
That being said, Georgia will have to fight off the hated Gators, Vols, and yes, the Gamecocks next year for the east. Next year could be the evil one’s year in Columbia…..the Chickens might have one of the best QB’s in the SEC as Garcia has finally come alive….and the boy can run like Tebow!
I don’t think the Meyer thing is a farce but it still seems waaaaay too convenient for him to leave when he doesn’t have a spread offense QB for next year. Just too convenient. As slimy as Meyer is, I could see him doing something like this. But there seems to be proof this is a legitimate concern for him(his health) so I’ll back off that a little bit.
I’ll say this….bet you Meyer honestly wants to call it quits for life and family reasons but me thinks he’d be back for another year if his boy,Cry Baby, was a junior this year.
And since Tebow ain’t playing in the NFL, Florida should just hire Tebow as their coach…..now that would be scary for the entire nation! The kid, though a bit of a cry baby, is the best athletic leader I’ve ever seen. Hell, I wish he was in the White House over the turd we have now! At least the rest of the world wouldn’t think we were *ussies.
TechGrad08
December 27th, 2009
12:10 pm
Where are all the people who told Bradley he was smoking cracking for saying Tech would win the ACC and UGA would have four losses?
How about those guys who said there was a reason the Option based offense was dropped by Nebraska and Oklahoma? They finally figure out that Texas won an NC running an option-based offense with VYoung, and UF won one with Tebow starting? Or that no one has really stopped it this year, save Miami and UGA with their ball-control approaches?
that game meant everything to tech
December 27th, 2009
12:56 pm
techflagboynerd08Grad…..all those people left after he predicted Tech would beat Georgia in 2009……which hardly every happens…lmfao at you flagboy fans…see you and your Alligator mouthed Former Army coach in Athens next year..but what has Georgia done since 1980 other than go 22 and 7 against the bugs! 30 to 24 Mr. Bradley..GEORGIA over Tech..did you predict that….next time go with the state’s perennial best team MORON
Mr. Thomas Anthony "The Taxman Cometh" Jones, SR (Waf-SS, ret.)
December 27th, 2009
1:10 pm
You underestimated the Football Recruiting Skills of Mr. Kiffin at the University of Tennessee. Admit you din’t get the UT season correct. UT is on the upswing.
The Braves preditions were undid by the stupidity of Frank Wren the worse GM in MLB! Bar none! He lied to both Mr. Tom Glavine and to Mr. John Smoltz. And the fool has young players at AAA and AA levels who should be on the Major League level so they can start breaking team re4cords. Why keep young players in the minor leagues is stupid. Fire Wren!!!!!
JACK IT
December 27th, 2009
7:36 pm
TECH: 30 24 hahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahah #1 in the ACC, #2 in the state!!!!!!!!
GT WILL ALWAYS BE A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 27th, 2009
8:08 pm
HEY YELLOW TICKS. DO NOT FORGET TO VISIT THE CALLAWAY GARDENS’S WATERLESS URINALS. YOU WILL SEE YOUR SYMBOL AT THE END OF YOUR STREAM—-JUST THE RIGHT PLACE IN THE ORDER OF LIFE IN THIS UNIVERSE. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHHA AND MORE HAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHA AND SOME MORE HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA, FOREVER AND EVER.
bugsquacher
December 27th, 2009
11:37 pm
Happy New Year Nerds! 30-24
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 28th, 2009
4:47 am
Shreveport by the numbers
2 Wal-Mart’s,
4 Waffle Houses
1 Motel 6
11,693 deer stands
48,545 seat Stadium (no kidding)
6,230 of 12,000 georgia ticket allotment sold
5:00PM start time
Peachtree TV # 2
#5 offense nationally facing #70 defense with 2 grad assts at the helm
7 recruits likely switching
Unlike Georgia, Texas A & M does not think the Herschal Walker and Lindale Scott led, 42-0 win in Athens on Sept. 13, 1980 will play a role in this game.
jason
December 28th, 2009
8:00 am
Yech couldn’t even beat a horrible UGA team without their best player, at home with two weeks to prepare!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
James T. Kirk
December 28th, 2009
8:02 am
To all you arrogant puppy fans out there, listen up. You may have cheated and “won” the match this year, but next year we will send the message as to who really “runs this state.” Jason Nesbitt, our thrower of the ball, will be back while you will have a brand new cornerback to break in. Our running halfbacks will be back too. Your best players are your 4th down kickers for crying out loud!!!
tom
December 28th, 2009
8:03 am
Maybe if the Orange Bowl had given away free cokes, hotdogs and Playboys like they do in Atlanta they could have lured a few more tool fans down there.
OUT & PROUD!!!!!!!
December 28th, 2009
8:08 am
I love my Georgia Tech Yellowjackets!!!! We have the cutest boys in the whole conference!!!
that game meant everything to tech
December 28th, 2009
9:33 am
tooo funny F(l)AGBOY KIRK (CAPT.F(L)AGBOY!) WE HAD a new quarterback this year and beat you nerds and he wasn’t even talented!…course when he Heard the Tech defense majoretted in Baton twirling he was able to relax!!!!! lmfao..30 to 24.. only 332 more days of rubbing you flagboys in the ground though!!!!
How you can fill up Bobby Dodd Stadium
December 28th, 2009
3:01 pm
Here are just a few suggestions for the Georgia Tech Athletic Director to consider since winning football games still will not fill up tiny Bobby Dodd Stadium:
1. Hold a cricket match there (it will appeal to the Indian/Pakistani students that make up the majority at Georgia Tech)
2. Hold a camel race (it will appeal to the Arabs that make up the second largest group on Tech’s campus)
3. Host a Star trek Convention (that will appeal to not only the Tech students but to the Georgia Tech alumni, a guest appearance by William Shatner will have GA Techies flocking in the gates)
Good Luck!
Tech's Daddy!
December 28th, 2009
3:04 pm
It is Mark Richt! 8 out of 9!!!!! Richt is undefeated on Tech’s “historic” Grant Field.
Why is it historic? Because while it is inside Tech’s Bobby Dodd stadium it is OWNED by the Georgia Bulldogs!
30-24!!!!
u cant make it up
December 28th, 2009
6:30 pm
I do not care who wins this Shreveport $hit High School Bowl, to see UGA playing their is priceless, hahahahahahhhhaahahahahaha
mark pricht
December 28th, 2009
8:40 pm
Shreveport Champions…now go down to the waffle house and celebrate, you earned it
JACK IT
December 28th, 2009
10:00 pm
Dangit! Georgia is the champs of the Shreveport bowl, and the state!! Tech is champs of the Almost Competitive Conference!! Let’s hear it for out state runner-up Jackets!!!
tim tebow
December 28th, 2009
11:55 pm
uga fans,
crybaby? thats cool. by the way, did i show you my national championship rings? take a look, cause you wont be seeing one for a while. oh wait, have you seen my heisman? im sorry im so great and $h!t all over your program, i mean i really tried not to break your schizophrenic legend’s records. id also like to apologize for beating you so bad, 41-17, 49-10. man, thats brutal. well, ill let you mutts return to your trailers, god bless! phil 4:13
GT95
December 29th, 2009
5:54 am
After watching the Independence Bowl last night it really jumps out how bad our defense must really be. If PJ doesn’t fix it we’ll go backwards in the future.
Reality
December 29th, 2009
2:59 pm
Wow – did you sprain your shoulder from patting yourself on the back? Why do you really think anyone would want to read what you write about yourself? Are you really that self-centered? No, I didn’t read your article – it was boring and means nothing.