College football 2010: Georgia wins nine, Tech loses four
Washaun Ealey's Bulldogs will again run this state. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
It’s time — actually, it’s a week past due — for our annual Memorial Day college football predictions, and I begin with a word in my defense: I actually got a few things right the last time around. I said Georgia Tech would go 10-2 and win the ACC, which it did. I said Georgia would lose four games, inducing many among you to cast aspersions; the Bulldogs actually lost five games. Against that cheery backdrop, we begin:
• Georgia will go 9-3 but will finish third in the SEC East. Todd Grantham represents an upgrade. Given time, Aaron Murray will represent an upgrade. Thing is, the Bulldogs’ second game is in Columbia, and that seems a bridge too far. (More precisely, a bridge too soon.) The guess is that Georgia will be rolling come November, but that Sept. 11 loss — and one the next week against Arkansas in Athens — will keep the Bulldogs from a true breakthrough.
• Georgia’s true breakthrough? That comes in 2011.
• South Carolina will likewise lose three SEC games. It will shade Georgia in the East standings on the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Gamecocks will lose to Auburn, Alabama and Florida.
• Florida will go 11-1 because of a remarkably kind schedule. The Gators play four road games: Two against teams (Tennessee and Florida State) with new coaches and one against Vanderbilt. The Gators will lose in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 2, but they’ll see Alabama again.
• Florida will beat Alabama for the SEC title. Just one of my dumb hunches. Like the one that told me Texas would beat the Tide for the BCS crown. And the Longhorns would have except for Mack Brown’s SHOVEL PASS! (Don’t get me started.) (Alas, too late.)
• Don’t get me wrong: Alabama will be outstanding. But I recall the 2008 BCS titlist going undefeated in the regular season and losing beneath the Georgia Dome. I don’t believe the Tide in 2010 will be any better than the Gators were in 2009. And I do believe it’s tough to go through the SEC unbeaten twice in succession.
• Florida will beat a Big Ten representative for the BCS title. I’m tempted to pick the Big Ten rep, but I’ve seen that game before. I know how it ends.
• The Big Ten rep will not be Ohio State. It will be Iowa. Ask Paul Johnson about the Hawkeyes.
• Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy. Whoops. Force of habit. Case Keenum — Houston QB — will win the Heisman Trophy.
• Boise State will go 11-1 but will be remembered for the “1,” not the “11.” The Broncos play Virginia Tech in Washington D.C. on Sept. 6. That’s a Labor Day “L.”
• The ACC Coastal will be the nation’s toughest division. There’s not a great team therein, but there are four good ones. Miami will be the disappointment. North Carolina will be the surprise. Virginia Tech will win the division. And Georgia Tech …
• … will finish third. I yield to no one in my esteem for Joshua Nesbitt, who had a busy offseason. (He had surgery and added two vowels to his first name.) But I cannot believe a team that bid adieu to four NFL draftees early will be quite as good. (Didn’t Georgia suffer a bit without Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno?) The Jackets will lose three road conference games: At North Carolina, at Clemson, at Virginia Tech.
• Florida State will win the ACC Atlantic. By default.
• Under Derek Dooley, Tennessee will win its final four games. The Vols will, however, lose six of their first eight.
• Southern Cal will finish fifth in the Pac-10. Lane Kiffin: Money for nothing and quips for free.
• Georgia will beat Georgia Tech. A.J. Green will catch the winning touchdown pass from Murray with 41 seconds remaining. The score will be 27-24. Paul Johnson will suppress the urge to punch somebody in the face.
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668 comments Add your comment
Joe Fan
June 4th, 2010
11:56 am
UGA will win more than it lost in 2009 but by only one game. The jury is still out on the new DC. Let him prove himself before calling it an upgrade. GT will loose a couple but don’t believe they will drop 4. They are still a couple of years away but with a significant upgrade at DC and building depth along the lines they will make a run at the NC years before UGA.
JoeMac
June 4th, 2010
11:56 am
I would like to nominate Chris as the MOST DELUSIONAL af all the mutt-a-holics. Either that, or I want to get some of what he is smoking. I sometimes might get a little far fetched, but Chris, my man, you are giving mutt fans a new hero for delusions.
