Why I believe UGA, Tech and the Falcons are bound for glory
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When next these two collide, both will be division champs. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
As best I recall, I’ve never picked Georgia, Georgia Tech and the Falcons to win their respective divisions in the same season. As some might have noted, I’ve done so this time. In the attempt to disprove the notion that I’ve gone completely (as opposed to partially) insane, I’d like to offer a few words in the defense of my mental health.
There was no grand design to my three-fer. I didn’t sit down and say, “Boy, wouldn’t it be neat to pick everybody to win something?” For the record, Georgia was the easiest choice and Tech the hardest. For the record, I would not have picked the Bulldogs to win the SEC West or Tech to take the ACC Atlantic, but at last check neither is switching divisions anytime soon.
Not to get all grandiose about it, but I’d like to think there’s a method to my madness. Why do I think these three locals — sorry, Georgia State, but I couldn’t stretch my bound-for-glory theme quite that far — will do what I foresee them doing? Here goes.
Good team + bunny schedule = SEC East title. If you’re looking for a team that has a real chance to do something, you start with one that has either a seasoned quarterback or a shutdown defense. Georgia has both. And it did win its division last season, and with an even easier schedule I see no reason why it can’t again.
The reach is in picking Georgia to win not just the East but the whole SEC. Memories of the Bulldogs’ 42-10 loss to LSU in the 2011 SEC title game are fresh and raw, but for 24 minutes the Tigers seemed the side more apt to be routed. Georgia held LSU to no first downs in the first half and should have led by 17 or even 21 points. There’s no reason a more experienced band of Bulldogs can’t upset LSU or Alabama this December, and is there any way a 12-1 SEC champ wouldn’t play for the BCS title? Confidence level: I’m comfortable with all aspects of this pick.
Big early game + big-game coach = ACC Coastal title. I’d be lying if I said I think Georgia Tech will be a great team. I see it going 9-3, which falls under the heading of “pretty good.” But it also has a kind conference schedule — it doesn’t play Florida State or North Carolina State — and its chance to win the division will hinge on what happens Labor Day night.
Beating Virginia Tech in Blacksburg isn’t easy, but the Yellow Jackets under Paul Johnson have come close twice. I see these Jackets as a team with a point to prove. Georgia Tech had a losing season in 2010 and lost five of their final seven games last season. Being so-so is not what Johnson has in mind, and he’s among the best tacticians extant. If Virginia Tech expects to win simply because it’s playing at home, it won’t win at all. Confidence level: This pick could look silly come 11 p.m. Monday, but I’ll take that risk.
In 2012, the Falcons will scramble ahead of their rival. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Rebooted team + retreating rival = NFC South title. I’d have liked the Falcons’ chances even if Sean Payton hadn’t been suspended for the season, but I can see no way in which the Saints will be nearly as good without one of the two men (Drew Brees being the other) who made them what they are, or at least were until Roger Goodell got hold of them. The Saints are so messed up they’ll need an interim coach for interim coach Joe Vitt, who’s suspended for four games himself.
Loading ...It isn’t quite now-or-never for Dimitroff/Smith/Ryan, but the Falcons will never have a better chance than this. Their schedule is tough but not oppressive. Their new offensive and defensive coordinators surely will be more adventurous. Like you, I wonder about the offensive and defensive lines, but I see few teams than can match the Falcons at the skill positions. I like them to go 12-4, win their division and then take the NFC title. Confidence level: Very high.
Oh, and before you say, “Way to go, Wrong-Way Bradley — dooming three teams in one fell swoop” … please note the following. When last I picked Georgia to win its division, it did. (Last year, it was.) When last I picked Tech to win its division, it did. (In 2009.) When last I picked the Falcons to win their division, they did. (In 2010.) Far from being a jinx, I consider the MB imprimatur a stairway to heaven.
