Bradley’s grid picks: Tech wins eight; UGA wins the SEC East
My credo. (AJC photo by Ben Gray, doctored by Mandi Albright)
Six months ago I wouldn’t have imagined this pick, but here it is: Georgia will go 10-2 and win the SEC East. And how’s that for a snappy beginning to our annual long-range look at college football?
What changed my mind about Georgia? The Dream Team. I’m not the biggest believer in recruiting rankings, but this class rekindled a fire that, after 8-5 followed by 6-7, was down to embers.
Six months ago I saw a program that had run out of ideas. (How do you not score a touchdown against Central Florida?) Today I see a team primed to seize its opportunity. The SEC East is as rickety as it has ever been: Urban Meyer is gone from Florida, Tennessee is in flux and South Carolina’s breakthrough season — the Gamecocks finally won the division — fizzled at its end.
Georgia’s schedule sets up beautifully. The Bulldogs open against a team that figures to be ranked among the nation’s top five, but the team is Boise State (meaning: less talented than Georgia) and the game is in the Georgia Dome. The next week South Carolina comes to Athens. After winning those two games, the Bulldogs will find themselves in the Top 10.
Their two losses? Even with Florida under new management, one will come against the Gators. (One Georgia loss always comes against the Gators.) The other will come against Mississippi State even though the game is in Athens. (I’m not sure the fourth-best team in the SEC West couldn’t win the East.) As for Georgia’s opponent in the SEC title game … well, keep reading.
• Georgia Tech will tighten up on offense and defense — fewer turnovers, fewer points allowed. This will enable the Jackets to go 8-4 and finish third, behind Virginia Tech and Miami, in the ACC Coastal. They’ll miss Joshua Nesbitt but profit from a kinder schedule. They don’t play Florida State. They get North Carolina, Maryland and Clemson here, and they should win two of those. They get N.C. State, Miami, Virginia and Duke on the road, and they can win at least two of those.
• Andrew Luck, the Stanford quarterback who spurned the NFL, will win the Heisman Trophy.
• Nebraska, new to the Big Ten, will win the Big Ten (now up to 12 members). Ohio State, as you may have heard, has issues.
• With Nebraska gone and Texas in retreat, Oklahoma will tear through the Big 12 (now down to 10) and finish first in the BCS standings.
I foresee a great leap forward. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
• As big as the Georgia-Boise game is to us around here, it will pale in comparison nationally to the other neutral-site game of Sept. 3: LSU-Oregon in Arlington, Texas. LSU 34, Oregon 31.
• Boise State won’t lose after Sept. 3, but from a national perspective it won’t matter. Boise State registers only when unbeaten.
• Auburn goes from 14-0 and the BCS title to 7-5 and fifth in the SEC West. That’s unless Russell Wilson, the baseball-playing quarterback who was released from his scholarship by N. C. State, chooses the Tigers over Wisconsin. Should that happen, bump the Tigers up to 8-4 and fourth. Wilson isn’t Cam Newton, but he’s good.
• Florida State will lose to Oklahoma in Tallahassee on Sept. 17 but will run through the ACC undefeated, beating Virginia Tech in the conference title game (now housed in Charlotte).
• Florida will beat Georgia and still finish 7-5. The Gators must play Alabama and LSU. (Georgia gets neither.) The odd Will Muschamp-Charlie Weis alliance will be in tatters by Halloween.
The string of losing seasons ends at one. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
• South Carolina will go 10-2 — its other loss will be to Arkansas — and lose the division title on the head-to-head tiebreaker.
• Tennessee will finish 6-6. Its new athletic director, whoever he/she is, will not be pleased.
• Utah will win the South Division of the newly configured Pac-12. Stanford will win the North because its biggest game — Oregon on Nov. 12 — is at home. Lane Kiffin and Southern Cal will finish 7-5, if anyone still cares.
• As for the SEC West … Alabama has the better schedule, but LSU has the better team. The Tigers will lose early at Mississippi State but not again. They’ll take down Alabama, which won’t lose to anybody else, in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 5. I see LSU beating Georgia for the SEC championship and Oklahoma in the BCS title game, which will, conveniently enough, be staged in New Orleans.
• Georgia State will go 8-3. It will, however, lose 51-10 at Houston on Sept. 24. Which, when you consider the Panthers lost 63-7 at Alabama last season, will be a sign of progress.
• After the doings of this offseason — Auburn’s trees, the Fiesta Bowl follies, the fall of Jim Tressel and the weirdness at West Virginia — the games themselves will seem almost staid. Even Tech versus Georgia will be nothing special. The Bulldogs will win by two touchdowns.
