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
VJacket
June 10th, 2011
11:35 am
Tech goes 9-3 Uga goes 8-4 (Tech beats uga)
sogadog
June 10th, 2011
11:37 am
The kiss of death for the Dawgs, Bradley picks em to win the East. Just kidding, it could happen.
Mtn Dawg
June 10th, 2011
11:44 am
I like it, although Georgia will beat Florida this year, and will not lose to Miss Sate in Athens. They will finish the season in the top 10 but will lose the SEC title game.
bruce mac
June 10th, 2011
11:45 am
Never have I seen so many idiots argue over predictions. Like it matters. The only thing that is almost a certainty in college football is that UGA beats GT and that GT loses a bowl game if they luck into one, an that’’s the truth.
Coach Grohbo
June 10th, 2011
11:45 am
I agree on Tech and Georgia State (although Georgia State will give Houston a better game).
LOL again on Georgia. I know you are just playing to your base.
GA Southern
June 10th, 2011
11:47 am
Hey Mark,
GA Southern has a great football team, Can’t you comment on them also?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 10th, 2011
11:50 am
Buckeye,
Ya think Julio will? I mean he is on a team that went 13-3, a very good QB and a WR opposite of him and a TE that rank in the top 2-3 in the NFL at said positions. This doesnt even take into account the Turner. AJ is a Bengal, enough said. Where UGA fans supposed to argue that point with you,lol?
Fulmer Cup Champions 2011--Auburn Tigers
June 10th, 2011
11:51 am
Hey Buckeye…what happens to that lone win over an SEC school now that some of the players who promised to return this season to serve their suspension are not coming back? OSU has ruined it for everyone now–there will be no more suspended sentences ever. Hats off to Terrell Pryor for gaming the system almost as well as Cam Newton.
geaux tigers
June 10th, 2011
11:52 am
@SEC insider
June 10th, 2011
11:16 am
Also, the AU and LSU games were very close- MSU could just as easily have won both those games. If MSU played in the east they would go unbeaten this year in the division.
____________________________________________________________________________
LSU beat MSU 29-7 last year and it wasn’t even that close. Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne both had 2 Int’s and Drake Nevis had one as well.
MSU will be good this year but I don’t think they have what it takes to beat LSU or Bama this year.
Woodstock
June 10th, 2011
11:53 am
Way optimistic for the Dawgs and Jackets. I find it hard to believe that UGA can win those first two. Not to mention Bradley’s ability to make a decent prediction. I guess that does not bode well for the Dawgs and Jackets.
skip bayless is senile
June 10th, 2011
11:53 am
another idiot speaks
aztec
June 10th, 2011
11:53 am
well mark at least you didnt show any love to the BYU cheaters.
Fulmer Cup Champions 2011--Auburn Tigers
June 10th, 2011
11:58 am
Is it me or does CPJ look like Ed Winterstein?
doublehappiness
June 10th, 2011
12:00 pm
Disagree about UGA. I think they will start 0-2. Finish 3rd/4th in SEC east
Buckeye
June 10th, 2011
12:01 pm
Fulmer,
I’ve answered that one already…..back to 0-9. My worst nightmare. AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
I’m sure Cam’s NC and #1 pick eats Pryor up. Multi-millions guaranteed vs. likley league minimum.
What I’ve read is athletically, they’re equals but Cam has the NFL arm and Pryor doesn’t.
Buckeye
June 10th, 2011
12:02 pm
Fulmer,
I’ve ansered that one already…………..back to 0-9. My worst nightmare. AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!
Itsmeagain
June 10th, 2011
12:02 pm
I would love for GSU panthers to do that well, though I must say I think we can put up more of a fight than that with Houston
OldFan
June 10th, 2011
12:05 pm
This is always the fun part of the season. Every team’s undefeated, and no prognosticator has been proven wrong. Mark, I think you’re right on with FL beating UGA. It’s just natural law. But you’re more optimistic than I am across the board. Murray’s good, but he hasn’t proven himself yet. He may still be the kind of QB who’s better than he plays. The O-line is a huge question mark. RBs and receivers have potential, but have yet to prove it on the field. The D will be better, but also unproven, with pass defense a concern. Love the kicking game. Just hope our scores aren’t only multiples of 3. Dawgs slightly over .500 when they play Auburn, and that game will determine how the season turns out. In the end, it’s gonna be fun to watch.
Sweet Old Buck
June 10th, 2011
12:05 pm
Wanna bet that UGA wins the East?
