SI unveils its Top 25. A tip: Don’t bother looking for Georgia
Why, even South Carolina gets a regional cover shout-out. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)
Sports Illustrated’s college football issue should be arriving in your mailbox any moment. (I’d be out checking mine as we speak if, for the first time since 1968, I hadn’t let my subscription lapse.) But for those who can’t wait, here are the highlights:
Seven SEC teams are included in SI’s Top 25. Georgia isn’t among them.
Alabama and LSU are in the top three. (The Tide is SI’s No. 1 pick, which makes sense given that the magazine declared Alabama a dynasty back in January 2010, whereupon Bama went out and finished fourth in the SEC West.) South Carolina and Arkansas are in the top 10. Mississippi State, Auburn and Florida are ranked between 21st and 25th.
Georgia is nowhere, man.
I’m not trying to suggest I’m smarter than the folks at SI. (I’m not smarter than anyone anywhere.) But I should report that I’ve been asked to compile the Top 25 for the ol’ AJC’s college football preview, and – spoiler alert! – I can attest that the Bulldogs are included. (Auburn, FYI, is not.) I have an SEC team ranked No. 1, but it’s not Alabama.
I can understand why some publications – the Sporting News is another – don’t believe Georgia will be a Top 25 team. On Jan. 1, 2011, I wouldn’t have, either. But I believe the dynamics have changed. I believe the Bulldogs will have a very big year. And I’m never wrong. Except for all those times when I am.
By Mark Bradley
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283 comments Add your comment
Counting Your Chickens
August 17th, 2011
1:39 pm
Antonie:
Hope your going to be able to deal with the disappointment of the 2011 season. When ya’ll can win 9 games twice in a decade let us know. Act like you’ve been there before!!!!!!!
DawginLex
August 17th, 2011
1:47 pm
Bard of Avon
Shouldn’t that be TARD OF AVON?
Laid off? Not quite. Try again.
Spurrier still a whiner
August 17th, 2011
1:53 pm
Not sold on Eddie Lacy, he fumbles too much and he’d rather dance with his “spin-move” than just run the ball. Over-rated.
S GA AU FAN
August 17th, 2011
1:54 pm
The swimsuit models picked the teams for the cover and they just went with all red white teams so that they matched.
5150 UOAD
August 17th, 2011
1:54 pm
play a game before you rank any team.
a fan
August 17th, 2011
1:54 pm
what?
ANTOINEFORD
August 17th, 2011
2:10 pm
Stephen Garcia could easily be a male model.
2smartjones
August 17th, 2011
2:10 pm
saban will wear the Clownsuit again this year!
Write it down!!!
ANTOINEFORD
August 17th, 2011
2:13 pm
Garcia is probably the most beautiful SEC QB since John Parker Wilson.
Alphare
August 17th, 2011
2:24 pm
Mark,
I cannot believe you have UGA ranked.
When you think of SCar, you think of Lattimore, Jeffrey, Clowney and Garcia.
Who does UGA have? Crowewll? Murray? Crowell is ranked behind BAMA’s Hart, while Murray couldn’t throw a TD against the 4th best football team in Florida.
NICK
August 17th, 2011
2:30 pm
Good. Let USC & OK have the SI Kiss of Death!
Go Dawgs!
Boise in ATL
August 17th, 2011
2:39 pm
These pre-season polls are good fodder. I think UGA is righting the ship – will be improved – but not sure how that will translate into wins.
Boise will be very good with Kellen Moore – and plays total team ball.
USCe – brings a lot back to the table
Mississippi State – was the Better team last year – no doubt about it – returning an awful lot
Florida- Like UGA – just hard to know about this team – this team was way off last year – but still better than UGA
Reports our of Athens are encouraging – new found discipline, Richt weeded the roster, new S&C, Kwame and Jenkins, athletic DB’s – second year in the system.
A hungry – and embarrased team from last year – think UGA is very very dangerous team this year.
If UGA starts out HOT – watch out – this could be one of those years where momentum just builds week to week.
If UGA losses some tough games early – this could be tough.
At minimum – UGA is 7-5 – but a much improved team – but – this team could have a monster of a year – really hard to predict UGA.
Bulldog Colonel
August 17th, 2011
2:39 pm
Great news. Nothing like “Flying under the Radar”. It does’t matter where you begin the year……it’s where you end it.
There is a different “Buzz” in Athens this year. This team seems to have some leadership, focus and HEART. The whiners are gone!
Dawgs beat Boise, SC and Florida………anything else is a bonus.
GT
August 17th, 2011
2:49 pm
No preseason polls! First rankings should come out week 5. Sorry UGA fans yall start out 0-2. There’s no way you beat Boise St.or SC. GT will beat you at the end of Nov. Start searching for a new coach
Da Truth
August 17th, 2011
2:52 pm
Polls might be junk but again if you’ve got 10 undefeated teams then whichever team is #1 usually keeps that ranking. Its good to be ranked high to start with. Rankings just don’t matter to Dawgs fans cuz they ain’t in them…
kevin
August 17th, 2011
2:53 pm
Alphare…when I think of Georgia I think of Aaron Murray, Jarvis Jones, Kwame Geathers, Alec Olgetree, brandon Smith, Dyangelo Tyson, Abry Jones, Cornelious Washington, Brandon Boykin, John Jenkins…The guys that actually win championships..Thats not including what players like damian swann and Ray Drew could bring to the table. Its all about defense…But eveyone please keep acting like our offense is crippled and will only score 3 pts a game.
