Glass-half-full dept.: How UGA might still win the SEC East
"Over? Nothing's over until we SAY it's over! Who's with me?" (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Having spent the week hammering Mark Richt and Georgia, doing everything from crunching numbers to imagining the worst that could happen, it seems only fair to offer a corresponding best-case-scenario. Here goes:
The Bulldogs could win the SEC East.
I know, I know. They haven’t yet won a conference game, and they surely won’t be favored to beat either Florida or Auburn. (And Kentucky looks like a toss-up.) But it’s conceivable Georgia could finish 5-3 in the SEC, and that might — might, I said — enable them to take the division. Here’s how it would work:
Step 1: Georgia wins out. (Duh.)
Step 2: South Carolina, which has already beaten Georgia and lost to Auburn, loses to Alabama on Saturday, to Arkansas on Nov. 6 and to Florida the week after.
Step 3: Florida, which has lost to Alabama, loses to LSU on Saturday and to Georgia on Oct. 30.
That would leave Georgia and Florida at 5-3 in league play, with Georgia holding the tiebreaker because of its head-to-head victory, and South Carolina at 4-4. (At this early date there seems no sense in discussing how a three-way tie might be broken. Nor does there seem a need to assume any of the above will lose to Vanderbilt.)
Among the things Georgia had going for it this season was this basic bit of logistics: It wasn’t scheduled to play Alabama, and both Florida and South Carolina were. That still holds. And Georgia does get the three Eastern lesser lights — Tennessee, Vandy and Kentucky — in a row. (So does South Carolina, but two of those games are on the road. The Bulldogs get both the Vols and Commodores in Athens.)
There’s a chance Georgia could go to Jacksonville at 3-3 in league play, and if you get to 3-3 there’s at least a mathematical possibility of finishing 5-3. And 5-3 might just win the division, provided South Carolina finishes 4-4. Which could yet happen.
Understand: I didn’t pick Georgia to win the East — I picked UGA third, behind Florida and being shaded for second by South Carolina — and I’m not picking it now. But if I’m going to imagine the horror that might be unleashed if the Bulldogs lose to Derek Dooley’s team, I might as well be even-handed. As lousy as this season has been, there’s still a chance something really good could come of it.
A chance, I said. A chance.
(Oh, and if Georgia loses Saturday, forget I mentioned this.)
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647 comments Add your comment
Bud
October 7th, 2010
8:57 am
Hey Dogs Lick Balls…. Don’t try it , that dog will bite you!
JB
October 7th, 2010
8:57 am
I’m really worried about the safety of some of our players the rest of the year. #1. Murray being protected by “shoulder bump blocks” and #2. little 5′7″ 160 lb. Carlton Thomas running off tackle 25+ times a game…..These guys could really get hurt.
joe
October 7th, 2010
8:58 am
yea, and Obama will win the white house again in 2012…not gonna happen.
GMAN
October 7th, 2010
8:59 am
That scenario would’ve been even more realistic if we’d beaten Miss St. We didn’t (not really that close). If we find a way to lose to UT we can figure out the same scenario next week but it will involve Vandy winning out. Fun, aint it!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
October 7th, 2010
8:59 am
Phil- that was funny.
Mark, tell me you laughed all through the article as you typed it. I laughed as I read it and I love the Dawgs, but they have shown nothing to prove that they could beat this weeks opponent much less win out. Thanks though for attempting the positive spin!
Yellow Fuzz
October 7th, 2010
9:00 am
Smokley-She’s a blonde but she’s not my wife yet
Reality Stinks-How’s YOUR offense looking and what does it feel like to have your team’s “signature win” this season come against Louisiana Laffayette?
Hahahahaha
Ron Roberts
October 7th, 2010
9:01 am
Mark, I think a column on NEXT year’s schedule is worth writing. I think it’s easier than THIS year’s schedule, frankly, and with an experienced QB and a defense more used to it’s base defense… why not us?
http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/m-footbl-sched-2011.html
SadDawg
October 7th, 2010
9:01 am
It’s amazing to me the number of Alabama fans that flock to a UGA article or blog to laugh, or mock our team’s situation.
I mean, it’s not enough that y’all have the best team in the country and what a 19 game winning streak? That doesn’t satisfy you guys? You still need to rub somebody’s face in it?
Did UGA fans go to your blogs and hammer y’all when, just 3 short years ago you got beat by LA-Monroe? Or just two years ago when you embarrassed the whole SEC by getting shellacked by Utah? Or the whole decade before ‘08, when Bama just stunk?
Congrats, over and over! You’ve got the best coach, the best team, the best 2-year record, and probably won’t lose a game this whole season. I pulled for Bama against UF and Texas last season, but some of you arrogant SOBs are making it hard for me to do it anymore.