Buckeye
June 10th, 2011
12:06 pm
Skip Bayless,
You do stink. If I’m clicking and see your mug I’m on the next channel.
Paul in RDU
June 10th, 2011
12:07 pm
UGA goes 9-3, GT goes 8-4
Penn State beats Nebraska in Happy Valley in PSU’s annual night white out game – one last Rose Bowl for JoePa before he retires.
462 JC Camp Student Center
June 10th, 2011
12:07 pm
Like the GSU pick. Like it even better that you didn’t waste your time telling us what Georgia Southern will do. I get awfully tired of hearing from them about what a great program they used to be.
Go Panthers.
UGA too scared to play Bama,LSU and Arky
June 10th, 2011
12:08 pm
6-6 season at best for UGA.
AltamahaDawg
June 10th, 2011
12:08 pm
SECInsider, are you saying Jenkins couldnt win the job, as in from his pad in Mississippi, or he can’t as in, won’t be able to, when he gets here?
Personally, I think that NG spot is going to be one of constant rotation, so not sure “winning” that job is a very appropriate standard.
Paul N Destin
June 10th, 2011
12:11 pm
UGA 8-4 at best. If you think a RB will fix your problems then fine go ahead and dream. Bama vs OU for the marbles of the Tide can take LSU at home. Ark will be a very good team as well USCe. UGA will not be the Ole Ball Coach. AU will be 6-6 or 7-5 due to new folks and a very tuff road schedule.
Joey
June 10th, 2011
12:11 pm
“…Ga will win the East because we have a better qb than SC…”
********************************************
Lordy, that’s silly. Who had the best QB in ‘07? A QB is only as good as his OL and his OC, and neither of ours are very good against good, SEC defenses. And while we don’t play LSU and Bama, we do play some defenses who gave us a rough time last season, namely, those at SC and MSU.
I see 4 losses and probably tie for 2nd in the East, and McGarity proclaiming it a “turn around year” and and adding a few years to Richt’s contract.
TAM
June 10th, 2011
12:15 pm
I think the predictions for both ugag and tech seem to be fair. I’m just ready to be watching some college football again. Maybe since I live in Dallas now I will go heckle Tony Romo from time to time in their new space station of a stadium. And yes, I am jealous that he makes more in 1 season than I might make in a life-time but whatever.. lol Anywho, THWG! muahaha
Georgia Football= 30 Years of Failure
June 10th, 2011
12:15 pm
Another Cup Cake Schedule For Georgia.
GT Fan...
June 10th, 2011
12:17 pm
GT 1-11, UGA 0-12 …… and you all know what game the ONE will be! GT Fan Out, Be’otches!
AltamahaDawg
June 10th, 2011
12:17 pm
And the Dawgs did not lose 4-5 stater on defense, they lost 3. Houston was not nearly as important as you think either. Very inconsistant. I’m betting we aren’t “JONESing” for Houston very long.
FLA ALUM
June 10th, 2011
12:18 pm
You must be high.
Uncle Dave
June 10th, 2011
12:19 pm
Bradley… lay off the Kool Aid. I love the Dawgs… but do you really think Florida is that far off? You assume an awful lot considering Georgia’s thin O-Line and the fact that Crowell has never had to pick up a zone blitz or read a blocking pattern that shifts or breaks down completely. Then there is the untested secondary… and a Junior college nose tackle who has never lined up with the big boys. I hope you are right, but I would not bet on it!
chazzo
June 10th, 2011
12:20 pm
@1eyed Jack,
That’s hilarious and so true. If Alabama loses to Auburn again, there will be moving trucks at the Saban residence, and they will go back on the coaching carousel for another five years! LOL
savannahdawg
June 10th, 2011
12:22 pm
“Shane” is the dumbass! Bradley………..Gamecocks 10-2? No way! Especially with Garcia at qb. This kid is a disaster who has too many chances but keeps screwing up. They don’t have another qb worth a crap or Gracia would already be gone! They better hope Lattimore stays healthy all year just to win 8 games!
And don’t be so quick to write off the ga/fla game. Never way never!!!
Shane……….you want to criticize, go ahead. Keep it professional “dumb ass.”
GO DAWGS.
GT Falcon
June 10th, 2011
12:26 pm
Mark,
Thank you for picking UGA to do well and GT to lose to UGA….
chazzo
June 10th, 2011
12:26 pm
The one prediction that I will make is that if he stays healthy Murray is going to make some folks eat crow.
