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
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:47 pm
Hey mark, rumor has it, that they pass out free chill dogs at the backdoor of the varsity to the press …… have someone run over there and fetch you a couple
TampaGator
November 26th, 2011
1:47 pm
I shouldn’t have done that…..sorry. Not the place for it.
ARdawg
November 26th, 2011
1:47 pm
TampaGator with his crystal ball. How times has that been right this year?
Ward
November 26th, 2011
1:47 pm
I hope that Marshall is watching this game and knows that Crowell is not a legitimate back for us…he is a complement… Come here and join a team that will be loaded at the skill position next year.
Tim
November 26th, 2011
1:48 pm
Thanks, Mark, for addressing my question about running the ball. Do you think Crowell plays if we get behind and HAVE to run the ball?
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:48 pm
and here we go
Reggie
November 26th, 2011
1:48 pm
I think if we hold Tech under 300 yards rushing, that’s a big day on defense. It’s so hard to stop Tech’s offense because it’s tricky and they run so much.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 26th, 2011
1:48 pm
TampaGator……wonder what your exscuse will be when we tap that ass again next year?
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:48 pm
thats a good start
TampaGator
November 26th, 2011
1:48 pm
……but Urban should not be doing what he is doing either.
Ward
November 26th, 2011
1:48 pm
Awwwwww…man he couldn’t hit 2nd gear
defacto
November 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
TampaGator, is all that fact or fiction? certainly explains a lot. lol
katherine
November 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
nice return!
Mark Bradley
November 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
Big kickoff return for Boykin. Not what Tech had in mind
If do right, no can defense
November 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
Ahhh… there was our ST blunder of the game.
whatever
November 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
For all of you calling Johnson nuts or stupid for calling that time-out – do you NOT THINK that MOST college coaches would have called a time-out – with two remaining timeouts??
Mark Richt would have done the same – and IF Johnson didn’t call that time out – people would be questioning him WHY HE DIDN’T call it.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
Hope Muschump stays in Gainsvile for awhile…lol
Ward
November 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
Mitchell, Bennett, and Conley…I love those freshmen.
TampaGator
November 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
ARDawg….
Are you disagreeing with me…..so you think Tech IS going to come back and win?
katherine
November 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
agreed mark
Mark Bradley
November 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
Orson Charles fumbles. He fights and keeps it. Georgia at the 3
Ward
November 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
Wow…that was close… Jay Rome will be the real deal too.
Reggie
November 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
They cannot stop Orson Charles. Bout to be 24-10. And it was QUICK.
katherine
November 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
wow…that was close!
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
hold on to the ball….great run after the catch
TampaGator
November 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
It is what it is.
jack bull
November 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
pound it in
Ward
November 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
Don’t give it to Boo
Mark Bradley
November 26th, 2011
1:51 pm
TD. TKing. Fade
Reggie
November 26th, 2011
1:51 pm
That was easy. TOUCHDOWN!
jack bull
November 26th, 2011
1:51 pm
or, just throw it
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:51 pm
that was easy
katherine
November 26th, 2011
1:51 pm
oh yea….great way to start the 2nd half
just a fan
November 26th, 2011
1:51 pm
Way to start the second half
Go Dawgs!!!!!
Ol'JacketFan
November 26th, 2011
1:51 pm
Obviously CAG made NO adjustments at halftime
Mark Bradley
November 26th, 2011
1:52 pm
Needed three plays after the KOR.
Here’s the thing, though: A team that can’t run can’t burn the clock. (I’ve said that already, but I thought I’d reiterate.)
Ward
November 26th, 2011
1:52 pm
This means nothing unless we stop them here…I would feel better being up 17-21.
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:52 pm
ok…. tech….. take 7 minutes and kick a field goal….
tell me again
November 26th, 2011
1:52 pm
That’s the way to start a half……60 yard run back – two plays – TD………..GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!
If do right, no can defense
November 26th, 2011
1:52 pm
gotta give uga credit, they’re reading the defense and changing the play through audibles. Enough with the zone defense already.
Reggie
November 26th, 2011
1:52 pm
Alright, got what we wanted…up 24-10…let’s see how Grantham has made adjustments and if our defense can get just one stop, this game is over IMO. Go up 31-10 or even 27-10 and it’s all but over unless Tech becomes Oklahoma State or Arkansas lol.
1 4 GT
November 26th, 2011
1:53 pm
That’s what we do at Tech–smart, ingenious stuff like robotics. LOL
.
November 26th, 2011
1:53 pm
Mark — Serious question here, shouldn’t a football coaching “GENIUS” pay attention to Special Teams and Defense?
bugsquacher
November 26th, 2011
1:53 pm
yes, gotta keep fresh people in on the D…..
19
November 26th, 2011
1:53 pm
Tech has to respond!
TampaGator
November 26th, 2011
1:53 pm
SouthGADawg88…
Probably the same excuses you have used during 18 out of the last 22 years. Just a reminder….you tapped that a…. by 4 points this year. Didn’t exactly scare anyone in Gainesville….and Florida does not play both Bama and LSU next year. Only LSU…. But you guys will be dropping Bama for Missouri soon, I hear.
CarolinaJacket
November 26th, 2011
1:53 pm
So why run the clock when you can put up points like they just did?
Tim
November 26th, 2011
1:53 pm
Maybe Tech won’t ever get the lead. Go Dawgs! UGA clearly has the best team even if it doesn’t win. But Tech sure hasn’t got much pressure on Murray.
tell me again
November 26th, 2011
1:53 pm
Time for some defense……………
Buckhead Bulldog
November 26th, 2011
1:53 pm
Mark…don’t give Bobo any ideas. You know how he likes to get conservative with a little lead, and we just don’t have any horses in the back field.