Pigskin pickin’: Tech wins its division; UGA takes the SEC title
The Honey Badger had his way last season. But that was then. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Georgia will go 11-1 and win the SEC East. Then it will beat LSU for the SEC championship. And then … well, what destination traditionally awaits the SEC champion? (Hint: It ain’t beautiful downtown Shreveport.)
With that, we commence our annual long-range look at college football, which is guaranteed to please absolutely no one. If I pick your team to do less well than you think it should, you’ll be miffed; if I pick your team to do better, you’ll gripe about the Bradley Jinx. Which didn’t, I should note, seem to trouble Georgia overmuch last season: The Bulldogs, as predicted, did take the East. And this year, for better or worse, I foresee better.
Georgia Tech will upset Virginia Tech on Labor Day night and will win the ACC Coastal Division. I can’t really believe I’m making this call. (Perhaps you share the feeling.) But before you succumb to an outbreak of whooping scoff, check the Jackets’ schedule. They’ll play only one road game — that at Clemson — between Sept. 4 and Nov. 2, and their final three ACC games are against Maryland (2-10 last season), North Carolina (new coach plus a bowl ban) and Duke (still Duke).
One game doesn’t usually a season make — you’ll recall Georgia losing to Boise State — but history does note that the Tech-Tech winner has become Coastal champ every year there has been a Coastal. History also notes that Virginia Tech doesn’t always start quickly. History also notes that Paul Johnson is pretty good as an underdog. I’m thinking he coaches the heck out of that game and his team goes 9-3 (losses to Miami, Clemson and Georgia) and wins the division on a tiebreaker. I’m also thinking nobody else will agree — except maybe Paul Johnson.
Georgia Tech's Tevin Washington against the Hokies last year. That didn't end so well, either. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
LSU will lose a regular-season game but win the SEC West. Maybe the loss will come at Auburn, or at Florida, or even at Texas A&M. Just for the heck of it, let’s go with the new-to-the SEC Aggies. I do not, however, believe LSU will lose against Alabama on Nov. 3 or Arkansas on Nov. 24. The men of Miles will rise up for those Titanic tilts. (I also don’t think Bama will be quite as good as advertised, and I can’t see John L. Smith lifting Arkansas to great heights.)
Once again, South Carolina will beat Georgia but lose the SEC East. Because the Gamecocks will lose at LSU on Oct. 13 and at Florida the next week. (The Gators will start to get well this season. They’ll go 9-3.) Another 10-win season will leave South Carolina frozen out of the SEC title game — mostly because of the imbalance in SEC scheduling. Steve Spurrier is right: Somebody does need to do something about that.
Speaking of significant openers … Tennessee cannot lose to North Carolina State on Aug. 31. Derek Dooley’s Vols could be positioned for a rebound — provided they beat the Wolfpack in Game 1 of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff. And State, which was 8-5 last season even after letting Russell Wilson leave for Wisconsin, won’t be easy. But this is a must game for the Vols, and I’m thinking they’ll take it. Besides, the SEC always beats the ACC, right?
Hold that thought. I like Clemson over Auburn the next night in the same building. Cam Newton: Gone awhile. Gus Malzahn: Gone to Arkansas State. Auburn’s 2010 national championship will soon be rendered one of those how-did-that-happen comets if Gene Chizik doesn’t think of something fast, and I’m not sure G-Chiz is about to make us say, “Gee whiz!” The schedule’s not that bad; I just don’t see Auburn being that good. Eight wins, tops.
Florida State will win the ACC because somebody has to. League loyalists point to the good coaches entering the conference — Mike London of Virginia, Al Golden of Miami, Larry Fedora of North Carolina — as reason to believe. Honesty compels me to confess that I’ve rarely seen the ACC appear less imposing. (So why am I picking Clemson over Auburn? Because I’m stupid, that’s why.)
