Bradley’s Buzz: For 2010, SI has Tech 8th, UGA 22nd
Will Georgia again outrun the Yellow Jackets in 2010? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
You’ll never guess who’s No. 1 in SI.com’s college football power rankings for 2010. Actually, you will. Alabama is the easy choice, same as Florida was easy in preseason 2009. (And who was preseason No. 1 in 2008? Why, Georgia.) But the top spot isn’t why we’re here. It’s to focus on the locals, both of which appear in Andy Staples’ Top 25.
Georgia Tech is No. 8. Georgia is No. 22. I’d say that’s too high for the former, about right for the latter.
I reserve the right to amend my opinion in light of developments — if, say, either one finds a defensive coordinator, or if Herschel Walker forgoes his MMA dreams to reclaim that fourth year of collegiate eligibility — but I’d say, as of Jan. 14, 2010, that Tech will dip slightly in 2010 and Georgia will rise a bit.
My take on Tech: It won’t be bad on offense — quoth Paul Johnson: “I’d be stunned if our B-back doesn’t gain 1,000 yards next season” — but Demaryius Thomas is the irreplaceable part, not Jonathan Dwyer. Given the nature of his offense, Johnson isn’t apt to find another receiver half as good as Bay-Bay. (Johnson inherited Thomas, it must be noted, from Chan Gailey.)
The defense will surely benefit from a new coordinator, but not many defenses can lose its two most gifted players and spike upward in production. Through these long-range lenses, I can see Tech winning nine games next season and finishing second to Virginia Tech in the ACC Coastal.
One word of caution, however: The Coastal is going to be tough. Three other teams are included in Mr. Staples’ rankings: Virginia Tech at No. 9, Miami at No. 14 and North Carolina at No. 18. And the Jackets must play two of the three on the road.
As for Georgia: I could see the Bulldogs winning nine games if things break right. The offense could be terrific if Georgia finds a quarterback. One note: The past two times Mark Richt has entered a season with a new quarterback, his teams have finished 9-4 and 8-5. And I’m thinking Aaron Murray (or Logan Grey, or Zach Mettenberger) won’t quite have the impact Matthew Stafford did at the end of 2006.
Loading ...The defense lost a big-timer in Rennie Curran, but Marcus Dowtin should fill that tackling-machine role. At issue is how fast the new coordinator, assuming Georgia finds one, can make a difference. My guess: Soon, but not overnight.
Mr. Staples has only one SEC team rated above Georgia in the SEC East: Florida is No. 11. Only two SEC West teams are in the Top 25 — LSU is the other, at No. 23 — and Georgia doesn’t play either. If Richt can find the right quarterback and the right coordinator, the door is open. But I, as suggested in yesterday’s post that was loved by one and all, see South Carolina as the team primed to give the Gators the hardest run.
Oh, and if you’re wondering which team will win at Sanford Stadium on Nov. 27, here’s your final score:
Georgia 27, Tech 24.
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584 comments Add your comment
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
9:58 pm
Wow CBB1. Love your history lessons. Too bad your beloved SEC has 4 ranked teams, and the ACC has FIVE. 5. According to SI, the SEC is not as good. LOL. How dare they!
Thanks for the SEC history lessons. Sad that UGA fans have to ride the coattails of the superior SEC teams. What’s sad is, 3 different SEC teams have won NCs. UGA is not one of them. LOL.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
9:58 pm
yes, you dont grin. just smirk
Harry the Hat
January 14th, 2010
9:59 pm
GA might finish 22nd, but only if they fire that Richt guy now. Maybe in the top 50 if they keep him.
Gen Neyland
January 14th, 2010
9:59 pm
No sih. in mah day, the ladies didnt take to spoats
Mike Oxbig
January 14th, 2010
9:59 pm
Bradley-you must have been drunk writing the ‘SC article’ yesterday, b/c it appears you sobered up and wrote something that makes more sense now. Probably right w/ UGA’s 22-ish…if ACC still its usual weak-a$$ self next year then i guess GT could find there way into the top 20.
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
10:00 pm
What’s sad is, 3 different SEC teams have won NCs THIS DECADE. UGA is not one of them. LOL
DirtyDawg
January 14th, 2010
10:01 pm
Bradley…nice start, don’t you think?…If you want to do something worthwhile, and constructive, how’s about lobbying with the Sports Council, Gary Stokan, Chick Fil-A, whoever, to have them land a USC/Tennessee match-up for that kick-off game they’re so antsy about. It would seem to me that UT would absolutely cream over the opportunity – sell the place out by themselves – and as for USC, if Lame Lane won’t go along with the deal, then at least he’ll have wimped out in front of God and everybody…along with the entire PAC-Few.
Gator Growl
January 14th, 2010
10:01 pm
Hey GT Joe,
OK, go back only 19 years to 1990 when you guys won the NC. How many times have you beaten UGA? FIVE!!! That is a 26% winning percentage. Anyway you slice it and dice it, we OWN you and you KNOW it.
So you are saying that Florida owns UGA?
Mike Oxbig
January 14th, 2010
10:01 pm
Gen Neyland-please get off this blog talking about girls’ bball. WTF?? This blog for sports fans only…
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
10:02 pm
Wow. Preseason 8th. Imagine if we played in that weak a$$ SEC East! Top 3 easy!
ACC Coastal with 4 ranked teams, tough. SEC East, 2 ranked teams, CAKE.
Gen Neyland
January 14th, 2010
10:02 pm
i beg to diffa sih, red shirtin aint what it used to be when me and the beah ruled college football
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
10:02 pm
Florida RUNS UGA. RUNS.
private plane watching
January 14th, 2010
10:03 pm
How about those lady Gym Dawgs!
