Even if Brantley starts for the Gators, Georgia’s still favored
Yes, here's that picture of John Brantley again. No, I couldn't find a better one. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
The Vegas folks waited a while before posting a line on Georgia-Florida because they wanted to see if Florida quarterback John Brantley is apt to play. On Monday, the Gators classified Brantley as “probable.” And Georgia has been made a three-point favorite.
Which makes you wonder: If Brantley had been listed as “doubtful” or even “questionable,” would Georgia be a seven-point favorite?
There’s no doubt Brantley makes some difference for the Gators. Florida was 4-0 and had taken an early lead on Alabama — which admittedly didn’t last long — the night he suffered his “lower leg” injury. They’ve scored a total of 17 points in two games since.
Brantley has been better under Charlie Weis than he was last season. Had he thrown enough passes to qualify, he’d be second in the SEC in passer-efficiency rating behind Jarrett Lee of LSU. (Brantley’s at 152.6; Georgia’s Aaron Murray is at 150.3.) But I don’t know that Brantley is a Tebow or a Wuerffel or even a Kerwin Bell or a Rex Grossman. He’s a good college quarterback. His presence will give Florida a fighting chance. That said …
Alec Ogletree will return at linebacker for Georgia. That’s a pretty big deal in itself.
Oh, and if you care to chart an intriguing bit of line movement, watch what’s happening with Georgia Tech and Clemson. The Tigers opened as a 4 1/2-point road favorite. They’re now favored by 3 1/2 points, which means: Some speculators out there like the Jackets’ chances.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
304 comments Add your comment
LHarding Dawg
October 26th, 2011
3:41 pm
Leaving in the morning for Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Bulldog Club is meeting tomorrow night at the Omni Motel at the Landings. All Dogs are invited.
Sure would like for us to be able to use our 3 timeouts at the very end of the game!
Chris Snow
October 26th, 2011
3:45 pm
“Poor redzone offense” should at least = a given 3 points, but that hasn’t been the case this year.
LOL!
October 26th, 2011
3:49 pm
It is funny to see how many of you don’t know the first damn thing about football! UGA is much more tallented that UF. If the game is coached right, UGA wins it easily. Geez, some of you need to find a band or cheerleading vent. With Brantley healthy, UF scores no more than 13 on the Dawgs D. Without him, could very well be a shutout. If we get away from that conservative bullcrap, we score 31.
LOL!
October 26th, 2011
3:51 pm
By the way, beginning with the 2nd half, it will be the first time the Dawgs D has been complete this season. UF will do well to gain 100 yards offense.
Chris Snow
October 26th, 2011
3:59 pm
I like where you head is at LOL, but UGA is no Bama or LSU!
1eyedJack
October 26th, 2011
3:59 pm
I’m thinking victory. We’ve been getting our @$$es kicked in Jacksonville for soooooo long that our number is bound to come up.
LHarding Dawg
October 26th, 2011
4:05 pm
Enter your comments here
tim
October 26th, 2011
4:14 pm
I’ll give you dogs this years game..you should win, and probably will win, but don’t start that crap about how much better you are and all that other BS…if you win this year remember it will only be your 4th win in the last 21 years, and next year will be a whole different story. I personally think the Gators have a better chance without Brantley…he’s never impressed me and he’s always been soft…that coming from a life long Gator
Chris Snow
October 26th, 2011
4:17 pm
Oh Tim you know we’ll have to bask in the glory for at least a little while IF we win.
Having said that, I think that UGA will be even better next year. But certainly not looking past Saturday, just wish it would hurry up and get here.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 26th, 2011
4:20 pm
No excuses losing to FL this year
Absolutley none
LHarding Dawg
October 26th, 2011
4:20 pm
Stories in the Orlando Senital say that two Florida players have left the team this week, Gerald Christian and Robert Clark. There is also another story that indicates dominique Easley might not play because of some legal issues that involve an altercation after the Auburn game.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 26th, 2011
4:21 pm
Absolutely
LOL!
October 26th, 2011
4:24 pm
Pretty obvious to me were not Bama or LSU. Never implied that. We are, however, the 3rd best in the SEC. Expecting with 9 returning on each side for next year to be the year we compete with anyone.
