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
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304 comments Add your comment
ARdawg
October 26th, 2011
5:37 pm
Aubie
Thats pretty rich coming from a Nerd. How does 1-9 grab you?
GA Sandlapper
October 26th, 2011
5:58 pm
I agree Aubie…Florida considers UGA a rival as much as UGA considers Vandy a rival!
Mad Dog One
October 26th, 2011
6:14 pm
I have a question just who in the he!! has fla beat this year that is so good ? AS ALWAYS GO DOGS & GATA
Larry
October 26th, 2011
6:20 pm
For nearly two decades it’s been Florida’s time…no excuses!
Now, it’s Georgia time!
David Granger
October 26th, 2011
7:11 pm
Have mixed emotions. Always want to beat the Gators, but that would probably save Mark Richt’s job and we’d have ten more years of underachieving.
Gt
October 26th, 2011
7:26 pm
Gators 24 puppies 21. Jackets 38 Clemson 35
Gt
October 26th, 2011
7:27 pm
National titles…. GT-4. Puppies-1…… Nuff said
Tampa Gator
October 26th, 2011
7:52 pm
Georgia fans…..
For some reason I believe the Gator players and coaches will manage to show up this Saturday without much fear in their eyes. There is still a lot of talent in Gainesville….although very, very young talent. This could be the weekend they start to grow up in a big way. For those going, enjoy your visit to JAX….and don’t drink and drive before or after the game. Be safe! Because next year’s game is going to be a really BIG game.
Buzz Sawya
October 26th, 2011
7:57 pm
Bradley, How many times these no class mutts have been favored to beat the Gators? They could put 22 3rd graders with Gator gear on and the stinking mutts would still lose.
Dawgs Roll
October 26th, 2011
7:59 pm
Georgia should win this game going away. Florida has nothing—they couldn’t even score against a mediocre auburn team. This is finally the year that Richt gets a win and the Dawgs win the SEC east. In the SEC title game—upsets can happen. Dogs 34 fla 13
pdawg
October 26th, 2011
8:09 pm
It is funny Mark how you ajc writers are always downplaying our five game win streak by stating the win-loss of our opponents. As I was reading the article I was waiting to see if you will mention that Florida’s 4-0 came against 2 cupcakes, Ten., and Kentucky. What is the win-loss for Ten and Kentucky??? Everybody looks good playing against lower division teams. Please next time be fair across the board when you guys write about Tech. and Florida cos I have observe this for a while. Also it is weird the way when Georgia looses you have all sorts of blogs about the game…. quiet different when Tech loses…just saying
Tarryuga
October 26th, 2011
8:33 pm
Someone at UGA has made the “higher powers” of the SEC very angry. UGA gets popped for farting while the remainder of the league well, they fertilize…with nothing said.
No need to mention any team. Too obvious–over the YEARS.
I don’t like the color yellow but I got a feeling we’re going to see a bunch of it, whether it is a correct call or not.
Let’s just start the drill AND FINISH IT FOR 4 QUARTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(oh yea, and OT if needed.)
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Damn, I just got flagged.)
cloudy
October 26th, 2011
9:06 pm
Florida really is pitiful this year. If ever the Gators were ripe for picking this would certainly be the year. Come on Dawgs- show us something for once.
Lakedawg
October 26th, 2011
10:23 pm
102-36 Best winning % of any coach in SEC, and 10th best in country for active coaches, who is this guy?
Dawgs win this one 24–17 close game.
Buckhead Bulldog
October 26th, 2011
10:26 pm
Watching the Run Lindsay play on Bill King’s link, and watching the ESPNU’s SEC Storied: Herschel Walker today, I have come to the conclusion that our recent W/L issues are direct result of our jerseys being too busy. Keep them simple like Bama, UT, USC, Tex or PSU. Just plain white numbers with NO black, red or white accents around them. Classic!
Buckhead Bulldog
October 26th, 2011
10:30 pm
or plain black numbers on the white
Thomas Brown
October 27th, 2011
1:17 am
11-13 record all 11 years neutral fields
09-10 record all 11 years neutral fields vs ranked teams at game time
09-10 record all 11 years at Home vs ranked teams at game time
01-03 record all 11 years at Home vs Top 10 teams at game time
03-06 record all 11 years neutral fields vs Top 10 teams at game time
04-09 record all 11 years neutral fields all SEC games
23-26 record all 11 years when opponent scores first
17-25 record all 11 years when trailing at half, lack adjustments
08-30 record all 11 years when trailing 3rd quarter, loser mentality
11-21 record all 11 years when scoring less than 18 points
02-08 record all 11 years vs Florida
33-19 record all 11 years vs SEC East 63 percent win percentage
17-26 record all 11 years vs teams finishing top 25
17 losses all 11 years vs teams who would not have finished top 25
03-10 record all 11 years vs teams finishing top 10
We all know that The SEC was DOWN in 2002, with only 1 other SEC team ending up ranked in the Coaches’ Poll Top 25 and that a 4-Loss Auburn 2002.
We all know that 2005 found that Georgia ended up # 3 of just The SEC teams in the polls.