DAWGS LICK BALLS!
October 7th, 2010
9:02 am
Bud, step away from the pipe. Im sure athens has a great rehab program, heck they have to, right?
Yellow Fuzz
October 7th, 2010
9:02 am
Come on mighty dog nation, let me have it before I have to go to class.
GA Born BAMA fan
October 7th, 2010
9:02 am
Dream on Mark. HOWEVER if the dogs do get to the SEC game it will be Bama 62- UGA 3
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL
dawgfacedboy
October 7th, 2010
9:02 am
Can I buy some of whatever Bradley is smoking? It’s gotta be the good stuff!!!!
JB
October 7th, 2010
9:04 am
Go to ‘bleachersreport.com’ this morning and go to College football section and then click on Georgia and read the stories ALREADY WRITTEN about list of Possibles to replace Richt and then a story about IF Richt stays, who should replace Bobo……..Interesting……The whole world of national writers is looking at this train wreck and assuming a change….. In the REAL world, people lose jobs over this….
SadDawg
October 7th, 2010
9:04 am
Don’t be so sure, Joe.
I see where 10 states have reported that they have over 160,000 dead folks registered for early voting. ACORN (under another name) is hard at work . . .
DAWGS LICK BALLS!
October 7th, 2010
9:05 am
Bud might be able to sell you something to smoke mark………..just sayin
Bud
October 7th, 2010
9:05 am
Hey Dogs Lick Balls, that’s what happened when Lane Kiffin tried it with Smokey.
JB
October 7th, 2010
9:06 am
what time does the Bus pick you up Fuzz….and what size plastic helmet do you wear ?
Reality Stinks
October 7th, 2010
9:06 am
Yellow Fuzz
And what was your signature win again, oh thats right Wake High school with 20 seconds left on the clock
It took Richt 10 yrs to get to this sorry position but Paul Johnson only 3
Have fun in class
Yellow Fuzz
October 7th, 2010
9:08 am
dawgfacedboy
October 7th, 2010
9:02 am
Can I buy some of whatever Bradley is smoking? It’s gotta be the good stuff!!!!
Heard Mark is rolling and smoking the powdered Koolaid that Bill King, Tim Tucker and Chip Wannabee created for the dog nation. You can only “drink” so much of the stuff.
joe
October 7th, 2010
9:09 am
@ Saddawg…If true, not surprised by that one bit…
Sautee Dawg
October 7th, 2010
9:10 am
SanDiegoJacket
THWGT!! Go back to Kansas.
Smokey
October 7th, 2010
9:10 am
Yellow Fuzz, Tell her I said thanks, she’ll understand.
Yellow Fuzz
October 7th, 2010
9:10 am
Reality stinks:
At least we can find a way to win close games. Your team seems to be struggling with that.
JB
October 7th, 2010
9:10 am
The “looks” on Paul Johnson’s face during games this year have been priceless….Why do I watch you ask? Same reason people stop and stare at a wreck on the interstate.
Reality Stinks
October 7th, 2010
9:12 am
Come on Yellow Fuzzy
Lets here about your National Title and conference championship hopes.
I really feel Nesbitty can win the heisman with a 39% completion avg
Johnson needs to go back to those 5 yd dump passes to inflate those numbers again to get him back in the race
JB
October 7th, 2010
9:12 am
Fuzz, but Kansas…….really Fuzz……….Kansas…….Beats the GREATEST COACH IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL………..LOL………………KANSAS ??????
Yellow Fuzz
October 7th, 2010
9:13 am
Smokey:
I just told her and she said to call you “little man”, that you would understand?
Big Dawg
October 7th, 2010
9:13 am
1 win
1 pair of red panties
1 delusional, hilarious theory
1 ticked off fan base
10 arrests
47 excuses
$2.8 million in salary
Worthless……
Montgomery Burns
October 7th, 2010
9:13 am
HAHAHAHAH.
Thanks for the morning laugh, Mark.
SadDawg
October 7th, 2010
9:14 am
Mark, get that smile off of your face!
Yellow Fuzz
October 7th, 2010
9:15 am
If UGA is 1-10 going against GT we will still get beat by UGA. GT just stinks this year.
http://www.fireCPJ.com
WDE
October 7th, 2010
9:15 am
Haha Mark, this is tricky. You’re just being cruel to the puppies now.
Reality Stinks
October 7th, 2010
9:15 am
A last second win against Wake, you lost to Power house NC State who is known for all those national titles, and Kansas wow, I just know they will always be in the hunt for a national title every yr in football
BLAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
JB
October 7th, 2010
9:15 am
Gailey’s boys almost all gone………I bet Carver of Columbus could score 24 on you guys….