By Mark Bradley
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746 comments Add your comment
Dunder
June 12th, 2011
11:36 am
Mark,
Richt ranked 6th among sec coaches by media members. interesting that you have him ranked #1 in SEC east.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/23669/ranking-the-secs-football-coaches
trooper taylor's backwards hat
June 12th, 2011
11:37 am
how many moral victories will tech have though? thats what matters to them…
Dunder
June 12th, 2011
11:38 am
Scout also ranked Richt behind Spurrier, and 6th in SEC:
http://cfn.scout.com/2/1077256.html
Dunder
June 12th, 2011
11:47 am
ESPN’s 38 panel of experts see Spurrier as a top 10 coach, Muschamp #18, and Richt didn’t make the top 25.
http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/18792/oklahoma-tops-cfb-live-preseason-poll
Dunder
June 12th, 2011
11:50 am
ESPN’s panel of experts see Georgia as 8th at best among 12 SEC teams, behind Bama, LSU, SC, Ark, MSU, Aub, Florida. In the East, see Georgia behind both SC & Florida.
http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/18792/oklahoma-tops-cfb-live-preseason-poll
trooper taylor's backwards hat
June 12th, 2011
11:53 am
nice life, dunder…
Hairy Dawg
June 12th, 2011
12:01 pm
Stop trying to hot sit Coach Richt. He more Christian and winning now that Wet Willie gone. We just needs fix Adams to supporting team for running campus. Then we wins with best team that has talents and more Christian. That why keeping Coach Richt important to returning to champs.
Sid
June 12th, 2011
12:20 pm
Boldly goes where no man has gone before.
yarddawg
June 12th, 2011
12:30 pm
Opinions are like buttholes, everybody has one. If “ifs” and “butts” were “candy” and “nuts” we’d all haave a merry christmas. GO DAWGS! Love up here at college mama, send us some damn money!
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 12th, 2011
12:37 pm
Dunder,
You could have saved half a page of blogging by posting all of your web page addresses in one post. They are just as meaningless as you are on here. UGA fans have seen them all before, and if you were smart enough to think it out, you would realize that what Yarddawg said applies perfectly to what you have just posted.
Street and Smith
June 12th, 2011
1:18 pm
UGA wins eight;
Georgia Tech wins the Atlantic Coast Conference
after skipping a year.
slippery slope
June 12th, 2011
1:21 pm
There is plenty of money on that ” HOT ” seat in Athens.
Rumbo
June 12th, 2011
1:23 pm
Mark, you expect Georgia to beat a fully loaded team coached by a guy named Spurrier? Never has happened and never will.
Tech Engineer
June 12th, 2011
1:44 pm
Will richt order an endzone taunting dance against florida this year if they score to get the team “fired up?” If not, maybe grantham can do the choking sign again to “intimidate” Florida. It should work. Tech will beat Ga this year—bet the house.
Hairy Dawg
June 12th, 2011
1:52 pm
Visor Boy is a washed up has been in Columbia. He just living off Gaytor lucky years in ’90s. It near 20 years since fun an gun started in Gainesville and now they Zooked again with traitor Muschamps and the flabby one. But the real key is chickens is chokers and Spurrier is to much grampas to fix that.
GDBurdell
June 12th, 2011
2:00 pm
tek will have 12 moral victories along with zero actual wins
Dunder
June 12th, 2011
2:08 pm
Until Richt figures out how to score more points, and finish higher than 10th in the SEC out of 12 teams against winning teams, Richt will keep losing 6 or 7 games a year. Looks like the SEC has changed to a run 1st league, using running QB’s, something Richt will never do, he’s too conservative, worked well for Tebow and Newton.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/911/team/offense/split09/category09/sort01.html
Dunder
June 12th, 2011
2:10 pm
Aub’s running 48 times a game against winning teams, to Richt’s 31.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/911/team/offense/split09/category01/sort05.html
Auburn’s rushing for 170 more yards per game against winning teams than Richt.
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2011
2:24 pm
I hope your boss doesn’t ask you for an actual opinion on something not contained in cfbstats.com, in the Monday morning meeting.
Pitbull
June 12th, 2011
2:24 pm
The Yellow Maggots will leave the ACC for Conference USA because they are too stupid to have learned anything since they left the SEC.
GIib
June 12th, 2011
2:28 pm
Tech & UGA both have the same problem, a 1 dimensional offense. Tech can’t pass, UGA can’t run, so they both went 6-7.
JP
June 12th, 2011
2:30 pm
I like Tech to have a betyter year, because they are #1 in the ACC in rushing, no one can stop them. Georgia isn’t #1 in passing or rushing, they’re not great at anything offensively.
OF
June 12th, 2011
2:32 pm
Jackets will beat the Dogs in 2012 to go 9-3. Dogs go 6-6, lose to Jackets, Broncos, Gamecocks, Bulldogs, Auburn, and Gators.
