An ESPN-fueled buzz gathers around the Georgia Bulldogs
Isaiah Crowell hasn't played a collegiate down but casts a long shadow. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
More and more folks are thinking warm thoughts about the Georgia Bulldogs, and some of those folks work for ESPN. (Which makes their thinking significant, given that ESPN runs the part of college football Mike Slive doesn’t.) Citing cases:
• Bruce Feldman of ESPN Insider lists Georgia as his No. 8 best-value choice to win the BCS title. (Link requires registration.) Not the SEC East, not even the SEC — the BCS.
By “value,” he means getting long odds in Las Vegas on a team that has a legitimate shot. Feldman notes that Georgia opened at 40-1 to take the BCS but is down to 25-1 already. Feldman’s rationale for including UGA:
If the Dawgs were still at 40-1, they’d probably be a spot or two higher on this list. I’m on record as picking them to win the SEC East. I expect QB Aaron Murray to emerge as a star and for Isaiah Crowell, the nation’s top-rated RB recruit, and a healthy Caleb King to boost one of the SEC’s worst running games. They have talent on the defense, and it’s Year 2 in Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme.
• Esteemed former colleague Mark Schlabach, also of the worldwide leader, has Georgia rated 17th in his post-spring Top 25. That’s up one spot from his post-Signing Day ranking, but the bigger news lies elsewhere. Schlabach now places the Bulldogs ahead of South Carolina, which he drops from 15th to 19th.
See, Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia has been suspended again. Which leads us to …
• KC Joyner, also an ESPN Insider, puts Garcia’s presumed replacement Connor Shaw atop his list of shaky spring game performers. (Link requires registration.) I’m not sure how much weight should be placed on any spring game, but Joyner studied film and graded Shaw poorly.
All of which reinforces a notion that has been stirring these past couple of months: The team that finished 2010 by losing to Central Florida will enter 2011 as a team with buzz attached to it. Part of this has to do with the Dream Team. Part has to do with Georgia’s schedule: No Alabama, no LSU, no Arkansas — plus South Carolina and Mississippi State and Auburn at home. A bit of it has to do with Garcia and the Gamecocks.
Add it up, and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see the Bulldogs considered the favorite to win the East by the team SEC Media Days arrive. And I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see them actually go out and do it.
By Mark Bradley
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652 comments Add your comment
Gatorzone
May 12th, 2011
12:51 pm
Dawg Tell…”All I want is a mad and hungry team.”
So do Gator Fans.
Yellow Fuzz
May 12th, 2011
12:51 pm
DIT WIT
The last 3 games were extremely tight (unlike your last 3 with Florida-LOL).
Just be glad that last year YOU didn’t lose YOUR starting QB in the first quarter! It was very close to being “last 2 out of 3″ AH!
Yellow Fuzz
May 12th, 2011
12:53 pm
I stand corrected 89Dawg
Busted
May 12th, 2011
12:53 pm
Fuzz = BillyBob
Coach Cheesedip
May 12th, 2011
12:53 pm
Wish someone would say something about GT but hard to be excited about another LOSING Season in 2012!
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
May 12th, 2011
12:55 pm
Billy Bob Dawg and Yellow Fuzz
YOU SOUND LIKE MORONS!
There isn’t a stat for moral victories… But you can have them. I’ll keep my Ws.
Yellow Fuzz
May 12th, 2011
12:56 pm
I’m sorry for trying to pump some reality into the dog nation. Go ahead, think your team will win the SEC East, SEC and BCS National Championship game. Heck, you guys probably won’t lose again for 3 or 4 years. You are now more than just a gymnastics and equestrian college. You are GEORGIA! hahahaha….hahahaha…..hahahahahahaha
Delbert D.
May 12th, 2011
12:56 pm
For those who commented about CMR mentioning King in Greenville, he also mentioned Ealey (talking about seeing them in the Wild Dog formation.) That is odd.
DIT
May 12th, 2011
12:57 pm
@BillyBob Dawg
Very mature comment. You can have all the moral victories you want. You still have an “L” next to tech in the loss column and we still have an “L’ next to us in the loss column vs the gators. You should be more upset about that.
“The last 3 games were extremely tight (unlike your last 3 with Florida-LOL).”
I’ll play you game for this one time. Tell me this. When in the past 3 years did tech take UGA to overtime? Get a life pal. I admit FLORIDA owns UGA. That’s is a proven point. Your so juvenile that you’re too much of a coward to admit that UGA owns tech. Please, before spouting off take a quick look at the past 10 years under the won/loss coulmn. I know that tech people, if you went there, are smart people and can put the two together.