Other thoughts: The line will be fine, maybe not stellar but fine. The O will produce without Washaun and AJ. The real issue is terribly basic and obvious. Can the O produce sustained drives, keeping the D off the field, and can the D get the ball back for the O? The key is D in the SEC!
Tech Guy
June 10th, 2011
12:26 pm
Georgia will win the SEC with 11 wins. They will lose one of their first two games but not again. Tech can 8 if the defense improves. Tech plays three weak teams, so they only have to win 4 of 9 other games to have a winning season. How’s that for being competitive?
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 10th, 2011
12:27 pm
Richt’s hammer,
I think you may have tried to hammer in a nail on a piece of rubber and it bounced off that rubber and hit you in the head. You need to get a brain scan, but make sure the water they scan doesn’t heat up too much. The ganglia that you call brain matter is easily destroyed.
Dawg H8R
June 10th, 2011
12:28 pm
Bradley,as well as the rest of dawgnayshun, is FOS.
REAL DAWGS drink POWER-aid.(kool-aid is fool-aid)
June 10th, 2011
12:28 pm
UGA goes 6-6 and the Marxism ends in 2011. The kool-aid machine will be out of business for good, and the leftist, delusional, reprobates of the fanatical moral majority fanbase will go into mourning over the loss of the man who knew what the h_ll he was doing.
UGA UGA
June 10th, 2011
12:29 pm
No one challeges UGA this year…No One
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
June 10th, 2011
12:29 pm
Will someone sell me their UGA tickets?
Playmakers!!
June 10th, 2011
12:30 pm
AU wont have a O-LINE to block, it wont matter who the QB is…
Rebel18
June 10th, 2011
12:37 pm
UGA will lose to Ole Miss in Oxford
GT Fan...
June 10th, 2011
12:37 pm
Honestly, I’ve seen some folks say things that make sense.
Like wondering how GA can win 10 and the SEC East even after losing 90 catches, 1500+ yds, 12 tds in the passing game, 800+ yds, 11 tds in the rushing game, and its best 3 defenders. Can it be done, YES (b/c games are played on the field)! Can the dogs also go 4-8, YES (b/c games are played on the field)! Don’t think they are going 10-2, but also don’t think they’ll be 4-8 either. 9 wins would be a pretty good year for the dogs.
For my Jackets …. Commit fewer than 20 TOs (27 in 2010) in 2011, and 8 wins is a minimum with 9+ pretty much a guarantee. 3 fumbles vs. GA, and 3 vs. Air Force is THE reason they lost both of those games. There’s 8 wins. TOs and kicking game hurt them pretty bad vs. Clem, NCST, and VT. Just one of those 3 = 9 wins.
TOs are 2 things:
1. part of the game
2. momentum killers!
Minimizing TOs will always put you in a better position to … Win!
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 10th, 2011
12:38 pm
GT Fan,
Care to wager on UGA going without a win. Surely you have been out in the sun, way too long today already. You will get your annual post turkey day whopping as usual.
Question for anybody who is actually on here and has some football knowledge. Did Jenkins play in a 3-4 defense at JUCO?
Mark, I am going to be as optimistic as you about UGA and Tech. although I do believe by the time UGA plays UF this year, the offense will be jelling a little better together and the defense will have proved it’s worth. Both teams have some work to do to be in contention for the SEC East, but I think UGA wins, by controlling the clock.
7 Time
June 10th, 2011
12:41 pm
I know this doesn’t compare to the big boys and no one cares because of the money, but don’t you think you should have mentioned the only team in Georgia that will win a national championship this year…….Georgia Southern…..the real GSU.
Dawg H8R
June 10th, 2011
12:41 pm
REAL DAWGS drink POWER-aid.(kool-aid is fool-aid)
Huh? I would think the Jawja fanbase would be rightwingers.Nevertheless,you’re dilusional,fanatical and ready to put out
to pasture.
Go Gamecocks.
Curtis E Flush
June 10th, 2011
12:42 pm
Dawg97 @10:06 — Mark has a new rule. You have to actually read his article before commenting on it.
Richt`s Hammer
June 10th, 2011
12:42 pm
Rocket Science,
Be nice or I will have choakdawg plummet you with krispy kreme`s, and I will use my 3 million to pay for my retirement home in Columbus, Ohio.
By the way Ohio State has contacted me and UGA to come play there. Think I will take Russ.
You wait and see. Boise State has players that can read and write. That is an unfair advantage.
Boise State 66666 Dawgs 3