Pogo
June 12th, 2011
2:34 pm
Look for Georgia to go 6-6 again, losing to Aub, Fla, Boise, Miss St, South Car, & Tenn.
Hairy Dawg
June 12th, 2011
2:40 pm
The pestky techmites not goning have any moral victories. Any victories be immoral from cheating in the chop blocks. The bugs aint man enough to stand up and take on opposing team mono-a-mono. They gots to try the gimmickey and the chopper blocks.
GT Fan...
June 12th, 2011
3:03 pm
GA Fans … remember last preseason!? Below is EXACTLY why it can be so much fun making fun of you boneheads.
“I will call for UGA to top LY’s 8 win total as they are a prime contender in the SEC East. My main 2 sets of power ratings call them the #7 and #8 team in the NCAA.”
“If I was going to pick another one out of the stack there,” Steele said Friday on ESPN’s College Football Live, “I would have to say the Georgia Bulldogs. I think they’ve got a shot of even winning the SEC East and could VERY WELL RUN THE TABLE.”
And he’s tooting UGA’s horn again this year. Maybe he’s a “blind squirrel” ??
GT Fan...
June 12th, 2011
3:11 pm
Glib …
GT was 6-7 b/c of TURNOVERS & poor special teams play last season. Not b/c their 1-dimensional led the nation in rushing.
Cut the 3 fumbles (each) vs. GA & Airforce, and GT is 8-5. Cut the TOs and/or poor special teams play vs. NCST, Clem, and VT, and GT wins at least 1 of those for a 9-4 record, minimum!
GT was close to the top in DIV 1 last season in TOs lost with 27. That is NOT a category successful teams will ever have the most of.
It ain’t GT’s O, it very seldom will be.
GT Fan...
June 12th, 2011
3:16 pm
Gotta love Phil Steele Dawg fans ….
Remember LAST preseason??? No…let me refresh your memory:
“I will call for UGA to top LY’s 8 win total as they are a prime contender in the SEC East. My main 2 sets of power ratings call them the #7 and #8 team in the NCAA.” Phil Steele 2010 preseason
“If I was going to pick another one out of the stack there,” Steele said Friday on ESPN’s College Football Live, “I would have to say the Georgia Bulldogs. I think they’ve got a shot of even winning the SEC East and could VERY WELL RUN THE TABLE.”
He’s again showing love for your pups in 2011 – gottem ranked 9th, and even had the arrogance to say his would be the only mag to have them in its top 25! Well, he’s already wrong on that prediction. Make sure you see Athlon’s & Lindy’s.
GT Fan...
June 12th, 2011
3:19 pm
That’s EXACTLY why these mags are about as useful as your Charmin … And recruiting mags are probably worse!
@What about Damon Evans
June 12th, 2011
3:44 pm
Uh, he was fired. It will prove to have been the most positive thing to happen for the University of Georgia in many years. Only Damon Evans could have gotten rid of Damon Evans and thankfully he was up to the task.
I like Richt and I think he will turn it around and that they surprise people this year in a positive way. However, I am extremely confident in the new AD and think it is inevitable Georgia will begin consistently living up to its potential very soon, one way or another.
al.com
June 12th, 2011
4:06 pm
I love these Ga. losers who talk about Auburn. Ga. plays dirty directed by the coaches and you want to blame the national champions.What is the matter does Auburn play to hard?
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 12th, 2011
5:35 pm
al.com
How original to use an actual web address as your handle. Too bad you are not as knowlegable about sports as the actual al.com is. They do keep an eye out for you though, so be good there al. You haven’t earned the right to steal a decent web sites name and come on a blog, with your nonsense.
raymond
June 12th, 2011
5:59 pm
Do not understand the optimism about the Dawgs. All we have is a QB and the rest is unproven. Don’t see us beating SC for the East.
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2011
6:15 pm
Phil Steele has really had the tech fans all upset. They couldn’t care less where he sees GT, but they know his quotes on Georgia to be sure.
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2011
6:18 pm
Raymond, if you cannot name any other optimistic parts of the Georgia team than a QB, then do not understand is an understatement.
michael
June 12th, 2011
6:34 pm
Why are we discussing football when the GATORS are going to the World Series (again!)?
JW
June 12th, 2011
7:09 pm
FSU will surprise everyone and hand OK their only loss…
CmdenMark
June 12th, 2011
8:20 pm
You got one thing wrong on Boise,they lose another game to MWC champ and undefeated Air Force.
UGA finish’s 12-1,Saint Richt saves job with an SEC title.
D BAG TROLLS!