Yellow Fuzz
May 12th, 2011
12:58 pm
Fuzz = BillyBob
hahahaha. you got me there. Sadly many here would not have picked up on it if you hadn’t posted it. Good job “BUSTED”.
BigREDDAWG
May 12th, 2011
12:58 pm
All the haters are out. They hate the fact that the Dawgs have the best football tradetion ever. They hate the fact that UGA is probably the best college in the country (maybe except the ivee league schools – Harvard and Yale and Massachusts for those who don’t know them). They hate UGA because its the prettiest town and campus in the southeast or country. They hate Dawg fans because we always have so much to cheer about and all they can do is hate. So, go ahead and hate and in the fall we’ll start on the way to winning our 6th National Championship. Go DAWGS!
DIT
May 12th, 2011
12:59 pm
@Busted – Fuzz = BillyBob
No DOUBT!
BuckheadBill
May 12th, 2011
12:59 pm
And who thinks that Garcia will not start first game.
timthebrave
May 12th, 2011
12:59 pm
It’s time to stop talking about doing something and go out and DO IT
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
May 12th, 2011
12:59 pm
Yellow Fuzz
Again, go read the article. Not one Dawg fan has said we will win the BCS Championship. The fact is WE WON’T!!!!!! ESPN is clearly doing this because they are airing the game. Is that clear enough for you?
Dawg Gone
May 12th, 2011
12:59 pm
.
Dawg Gone
May 12th, 2011
12:59 pm
Fuzzy Wuzzy…really Tech coaches coach up? Your 1-9 in the last 10 try coaching down…it really can’t hurt.
DawginLex
May 12th, 2011
12:59 pm
last 3 with florida were all losses.
Last one went OT though. not exactly a beatdown as gets quoted on here all the time.
I believe we have a good shot again this year and can hopefully beat them.
no one with a brain is guaranteeing anything regarding Georgia’s season. I believe we will be better. there is no one on the schedule we can’t beat. There are also 6 potential losses.
Wonderful Ohio on the Gulf 'Dog
May 12th, 2011
12:59 pm
Delbert D.
Richt more than mentioned King, he talked King up. You don’t promote guys you know are soon to be gone.
Yellow Fuzz
May 12th, 2011
1:00 pm
Losing to georgia regardless of score is NOT a moral victory little man. But don’t kid yourself into thinking you can beat us easily. Those days are over AH! And you know it. hahahaha
DawginLex
May 12th, 2011
1:01 pm
gulf dog,
richt talked about nick Marshall running at QB some. He said Ealey and King had been there in the past. His point was that Marshall is actually a QB instead of a RB doing it.
FBFan
May 12th, 2011
1:02 pm
WOW…possible national champs! SEC champs! Please give me some of that KoolAid!
Vegas has the Dawgs chances at 50-1….the same odds as Ole Miss! You people are amazing!
Bodda Getta
May 12th, 2011
1:02 pm
A “buzz” gathers around the Georgia Bulldogs LOL.
DrDawg
May 12th, 2011
1:02 pm
I told my wife last night that we were going to win the SEC. “We’re gonna be really good this year and beat Florida.” She is still laughing. This year will be just like all the rest. Loaded with talent and lose in Jacksonville.
Dawg Gone
May 12th, 2011
1:03 pm
timthebrave great comment no talking we need to bring it on the field…period.
Yellow Fuzz
May 12th, 2011
1:03 pm
FBFan
May 12th, 2011
1:02 pm
WOW…possible national champs! SEC champs! Please give me some of that KoolAid!
Vegas has the Dawgs chances at 50-1….the same odds as Ole Miss! You people are amazing!
HAHAHAHAH. COME ON LET THE DOGS HAVE THEIR FUN. LET THEM GET LOUD AND PROUD AND BARK DOWN AT PEOPLE BEFORE ANY GAMES GET PLAYED (like the last 3 years-hahahahahahahah)
DawginLex
May 12th, 2011
1:05 pm
Folks I can tell you from experience about fighting with a pig.
He drags you into the mud and stink and even though you win the fight, you are still arguing with a pig and end up smelling just like him.
Saint Simons
May 12th, 2011
1:05 pm
HAHAHAHAH. COME ON LET THE DOGS HAVE THEIR FUN. LET THEM GET LOUD AND PROUD AND BARK DOWN AT PEOPLE BEFORE ANY GAMES GET PLAYED (like the last 3 years-hahahahahahahah).
