Bradley’s Buzz: ESPN again picks against Tech and Johnson
Not the flavor of the month per Scouts Inc. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
I’m not covering the Orange Bowl. I’ll be in Athens tonight watching Georgia and Georgia Tech play basketball. But I found it amusing to note that, once again, ESPN.com’s Scouts Inc. has picked against the Jackets (in football, not basketball).
A review (and all these links require registration): Scouts Inc. picked Miami over the Jackets in September and was correct; it picked Virginia Tech over GT in October and was incorrect; it picked Clemson over the Jackets in September and also in the ACC title game and was twice wrong. Now it likes Iowa to win 28-24 tonight. And that’s legit: This will be a difficult game for the Jackets, and a lot of people are picking against them.
What’s of greater interest is that Scouts Inc. again gives the edge in coaching to Tech’s opponent. And maybe that’s also fair: Kirk Ferentz is well regarded in the business. Scouts Inc. did the same for the Virginia Tech game — again, Frank Beamer is a proven commodity — but it also gave Clemson the nod in coaching for the ACC title game, and I can’t imagine too many folks see Dabo Swinney as more established than Paul Johnson. (Interestingly, Scouts Inc. rated Tech’s coaching as better than Clemson’s in September. Guess Dabo had a better season than Johnson.)
Maybe I’m being unfair: Scouts Inc. did pick Tech over Georgia and give Johnson the edge over Mark Richt. (Georgia won, as I recall.) But when I see a category breakdown so imbalanced — the Jackets are rated above Iowa at only three of eight positions (quarterback, running back and, interestingly enough, special teams) — you’d have to think the coach of the presumed lesser team has done something right to get his side to 11-2 and a BCS bowl.
And maybe this expression of non-love for PJ simply balances the scales: I’m aware that many among you (read: Georgia fans) believe we at the AJC have fallen all over ourselves in our admiration for the Tech coach. And I’ll concede to a bit — OK, maybe more than a bit — of gushing on my part. Still, I think the man has done a fabulous job. He’s 20-6 in two seasons and has won his conference. As I recall, we around here also sang the praises of Richt when he went 21-5 and won his league in his first two years on the job.
But enough of that. I close with two notes: Scouts Inc. isn’t to be confused with ESPN’s ACC blogger Heather Dinich, who has also picked against the Jackets a few times but likes Tech tonight. (Also by the score of 28-24.) And Mr. Always Wrong — that’d be me — likes the Jackets to win twice this evening. First at the Stegasaurus, then at Land Shark Stadium.
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349 comments Add your comment
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
January 5th, 2010
4:43 pm
TO ALL TECKERS congrats on a great season and a great win tonight i predict tech wins 38-14 I do not want to see tech lose every game just one and I am looking forward to an exciting real rivalry when my Dawgs get back on track. Also congrats on the win in roundball tonight that is a given
for tonight run jackets run
and as always
GO DAWGS !!!!!!!!!!!!
Suck it Nerd
January 5th, 2010
4:45 pm
I gotta say, some of the posts on here are really funny.
Jennifer
January 5th, 2010
4:47 pm
Stat Man is spot-on with his analysis. UGA would get killed in the ACC.
Mark Bradley is THE MAN!
GO YELLOW JACKETS!!!
Jennifer
January 5th, 2010
4:48 pm
Tech 31, Iowa 24.
Tron Carter
January 5th, 2010
4:50 pm
Did “coach” Johnson ban Demaryius Thomas from using suntan oil on his hands this week?
Tron Carter
January 5th, 2010
4:51 pm
Susan Boyle spotted in Miami.
Tron Carter
January 5th, 2010
4:51 pm
Sorry – It was Paul Johnson
Richt
January 5th, 2010
4:52 pm
spotted every where looking for a DC
Tron Carter
January 5th, 2010
4:53 pm
Tech will get beat tonight-BBBAAADDD
At least Paul Johnson won the wet t shirt contest at the tech pep rally at the blue oyster last night.
30-24
8 of 9
60-39-5 – you can’t compete with us
Harry the Hat
January 5th, 2010
4:54 pm
The UGA posters on here are pathetic wretches who think their season was somehow redeemed by a fluke win over Tech. You losers go right on consoling yourselves and thinking that Richt will somehow turn things around. That’s wishful thinking if you think anyone – much less Richt – could coach the undisciplined morons that UGA recruits.