By Mark Bradley
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260 comments Add your comment
Tide Rising
August 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
Dawg for Life,
Doesn’t matter how much talent you lose if if you are replacing it with 4 and 5 star talent that’s been playing lots of snaps for the last couple of years. When Dee Milliner is considered a new starter but he has already started 17 games in his career then that’s your first clue. And degenerating into you married your sister comments doesn’t win you an argument. It just makes you look stupid. Besides gone with the wind with all the intermarrying cousins and Deliverance were based on Georgia inbreds.
Tide Rising
August 29th, 2012
4:46 pm
“Honestly, I pull for them out of the west, but you need more than one back.”
We’ve got 4 of them including 2 former 5 star tailbacks behind Lacy. TJ Yeldon is the next great bama back and had 179 total yards in the spring game. Dee hart when he was in high school set the Fla state record for tds with 50 in one season. He then rushed for over 100 yds in the us army all american game- the only rb to ever do so. He got mvp for that game too. He sat out last year with a knee injury but is back. And then we’ve got big, bad Jalston Fowler. We’re good to go at running back.
Tide Rising
August 29th, 2012
4:47 pm
“You will loose against LSU, ARK, and SC, possibly another stumble in there too.”
So you are admitting that we play SC in the sec title game? Cause we sure don’t play them in the regular season this year.
Peter
August 29th, 2012
4:47 pm
One thing about Mark….. he is always way too optimistic…then has to back track.
But hey how would you get in on the good side without a little butt kissing ?
JacketsWIN
August 29th, 2012
4:47 pm
blah blah blah haters gunna hate
Dawg for Life
August 29th, 2012
4:48 pm
Actually yes it does moron. 5 star talent doesn’t really even matter. People don’t realize that it’s not the caliber necicarily. A 240lbs DT might be a 5 star, but UGA wouldn’t recruit him for DT because he is too small for a 3-4 scheme. They might pass on a 5 star for a 3 star who is well over 300 lbs and can be coached up.
GATiger
August 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
I just don’t see UGA getting past USC in Columbia. I also think they’ll lose another game somewhere – Mizzou, UF, UT or AU. They have a pretty good defense, but not great – at least not that I’ve seen. They didn’t stop a single good offense last year, and I don’t consider ours (LSU) a good offense in 2011. If they have a decen running game this year, it’ll be a surprise to me. They might have some good, young, albeit untested RBs, but the OL is highly suspect, so I have no confidence in their ability to control the ball, and we’ve seen what happens when they become one-dimensional.
In any case there’s no way they get by Bama, Arkansas or LSU in the SECCG.
Dawg for Life
August 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
I hate my computer sometimes…damn keyboard sticks
Tokyo jacket
August 29th, 2012
5:02 pm
@ Dawgforlife – you should stick to talking smack against GT. At least against us, you have a leg (or 3 in a row) to stand on. You should not talk smack to Bama. They would (and may come December) crush UGA. You can’t argue rising Tide’s point. They’ve got sick talent AND a coach that knows how to develop talent. This Bama team might actually be able to beat a really bad NFL team.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 29th, 2012
5:03 pm
Tide Rising
UGA has the talent to hang with anyone just the coaching is Div II level
So there you have it UGA goes 10 wins again yippie cant wait until my 10 win season t-shirt comes in again
I have a dozen of them; I just love bragging about them
1971DAWG
August 29th, 2012
5:05 pm
All of this chatter is such B.S. Nobody knows or has a clue what each team will do until they put on the pads and actually play a decent team. But as they say, opinions are like as-holes, everybody has one. It’s just some people like to show theirs off more than others. Everyone come back in a few weeks and then we can all see who was right and who was wrong. Thank GOD the season starts tomorrow.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 29th, 2012
5:08 pm
Dawg for Life
You seem to have forgotten what happened when played bama at home last time
I remember quite well
Yes I remember having 3 number one draft picks on offense and a good 2nd round wide reciever
Yes I remember Mark and Booboo couldnt even score a field goal with that talent in the first half
Yea I rember being down and embarrassed 31-0 at halftime
Get a clue bud
This coaching staff is not winning a national title
Old Gold
August 29th, 2012
5:22 pm
“Imprimatur?” You’ve got the be kidding. Unless Furman Bisher used that word, this could be the first time a sports writer has waxed so eloquent. Well done!