Florida has their worst football team in 24 years.
red&black
October 27th, 2011
4:45 am
Should UGA find a way to win this game, instead of finding a way to lose it as is usually the case, I think this may finally be the time when we reverse our fortunes in J’ville. I long for a return to the time when we owned Fla. A time when a win for Fla was an abberition instead of the norm. It can happen folks. I have said many times, that sports are cyclable. At some point a series changes, and starts to trend the other way………Maybe this is that time for UGA…….
tell me again
October 27th, 2011
7:10 am
I think this group will get it done. Florida has the same team attitude problems we have had in the past. 10 players have transferred from their top rated class. Something ain’t right there. And as a side note. What makes anybody think Clemson isn’t going to hang 60 points on that sorry Tech defense?
tell me again
October 27th, 2011
7:18 am
Thomas Brown sounds like a Tebow hugger. I said when Urban first got there he would do good for a few years like he did at his other two schools but if he stayed long enough and had a downturn he would bail. If Richt had quit after 4 years he would have been viewed as a genius. If you stay anywhere long enough you will go through cycles. Period. The difference is Urban Cryer saw the magic fading and tossed in the towel. Richt has entered the tough times and has decided to stay and fight! GO DAWGS!
Columbus Dawg
October 27th, 2011
7:36 am
I was reading an article on Bleacher Report about the game, all I could see was that little felon BOY Rainey running his mouth. There is no way under the sun that little pos should be playing NCAA football, and should still be in prison for what he did. Any one else would be. Just another one of Meyer’s holdover felons.
DAWGS gonna whip that butt Saturday Gayturds, mark it down.
Thomas Brown
October 27th, 2011
7:49 am
tell me again October 27th, 2011 7:10 am
“Florida has the same team attitude problems we have had in the past. 10 players have transferred from their top rated class. Something ain’t right there.”
_____________________________________________________
What is in the past about our problems with players transferring out, flunking out, being kicked off, being suspended for 31 of our players Mark Richt gave Scholarships to for kick-off vs Florida day after tomorrow, who he will not have ?
Horace
October 27th, 2011
8:42 am
@ tell me again – sorry to ruin your conspiracy theory, but most of the transfers are the result of the coaching change and the resulting change in offensive and defensive philosophies (other than Janoris Jenkins, who was shown the door). Players recruited by Meyer and his staff are not all going to fit in well with Muschamp and his system.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 27th, 2011
9:02 am
Win Saturday and things look pretty good for Coach Richt. I am hoping that they have been sandbagging the offensive production the past few games. We scored well against South Carolina who has a decent D. Maybe Mitchell is better and maybe we Boo running the ball.
Columbus Dawg, don’t worry about Rainey, those things have a way of working themselves out. He will get what he deserves sooner or later. The problem I have is that programs like LSU and OSU and all these “top” ranked programs and genius coaches keep bring back kids to the team that are getting arrested for dope and crap and nobody says a damn thing. Richt kicks a kid off the team for discipline problems or encourages bad behavior kids to transfer out and people rip him for it. IF we have to keep the bad apples playing to win then I do not want to win that way. I hope Richt gets the W Saturday and rolls over Auburn (always a tough game and can go either way).
Go Dawgs!
gdawginkalamazoo
October 27th, 2011
9:08 am
Buckhead, going back to the tear away jerseys wouldn’t hurt either. I think Nike sells a lot more it they get shredded 2 or 3 times a game.
ARdawg
October 27th, 2011
9:25 am
zoo
Sandbagging the offense? Even I am afraid thats some wishful thinking. But, here’s to hoping the offense finally finds itself!
Thank God for Reggie Ball
October 27th, 2011
9:38 am
Thomas Brown
you never did play well against UF,
maybe you are secretly a Gaytor
Thank God for Reggie Ball
October 27th, 2011
9:40 am
if im Mike Bobo, here’s my playcall for the first play of the game:
I-formation, fake to Crowell, send Mitchell (or Brown if Mitchell isnt going) deep and bomb it out
send a message early
Thank God for Reggie Ball
October 27th, 2011
9:42 am
@Thomas Brown,
true about are players being kicked out,
but Washaun Ealey is not Cam Newton
Field Goal Jesus
October 27th, 2011
9:43 am
Its time to wake up and fire these clowns in Athens. UGA will lose come Saturday. Book it!
Thank God for Reggie Ball
October 27th, 2011
9:48 am
GT fans:
do you realize that when your program has done NOTHING in 20 years while your neighbors have been winning titles in a conference 3x the conference the All Creampuff Conference (this year its more like the All Clemson Conference) will ever be, plus the fact that you have beaten UGA a whopping 5 times the last 21 years (with 2 of those wins vacated) you probably shouldnt be talking trash to UGA fans. I dont trash talk Florida fans other than predicting my Dawgs to win this year
Thank God for Reggie Ball
October 27th, 2011
9:50 am
UGA-28 UF-17
its a dogfight for 3 1/2 quarters and UGA scores with about 5 minutes left to close it out
Field Goal Jesus
October 27th, 2011
9:54 am
You people are comical this team couldnt even put away Vandy. Keep drinking the Kool Aid.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
October 27th, 2011
9:59 am
the only thing that concerns me about their offense is Rainey and/or Demps getting the corner on sweeps or swing passes. we don’t have the speed on defense to catch them if they turn the corner
they shouldnt be able to just straight up run up the middle, or hit deep passes
Win by 20
October 27th, 2011
10:10 am
brantley’s banged up and isn’t that good anyway. Murray’s a lot better and UF has no running game. murray and crowell will light up the scoreboard–Dawgs 30-fla 10! Bet the house!