Get used to Shreveport, losers.
Just Remeber Tech Fans
January 5th, 2010
4:56 pm
Ga fans are not good for nothings………………..they can always serve as a bad example
Harry the Hat
January 5th, 2010
4:57 pm
Has UGA replaced the stupid ugly mutt that croaked?
Not from here
January 5th, 2010
5:01 pm
Do GA fans really think the 30-24 game means something? If your biggest win comes out of conference, why would you brag? Maybe beat Florida, Bama, Tennessee, etc, and brag…weird how you’d run down the ACC, yet brag about beating one of their teams by less than a TD.
As for Tech, nice season and coach, and plenty to build from and look ahead to in 2010…but you need to win tonight against a slightly above average Big Ten team to be relevant/bragging yourselves.
Just glad I’m not spending my off season typing 30-24!!! and feeling good about it–time for that guy to look in the mirror.
For the record, I’m from Indiana and went to Notre Dame.
STGTwish
January 5th, 2010
5:02 pm
Who cares what ESPN or the inbreds from Athens think (most have never been on a college campus)- GO JACKETS!
T-MAN
January 5th, 2010
5:02 pm
Hey I’m going out on a limb here….Tech will not have to punt once….and those who ask where they are,ther’re at the strip club for some mature entertainment….I also think Iowa st doesn’t punt,but they didn’t know in advance and will be sitting on the bench….who’s our kicker anyway?do we have one?Going to be a good game…Tech wins going away….and all ya’ll fleabag fans enjoy the game and we know ya’ll love us….Goooo Tech
T-MAN
January 5th, 2010
5:07 pm
Harry,didn’t you read the story….Russ is now the standin Mascot,says he didn’t take too kindly to having his a$$ painted white(seems all bulldogs are painted before every game,who would thunk it….makes you wonder if their Bulldogs at all,could be Pugs on steroids….that would be a story
Tron Carter
January 5th, 2010
5:10 pm
Fluke Win? BBBWWAAAAHHHAAAHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
1 of 9 is a fluke win and you made a gold ring to commemorate it – BBWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHAAAAAA
Douches
60-39-5 = total domination
Corey
January 5th, 2010
5:14 pm
Tech blows balls. Roll Hawkeyes!!
Go DAWGS!!
Tron Carter
January 5th, 2010
5:14 pm
Inbreds from Athens?
There are more UGA fans in Atlanta that for you douchenozzles.
You can’t even fill a 55,000 seat stadium in the largest city in the state by giving away cheap tickets, free hotdogs and free cokes.
Vince Dooley
January 5th, 2010
5:15 pm
that silly one-on-one record between UGA and tech is all we have to hold on to, we will never have a prestigious program with 4 national championships, and a stadium that has the most wins in FCS history, or two awards named after our coaches……so sorry tech fans…..this one-on-one record is all we have !
Corey
January 5th, 2010
5:16 pm
Not from here — Not from here, homie? Well roll your punk a** out of the forum, beeeeyoootttttch!!
snapshot
January 5th, 2010
5:18 pm
I did not realize that this many mutt fans even had computers. This will be a difficult game for Tech. We are playing a ranked team not a 6 and 6 Community College. Go Yellow Jackets!!!!!!!!!!
Jean
January 5th, 2010
5:19 pm
GT will win by a score of 33-26
Johnny Test
January 5th, 2010
5:24 pm
Tech is the most over rated team in the country and it will show tonight as it did vs UGA. They won 11 games because they had 5 patsies on their schedule; Jax St., Duke, Wake Forrest, Vanderbilt and Miss. St. I see they padded their schedule with Carolina State and Middle Tenn next year. Going for that NC by loading up the schedule with AA teams. NC in 2010 what a laugh. They will lose to VT, Florida St. UGA and probably Miami next year. They won’t even win their division in the A-She-She.
Tech has a swiss cheese defense and if they were to lose Nesbitt they probably won’t score a point after he leaves the game. After tonight’s beatdown by Iowa they won’t even finish in the top 15.
Thomas
January 5th, 2010
5:24 pm
Pretty good breakdown, http://www.southernpigskin.com/index.php/site/orange_bowl_preview1/
Johnny Test
January 5th, 2010
5:40 pm
TECH fans …. as engineers you know numbers don’t lie… 30 to 24, 8 of 9, and 60/39…. glad it hurts so bad..
