
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
2,134 comments Add your comment
PerroGrande
November 26th, 2011
4:19 pm
St Simons’ shift hasn’t ended at Walmart. He is the CEO
wreckmaniac
November 26th, 2011
4:19 pm
Coach PJ: My TV went off when Washington threw the interception at the beginning of the second half. Do you think you can put together a defense that can allow me to watch the entire game next year ?
Happy Dawg
November 26th, 2011
4:19 pm
31-17. If only it was really that close.
19
November 26th, 2011
4:19 pm
Bama up on the barn 14-0
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 26th, 2011
4:20 pm
wreckmaniac
Tech can get the best D-Coordinator in the world but that wont matter if all the defense is going to see in practice is that sorry middle school offense to practice against
Snoop Dawg
November 26th, 2011
4:20 pm
Paul Johnson, after much introspection, will realize that in order to win that he will have to replace himself.
BG
November 26th, 2011
4:20 pm
10 out of 11! GO DAWGS!!
Numberwang
November 26th, 2011
4:20 pm
Tech has lost 4 out of their last 6 games and won’t even make it to the Chic-fil-A Bowl. They are a pathetic program, who doesn’t even deserve to play Georgia every year.
Haaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa
dawgs2004
November 26th, 2011
4:21 pm
TECH didn’t win, wawawawawawawawa
JB
November 26th, 2011
4:21 pm
Laugh all you want to, but if I was D’Rad, I would bring back O’Leary and Ralph F. and turn that place upside down. That would give us Dawg fans pause. This guy won’t.
DawgByte
November 26th, 2011
4:22 pm
(((31-17)))
For another 364 days. Oh, to be a Tech fan… it must truly S U C K!!!
gt4ever
November 26th, 2011
4:22 pm
Pretty pathetic… UGA just whipped our arses again….. I thought it would at least be close, and of course I picked us to pull the upset… But hey, my hats off to the better team… This only confirms my worst fears…. This program is headed in the WRONG direction in every way. The longer we wait to fix this program, the worse it will become…
Good luck to the bulldawgs next week… I think it will be closer than anyone will admit…
Chain
November 26th, 2011
4:22 pm
Sweet…where’s 5150…that d-bag talked trash for weeks…of course he is gone…hypocrite, a-wipe…suck it loser
19
November 26th, 2011
4:22 pm
Supersize is on Interstate 20 East towards Augusta. He’ll get back to you in due time. Crazy, give it a rest.
Gimme Free HBO, 5150 insect.
November 26th, 2011
4:23 pm
The only wrong perception is that GT is a real rival to the University of Georgia. Tech would have trouble beating Valdosta, Brookwood, Parkview or any of the other HS powerhouses in this state.
macrotech
November 26th, 2011
4:23 pm
Hate that we lost. PROBABLY should’ve taken Washington out at the half….his reads were TERRIBLE! His throws were even WORSE! Our D couldn’t cover a corpse…MIGHT want to work on that! Good game dawgs. Good news, superDump won’t go into hiding for the year! So, we got THAT working out for us!
GT Fan
November 26th, 2011
4:23 pm
Tech will never beat GA. again until they get a coach and players that are not afraid or intimadated by GA. GT has not had a pass defense since 1990. Why does Tech continue to be embarased every year by GA.?, Quit playing them, you will never ever beat them again.
CarolinaJacket
November 26th, 2011
4:24 pm
JB, that is an interesting thought, but if we did there would be those who would only about how old these guys are. They don’t some to realize that there are some coaches out there who have a few years on them, yet continue to win.
19
November 26th, 2011
4:24 pm
All the people you want to argue with are on their way home. Congratulations Bulldogs!
Eric C.
November 26th, 2011
4:25 pm
C’mon haters, a lot of this game is mental…CMR has been there and done that against LSU in recent times. THREE blowout wins in the last 4 games…and the loss was due to a fluke celebration penalty. UGA’s defense will keep them in the game…and if Samuel and Crowell can go, it could be close if not an outright win for the Dawgs.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 26th, 2011
4:26 pm
Man, what a day. I don’t plan on staying long, but I’m not scared to show up here after a tough loss.
Hurt Kurbstreit
November 26th, 2011
4:26 pm
Tech’s problem on defense is that they don’t have enough good players. The triple option will work ok against most teams but will not cut it against a good team with a good defense. You gotta be able to pass against a good defense,
suwaneedawg
November 26th, 2011
4:26 pm
wreckmaniac, with all due resepect you need a different offense and that means a different coach. You can not win big games consistently with Johnson.
suwaneedawg
November 26th, 2011
4:27 pm
Yeah, where is UOAD when we need him? Probably sucking on his momma’s teet.
please...
November 26th, 2011
4:28 pm
Well Mark, how does crow taste compared to the holiday bird?Harder to swallow?
PerroGrande
November 26th, 2011
4:28 pm
To be serious for a second, Georgia has a young and improving team, and they have become pretty good, folks. The number four D in total yardage and a solid O. Tech has an excellent offense, but without it controlling the clock and fight via the ground game, they look bad. Tech is still a very good team. Georgia’s D controlled the ground game, and made them look bad.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 26th, 2011
4:28 pm
I see my stalker is back. Real mature. Hey, 19, wanted to chat with you on here, but after the nonsense with your imposter last night, I don’t have the energy.
kerryb
November 26th, 2011
4:28 pm
I just hope we haven’t lost Tyson for the LSU game because of the piece of crap Tech linemen that cant block anyone unless they are chopping or cutting them. They should ban cut blocking in the NCAA.
