Live from Tech-UGA: Dogs are doomed (because I pick them)
Just for the record: I also picked Georgia back in 2008. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
I’ve seen Georgia Tech play five times in person; I’ve seen Georgia six times. Of the teams’ five losses, I’ve covered them all. (Which I guess makes me bad luck. But you knew that already.) I’m not claiming this season’s worth of close observation makes me an expert — you all know better, don’t you? — but it does render me duty-bound to offer this:
I wouldn’t be shocked if Tech wins today. But I would be surprised.
The two best units in this game — Tech’s offense and Georgia’s defense — will deploy against one another. I don’t think Georgia’s D will shut down Paul Johnson’s O, but I don’t see Tech gaining 500 yards again. Say Tech gets 20 points. Will that be enough to win?
Don’t think so. Georgia’s offense isn’t the smoothest-running assemblage, but I don’t see Tech’s defense holding the Bulldogs under 20 points. (Even though Kentucky just did.) If the Bulldogs can find a tailback — a big “if,” I’ll concede — they should be able to keep the ball and keep Johnson’s offense off the field long enough to matter.
Then again, I’m often wrong. But let me note that I picked Georgia to go 10-2 and Tech to finish 8-4 … and both things would happen if the Bulldogs win. I’m saying they will. But maybe you disagree.
And that, as luck would have it, is why we have these live chats. Feel free to disagree. Or agree. Or abstain. I’ll be here until one team or the other actually wins, and I welcome your company. But let me also say this: I’m not inclined to let extraneous issues derail this exercise. So let’s try to keep this installment of Old-Fashioned Hate somewhat clean, OK?
As ever, I thank you in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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2,134 comments Add your comment
katherine
November 26th, 2011
1:03 pm
no first down again
Hedo Rick
November 26th, 2011
1:03 pm
Time to rise up… wait, wrong team….
Mark Bradley
November 26th, 2011
1:03 pm
Still going. You watch.
Its Just Horseplay
November 26th, 2011
1:03 pm
Falcant, Dawgs have a chance, not a great one, but a chance. Our D has to play their best, and Murray had to be hot. We also have to win the turnover battle. Not a great chance, but a chance.
K-City Dawg
November 26th, 2011
1:03 pm
Gillard missed another tackle for 26 yard gain, all day long Tech going away from Jarvis to pick on Gillard.
katherine
November 26th, 2011
1:03 pm
didnt jump that time thankfully
Chop Blocks are for pussies
November 26th, 2011
1:04 pm
Coaches should not be able to call a TO. Chicken crap!
Ol'JacketFan
November 26th, 2011
1:04 pm
The worst and most ill informed announcers I’ve heard this year.
katherine
November 26th, 2011
1:04 pm
there is always a chance……and im glad no one is giving the dawgs a chance against lsu…..will make them fight harder hopefully
45ACP
November 26th, 2011
1:04 pm
CPJ is a fool. All of these 4th down chances will bite him in the rear end sooner or later.
jack bull
November 26th, 2011
1:04 pm
man, i hate Tyson got hurt..
Falcaints
November 26th, 2011
1:05 pm
LSU will run at will against your defense. True you have gone undefeated after losing to S.C. but let’s be honest you really played the weakest schedule possible. You have not seen a team anywhere as complete as LSU.
SEC Fact Finder
November 26th, 2011
1:05 pm
I hear the same thing week in and week out about Paul Johnson, his play calling has major “lulls” in it and his common play calling puts Tech in some awkward down and distance situations. Just then he tried running a “wide” option play to the short side of the field. Just an observation.
Reggie
November 26th, 2011
1:05 pm
Look the reason we didn’t look hot against Kentucky was because there was tons of pressure not to lose. Today there is no pressure not to lose because it has no implications on the SEC title game. Next week there will be no pressure not to lose because we’re the underdog with nothing to lose. Georgia will shock the world next Saturday.
Chop Blocks are for pussies
November 26th, 2011
1:05 pm
Gameday picked GT, but Bo knows football. He picked the Dawgs!
katherine
November 26th, 2011
1:05 pm
I sure hope tyson can play next week
Hedo Rick
November 26th, 2011
1:06 pm
Statistically speaking, going on 4th down is usually a good call….. for GT I think that holds especially true considering their offense style.