You will get crushed tonight and I will love it.
UnrealFans
January 5th, 2010
5:43 pm
How, just how does GT make it’s first major bowl appearance since the 1960’s and only sale 11,000 of their 17,500 ticket allotment? Where is the alumni, students, fans? It makes no sense and there aren’t excuses enough to warrant 62% sales. Iowa was less than a 1,000 tickets from selling out its 17,500 official allotment last week. (Tech sold 11,000.) Per today’s Top 10 on the AJC front page.
ATrueGolfer.com
January 5th, 2010
5:45 pm
Who has the best golfer’s out of UGA and Tech? http://www.atruegolfer.com
dawgfan
January 5th, 2010
5:47 pm
Snapshot, Are you referring to the Texas A & M team UGA beat in their bowl? The Texas A & M team that lost to the likes of Ok, Texas and Nebraska, not winning against Duke, Virginia and whatever that poor team you played in your first game? guess you guys would know how to lose to a 6-5 (eventually 8-5) UGA team huh?
DawginLex
January 5th, 2010
5:47 pm
stat man, we will trade schedules with Tech any time.
Tech goes 4-8 with UGA’s schedule
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
January 5th, 2010
5:50 pm
For the blogger that did not know . . . I am Georgia’s temporary mascot. We are having some labor issues because they painted my a$$ white before the game in Shreveport. Right now, if they needed a mascot none would be available. My buddies would join me in a walkout. I noticed Tron is posting here. That’s a dog name, right? Tron? You’d walk out with us wouldn’t you, Tron? A team with no mascot and no coaches is no team at all.
dawgfan
January 5th, 2010
5:55 pm
Get ready for the Independence Bowl next year. The Independence Bowl mourns the loss of the bowl tie in of the Big 12 and SEC in exchange for the ACC and Mountain West in 2010. Why did the SEC drop the alliance? Because the Gator Bowl dropped the ACC #3 team in exchange for the SEC #7. That’s right. SEC bowl order for 2010
National Championship again
Sugar
Capital One
Outback
Cotton
Chick fil A
Gator
Music City
Papa John’s
Johnny Test
January 5th, 2010
6:00 pm
NOT FROM HERE… you obviously haven’t heard of “GOOD OLD FASHIONRD HATE” and you haven’t been on UGA blogs for the last year with TECH fans posting all sorts of vile crap. This is payback time.
Vince Dooley
January 5th, 2010
6:14 pm
I wish UGA had as many National Championships as those dead gum Techies !!!!!
Rambler
January 5th, 2010
6:45 pm
Thanks to all those UGA fans with class that wish Tech well tonight. Even the detractors have some good points. Tech will not be a great team until 1) they recruit and play consistently good defense. Doesn’t have to be perfect…if we could stop the other team 50% of the time most of our games would be blowouts; 2) Our OL needs depth and overall increase in talent level.
On both of these points, I think we are getting there with our current recruiting class. Still, tonight’s game will be interesting.
GaBuckeyeFan
January 5th, 2010
6:55 pm
To those stupid as* dawg fans that think the SEC is superior to everyone else, here is this years breakdown of the bowl games;
SEC – 5-4
ACC – 3-3
The killer is, you are 0-2 versus ACC teams this bowl season(Tennessee lost to VT, and Kentucky lost to Clemson, both teams that Tech beat). And to make matters worse, you even lost to a Conference USA team (South Carolina lost to UConn).
If it wasn’t for Northwestern and East Carolina missing chip shot field goals, you would be looking at a pathetic bowl season.
Like I said at the beginning of the season, the SEC has 2 teams (Florida and Alabama) that are real good, everybody else is average, just like every other conference. Until UGA can at least keep it close with Florida and Alabama, you are nothing.
DogGoneGaDawg
January 5th, 2010
7:00 pm
I cannot believe that you have actually admitted your bias toward Tech. Tell us something we don’t know like how to milk a duck. Come on Mark! To compare winning an ACC championship with winning an SEC championship is ludicrous beyond belief. And Richt has won 2 SEC chanpionships, thank you!
Bo Williams
January 5th, 2010
7:04 pm
Hey SEC, let’s trade some teams: Give us SC and we’ll give you FSU. Want to?