My girlfriend is a hardcore UGA fan, and she is telling me that 8 wins would be a really good season. In her honest opinion she sees 7-5 as their record. I feel their record will be worse than the Jackets, as CPJ is reloading this season with the best group of running backs in the state including one of the top rated QB’s in the nation (per most every national publication a top 10 choice), and a defense that will be much better than anticipated. But… that is why they play the games, isn’t it. I guess we will have to wait and see what happens.
Ike
June 4th, 2010
11:56 am
If John Brantley’s so good, why isn’t anyone pikcing Florida to finish #1 in the nation?
RIG
June 4th, 2010
11:59 am
The 3-4 defense Grantham taught Alabama made Meyer’s spread look like a high school offense, oh, it is.
Jammer Tyme
June 4th, 2010
12:01 pm
I think people are under-estimating Georgia’s:
O-Line
QB Depth
Offensive Skill positions
New Defensive staff
Special teams
No one’s gonna be able to stop these guys.
TomB
June 4th, 2010
12:04 pm
Will Clemson really be good enough to beat Tech? Tech has some decent replaceable parts, but just how does Clemson replace Ford and Spiller? Sorry but I don’t see this one.
Will
June 4th, 2010
12:05 pm
Coming Bradley, using Ga Tech & Georgia in the same sentance?
Is Ga Tech on any accurate precitor’s top 20 pre-season ranking? Athlon? Phil Steele?
Tech doesn’t even finish in the top 10.
Goergia owns the top 10 over last decade.
ArkyTech
June 4th, 2010
12:10 pm
This Tech fan is not worried at all. Two of the players we lost were on defense, and our defense CANNOT be worse than last year. So until someone stops our offense (and the Doggies haven’t come close), I expect to win ever game barring excessive turnovers. At least until someone besides #9 is taking snaps.
private plane watching
June 4th, 2010
12:15 pm
Hey Will– I love the “Goergia owns the top 10 over last decade” statement. First learn how to spell your team’s name. Second, you are a joke! Another UGAY fan stating we rule in the top 25 polls. Win a BIG game or shut up!
gdawginkalamazoo
June 4th, 2010
12:16 pm
Alabama Jack, adding Alabama to your name indicates a single digit IQ.
Daniel
June 4th, 2010
12:16 pm
What exactly is a precitor, Will? And I guess if Phil Steele or Athlon says it, it must be true.
JoeMac
June 4th, 2010
12:18 pm
Jammer, unless I have missed something, the mutts have NO QB depth. They have 2 that have NEVER WALKED ON THE FIELD DURING A REAL COLLEGE GAME, and another that has that the coaches do not have any confidence in….. and new defensive staff???? What have they shown so far?? If you said nothing, then you are absolutely correct.
In these posts, I have seen the following in many…. IF THIS HAPPENS, OR IF THAT HAPPENS the mutts will be this great team capable of winning championships. You know back in 2007, IF the mutts had beaten a mediocre SC or IF they had beaten Tennessee, they would have had a chance to play LSU and IF they could have won that, they might have had their chance to play for the NC. In actuality, this season in filled with question marks and alot of inexperienced players and coachs in key positions. Quit putting the cart before the horse and GET A GRIP!!!
Game of the Century
June 4th, 2010
12:20 pm
45-42 my friend, 45-42. A magical time.
Jammer Tyme
June 4th, 2010
12:20 pm
Don’t you wish Richt could say this:
Andy Staples, SI Reporter:
“Coach Richt, what do you think about your name being linked to hotseat?”
Mark Richt:
“Do the numbers 7-6-9 mean anything to you. That’s my wining %”
Andy Staples:
“But some say you’ve really struggle don 1 on 1 match-ups”
Mark Richt:
“Meyer’s 0-2 vs. Auburn, do your homework kid”
Andy Staples:
“But you didn’t finish ranked in 2009, arn’t you concerned?”