June 12th, 2011
8:32 pm
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU DAWG FANS AND BLOGGERS!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOU TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR SCHEDULES TO WRITE ABOUT THE GREAT DAWGS! THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE DAWGS ON YOUR BRAIN! WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME! DAWG ENVY AT IT’S BEST!
BEWARE OF THE JUNKYARDS!!!!!!!
ricky
June 12th, 2011
8:44 pm
prognosticating- a spit in a hurricane with the wind blowing it back into your face…lol…ENJOYED IT Mark! War Eagle!!!
GT Fan...
June 12th, 2011
9:58 pm
Altamahadawg … P. Steele, just like with UGA, has been wrong on GT more than he’s been correct. My point is … read the guy’s mag … it’s written very egomaniacally. When he’s correct about something he dam* sure lets you know. When he’s wrong … not so much.
Too many UGA fans read what he says and then become “delusional” assuming the Dawgs are going to “run the table” in 2010 or they will “win the SEC East” in 2011, just b/c Phil Steele (expert in his own mind) gave his opinion.
These magazines are frigin hilarious! People get so excited, then disappointed, when these “experts” predict good/great things for their team, and then those predictiions don’t come true. It’s hilarious I tell ya, hilarious.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 13th, 2011
8:41 am
Wow, a Georgia prediction ending with them winning something! Shocker! How about this for a fair prediction: UGA beats Boise, but loses to SC, FL, and TN. Write it down people. The dawgs aren’t an SEC championship caliber team.
DawginLex
June 13th, 2011
9:44 am
Neither is alabama
another 3 loss season and there better be some wheels on that statue
He will just blame the league Presidents for the 25 rule.
Dawg Trainer
June 13th, 2011
10:03 am
Tennessee 6-6? Could be if everything goes wrong. Last year, we had a stout 1st team, but no depth. This season, the depth is better, and we have a 2nd unit that is actually a true 2nd unit. Right now we have 8 O-linemen that can handle their business. If two of the incoming guys pan out, we’ll be fine on offense. Linebacker is the question mark on defense, and we could always use more depth on the D-line. I’ll be disappointed in anything worse than 7-5, but expect to contend for the SEC championship in 2012.
Deuce Coupe
June 13th, 2011
10:09 am
UGA wins eight:
Georgia Tech wins the National Championship.
ARdawg
June 13th, 2011
10:36 am
GT Fan
As is the case with ALL prognosticators. How many times week in and week out do the talking heads split who they’re picking and provide every reason under the sun ‘why’ their team will win and say it with supreme confidence. Only to see the team lose and it’s never revisited. Why would you expect Phil Steele to be any different? They make their living being right so, the right picks is all they’ll speak of later. All of them
ARdawg
June 13th, 2011
10:38 am
Arkansas will be much more stout than either LSU or Bama. Likely will win the west. *jus saying*
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 13th, 2011
10:59 am
I blame the 25 rule on you whiney UGA fans. The only thing you’ve had to hang your pitiful hat on the last few years is screaming “SEC” when another SEC team wins and then talking about how tough your conference is. You jealous, envious fans have targetted oversigned because coaches you can’t beat do it and have hurt the entire SEC. The only thing that can bring down the SEC is the SEC and you UGA fans are proving that.
Gents, by definition a powerhouse program is
June 13th, 2011
11:17 am
By definition, a college football powerhouse is defined by % wins over say 10-12, 15 years. UGA by that one definition is a powerhouse.
Another definition of a college football powerhouse are the bowl venues that the subject school attends. UGA has in the last 10 or 12 years been to about 3 Sugar Bowls, two Capital One bowls, at least one Outback.I will not count the Chic Fil A or the Weedeater or the Music City Bowl. They are not considered MAJOR MAJOR. The Cap One is a great, great venue and any program like say GT, would steal or do anything to get that bowl by default. UGA has been there about three times in 12 years. THEY DO PAY $$$$.
A powerhouse is also defined by $$$. Show me the MONEy. UGA is $$$ loaded.
Another definition is one put forth by so called TV Sports experts and last Fall, ESPN sportscasters said that the Head C job at UGA is right in there with Ohio State, Texas, Florida and Southern Cal in prestige, and facilities. Money talks and B SH walks.
Another definition of a powerhouse program is in $$$$ BRAND AWARENESS and UGA is either second or third………………….again a clear signal of a solid BIG TIME SCHOOL.
Besides, we love our alma mater, win or lose ………..clowns. Stay jealous UGA haters, we love that.
One more definition of big boy ball
June 13th, 2011
11:19 am
UGA is only 4th right behind Alabama, Southern Cal and PN State in BOWL WINS> That says it all. Bowl wins is the clear definition. WINS IN BOWLS.
Go Dogs.