Southern Cal will go undefeated behind their boy genius coach and will play Georgia for the BCS title in Miami. I’m not going to make a pick on this one yet — I’ve done enough damage for one day, don’t you think? — except to say this: Lane Kiffin absolutely owns Mark Richt. (OK, so they’ve only met once.)
Kidding aside, I really do think Georgia has the makings of a championship team. Great defense. Good quarterback. Lots of running backs. I have the same concerns as you about the offensive line, but no team is without blemish. And the schedule — no Alabama, no Arkansas, no LSU, not even a Boise State — looks mightily inviting. Not to heap pressure on anyone, but you have to wonder: If Richt doesn’t play for the BCS title with this team, will he ever?
Lane Kiffin at work against Georgia: Oct. 10, 2009. His team won by 26. (AP photo)
By Mark Bradley
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624 comments Add your comment
Go For 2
June 1st, 2012
11:21 am
Mark: I love how the biggest asset to UGa for the last two seasons has been….easy schedule. You make the assumption that Georgia has moved into the SEC elite with your usual lack of in depth anlysis of the rest of the conference. But good job getting your traditional string of poorly researched Georgia puff pieces out there. Ultimately even if I agree that Georgia has top talent (i am not so sure anymore), great talent doesn’t make up for mediocre team leadership…Georgia will be below Auburn, alabama, Arkansas…and SC.
I dropped my fried twinkie
June 1st, 2012
11:25 am
UGa is the Keyser Soze/Rolo Tomassi of the SEC……..A FICTIONAL character involved in SEC Championship talk.
NCBulldawg86
June 1st, 2012
11:43 am
Mark… So you think it is fair to claim UGA as the team to beat, and that if Coach Mark Richt can’t win this year, maybe he can’t? Is that what you truly believe? If that is the case, I have to question you as a journalist in the sports world and tell me where the Bulldogs show on paper, an O-Line that equates to that of one of an SEC championship, possibly MNC team?
Oh, you mean an OL with three new starters is supposed to be a superb aspect of a championship caliber team? Care to cite a team that has won the SEC with three new starters, starters that are going to be: Freshman, Redshirt Freshmen or Sophomores?
Is it possible? Oh, yeah, it could happen. Should it? Not with such a glaring gap at such an important position as the OL group. I mean, poor OL play equals no running lanes, no time for passing and pretty much results in something similar to what UGA did last year, and they had much more, MUCH MORE experience.
I can only hope Coach Friend and Co. get the most out of these young guns vying for playing time on the OL and that they survive the Missouri game and gel as a unit as the season progresses and makes you look like a genius. There is more depth this year, and better depth at RB which might very well work out for the Dawgs, but I am a realist and am not going in with it is an “all or nothing” season, and that a MNC/SEC Championship is the only acceptable end result, or Coach Richt will never win one.
Yeah, a little defensive, I’ll admit, but just get tired of willy-nilly prognostication when such a glaring gap on OL does not seem to scream MNC team, or SEC C team. Can it happen? Yes, but “Should it?”, is my question to you.
Mr. Krinkle
June 1st, 2012
11:57 am
UGA will have a great year and win the SEC. They will not lose to uscjr but may lose to USCsr in MNC. BTW, no one reads the long blogs, just an fyi.
I dropped my fried twinkie
June 1st, 2012
12:01 pm
Coach Friend is taking all the O-line player to SPARKLES!!!!!!He wants then to get used to the feeling of being on roller-skates cause they is how they play. Getting pushed back like they are on roller skates. Theus looks Pretty in Pink.
UGA? R U Kidding
June 1st, 2012
12:22 pm
UGA football…..32 years and counting.
East Repeat
June 1st, 2012
12:22 pm
twinkie- funny! Do they were in-line skates or the old school type? I guess with a dated offense you get dated equipment, more traditional, and we know UGA is looaaaded with tradition. If you don’t think so, just point out recent history and they will fall back on “tradition”.
old dog
June 1st, 2012
12:38 pm
@twinkie….You are right on! the big d-lineman from Michigan State proved single-handedly that we were poor up front! Gotta get hosses on that line to win in the SEC. He whooped us so bad The Good Lord himself had to watch the replay…………..