((((((((((((((( hahahahaahahahaha )))))))))))))))
Jekyll Island
May 12th, 2011
1:06 pm
Let the nerd herd tell us how great Tech is going to be, lead the nation in rushing, beat UGA and win the A SHE SHE only to once again lose 5 or 6 games, including to Georgia .
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
May 12th, 2011
1:06 pm
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
We
May 12th, 2011
1:07 pm
@DawginLex
Best post of the afternoon!
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 12th, 2011
1:09 pm
Was this article in reference to the Fulmer Cup? ‘Cause I’ll take those odds!!!
GeoffDawg
May 12th, 2011
1:09 pm
Yellow Fuzz, are you actually hanging your hat on how close the last three games have been? Wow, that is a major inferiority complex. Seek therapy.
flavorflav
May 12th, 2011
1:09 pm
Sept. 3, 2011 Boise State Loss
Sept. 10, 2011 South Carolina Loss
Sept. 17, 2011 Coastal Carolina Win
Sept. 24, 2011 at Ole Miss Win
Oct. 1, 2011 Miss. State Win
Oct. 8, 2011 at Tennessee Loss
Oct. 15, 2011 at Vanderbilt Winn
Oct. 29, 2011 Florida Loss
Nov. 5, 2011 New Mexico St. Win
Nov. 12, 2011 Auburn Loss
Nov. 19, 2011 Kentucky Win
Nov. 26, 2011 at Georgia Tech Win
Doubt any 5 loss teams will be playing in the BCS NC Game this year. Sorry guys. Georiga will get all hyped up again but the absolute best they will be out of the gate is 1-1 if they can stumble on a way to beat Boise. You know they always loose to FL
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 12th, 2011
1:09 pm
You think a thrilling victory against Hawaii would have run its course by now…
DawginLex
May 12th, 2011
1:10 pm
Awbarn’s got 80 points and has already wrapped up the Fulmer Cup for 2011. don’t worry though, some bama players can still tip over some trailers with people inside and catch up…………..
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 12th, 2011
1:10 pm
What is it, like 17 out of 21 or something like that? Embarrasing!
joe
May 12th, 2011
1:11 pm
Sounds like that knee injury Bigreddawg got while playing ball in Cobb County has affected his brain.
flavorflav
May 12th, 2011
1:11 pm
ha that would be funny. Every team that beats Hawaii in their bowl game gets ranked preseason no 1. Its as flawless as the BCS
DawginLex
May 12th, 2011
1:11 pm
how do you “loose” to florida?
Is that like unbuttoning your pants so your belly doesn’t pinch?
Must have gone to UT
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 12th, 2011
1:12 pm
For such unrealistic expectations, I am struggling why the third best recruiting class in the conference would be the “Dream Team.”
flavorflav
May 12th, 2011
1:12 pm
sorry daginlex you have done it so much you definately dont have to worry about spelling it correctly. *TYPO
Dawg Gone
May 12th, 2011
1:13 pm
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it…really you think your bunch will finish better than 4th in the West this year??
DawginLex
May 12th, 2011
1:13 pm
I’m wondering how all you bammers are going to react when the self annoninted national champions for the 2nd year in a row lose 3 or more games, finish 4th in the West and get passed by Arkansas for the SEc title.
DawginLex
May 12th, 2011
1:13 pm
Nah flavorflav, you are just too stupid to spell
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 12th, 2011
1:13 pm
What part of the uniform will Richt change for the Boise game in order to motivate his thrilling cast of underachievers?
Bodda Getta
May 12th, 2011
1:14 pm
Because again, reality will awake this Georgia team from its dream.
Lucy, its almost time to tee up the football again.
GeoffDawg
May 12th, 2011
1:14 pm
Tide is rolling, you clearly have OCD for Georgia. I have absolutely no clue who Alabama played in a bowl game four years ago.
Yellow Fuzz
May 12th, 2011
1:14 pm
GeoffDawg
May 12th, 2011
1:09 pm
Yellow Fuzz, are you actually hanging your hat on how close the last three games have been? Wow, that is a major inferiority complex. Seek therapy.
Not hanging my hat on it little man. Just reminding you that you are not Alabama or Florida that’s all. In my opinion you are not a whole lot better than Vandy (a team you used to trash talk as well). Keep crowing. I love to watch you eat it later on these boards.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 12th, 2011
1:14 pm
You have the blueprint Dawgs. You could be a powerhouse like Kentucky if you gave up all this National Title stuff in football and went to basketball.