Chris Snow
October 26th, 2011
4:28 pm
All I know is Fla was rolling pretty strong (#12th in the nation I think?) before the Bama game. Now they get their QB back, just don’t think it’ll be a cake walk as you implied in your earlier post. But I have faith we can get the job done! Just have to tighten up on special teams, which JUST about cost us the game in Nashville and did cost us the game against SC.
Murphy
October 26th, 2011
4:31 pm
Tim,
I agree with your comments about us gloating if we win.We do need to string a couple of Gator beating together so we can do so..Alot of the Gator nation I speak with want Driskoll in there to get him ready for next year.This kid is going to be great before to long.Dont know how old you are but way back when it was an annual UGA victory in JAX just like you Gators are enjoying now.It all comes back around in time.Just hope its our time for real this year.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 26th, 2011
4:32 pm
LOL!
Dont expect that unless our Offensive Coordinator attends classes on how to and when to, call certain plays
Defense I will say Im optimistic about for next season
Murphy
October 26th, 2011
4:35 pm
Flat Tire,
Amen to that. All I hear is BOBO;s offensive averages alot of points.He might but it only takes 2 or 3 of his bonehead play calls to fail and we lose.He doesnt make good halftime adjustments at all.
Gator Stomp
October 26th, 2011
4:36 pm
“It is funny to see how many of you don’t know the first damn thing about football! UGA is much more tallented that UF. If the game is coached right, UGA wins it easily. Geez, some of you need to find a band or cheerleading vent. With Brantley healthy, UF scores no more than 13 on the Dawgs D. Without him, could very well be a shutout. If we get away from that conservative bullcrap, we score 31.”
A shut out? Mr. Football knowitall doesn’t seem to realize that the SEC teams UGA has played have a combined record of 1-15 in conference play. Anyone playing those teams will look good. UF has played 3 teams better than anyone UGA has faced so far. Two of which, are destroying everyone they play.
Good luck, Dawgs. The Gators haven’t fed in 3 games, and they’re hungry.
19 out of 21
October 26th, 2011
4:41 pm
49-10…41-17….34-31
LOL!
October 26th, 2011
4:41 pm
Hell with the gators
LOL!
October 26th, 2011
4:42 pm
@19 out of 21.
The discussion was about this years game. Is that all you got?
Murphy
October 26th, 2011
4:43 pm
Gator Stomp,
UGA is much more talented than UF? How is that? And we dont know football? Other than the QB position and 2 defensive linemen where is UGA more talented?
Boca Baby
October 26th, 2011
4:43 pm
Up until now Clemson hasn’t been Clemson. As a good omen to Tech, that just might happen Saturday. On the other hand, neither has Florida been Florida. Unfortunately, for the Dawgs, that just might happen as well.
Fleming Island Dawg
October 26th, 2011
4:45 pm
So how are the SEC teams Florida beat dioing?
Fleming Island Dawg
October 26th, 2011
4:45 pm
Doing
ARdawg
October 26th, 2011
4:46 pm
Gator Stomp
You know that repeated over and over stat of 1-15 conference is bullkaka and useless as a stat. If that is all you have please STFU
LOL!
October 26th, 2011
4:47 pm
Who in the hell has florida beat?
ARdawg
October 26th, 2011
4:47 pm
Florida keeps getting all those 5 star recruits and I just don’t know what keeps happening to them
Chris Snow
October 26th, 2011
4:48 pm
Murphy, “LOL” actually made the comment about FL being more talented, Gator Stomp just had their comment in quotes.
harold
October 26th, 2011
4:48 pm
UGA 3-18 AGAINST THE MIGHTY GATORS. RICHT HAS ONLY TWO WINS BUT UGA BEATS A POOR FLORIDA TEAM WITH EASE 31-17!
tim
October 26th, 2011
4:49 pm
Murphy….I go way back to those days when us Gators were dog meat every year..I’ll be sitting in the same seat I was sitting in the day Lindsey Scott broke the collective Gator hearts….back in the Cowboy and Moonpie days..boy they were some great dogs…..I’m thinking a lot of us want Driscoll in there, but I think Brissset will be better in the long run.