Look In The Mirror
June 1st, 2012
12:40 pm
I am glad to see the AJC is covering the SEC Media Days in Destin.
We all know one thing, Michael Carvell is not down there, he is sitting at his desk in Athens, right down the hall from The UGA staff where he gets his “talking points” and recruiting hit pieces to sway kids to UGA.
I dropped my fried twinkie
June 1st, 2012
12:41 pm
Just having fun. The O-Line shouldn’t have to pass Block more than 20% of a game. If BOBO would LEARN he would run the ball, but he likes the Richt old FSU Offense.
Look In The Mirror
June 1st, 2012
12:44 pm
It is a nice thing to do by Mark Bradley in picking UGA and GT to win big this fall.
However the one area that Mr. Bradley did not delve into was ;ATTITUDE. That is what makes the difference in winning the big games and losing easy games or making them too close.
We all know that UGA has great or good players, but the attitude and dedication along with the “ME” attitudes by many on the UGA roster reflect the reason why UGA has not won a title in 32 years and why Mark Richt is proven to be a great recruiter but a poor Head Coach who knows how to manage his staff, hire his staff and keep control of his players and program.
Triangle Hokie
June 1st, 2012
12:50 pm
I think Mark’s been drinking the hard stuff. I’m betting Bud Foster’s defense is gonna take GT’s offense to the woodshed. Lot’s of time to prepare and the 1st game of the season.
UGA ALL THE WAY.
June 1st, 2012
12:57 pm
I see GT finishing in NO HIGHER, than 4th, in their division. Win, the division. I DON’T THNK SO. UGA, will beat South Carolina, this year.
2011champs
June 1st, 2012
1:08 pm
The UGA D is only average against good teams. They built those pretty stats against teams like Kentucky, offensive powerhouse Coastal Carolina, and New Mexico St. 9-3 will be the absolute best record. Another underachieving season for CMR.
FreDawg
June 1st, 2012
1:13 pm
With this pick, we are officially done before fall practice even starts.
Phillip
June 1st, 2012
1:20 pm
Nice grammar in this post?
I do agree with some of the predictions, though. I think UGA (if its athletes can stay away from trouble) can have a memorable season. I also think Clemson will be a scary team this year – the FSU/Clemson game in Week 3, imo, will determine the winner of the ACC.
Homepage | MrSEC
June 1st, 2012
1:21 pm
[...] 6. This writer’s picking Georgia to win the SEC in 2012 [...]
ramblin wrech that didnt go to georgia tech but still considers himself to be a heck of an engineer
June 1st, 2012
1:29 pm
UGA will loose to UF, USC, and blow another game they should win, take your pick. Hopefully GT will raise up and get one (their last two wins against the dawgs were in athens) but I think the Jackets have a good shot at a 10 or 11 win season if they can get their defense a little better.
ramblin wreck that didnt go to georgia tech but still considers himself to be a heck of an engineer
June 1st, 2012
1:34 pm
I cant wait to see Jadeveon sling Aaron Murray to the ground like a rag doll in Columbia. I see the ol ball coach taking the cocks all the way this year, no matter who is on their schedule. the talent is better than it has ever been, even without Ingram, Gilmore, and Jeffery.
old dog
June 1st, 2012
1:38 pm
@Twinkie:
It ain’t the % of run/pass……….we cannot block for either………………
Buckeye
June 1st, 2012
1:43 pm
Get a life you SEC!SEC! and dog people. It’s June 1.
bham dawg
June 1st, 2012
1:46 pm
@Buckeye… Why did you cancel our series? Urban Cryer knows he can’t compete with the sec that’s why.