It’s all down hill from here…..Johnson First two classes ranked in the 40’s…………Gonna take NASA to coach that bunch up…..LOL
Tide Detergent
October 7th, 2010
9:16 am
LOL, delusional Tech fans still think their team doesn’t suck, but the rest of the country knows that you do.
Smokey
October 7th, 2010
9:16 am
So she does remember. It’s the motion of the ocean, not the size of the boat..
Gen Neyland
October 7th, 2010
9:17 am
SadDawg : I’d like the finger dipped in ink theory to be put in place if we can’t come to terms with any other method to fix things. And when some dude shows up at the polls with a finger freshly missing, cut off his welfare to boot…
MURPHY : Okay. UT 23 UGA 22 and that’s my final answer…
Yellow Fuzz
October 7th, 2010
9:17 am
I’d rather talk about how bad you are going to beat us between the hedges next month. Hahahaha. I know you AH’s were very vocal before we played there last time (at least until half time). And then I didn’t hear too much from you for a few months. Hahahahahaha.
((((((((((((((((((((((((( 45-42 ))))))))))))))))))))))))) hahahahahahaha
Yellow Fuzz
October 7th, 2010
9:19 am
Smokey
October 7th, 2010
9:16 am
So she does remember. It’s the motion of the ocean, not the size of the boat..
Hahahaha. She said “keep telling yourself that little man”. Hahahaha
Dawg Gummit
October 7th, 2010
9:19 am
All the fans from other teams like to kick someone else when they are down. An understatement of the year to say that things do not look good. Also remember that 2006 looked bad, the Dawgs lost either 4 or 5 games in a row, gave up 50 points to Tennessee, lost to Vandy and at the end of the year turned things around with 4 big wins. Not saying it will happen but we have just got to win the next game. Take it one game at a time and make it to UF game at 4-4 and see what happens. Confidence is a wildcard in sports and if the Dawgs can get some who knows what will happen.
BiGock
October 7th, 2010
9:19 am
I think Richt needs to stick to recruiting because that’s what he has the skills to do. Bring in 4 and 5-Star players. There’s no doubt that he’s good at recruiting. Take a look at this list:
- 5-STAR QB
- 5-STAR WR
- 4-STAR RBs
- 4-STAR TE
- 4-STAR OLs
- 4-STAR DLs
- 4-STAR LBs
- 5-STAR DB
Let’s leave the other stuff (LIKE COACHING) to other teams in the SEC.
Yellow Fuzz's girl friend
October 7th, 2010
9:20 am
He HAS one……. News to me……….
WDE
October 7th, 2010
9:20 am
Why is Reality Stinks talking trash? No UGA fan should even argue anything until Mark’s above scenario happens (aka, never)
MURPHY
October 7th, 2010
9:20 am
Gen Neyland,
I picked UT to beat LSU last week,and they should have. I see a physical,no quit attitude,with a fiery coach eager to show the nation he belongs in the SEC. Ive told you this before,UT is not as bad as others think.Maybe a little lacking on talent but they play with great purpose.I say u line it up and run it right at us.I say UT will out physical us. I see it being UT 28 UGA 13. Dooley will win a few games this year that UT isnt expected to.Last week should have been one of them!
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 7th, 2010
9:20 am
With this mascot situation in such a mess there is not much likelihood of UGA winning the SEC. That inbred, overweight, oversized heart, weak bladdered, slobbering, toothless, white a$$ed, 3-eared mascot will do them no good. They also have some challenges on the line of scrimmage.
Reality Stinks
October 7th, 2010
9:20 am
30-24
And who was vocal at the half at your stadium?
Oh yea UGA fans because there were only 58 Tech fans compared to the 54,000 UGA fans at your Bubba Dump Stadium
The Greatest Game Ever Played
October 7th, 2010
9:21 am
Between the Hedges, November 2008: 45-42!!!!!!!!
JP
October 7th, 2010
9:22 am
I am a Gator fan, and I think anything is possible. SC will probably lose to Alabama Saturday, and Florida is no lock against LSU this wekeend. Heck, we may have more bad snaps than rushing yards this weekend. Good luck Dawgs.
Reality Stinks
October 7th, 2010
9:23 am
WDE
Who’s talking trash, Im not, Im just responding to the local idiot from North Ave
If you have a problem with it hot shot go find another blog
Lowcountry Bulldawg
October 7th, 2010
9:24 am
Tech blog- up since 10 last night 24 comments
UGA blog- up since 7 this morning 136 comments
Quick flashback, remember the weeks after the beatdown UGA gave Tech last season? Tech fans could not be found on this blog. Those were the days.
Your beatdown is coming soon enough and then once again you can return to the trees from which you came out from under.