Chris Snow
October 26th, 2011
4:50 pm
Murray has yet to win the “big” game, let’s hope that changes on Saturday.
19 out of 21
October 26th, 2011
4:50 pm
Who the hell has GA beat?
Murphy
October 26th, 2011
4:53 pm
tim,
Ive watched Driscoll play for a couple years and Im very impressed with him.Brisset I dont know much about. Funny you mentioned RUN LINDSEY RUN-That was my first UGA/UF game and I was sitting in the endzone where Buck launched the pass from.WOW what a day that was.! Moonpie Wilson was a classic. Those were great times.Good luck to you on Sat.
Chris Snow
October 26th, 2011
4:54 pm
Pretty much the only opponent either team has beat is TN. And that isn’t saying very much at all.
Toad Grantham
October 26th, 2011
4:56 pm
I’m gonna be lookin for the smallest guy on FLA’s team, so I can beat him up.
Murphy
October 26th, 2011
4:56 pm
Gator Stomp,
My apologies-I read your post to fast.Thanks for the help Chris Snow.
Badgerina
October 26th, 2011
4:56 pm
This is the only weekend I will pull for Tech. Please beat that overrated Clemson.
LOL!
October 26th, 2011
4:58 pm
We for dang shore gonna beat the hell out of florida. Go get your mullet shaped up and shut up.
Murphy
October 26th, 2011
4:59 pm
Florida is way to talented and have way to good of a coaching staff to not play well on Saturday and pull out a win. Dont over estimate the Gators.
LOL!
October 26th, 2011
5:00 pm
Tech gonna get hammered. I’m gonna laugh again.
gators are going down
October 26th, 2011
5:05 pm
Abnerish and you don’t think is a BIG BIG game for UGA too and an emotional boost they are playing for a coach they so much, TAKE YOUR FLA crap and go… UGA knows how much this mean with or without their Silly QB they NO D and we do!
thsi is the DAWGS year.
ARdawg
October 26th, 2011
5:06 pm
Murphy
I think FL is still looking for identity and a leader. Brantley isn’t it unless they are playing cupcakes. Hopefully they don’t find one Saturday either
OkieDawg
October 26th, 2011
5:12 pm
Wonder what happens to all those great athletes Florida recruits? They leave the program. Remember the great class of 2010? Here’s a run down of guys who have left the GatorNation.
Chris Martin 5*
Chris Dunkley 5*
Robert Clark 3*
Gerald Christian 4*
Jordan Hayden 4*
Johnathan Dowling 4*
Michael McFarland 4*
They become disenchanted with the program. Gotta keep draining the swamp.
gators are going down
October 26th, 2011
5:13 pm
Brantley something is fishy about this whole thing WILL has never been the one to come out and yes they are playing yes they are not! I really don’t think Brantley is going to play I think it mind games with him and if Brantley is going to play he is playing hurt and UGA will get after him and more then likely hurt him again.
B'dawg
October 26th, 2011
5:19 pm
The time has come for one and all,
to pull for our boys of fall.
Some for the dawg’ some for the gator
But Ive got to say,Im a lizard hater.
From the first kick of the pigskin
the dawgs send the gators of the field a limpin’
I know I should be wary, but somehow Im not.
Because this year is different, gators dont have shot.
When Murray hits Mitchell across the middle
the defense will be playing their fiddles.
A toss sweep to Crowell, 5, 10, 15
Mushchamp will sreaming “What the hell”
When we cross the goaline, heading to the river
them wore down gators will start to quiver.
And soon it will be over as quick as it begun,
their headed for the exits, the gators are done.
Im gald this is over, oh how the time flew
LETS GO DAWGS AND FINISH 10-2!!!
DAWGS 26-21
gators are going down
October 26th, 2011
5:22 pm
Gators are a LOSING TEAM TOO DAWGS WILL HAVE CRAZY DAY WITH THIER D
B'dawg
October 26th, 2011
5:24 pm
Im not a poet
but I wrote it.
Aubie
October 26th, 2011
5:26 pm
Florida and Georgia have a rivalry like a hammer and a nail have a rivalry.
tim
October 26th, 2011
5:29 pm
B’dawg……..that is pretty funny