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:06 pm
big play here
Mark Bradley
November 26th, 2011
1:06 pm
That’s a first down. Easy.
K-City Dawg
November 26th, 2011
1:06 pm
Can’t stop their QB.
jack bull
November 26th, 2011
1:07 pm
having a hard time with that play too
Reggie
November 26th, 2011
1:07 pm
Georgia’s defense will be able to stop LSU’s ground game. We’re much bigger, much faster, much stronger. I think it’ll be a great game. I hope the LSU players are as big headed as their fans.
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:07 pm
good use of the ref
Mark Bradley
November 26th, 2011
1:07 pm
Another inside handoff. Good for a first down.
Give PJ credit. He’s trying to get Georgia off-balance.
SEC Fact Finder
November 26th, 2011
1:07 pm
Tech’s does have a nice stable of running backs!
katherine
November 26th, 2011
1:07 pm
ga is not the one with all the pressure next sat…lsu is………shoud be interesting. Would love for ga to knock lsu out of the title game
K-City Dawg
November 26th, 2011
1:07 pm
Jarvis was cut blocked/
Hedo Rick
November 26th, 2011
1:07 pm
Has anyone else noticed our tackling is MUCH improved under Grantham?
jack bull
November 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
i think we need to call Walton High School’s coach to learn how to stop this offense..
Falcaints
November 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
Reggie please take your meds. Your defense is not bigger or stronger than LSU. Are you serious?
Mark Bradley
November 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
That quarterback keeper is also a new one to me. Tech drawing up new plays.
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
I agree…. LSU confidence and big heads will play to our favor….. they will underestimate GA.
CarolinaJacket
November 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
UGA will most likely win the game — because of better athletes, especially at qb and the defense. But Tech’s high school offense isn’t the reason. It has looked pretty good.
katherine
November 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
is cut blocking legal?
19
November 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
Falcaints, Georgia will give LSU all they can handle and then some.
Ubah
November 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
Katherine — are you a closet Bama fan?? jk
Demosthenes
November 26th, 2011
1:09 pm
UGA has as good a chance against LSU as ARK did. UGA can win, if they play their best game, and if LSU plays poorly. If both teams play their best game, I don’t think UGA has a chance.
SEC Fact Finder
November 26th, 2011
1:09 pm
Reggie,
Not going to argue with you, you are allowed your opinion, but if you have not seen LSU play in person it is very hard to see how big, strong, fast and deep they are. They just come at everyone in waves. Some very very nice athletes.
Its Just Horseplay
November 26th, 2011
1:09 pm
Falcants, Agreed, we have not seen anyone like LSU, but there is a reason they play the game. On paper LSU should just put a serious beating on is, and they very well might.
But, you just never know what is going to happen. Fumbles, Penalties, Injuries, you just never can know for sure. But I agree, LSU SHOULD do all the things you say for the reasons you say it, but that does not mean they will.
jack bull
November 26th, 2011
1:09 pm
I”m not sure why more teams don’t run this offense. It really is difficult to stop.
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:09 pm
come on dawgs…..stop em
Hedo Rick
November 26th, 2011
1:09 pm
I think this game will help our D play better against the LSU option. If we can make Jordan “Boots of Steel” Jefferson a pocket passer, it will give us a chance.
katherine
November 26th, 2011
1:09 pm
its hard to defend this offense…..ask clemson
Edward
November 26th, 2011
1:09 pm
I think the DOGS will crush Tech
SEC Fact Finder
November 26th, 2011
1:10 pm
Cut blocking is legal, as long as no other player is engaged with the player being cut within the line of scrimmage.
jack bull
November 26th, 2011
1:10 pm
it’s legal Kat, as long as the defender isn’t ‘engaged’ with another blocker..
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:10 pm
damn it
He Hate Gator
November 26th, 2011
1:10 pm
Agree Katherine…LSU has all the pressure as all No.1’s do…..we should know.
War Jacket
November 26th, 2011
1:10 pm
Yes, katherine, cut blocking is legal.
Mark Bradley
November 26th, 2011
1:11 pm
Nothing on first and goal