Mark Richt:
“4 top 10 finishes in a row kid in the SEC. 6 top 10 finishes at Georgia, 13 top 10 finishes in my 16 years. Do some research and see if you can find another coach who’s done that. Next question?”
Andy Staples:
“Uhhh, nooo, uhhhh, I’ve gotta go to the bathroom”
Tris89
June 4th, 2010
12:21 pm
Georgia’s true breakthrough? That comes in 2011.
Unlikely even in 2011. Why? Coaching. Mark Richt is simply not in the same league with coaches like Saban, Meyer, Miles, and Spurrier, and he never will be. Year after year, Richt recruits a top 10 class, but things never seem to come together. UGA is very unlikely to win the division, much less the SEC championship until They fire Richt and bring in a coach who can win in the SEC.
And until that happens, we’ll be having the “hotseat” arguments every year.
A safe prediction: this year, Florida will once again stomp the dawgs with its hobnailed boots. The score:
Florida – 38
Georgia – 17
Joey
June 4th, 2010
12:22 pm
Right, Mark, UGA’s true breakthrough will come in 2011, with a new OC, and with Grantham’s D fully installed. Can’t wait.
Nope
June 4th, 2010
12:23 pm
I agree….Kind of.. Think UGA loses 4 though. They wil get their customary/yearly thrashing from my Gators. Will lose to UT or UK. Will lose to GT or Auburn. Finally, I’m saying this be the year that SC beats them. That makes four losses. 4 losses is pretty good considering the team is made of 5 or 6 loss talent. So, 8-4 would be a plus.
Will
June 4th, 2010
12:23 pm
‘pREDICTOR’ SON, use your noggin’; this ain’t an engelish klass okay? tis a sport’s blog. comprehende?
82 Dawg
June 4th, 2010
12:24 pm
Tris89 …you have been drinking to much swamp water
chop
June 4th, 2010
12:25 pm
why is columbia such a road block? it’s always a good game there, but we tend to get the job done.
Ollie
June 4th, 2010
12:26 pm
No way that UGA wins nine games in regular season this year or in 2011. UGA finds too many ways to screw up, and half the starters will have been arrested and suspended before or during the season.
Whatever, it keeps the Athens bail bondsmen in work.
Paul The Vol
June 4th, 2010
12:28 pm
For once I don’t have a big disagreement with your football predictions. However, this year I am more interested in your college basketball predictions, which should generate a lot of discussion – especially your opinions on Kentucky (which will be in the first year of the post-Calapari era) and North Carolina.
dawgfan
June 4th, 2010
12:29 pm
Want to hear a funny joke? Georgia Tech and national championship in the same sentence. That is freaking hysterical.
Are you nerds off your damn rockers with this national title talk? You haven’t won a damn bowl game in 5 years, not even with that genius Mannboobs on the sidelines. Your best team in 18 flippin years lost to a 6-5 Georgia. Then you go beat an 8-4 team for an All Crap Conference title and think a national title is the logical next step? No, the logical next step is for your overrated azzes to beat someone of note outside of the ACC and do it consistantly. Do that and we all stop laughing directly in your face every time you start talking a big game about national titles. Right now you’re just a big poser that thinks you’re ready for primetime because you beat 8-4 Clemson and took Wake Forest to overtime. Do you think you’ll be facing 8-4 teams in the BCSCG like you did in the farcical ACCCG? Do you nerds have any idea what a Florida, Bama, or Texas would have done to your candy azzes last year? Any idea at all? Heck, Bama could have probably let Mt. Cody handle your sissy undersized O-line by himself and let the rest of the defense handle the edges. It would have been brutal. And yet here you sit running your ignorant mouths about playing for a national title one day. Simply unbelievable. It shocks the conscience how painfully stupid Tech fans can be.