Dogs will win the East IF they don’t slip up at Mizzou. If that happens, and they follow with a loss in Columbia, forget it, season over in September. As for Georgia Tech, I don’t feel good about Monday night, but they could still win the division if they run the rest of the conference table and the Hokies fall twice, which could happen. As for the Falcons, can’t quite bring myself to seeing it happen.
Great column, hope you’re right about all three.
Pitbull
August 29th, 2012
5:30 pm
The only way Tech will be headed for glory this year is when they roll over and die each Saturday…or Thursday night,,, or Monday night.
They will schedule the game for when you can attend.
california dreaming
August 29th, 2012
5:40 pm
Hoping for a Vandy shocker against USCjr tomorrow night! Put the dawgs in the driver seat before they even play.
Clive
August 29th, 2012
5:54 pm
Tokyo, UNC down? They have the best Oline in the conference, the best RB, and a QB second to none. While not deep, they have talent on D as well. UNC is ranked in most polls. How do you figure they are “down”?
tony
August 29th, 2012
5:55 pm
The falcons will never make it back to the sb until they strenghten their DL and OL.
Ga Tech achilles heel has aways been their defense and will be the reason why they will have another subpar season in 2012.
I think the dawgs will win the sec this season because there won’t be any distractions on the team since most of the players that defy Mr Richt are gone. That means more carries for the rbs and less passing for Aaron Murray.
suwanee dawg
August 29th, 2012
5:55 pm
Va Tech will destroy Tech. CPJ is terrible in bowl games when opponents have time to prepare for his unusual offense. Va Tech has had a pre-season to prepare.
Nester
August 29th, 2012
6:02 pm
Tar Heels lost to both Techs by 6 and 7 pts respectively last yr on the road. Bernard did not play against VaTech in 2d half; his replacement fumbled late in game inside vaTech 5yrd line. Beware of playing between the pines this yr. Fedora can coach the spread and he has all the tools to win in his first yr.
1lovefalcons20
August 29th, 2012
6:04 pm
i hate overated uga//with thier faux christian coach and thier very racist university…BUT ATLANTA FALCONS AND GT I HOPE THEY SOAR…AND HAVE AN SHOCK THE WORLD SEASON..
realitycheck
August 29th, 2012
6:05 pm
I read a bunch of online news everyday, and without question Bradley is the biggest homer. UGA and Tech could win their divisions, but there is no certainty and neither is any real threat against top competition. Richt has proven that time and again over the past few years so why would that change now especially with the lack of depth they have. The Falcons may win their division but it isn’t likely. The Saints are the division favorite and should be, and the Panthers are rising. The Falcons lines, lb’s, and overall depth are average at best, and they are overdue for an injury riddled season, considering they’ve been one of the healthiest NFL teams the past four years. Nobody outside of Atlanta sees Richt or Smith outcoaching anyone if or when the stakes get really high. Anyone who really believes this Bradley garbage should purchase a tract of oceanfront property along the Kansas/Nebraska border!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 29th, 2012
6:06 pm
A shock the world season for Tech is winning 9 games
Smoove Criminal
August 29th, 2012
6:08 pm
“I think the dawgs will win the sec this season”
I think you should change “will” to “would” and delete the rest the sentence and instead insert “if LSU, Bama, or Arkansas weren’t so much better.” Let’s face it, UGA will be good enough and has the talent to win the East this year, I don’t think there’s a question about that. But anyone who thinks this team can get by one of those 3, especially Bama, in the SECCG is terribly mistaken.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 29th, 2012
6:10 pm
realitycheck
You might want to stay late tonight for your real estate business
Im projecting some huge profits for you with the amount of kool-aid bloggers on here willing to buy that ocean front property
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 29th, 2012
6:11 pm
We can beat Arkansas I dont worry about them
Hedgetrimmer
August 29th, 2012
6:30 pm
All you Chihuahuas out there in pre-season LALA land, here’s the scoop: you get your tails taken to the cleaners in Columbia I and Columbia II. Gators’ll get your grannies, too. And the coup de grace? November 24, Jackets roll 45-21. The rivalry begins anew. Enjoy the Music Bowl, Mutts! Arf, arf! Oh, and to continue on this realistic vent, Tech goes 8-4 (no delusions here). As for the Falcons, does anybody from Down Yonder really care? In the South, college football rules. Let the games begin.