81Dawg
November 26th, 2011
4:29 pm
I hope the bugs realize that their genius coach and his high school offense will NEVER allow them to compete against the big boys, and I do think the UGA is back to being a big boy. We run this state and will continue to do so. It is great to be Bulldog and a Saturday night, especially after beating the bugs again. How Bout Them Dawgs! Bring on LSU.
please...
November 26th, 2011
4:30 pm
GT BOB and 5150 just spotted coming out of Applebee’s arm in arm with to go boxes.
Magnolia, Tx Dawg
November 26th, 2011
4:30 pm
Go Dawgs Oh Hell yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Tech Fans
November 26th, 2011
4:32 pm
Appreciate some of the classy comments. . . nice to see after the game. Best of luck in your bowl game! You guys have had a pretty good year.
Happy Dawg
November 26th, 2011
4:33 pm
When did the GEICO caveman shave and become head coach at Georgia Tech?
CarolinaJacket
November 26th, 2011
4:33 pm
And thanks to you. Your Dawgs are playing very good football now. It will be interesting to see how you do in your next two games.
ZinoDawgs
November 26th, 2011
4:35 pm
Pork chop pork chop, greasy greasy, we beat your team, EASY EASY!!!!
There was never any doubt!
Go Dawgs!!!
Hey Paul Johnson – how’s that for “perception”?
We own you
November 26th, 2011
4:35 pm
gt4ever What a classy post. You must be from the Bobby Dodd era when college football was a gentlemen’s game. I wish you well.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 26th, 2011
4:35 pm
Tech should have gotten Rich Rodriguez
He would have turned around Tech
but
Tech fans continue to think that Small Johnsons middle school offense is going to beat good teams
deano
November 26th, 2011
4:38 pm
Where you at 5150??? Biggest freakin poser of them all. Are all those degrees you yap about helping you now???!!
jay
November 26th, 2011
4:38 pm
Come on Bradley, you secretly picked Tech didn’t you?
suwaneedawg
November 26th, 2011
4:40 pm
5150 only shows up when the outcome has not been decided and then becomes invisible when it turns out against him. Which is quite often. Sucks to be him or gtbob.
Big time???? NOT!
November 26th, 2011
4:40 pm
Four tickets four hot dogs four cokes. Nerds!!
CarolinaJacket
November 26th, 2011
4:40 pm
Heading to the bar for the evening game.
Gorilla Biscuit
November 26th, 2011
4:41 pm
Well, Tech did win the rushing battle. So there’s that.
Will Cobb
November 26th, 2011
4:41 pm
I came on here to read the GT fan comments expecting to enjoy your misery, but I will have to say, I am surprised! GT fans have come with a lot of class this afternoon, and it actually makes me feel better about our rivaly! Being a UGA fan, I look forward to the rest of the season, with a nothing to lose attitude, but most of all, I am happiest for Mark Richt and his family, win or lose, he is the only man in the country I want running our program! Go Dawgs, let’s give him hell next weekend!l
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 26th, 2011
4:41 pm
I just want to know what happened to GT Joe
GT Joe said they would blow LSU away
LOL!!!!!!!
Happy Dawg
November 26th, 2011
4:43 pm
Will GT claim this as a moral victory since they only lost by 14?
1 4 GT
November 26th, 2011
4:44 pm
Pete—-I replyed to your email address.
Happy Dawg
November 26th, 2011
4:44 pm
The way the game turned out, UGA will continue to have to defend itself about playing cupcakes.
1969 Graduate
November 26th, 2011
4:44 pm
When will the NATS losers (that being the correct term, losers) start their “Moral Victory – Wait ‘Til Next Year” mantra?
Come on, Techies, let’s hear again how great NATS is…
It was a lot of fun to watch the faces of the Tech student in the stands, knowing they were part of a losing tradition, and witnessing football as it is commonly played in the SEC, and isn’t often played in the little league of the acc.
We were good, but we need to be better to beat LSU, and mistake free.
My main criticism of the Dogs is they didn’t seem always to be wrapping up the opposing ball carriers. Too many times the “tackles” looked more like bumps, and the ball carriers escaped, instead of being thrown to the ground. I see this as a criticism of Georgia’s coaching staff for not enforcing discipline in fundamentals.
Another coaching issue is Georgia players doing dumb stuff like spiking the ball after an exciting interception. It didn’t much matter to the outcome today, but, against LSU every little thing will be important, and that sort of poor sportsmanship both looks bad, and is too easy for the officials to see, and penalize.
It’s time to think about how to beat LSU now. Discipline, and correct execution are going to be crucial.
Congratulations to the Bulldogs for a very satisfying victory over the Georgia Tech football team. Tech is always a challenge (even though we almost always win), and it was clear that our defense did a remarkable job, showing a lot of improvement in handling the triple option. Our offense, and our special teams were clicking, too.
On to the SEC title game, against a great LSU football team. Only with a great game ourselves – the best we’ve played in years – do we have a good chance of winning.
Glory, glory to Old Georgia!
BulldogBen
November 26th, 2011
4:44 pm
How can the NCAA continue to allow Tech to use cut blocking with reckless abandon??
It’s technically legal but it causes more injuries than any other football technique. It’s a deplorable style of football.