Manboobs doesn’t have any interest in national titles anyway. You can just tell. Despite all his tough talk in the press, he’s not a gamer. The way he was chunking the ball down field at the end of the Georgia game, what was that? He already had his mind on 8-4 Clemson. He knows that if he beats Georgia only once in a blue moon and wins the ACC every now and then he’ll get the freaking stadium named after him. That’s how pathetically low the standards are. National Championship? If he had any interest in that he wouldn’t have taken a job with a program that hasn’t won a major bowl game in 50 years. Someone told me yesterday that he turned down an offer from Auburn. If true (always a big IF whenever something comes out of the mouth of a Tech fan), why would he do that? Auburn plays in the SEC. The SEC has a stellar reputation, big exposure, and big money. He could showcase his wonderful offense on national television in big games against teams like LSU and…Oh wait nevermind. I just answered my own question. Big Mouth is SCARED. If he can’t even stay on the field with LSU at the Dome imagine what they would do to his chubby azz at Tiger Stadium.
Georgia Tech is a joke.
Jammer Tyme
June 4th, 2010
12:32 pm
Excuse me, UGA has no QB depth?
Let’s see, we got 2 Elite 11 QB’s, and a Parade All-American.
2 guys who both threw over 80 td’s in 2 years.
Find 5 other teams in the country that can say that right now.
CW
June 4th, 2010
12:32 pm
LOL AT TECH FANS!!!! Apparently the only way they can beat UGA is through Mark Bradley predictions. LMAO!!! Yall suck! Dawgs own you. Always have, always will!
82 Dawg
June 4th, 2010
12:32 pm
Delusional JB …why would you want Willie back you were 1-5 against him? your odds were not good.
RB
June 4th, 2010
12:36 pm
The Georgia Tech vs Virginia Tech game will determine who goes to the ACC Championship game to play FSU. The game is at night in Blacksburg, not good for Ga Tech fans. Clemson will be the ACC’s HUGE disappointment again in 2010. Especially, if Kyle Parker is drafted high next week in the MBL draft.
Mark – yes Ga Tech lost four players to the NFL, but installing a more stable 3-4 and the addition of the 2009 injured players will cancel out the defensive losses. On offense, Paul Johnson is always going to score points. The only thing he must do is to continue to build size and depth on the o-line, so Tech can beat the larger hogs up front more consistantly.
Tech 10-2
LLOYD CHRISTMAS
June 4th, 2010
12:36 pm
I’m going to file this right next to your Troy Glaus blows article.
Joey
June 4th, 2010
12:36 pm
Tris89, look, the only thing that hasn’t “come together” for Richt is that in his 3 big years, 2002, 2005, and 2007, we didn’t get voted into the BCS Championship Game. We UGA fans are well aware that Meyer has won two titles at UF, deservedly so, because the Gators had excellent teams those seasons. There just were not two other undefeated teams in the Gators’ NC seasons as in ‘02 and ‘05.
59bulldawg
June 4th, 2010
12:38 pm
The key to the season will be how well they play against SC and Arkansas. If they come out flat the first few weeks and not playing hard and/or executing, (as they often do early), it could be a long season. But on the other hand the sooner they begin playing hard and executing together as a unit, the quicker their confidence will grow and increase their chances of winning 9+ games. I don’t think they will lose to both SC and Arkansas and they very well could win both as long as they establish the run before getting pass happy. But man what I’d give to see some rock solid, GATA, push ‘em back, Junkyard Dawg defense. I hear Russ likes BBQ . . . and they’re serving chicken in week two and pork in week three. Let the Big Dawg eat!
What?
June 4th, 2010
12:38 pm
Gerry O, what have you been inhaling?
AltamahaDawg
June 4th, 2010
12:38 pm
So how long after that NC game does Meyer become the official spokeperson for Nexium? And will they change the color from purple to orange under his contract?
Go Jackets
June 4th, 2010
12:38 pm
Tech owns Clemson. I mean really owns Clemson. Look at the record since 2007.
There’s no reason to think that a Clemson team without CJ Spiller, Jacoby Ford, and likely Kyle Parker will be able to touch Tech. CJ Spiller was awesome, but he was literally the entire team. Clemson could be an absolute train wreck this year.
Joey
June 4th, 2010
12:41 pm
Delusional JB, “fool Johnson once…..” Who is delusional? One missed tackle in ‘08 by Reshad Jones or Richt would be 10-0 vs Tech! And Willie is gone, son. Jeez.