Red Stick
June 1st, 2012
1:47 pm
Tweeted by Phil Steele today:
“The Florida Gators are my surprise pick to win the SEC East this yearr and they come in at #10 in my Top 40 Countdown. http://tiny.cc/hij8ew”
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
bham dawg
June 1st, 2012
1:48 pm
Way off subject but… Remember when Derrick Henry committed and all the bammers kept saying he’s the next Richard Samuel he will never play running back. Now there is a thread on BOL saying how sick would it be if we can land DH. Goes on to say 6′3 240 running back is unstoppable. Bammers are so hypocritical. When he is committed to us he is out of position. If he flips to bammer he is the next stud back. Bammers are hilarious.
bham dawg
June 1st, 2012
1:51 pm
also says they are going to land Henry and Kamara. Keep dreamin bammers.
harold
June 1st, 2012
1:57 pm
LOOK….UGA PLAYS ONLY 2 TEAMS IN THE TOP 20 THIS YEAR. THIS SCHEDULE IS WHAT ONE CAN CALL ” A CAKEWALK”. IF UGA BEATS USC THEY ARE IN THE SEC TITLE GAME.
IF THEY AREN’T IN THERE WITH THIS SCHEDULE UGA NEEDS TO FIRE RICHT!
Spike 80DF
June 1st, 2012
1:58 pm
I’ve seen this movie before. Dawgs will lose a game they should win early (Mizzou) and then play lights out the rest of the year. Since the Dawgs are not a consistent winner they don’t get the benefit of the doubt and USC will play OU or something like that and we get stuck in the Sugar bowl.
Look In The Mirror
June 1st, 2012
1:59 pm
bham dawg…i bet you keep your trap shut when you walk around BHAM….talking smack will get you smacked by some of those fans
bham dawg
June 1st, 2012
2:12 pm
nah i talk the same game been here my whole life. and its not smack talking it is simply restating the bammer arrogance.
bham dawg
June 1st, 2012
2:13 pm
i mean they have to highly rated rb’s already committed and expect to sign 2 more elite backs. its not happening.
Bama= T-bag special
June 1st, 2012
2:19 pm
Well I hope Mark is right but we have to see what our OL can do on the field….I’m hopeful but not boastful, you have to play the games first run your mouth second unless your a Bama or USC fan..
Jacket Time
June 1st, 2012
2:21 pm
GT could have a shot at beating VT we are always strongest at the beginning of the season. Our O-line should be good. Defense… we can only hope. ACC title very possible. Winning it? Dunno… Winning the Orange Bowl if we do?… we can only pray.
UGA vs. GT lets face it UGA has a good program and a pretty stout team. Lots of depth and top knotch recruits. GT is limited as far as depth goes and trails off the end of every season. Our chances sadly are SLIM.
Its about time UGA’s number is called for the SEC team who gets a shot a the title. Just don’t blow the streak let alone lose to a California team. Just remember GT will still have 1 more National Championship. For you UGA fans who can’t take Tech having one little thing over you… blah blah blah atleast I went to the school I root for.
Bammer
June 1st, 2012
2:32 pm
So, winning two NC’s in three years is just running your mouth and not playing the games? I think you have Bama confused with UGA…you know…the team who is preseason NC every year but ends up with the same ole tired result. You UGA fans get stupider and stupider every year you get farther away from 1980.
Bama Boy
June 1st, 2012
2:32 pm
Bradleys Dawgs win the Title,I dont think so!Hafta go through us or LSU sooner or later its not gonna happen
Bammy
June 1st, 2012
2:34 pm
Hmmmm…preseason NC’s or end of season NC’s. Who’s playing the games and who’s running their mouths again? You Dwags are becoming more stupid each year you get farther away from 1980.
Bammy
June 1st, 2012
2:36 pm
Hey Bham Dwag…arrogance is when you talk smack but have nothing to back it up. Roll your tired azz over to Tuscaloosa and check the trophy case…then go talk some more of your insightful smack.