Mikey D.
August 29th, 2012
6:34 pm
The football team in Georgia with the best shot at an ultimate championship (nat’l in college, SB in pro) is the bunch from GA Southern.
Whopper Dawg
August 29th, 2012
6:56 pm
UGA is a good pick to win the east, bad pick to win the SEC.
Falcons are a decent pick to win their division, but a very poor pick to win the conference.
Tech has a big game coach?? SInce when?? Check bowl game record please and playing in a generally woeful ACC, he really hasn’t done much at all and certainly doesn’t deserve the rep you guys have put on him.
Mike S.
August 29th, 2012
7:07 pm
I like the arguments, Mark, but I cant completely agree. There is a wait and see tag for me on the Dawgs and Falcons. I still see the Dawgs winning the East, but I’m not going to be convinced of winning the SEC until I see Bobo’s offense in play. If they continue the bumbling and botched play calling of the last three years, I cant pick them to beat Bama or LSU.
Falcons still need to prove they can win a playoff game to me before I give them the NFC
Mike S.
August 29th, 2012
7:15 pm
As for Tech, 9-3 is very generous to this team. They played poorly on the road last season, and have a much tougher road slate this year. Tech also has a very bad track record when teams have time to prepare for Johnson. The combination of the two says loss at Va Tech to open which will likely kill the Coastal chances.
I also am not convinced of the Miami game, especially the week after Virginia. Johnson hasnt come close to beating Miami since his first season. They have locked in on him, and until he beats them, thats a loss in my book.
Playing BYU, @Maryland, @UNC, Duke, and @UGA is a bad slate for them to end on which I expect will result in 2 losses.
Overall I predict 7-5 for Tech with losses to @Va Tech, Miami, @Clemson, @UGA, and one more in the final month @Maryland or @UNC.
GTBob
August 29th, 2012
7:31 pm
Overall I predict 7-5 for Tech with losses to @Va Tech, Miami, @Clemson, @UGA, and one more in the final month @Maryland or @UNC.
Tech went 8-4 last year with a worse team than they have now. You must think the ACC improved tremendously.
haha
August 29th, 2012
7:55 pm
good thing you don’t get paid for predictions. Something original would help. Is this one of your articles from the past with the date changed?
ha haha ha ha ha ha ha:)
joker
Huh?
August 29th, 2012
8:13 pm
UGA goes 9-3. They lose to Missouri, split with SC and FL, then lose one more game that they probably shouldn’t (which happens most years).
Headed to the SEC CG? Probably, because SC has a tougher SEC schedule. Dawgs probably back into the CG game again.
The Truth
August 29th, 2012
8:21 pm
M Go Blue Heisman qb could be up 21-0 end of 1st qtr.
Quinella
August 29th, 2012
8:24 pm
Darth Spurrier will stomp Richt’s neck with his hobnail boots.
37-21, South Carolina puts another beatdown on the bozos from Athens.
SportsTopFan
August 29th, 2012
8:34 pm
Sports Top Fan believe that the Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Georgia
Bulldogs will have a great season.
Go Falcons !!! Go Yellow Jackets !!! Go Bulldogs !!!
SportsTopFan@Yahoo.com
The Truth
August 29th, 2012
8:36 pm
Actually, we’d like for gt to be undefeated so UGA can ruin their season.