CatsFly
January 5th, 2010
7:06 pm
Hey SEC, give us UGa and we’ll give you FlaSt. or Miami.
Dostoyevskiy
January 5th, 2010
7:07 pm
SEC gets FSU, Clemson, ACC gets UGa and SC
dawgfan
January 5th, 2010
7:14 pm
Hey Mr. Notre Dame guy, I’m going to go out on little bit of a limb here and say that 30-24 means UGA beat Tech 30 points to 24 points. Follow the bouncing ball here nimrod. How it works is the team with the most points at the end of the game wins. So, when Georgia fans post 30-24 we’re saying we beat Tech’s overrated arses. And what better place to do it than right here on a Bradley blog hyping up this flash in the pan creampuff?
Oh, and Notre Dame freaking sucks. Thanks.
StinkyFinger
January 5th, 2010
8:54 pm
UGA…please hire Dave Womack as your new DC! This defense is horrible.
Brian
January 6th, 2010
9:09 am
Wow Mark, how could those ESPN guys have possibly picked Iowa in this game? Maybe they knew something…. Maybe all of the slobbering over Paul Johnson and GT this year was a bit premature and overdone?! The ACC is a weak football conference, wake up.
Sterling Smith
January 6th, 2010
9:24 am
Bradley (all other Tech fans): ESPN picked Iowa because they aren’t as biased as you are. Winning the ACC doesn’t make Tech a “great” team. The ACC is not a great conference and any SEC team would probably contend for the conference championship if they were in the ACC.
PJ is hailed as a GOD by you and the Tech fans because they have had 2 decent seasons in the ACC. That will still get you blown out against any other average or above SEC school and won’t guarantee a bowl victory. You’ll get the love & respect from ESPN and others AFTER you have 5 or 6 successful seasons. When you have to give your team a ring for beating UGA once every 8 or 9 years you aren’t there!
JACKETSFAN1979
January 6th, 2010
9:37 am
PAUL JOHNSON CALLED A HORRIBLE GAME LAST NIGHT. HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THIS ALL OUT RUN OFFENSE. I REALLY EXPECTED TO SEE HIM CHANGE THINGS UP MORE THAN HE DID LAST NIGHT. A LITTLE MORE PASSING EARLY ON AND 4TH AND SHORT WAS AUTOMATIC ALL YEAR LONG UNTIL LAST NIGHT, HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOING FOR THE FIRST DOWN EARLY IN THE GAME AND CONTINUED TO PLAY THE WAY THEY DID ALL SEASON LONG, ALL OR NOTHING. ANYWAY YEAH THEY LOST AND HE SUCKED LAST NIGHT, THIS LOSS IS ON HIM AND NO ONE ELSE. HE CALLED THE PLAYS AND DID A TERRIBLE JOB AT IT, WHILE KNOWING HE WAS GONNA BE FACING A TOUGH DEFENSE AND A DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR THAT SHUT HIM DOWN WHEN HE WAS COACHING AT NAVY. BUT WHATEVER, MEDIOCRITY RULES ATLANTA SPORTS, I HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT.
COACH JOHNSON–YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE SOMETHING UP FOR NEXT YEAR, AND I HOPE IT INVOLVES A QB WHO CAN PASS THE BALL AND AT LEAST A GAMEPLAN THAT PASSES 20% OF THE TIME INSTEAD OF 2%. SOME GOOD DEFENSIVE RECRUITING WOULDN’T HURT EITHER…..
hawkeye mary
January 6th, 2010
11:47 am
ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS WAY TO GO HAWKS
justin
January 6th, 2010
1:38 pm
GaBuckeyefan your an idiot UCONN is in the big east. For your other games, Tennessee is 4th in the sec VT has the same record as Clemson (and clemson played for the acc title)they were stuck behind Tech is the other division. So givin that Clemson beating Kentucky is like bragging you beat up the neighborhood retard granted UGA could not do it I would not go around bragging if we had won so the only dud would be that horrible SC team. So shut up and look at the facts before you bragging about the number 2 and 3 teams in the ACC beating some of the middle of the pack SEC teams.
justin
January 6th, 2010
1:39 pm
Oh yeah I am so tired of hearing this song o I made a remix…………
justin
January 6th, 2010
1:40 pm
Tech got all the way burnt up, all the way burnt up. ha ha