Bammy
June 1st, 2012
2:38 pm
How many years in a row has UGA won the Preseason NC now? You guys are on a roll! Congratulations!!!
bham dawg
June 1st, 2012
2:42 pm
@Bammy… so you are telling me you expect to sign tenpenny, jones, henry, and kamara? And that’s not arrogant come on man.
bham dawg
June 1st, 2012
2:42 pm
and i have been to tuscaloosa plenty of times it smells.
Bammy
June 1st, 2012
2:43 pm
Have they not…even in the pages of the AJC…stated that they are interested in Bama? Yes they have. Now is it ever 100%? Of course not. But a guy don’t walk on the lot lest he’s interested in buying.
bham dawg
June 1st, 2012
2:47 pm
true but as we know with these recruits especially the highly ranked ones they don’t want to compete, they want to walk into a job. singing 4 elite backs just isn’t going to happen. if henry does flip i expect tyren jones to look around.
Anonymous
June 1st, 2012
2:49 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
Same delusion, different year!
2011champs
June 1st, 2012
3:12 pm
They are always delusional. Even if they somehow manage to win the East (which is highly unlikely), they are not even close to the level of LSU and Bama. Last season, they were not even on the level with S. Carolina, and they are not up there yet. Not even sure they are up to the level of Mizzou, meaning I am not sure they can go to Columbia, without all those suspended D players, and win. 9-3 will be a really good record Mizzou, S. Carolina, Florida, Vandy, Auburn). 5 possible losses, but realistically probably 3 or 4.
2011champs
June 1st, 2012
3:14 pm
Remember, this is a team coached by Mark Richt. Underacheiving is always the rule
Eternal Optimist
June 1st, 2012
3:41 pm
Dawgs have great receivers! We will run the table and kick Spurrier’s tail! We will then whip LSU for 4 quarters like we did the first two last year! Then we take the national title whipping whomever we play! Nobody stands a prayer against the Dawgs this year as we will go down as the greatest college team of all time!
2011champs
June 1st, 2012
4:07 pm
Riiiiiiiiiight!!!!!!!!!
harold
June 1st, 2012
4:30 pm
RICHT HAS NOT YET DELIVERED WHAT UGA FANS WANT: A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
RICHT IS 24-16 HIS LAST THREE YEARS AND 9-30 AGAINST RANKED TEAMS! HE IS AN ABOVE AVERAGE COACH…NO WHERE CLOSE TO ALABAMA AND NICK SABAN OR LES MILES AND LSU.
SABAN HAS MORE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THAN GEORGIA DOES. IN FACT, RICHT HAS NEVER EVEN BEEN IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME! IF HE CAN’T DO IT WITH THIS “CREAM PUFF” SCHEDULE HE WILL NEVER DO IT.
HOW IS ALL HIS TOP 10 RECRUITING CLASSES NEVER EQUATE TO A TOP 10 FINISH? HMMMMM… COULD IT BE THE COACH? HMMM…..
Not Jasper Sanks
June 1st, 2012
4:35 pm
I think da Dawgs will win as long as Crowell doesn’t fumble the ball.
Run the Table...not!
June 1st, 2012
4:38 pm
Losses to the Gamecocks & maybe Mizzou. I’m glad we got Slive in our hip pocket. This cupcake schedule should get us to 10 wins…but I don’t see the Gamecocks losing more than two. Therefore, they will win the East.
Thanks for building up the hopes of Dawg Nation…but it ain’t gonna happen!
Festus
June 1st, 2012
4:53 pm
UGA wins the SEC? I would bet you the mortgage on my house but since I live in Dekalb County a six pack of Dr. Pepper would involve more money. Tell you what. I’ll take the old Ted Turner bet. If UGA wins the SEC championship I’ll roll a peanut down Peachtree Street from Peachtree Center to Buckhead. If you’ll stop traffic for me. When was the last time a SEC team won a championship without a QB?