Tim Scott
August 29th, 2012
9:37 pm
Mr Bradley I love the fact that you are a homer. I find it refreshing most sports writers on radio talk show host are so afraid of offending the other side. Now that being said they should win the east,they don’t play any of the three big dogs in the west,South Carolina is the only road block in the east. It pains me to say this because my beloved Gators are in rebuilding mode basically they suck.
Now all that being said they will not win the SEC because they don’t play anyone other than SC. Their defense may be one of the top 2 or 3 in the country,Murray is terrific but like they always do they will beat up the nobodies and when they play either LSU or Bama someone just as tough and physical on defense as they are,they will fold like a bad poker hand. I agree they will win the east if they don’t trip against one of the cellar dwellers. Beware of Columbia Missouri your dreams could be dashed real early. Go Gators
Rick James
August 29th, 2012
9:38 pm
@The Truth
Actually, we’d like for gt to be undefeated so UGA can ruin their season.
———————————————————————————————
That is nothing but the truth,,Unlike Tech fans who pull for Georgia to lose I’d love for them to go undefeated.
ClockWerks
August 29th, 2012
10:19 pm
Bradley,
Can you throw in the Braves to win their division?
DaTruthHurtz
August 29th, 2012
10:19 pm
Bradley, you are a fool. How many times have the Falcons disappointed their misguided fans? Preseason hype turns to downright failure and the whole cycle gets repeated. Geez, when will you people learn? The Lombardi Trophy is NOT coming to the ATL anytime soon. Go ahead, get hyped. A 10-6 season with a 1st round loss is in your immediate future…
3d
August 29th, 2012
10:29 pm
I love my Dawgs, but the operative words from MB are UGA should have led by 17 or 21 against LSU.
That has been the story of this program for quite awhile now. 16-0 lead against MSU in the bowl game. Should have. I could go on and on. It’s gotten old.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda. I’ll believe it when I see it. Talk is cheap.
2012 is it for me with this staff.
ATLien
August 29th, 2012
10:32 pm
As long as Richt is the coach UGA will underachieve. He’s scared, doesn’t take the necessary risk to take a team from good to great. Too loyal to underachieving staff members as well. He’s a great man and I respect him as an individual, but he’s not championship material. Sorry Dawg fans
SDawgU
August 29th, 2012
11:09 pm
The dogs win 11 and win the SEC—book it. This dog team is the real deal, better than alabama or lsu. Dogs v. usc for the title!!!
Flounder
August 29th, 2012
11:26 pm
@SDawgU … OK, I’ve booked it. It’s marked on page 69 of my Fairy Tale collection.
JASon
August 29th, 2012
11:26 pm
There are so many holes in this article that I don’t know where to begin. Bottom line is that bradley is a local team booster and rally leader and not a credible source for discussion of sports.
realitycheck
August 29th, 2012
11:35 pm
JASon………..You are correct!
9 Losses in a Row to teams making any top 25 poll - after Georgie tek # 13 in 2009. 7 Losses in Row to teams making any Top 10 - not since beating Auburn # 9 in 2006. 9 Losses in a row to SEC teams who put up a winning SEC Record - starting with KY 2007
August 29th, 2012
11:41 pm
SDawgU August 29th, 2012 11:09 pm
____________________________________________________________________
“This dog team is the real deal, better than alabama or lsu. Dogs v. usc for the title!!!”
____________________________________________________________________
dinopolis
August 29th, 2012
11:45 pm
falcons: 12-4, lose in nfc title game
uga: 10-2, lose in minor bowl
tech: 8-4, lose in minor bowl
9 Losses in a Row to teams making any top 25 poll - after Georgie tek # 13 in 2009. 7 Losses in Row to teams making any Top 10 - not since beating Auburn # 9 in 2006. 9 Losses in a row to SEC teams who put up a winning SEC Record - starting with KY 2007
August 29th, 2012
11:46 pm
That’s about it.