Winnie the Pooh
June 4th, 2010
12:41 pm
Regardless of what UGA officialdom may say, Richt is very much on the “hotseat.”
He simply does not and can not win the big conference games, especially against the Gators. They’ve already given Richt too much time to deliver. Better to cut their losses now and dump Richt and go after a winning coach. They’re out there, it just takes some looking to find a good young coach who’s ready to make a name for himself.
2010 regular season record: 7-5 or 8-4, but certainly no better. So much for the vaunted “Dream Team.”
Not Disappointed
June 4th, 2010
12:42 pm
You’re been drinking again Mark. Tech repeat ACC Champions and beat my brother’s beloved dawgs. Ramblin Wreck!
Joey
June 4th, 2010
12:45 pm
Yeah, Winnie, and your fat-assed coach gags in bowl games, so don’t forget to count that automatic loss for ‘10.
Sandy Myzer
June 4th, 2010
12:48 pm
It’s kind of sad to see all the Dawg fans getting so excited this year (just like the year before, the year before that, etc.). How long is it going to take for UGA fans to realize that UGA is simply no longer relevant in the SEC? In the national picture, UGA isn’t even a blip on the radar, and hasn’t
been since the preseason #1 ranking two years ago.
Sit back and be grateful for the seven or eight wins you’ll get every year. Coaching genius Mark Richt may take you to 10-2 or even 11-1 occasionally, but Florida will still win the SEC, meaning no BCS bowls and no top 15 final ranking. Most years, UGA will be very lucky to finish in the top 25, and only after a big bowl win over a nobody opponent.
It’s a different world now, and Dawg fans, like FSU and Ole Miss fans, need to adjust their expectations downward to reflect reality.
Unfortunately nothing is going to change until UGA changes its mediocre coaching. That’s where the difference is, and that’s why everyone outside Bulldog Nation just laughs at Dawg fans getting so excited year after year about what a great recruiting class UGA gets. It doesn’t matter how many
blue chip high school plays go to UGA, they simply don’t get the coaching they would get at Florida or Alabama, to name two schools whose programs are far ahead of UGA. And that’s not going to change as long as Mark Richt is in Athens.
Get your heads out of the sand and face reality. And mediocrity and irrelevance.
By the way, how many UGA players have been arrested so far this year?
bitter DA'trick rogersnance
June 4th, 2010
12:49 pm
tennersa may lose 6 butt not me, i rule the game and i will have a great season, to hell with big orange and that stupid mutt smokey, i will transfer to so-cal and me and thugnificent my man lane kiffen will scoo pointts in L.A. (not lower alabama necks) i will be all he/she bitter tennersa fan sistar be 245 with big thighs lots of hair yaha. piece out dog dodo fans, and to all you a/ole in calhoun ga su—k this, stop throwing bricks at me everytime i go to class, its only once a week. cool
JB
June 4th, 2010
12:51 pm
Mark, there is no way clemson beats tech without parker and that kid is gone after the mlb draft because he will be taken in the first 5-7 rounds is what is being said. He is gone from clemson and they will lose 5 games. Sorry, you are dead wrong and GT owns clemson…5-1 in last 6 games and GT has CPJ and they have coach dabo!
The UNC game and VT game will be tough but who knows. Tech will not miss a beat on offense mark and if AL GROH can do what people think he can( the man coached a super bowl defense)…Tech may go 11-1! If tech beats UNC (by the way, has a terrible offense) then they will be 7-0 going to clemson and make that 8-0 after clemson! Miami and VT are the 2 toughest games at the end and i can see a loss between the 2 but not both. CPJ beats CMR again in athens by 10.