Schweinhund
October 27th, 2011
10:24 am
Weis is installing a pro offense with spread option personnel. It’s going to be an akward fit until Muschamp’s recruits are in place. But with the benefit of a bye week after working with these player through seven games, I’ll be interested to see what Weis does. It is the inverse of 2005, when Meyer’s offense struggled using pro style guys to run his spread option (Leak was as bad of a fit as Brantley was last year). But with a week off to reassess his personnel, Meyer tweaked the offense to be effective enough to win.
Spaceman Spiff
October 27th, 2011
10:45 am
@ Gt
And yet we OWN the mighty technerds – the same mighty team that lost to TWO UNRANKED teams this year! BWUHAHAHAHAHA
KDawg
October 27th, 2011
10:46 am
I believe our D will get to Brantley often, i see 2 pics in my crystal ball, however i also see 1 costly fumble. UGA 19 / FLA 21
Spaceman Spiff
October 27th, 2011
10:47 am
I see our resident fruitbat Thomas Brown wanna-be is at it again with his usual stats… One thing I haven’t quite figured out is why a technerd is so in love with the real Thomas Brown that he must use his name…at least you could use a real tech hero like Reggie Ball…
KDawg
October 27th, 2011
10:50 am
Vandy could beat Tech << no joke
Dawg RR
October 27th, 2011
11:08 am
Dawgs win in a cakewalk–lay the 3 points and bet the house. This will be the easiest money I’ve ever won.
WinderDawg Eats Idiots Sandwiches
October 27th, 2011
8:48 pm
Back when Georgia was beating The Gators every year in Jacksonville, Georgia fans never complain about playing in Jacksonville. Also you can use the excuse that’s it’s hotter in Jax than Athens.WinderDawg you want some cheese with that whine?
RED DOG 77
October 28th, 2011
12:58 am
Yea, Yea, Yea………..So Florida has whooped us what 99 out of the last 102 games? All this garbage about Florida being in Dawgs “head”………..Gators better with Brantley……..another thrilling, chilling, nail-biter…………Not a chance!………After Dawgs get off to a slow start, trying their best to give this one away, The defense takes over, pulls out the “hammer”………and Aaron Murray and his offense finally decides to play a full game [minus 1st quarter]…………Dawgs plow through the Gators like ripe pears through a goose………….Ah, yes………a much needed “off-week” for my nerves………….The University of Georgia Bulldogs 42 Florida Gators 17………….About Damn Time……………GO DOGS!!!…………GATA
DIT
October 28th, 2011
8:33 am
Not sure why some of my fellow Dawgs on here think that UF is not that good this year. Compared to UGA they are very good. I’m not feeling it from what I have read from the team and the fans. It’s bad mojo. Gators on the other hand are very confident. I don’t get that out of any of our players. I sure hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see the Dawgs winning this one. It will be close, but we don’t pull it out.
Tech on the hand will beat ClemPson by 17! ClemPson’s defense has yet to figure out how to stop a good running team. The only factor that ClemPson has going for them is that there will be just as many, if not more, ClemPson fans in the stadium.
Good luck to all teams this weekend!
UF 24 UGA 21
Tech 45 ClemPson 28
prime time (redshirt me)
October 28th, 2011
8:56 am
“Vince Dooley was the greatest sandbagger ever. Nobody else is in second place”
He may be the most overrated coach ever as well.
UGA Sucks
October 28th, 2011
9:16 am
Sorry Bulldog buddies, Gators win. Florida is down, but still much better. Don’t get be fooled, what game this year has convinced you that UGA will win? The same song UGA will lose and Tech will beat Clemson, but lose to Georgia. That’s the way it is.
FLA DAWG
October 28th, 2011
9:51 am
I think The Dawgs are unfortunately ripe for picking and Florida is due for a decent (but not breakout) game. UGA by 3 are the Vegas odds? I shouldn’t buck Vegas odds but I have such little faith in these coaches and have seen so many letdowns over the years when we play Florida I think The Gators win this one.
As for GT v Clemson………………The Tigers will absolutely maul the Bees by 21 points.
Coach
October 28th, 2011
10:02 am
better hope Dallas Lee isn’t going against Omar Hunter he will make Dallas think he is back at Buford all over again.
wildbill
October 28th, 2011
11:31 am
UGA has a mental bloc going against them re UF. That said, just post the scoreboard with UF 10 UGA 0 before the game starts. Just my opinion…………..
edumacated
October 28th, 2011
3:29 pm
I don’t care what any of these writers say, if Richt loses to the worst Florida team in a quarter century, then you can believe that he will be fired. Mark it down. Bet the farm.