Not Disappointed
January 14th, 2010
10:03 pm
Thank you for picking Georga.
Go Jackets! I loved the way you picked that game over the last two years.
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
10:03 pm
Florida OWNS UGA. I hear Florida has to pay property tax in Athens…
Bo
January 14th, 2010
10:04 pm
Mark is predicting 2006 all over again. That could very well be the way it all shakes out. I’m sure the Tech fans will be happy to play in another ACC championship game…UGA gets the win though. I guess Reggie Ball is going back for Grad School.
GA was actually pretty good that year. The O-line really let us down and I never felt like the Lumpkin-Ware-Brown rotation worked to it’s potential. However, the defense was still respectable and we had some pretty good skill guys.
I think there is reason to expect the O-line to play better in 2010 than they did in ‘06. Searels was billed as the best offensive line coach in the SEC and the linemen definately have some playng time under their belts. If they can stay healthy, we might have a pretty good group.
I also think 2 running backs are better than 3. It never seemed like any of the backs could get hot when Coach Richt alternated a series between Lumpkin, Brown & Ware. A good running back gets better over the course of a game and it never seemed like any one back got a chance to take over a game.
We’ll see about 2010. I’m optimistic even with a freshman QB. A good Defensive Coordinator could make a world of difference right away. I see atheletes all over the field. It just looks like guys are out of position and the arm tackles have got to go…Those things seem like coaching issues to me.
I really hate to root for Brett Favre but if Grantham is the guy, it’d be great to have him making calls to recruits next week.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:04 pm
Mark, would you please tell my wife to get off this blog! this is guys only!
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
10:06 pm
Willie, and you wonder why we never had kids
Mark Bradley
January 14th, 2010
10:06 pm
I liked the dragon effort. But is it still a limerick of it’s to the tune of a song?
UA Alum92
January 14th, 2010
10:07 pm
Thanks CBB1. Good luck to the Dawgs AND the Jackets next year! The South is obviously the cradle of college football and we need to remain strong to continue to shut up those PAC 10 and Big 10(11) posers. I’m obviously a third party in your fight, but I think UGA and GT need each other to be strong programs simply for the thrill in beating them and the national recognition that comes with it. I hope Auburn goes undefeated until we play them every year.
Gen Neyland
January 14th, 2010
10:07 pm
Mike Oxbig : There you go, getting my alter-ego imposer riled up. Now you’ve done it, boy. BTW Mikey. First time I’ve seen you post. Got anything other than ’stupid’..?—My apologies, MB. I’ll leave now so the ‘civil’ ones can discuss Ladies Football…
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
10:09 pm
‘Ramblin ‘Reck is a limerick with an Irish tune….right?
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:12 pm
no, but its still creative.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:13 pm
i doubt if many bloggers new that song
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:14 pm
in these days we must be creative, not putetative
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:14 pm
honey, Mark said exit the blog.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:16 pm
we dont have any kids cause you’re always on this dadgum blog.
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
10:16 pm
OK, good night and have fun.
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
10:17 pm
Well……I never. I’m going shopping!
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:18 pm
i think i blew some kid away cause i knew his uncle
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:19 pm
dont hurry. i cancelled your visa card
heywood...
January 14th, 2010
10:19 pm
willie martinez is not a jerk,
he just likes to make bradley work,
if just once he would give it a rest,
for his blogs are not the best,
bradley would consider it a perk.
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
10:20 pm
But I’ve got six others, so ………
UA Alum92
January 14th, 2010
10:20 pm
OK, gentlemen. Going to bed. Enjoy the debate. Roll Tide!
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:21 pm
Mark, Frog One is in that room.
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
10:23 pm
Little Willie Martinez,
with a thirst for gore,
stapled his sister to the door,
“Now Willie”, his mother said with humor quaint,
“Don’t do that, you’ll scratch the paint”.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:24 pm
honey, they’re all cancelled.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:25 pm
Mark, would you please explain the structure of a limerick?
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:26 pm
to my wife whom i adore
you’re really becoming a bore
mark said vamoose
you silly goose
and if you dont
i’ll show you the door
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
10:27 pm
Not the ones I took from your wallet
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:28 pm
maybe its time for bed
enough already’s been said
no cause for sorrow
i’ll join you tommorow
or maybe later instead
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:29 pm
honey, if you look closely, damon evans’ picture is on those cards, so no good.
Should have, Could have, Would have
January 14th, 2010
10:29 pm
” In either season , one more TD in the florida game in 2002 or another TD in 2007 against South Carolna and we could’ve played for a National championship.”
Another Dawg Fan reaching huh? Maybe in 2007 instead of beating Bama 23-20 in overtime Bama beats UGA or maybe in the 20-17 win over powerhouse Vandy they squeak out a W. We could play the “If” game or the “just one more touchdown” game all day
Coach Groh
January 14th, 2010
10:29 pm
So, what’s the current news about me and Tech in Atlanta?
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:30 pm
ok
lane is a real dragon
to usc he took his red wagon nothing else rhymes in my mind
heywood...
January 14th, 2010
10:32 pm
i vote for 2mrw.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:33 pm
lane said knox get the maps
the vols are all just saps
we’ll take pa monte
and uncork aste spumonte
and make the trojans run laps
Pushkin
January 14th, 2010
10:35 pm
I don’t like the Dawgs
And I certainly don’t like the Hogs
I’m from Texas and I like the Frogs
If I WERE from that part of the South
I’d have to learn to run my mouth
Cause in order to be a Dawg,
You gotta bark even when you blawg.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:36 pm
i outlasted em all
the others took the fall
but whats past is past
not a thing does last
and now life’s a pall
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
10:38 pm
Mark, there’s nothing like influence, is there?