UGA WILL NOT WIN 9 GAMES. THEY WILL LOSE TO USC, MALLET WILL THROW FOR 500 YARDS IN AN ARK WIN, GATORS WILL BEAT THEM TO DEATH YET AGAIN (18 OF LAST 21) THEN AUBURN WILL BEAT THE DAWGS AND I SEE MISS ST BEING A POSSIBLE LOSS ALSO. GT wins this game in athens hands down. They will never beat CPJ 2 times in a row. BANK ON IT!!!
bitter sandy myzer
June 4th, 2010
12:52 pm
im a idiot, please slap me, i no noithing about football, florida sux
Winnie the Pooh
June 4th, 2010
12:52 pm
Hey, Joey, you talking about Nick Saban?
Why don’t you go swig some more kool aid.
76-Dawg
June 4th, 2010
12:57 pm
The South Carolina game will tell a lot.If UGA loses or barely wins then I think UGA will lose to Auburn and Florida with toss up games at Arkansas. So 3 maybe 4 loses. If UGA beats South Carolina and there is no doubt who the better team was and UGA can get by Auburn they could go undefeated or at worst only have 1 lose, which would be Florida. UGA will beat Arkansas as long as they blitz all day. Make Mallet hurry his throws and Arkansas want be a problem.
Mark Bradley
June 4th, 2010
12:57 pm
First year of the post-Calipari era? I laughed at that one, Paul the Vol.
RB
June 4th, 2010
12:58 pm
@ JOEY – Come on man, “one missed tackle”??? I get the fact that UGA has had a great run of wins during recent history, but give me a break!! Oh wait here is your “ONE MISSED TACKLE”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QdbSb6xdVM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLlAAkUYZ1Y&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGxwDo2VqyM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZVnjgconcs&feature=related
Oh and here is one tackle that WAS NOT MISSED!! RIP Knowshow Mareno
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO5iGBEaGHQ&feature=related
Don’t blame me, you brought up this game, not me
PMC
June 4th, 2010
12:58 pm
Why are people putting faith in South Carolina? They haven’t had an offensive line worth a crap since slobbering Lou left.
Really? South Carolina? Awesome WR in Alshon Jeffery. Excellent running backs this year. Should have a good defense. Offensive line… suspect. QB…. um… yeah let us know when that guy finally lives up to potential.
Mark Bradley
June 4th, 2010
1:00 pm
I’ll admit that counting on the Gamecocks is never a great idea, PMC. But it has to happen sometime, doesn’t it?
82 Dawg
June 4th, 2010
1:01 pm
Sandy Myzer …something is burning in the kitchen you need to see about
harold
June 4th, 2010
1:04 pm
GEORGIA IS AVERAGE FOOTBALL PROGRAM COMPARED TO ALABAMA AND FLORIDA! GEORGIA GOES DOWN AGAIN.6-6.IT MAY BE TIME FOR RICHT TO GO!
RabidDawg
June 4th, 2010
1:11 pm
To be honest, I would be some what satisfied with a 9-3 record considering we are breaking in a brand new QB in the SEC, a brand new defensive scheme and 3 new defensive coaches. The players still have a lot to learn and if we can find a way to learn it before the season starts then that would be awesome. I don’t think Grantham is going to fully unleash the defense until the South Carolina game. We can beat UL-Lafayette by simply running the football and just barely opening up our defensive packages. It’ll be sort of like G-Day execpt a “little” more intensified.
The only way we lose to South Carolina is if our O-Line can’t open holes and the RBs forget how to run the football. That’s going to be the key in Columbia. Running the football and let the O-Line completely take over. Sort of the gameplan against Tech last season. Run the damn ball and we will win! Simple as that. Expect Grantham to unleash Justin Houston and CO. on Garcia.
Arkansas, that will be a tough one. Mallett is considered the top QB in the SEC and for good reason. The guy has phenomonal size and he can fit the ball into the tightest windows. It will be a big test. But the only way to keep him off the field is to run the football. Smack Arkansas’ defensive line around and set the tempo from the start. Our defense will need to be ready because Mallett will be slingin’ passes left and right and we better be prepared to stop it.
Hopefully we beat both of these teams, but if I had to choose between which one will be the toughest and we’re most likely to lose to, it’s obviously South Carolina. In Columbia, our QB’s first real SEC competition, our defense finally being let loose completely, etc. If we can get by them, I think Arkansas should be handled fairly easy.