Bama In Atlanta
August 17th, 2011
2:55 pm
Nice article on Murray in the Huntsville, AL newspaper. Looking forward to seeing him light it up in the dome against the Boise Blues.
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/08/sec_preview_tough_and_talented.html
Columbus
August 17th, 2011
2:55 pm
The “BEST” Gamecock team ever is going to lose to UGA between the hedges on Sept. 10th 2011.
Auburn is going to suck, Alabama is not going to be as good as the hype.
The Gators are going to have one of their worst years since the 1980’s unless they play very conservative but no matter what, they will not challenge for the East without a lot of help. Tennessee is going to be down again.
The UGA/USC game will decide the East barring significant injuries.
You can save this for the end of the year and see that I am the man.
Blackberry Cobbler
August 17th, 2011
3:01 pm
LISTEN UP FELLOW POSTERS:
I am truly excited about this year.
Either the Dawgs will win big this season or it will be CMR’s last year in Athens.
I feel good about either one. It’s a win-win.
When toe meets leather is when .............
August 17th, 2011
3:21 pm
Only when toe meets leather will any poll matter. By week # 1, we will see some movement up and down that scale. Period.
By week #2, it will continue up and down that scale.
Only around mid season do the polls matter.
ONly by bowls eason do they really matter………….conferneces are usually decided and utlitmate BCS situations. THEN, the pools matter and not until then.
As an example: If my alma mater were picked # 1 right now by 12 publications but by December picked only in the Top 25 at say, 24, what good was that slection way back in August?
I get interested by mid season usually but this one is different with BS first game in the Dome and then SC game upcoming in Athens and both supposedly, very good top 10 teams. We shall see.
UGA might open with two nice wins over BS and SC, then stumble with UT or Ole Miss and/or MSU, then win a couple, then stumble again. Polls do not matter UNTIL the end of the season.
Go Dogs.
Chili Dog
August 17th, 2011
3:26 pm
Mark,
You’re the best at playing to the dumba$$ locals.
stinger2
August 17th, 2011
3:27 pm
The SI or any other preseason poll means nothing. They are published to sell their product (magazines,newspaper,and andother media source) They also give a lot of fans something to keep themselves hyped up until the games start. If I were a UGA fan, I would care less that the Dawgs are not ranked. This will provide an incentive for the players to play smarter and harder. The Dawgs will be fine. I predict 10-2 regular season.
The FACTS
August 17th, 2011
3:33 pm
Enjoy all the jaw jacking, the UGA Football season ends, at 8:00 on 9/3, when the real football season starts for everyone else. Ya’ll win the off season every year. I just hope none of these posters went to UGA, that’d be sad.
DawginLex
August 17th, 2011
3:35 pm
Nah facts moron. The season starts at 8:00 pm on Sept 3rd.
Your troll season will end around midnight because you won’t have anything to say after we win the opener
UGA Grad 1982
OldFan
August 17th, 2011
3:36 pm
All the rankings playing down UGA are exactly what we should expect. The program’s been in a steady decline. We didn’t perform even when they had ranked us in the Top 10. Let’s earn it back on the field. There will be no greater delight than reminding these experts how badly they judged this team—-if and when these players and coaches make that happen.
DawginLex
August 17th, 2011
3:36 pm
FACTS-season starts September 3rd
Your troll life ends around midnight that same day as we win
DawginLex
August 17th, 2011
3:37 pm
Enter your comments here
JB
August 17th, 2011
3:38 pm
Where was Tech on the list. Year four coming with HIS players in place should mean nothing but upside on the flats. I don’t believe it when I read pre season 64 th and 8th overall in the ACC. I’m not buying it. Somebody gonna get punched I’m telling you.
BIRDDAWGONE
August 17th, 2011
3:43 pm
This may be the best news yet, SSI is worse than Mark Bradley at predicting college football!
Nurlman from Accountemps
August 17th, 2011
3:46 pm
Bob says the Dawgs will run wild. He was just hired by Mr Fernwell.Dawginlexx is a closet Ga Southern fan that wears red panties given to him by Damon Evans house keeper.
DawginLex
August 17th, 2011
3:52 pm
Nurlman from Accountemps
************************************
Why do all you boys refer to closets all the time?
Coming out of one maybe?
And the red panties thing-Just because you have never had a girl offer to let you see hers, don’t take it out on us normal men. OK Elton?
heeldawg
August 17th, 2011
3:58 pm
@ANTOINEFORD: Good Lord, man–you even give the usual USC delusionary thought processes a bad name!
Carolina’s still Carolina. And they have to come to Athens.
Good thing we can put you out of your psychosis early.
Snoop Dawg
August 17th, 2011
4:03 pm
Can you blame SI for not including UGA in the Top 25? After the past two seasons and after connecting the dots for the past four?
SI got taken in by da Preacha Man for several years and has gotten burned now for four years in a row? Anyone remember 2009 when they were picked as the preseason #1 team with NFL all-star talent? Remember, “Who can catch the Dawgs?” Well, my wife constantly reminds me now that it became a joke. Yes, the Georgia State Patrol can catch the Dawgs. Also the Clark County Police.
The Koolaid kids say let’s wait, it’s too early. SI is going on what the know now. If UGA surprises and wins their first two games, then that’s a good thing and the first step on the long road of public rehab of our reputation.
Until then…
The FACTS
August 17th, 2011
4:04 pm
LOL, I forgot about the UGA AD driving around Atlanta drunk with his mistress, LOL AGAIN!
Q: what’s a bigger joke uga “football tradition” or academics?
A: BOTH, LOL YET AGAIN
FBFan
August 17th, 2011
4:09 pm
Ha! Flying under the radar?????
I guess CMR has been flying under the radar for two years now. Time to pull up on the stick there coach. Personally I don’t think CMR has any fuel left in the tanks.
Tenn Volunqueer
August 17th, 2011
4:15 pm
Hey Antoinetter Ford…let me introduced you to my cousin Joe Bob Cooter…he says you have a purty mouf!!
#1bamafan
August 17th, 2011
4:29 pm
Hey MB…where did you pick the DAWGS last year? year before? I would be willing to bet you have them in about the same position this year as last year. The year before you probably had them at #1. And about BAMA finishing fourth in the WEST, they did play hard and they beat Arkansas, barely lost to LSU and gave away the Auburn game. RTR
7576DAWG
August 17th, 2011
4:31 pm
South Carolina will have a very good team , at least through the first six games , then the question will be do they have enough depth to take them the rest of the way? Boise State will have a very good year because they have a top 5 draft player in their Quarterback and they don’t have much competition other than just a few games. If Georgia is good enough , players and especially our coaches, to beat both of them we will be top 10 by the 3rd game or should be. Then if we want take for granted the weaker team but very good teams like Mississippi State, Tennessee, Auburn,and Georgia Tech , the polls will take care of themselves. If we win the first two games, Staying focused will be the hardest thing . We were 6-7 last year and just as easily could have been 10-3.
The difference this year will be the attitude on the team. senior leadership, great talent throughout the entire team and a 3-4 defense in place. The biggest question of all do our coaches have what it takes to guide these kids to the next level.
What do you expect?
August 17th, 2011
4:31 pm
With a QB who cannot see over his line and no wins as a starter over a team with a winning record.
ga gator
August 17th, 2011
4:32 pm
I would rather not be ranked and end up a top 10 team than be ranked and end up out of the top 25.
Buckeye
August 17th, 2011
4:38 pm
dogs will start 0-2
boo hoo
boo hoo
Cocks will rock the SEC Least.
CHDawg
August 17th, 2011
4:38 pm
My two cents: the Dawgs will be very strong this year, but so will the Gators and SC! I think this will be one of the stronger SEC East years in memory. All contrary to popular opinion. Being unranked really motivates our players–they have had their faces slapped and they will be keen to change opinions starting Sep 3rd! (BSU is good, too). Should be a great year…Go Dawgs!
Delbert D.
August 17th, 2011
4:41 pm
The Coaches Poll has Georgia at #23. Just for fun, let’s look at where the rumored expansion candidates are ranked:
#1 Oklahoma
#5 FSU
#8 Oklahoma St.
#9 Texas A&M
#13 Va. Tech
#21 Missouri
West Virgina would be #27 with 149 votes.
Clemson got 7 votes.
Texas was very astute in not joining the SEC for 2011; they would have 8 SEC teams ranked ahead of them.
Delbert D.
August 17th, 2011
4:46 pm
@4:31 “With a QB who cannot see over his line…”
Kellen Moore is 6′ 0″. Looks like the game will be a bunch of batted-down passes, misfires and interceptions on both sides.
What do you expect?
August 17th, 2011
4:48 pm
Delbie how about the not winning against a winning team?
ga gator
August 17th, 2011
4:50 pm
CH Dawg, I agree. The whole conference will be tough. I even expect Vandy to win most of their out of conference games with James Frankin as the new coach.
Ramma Bama
August 17th, 2011
4:57 pm
Bama’s loaded again—going for title #14. Saban’s a master.
Delbert D.
August 17th, 2011
5:26 pm
“Delbie how about the not winning against a winning team?”
Well, the cause-and-affect is hard to figure out between both of those factors. I’ll just stick with the height parameter. Either of the QBs may suffer from facing tall, athletic defenders, but they also have the advantage of hiding behind those big OL bodies and sneaking around for a receiver target when least expected. Your typical Ben Roethlisberger or Peyton Manning don’t have that kind of invisibility cloaking.
Timbo
August 17th, 2011
5:28 pm
SI never gets it right, and I’m a big Bama fan… If UGA gets past the first 2 games then I expect them to go on a really good run. The schedule sets up nice for them after the first two games. Many opportunities for the Dawgs.
jay
August 17th, 2011
5:29 pm
Mark, you didn’t mention where GT WASN”T ranked.