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
had enough
August 31st, 2012
4:51 pm
11-1 in the sec championship game again.
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
August 31st, 2012
6:48 pm
But these are all teams from Georgia?
The penal colony and honey boo boo don’t field disciplined teams that win championships.
Richts waterloo
August 31st, 2012
10:21 pm
After watching Vandy – SC game last night UGA will lose to both….. Bank on it….
Dog Tall
August 31st, 2012
11:19 pm
the dogs—class of the SEC east! Ga will blow out fl and ut and beat sc by 7. Dogs v. Alabama for the title!!!
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012
September 1st, 2012
1:13 am
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012 who even then will not have beat a single team making any top 10 poll, again.
Mark Richt lost to a Mountain West Conference team, who last night lost to Michigan State, who Mark Richt lost to as well.
Mark Richt lost to an unranked at game time Boston College team in 2001 in Music City Bowl.
Mark Richt in his 7th season here at UGA, lost at home to a 2-win only Vandie team whose only 2 wins were over 0-12 Duke and 1-11 Temple yet they beat Mark Richt.
Mark Richt lost to an unranked 5-7 Colorado team who fired their coach the year before last.
Mark Richt lost 3 years ago to a team who did not make the AP Poll Top 25 even, even with their win over Mark Richt when Okie State beat us with Zach Mettenberger not even getting a single snap at QB despite chronic sore shoulder of Joe Cox keeping him out of practice at least once a week his entire career here who in addition had to fly to the game on a charter flight because of the flu.
Mark Richt lost in 2002 to a team who did not make either the Coaches’ or the AP Top 25 polls, and went 0-11 on 3rd down conversions for the entire game against Ron Zook’s Florida “team” 2002.
Mark Richt lost to 5-loss Kentucky in 2006, too.
2007, Mark Richt lost to a mediocre 4-Loss vols team in a blow-out of Biblical Proportions 14-35.
2007 in addition Mark Richt lost to a team who did not make any Top 25 poll, who ended up 6-6 and not in a bowl game, South Carolina.
3 years ago at Home again, a 7-6 team who obviously also did not make any poll, came in and beat Mark Richt here at Sanford Stadium, hapless Kentucky.
Same year for that feat, 7-6 also vols hapless team beat Mark Richt 19-45 in another blow-out of Biblical Proportions to an absolute cupcake. Again.
2 seasons’ ago against an unranked in any poll obviously 8-5 team, lost to Florida.
2 seasons’ ago against an unranked in any poll South Carolina a 5-Loss team, Mark Richt again lost to an abject powderpuff football team, 6-17.
2 seasons’ ago against an unranked at game time Conference USA team for Heavens’ Sake U Central Florida, Mark Richt again lost 6-10.
2008, a 4-Loss, should have been 5-Loss Georgie tek team beat Mark Richt 42-45 at our House.
There is just no way, to run in here and attempt to paint Mark Richt as a coach who doesn’t lose to absolute cupcakes in this his 12th year here, and moreover, it is his 3 wins in 16 games against teams who made the Top 10 in his now 12th season here too that defines Mark Richt as a coach with no control of his scholarship recruits all 12 years, who cannot beat the top teams and obviously has Lost these 15 games to cupcakes.
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012
September 1st, 2012
1:14 am
Mark Richt lost to a Mountain West Conference team, who last night lost to Michigan State, who Mark Richt lost to as well.
Mark Richt lost to an unranked at game time Boston College team in 2001 in Music City Bowl.
Mark Richt in his 7th season here at UGA, lost at home to a 2-win only Vandie team whose only 2 wins were over 0-12 Duke and 1-11 Temple yet they beat Mark Richt.
Mark Richt lost to an unranked 5-7 Colorado team who fired their coach the year before last.
Mark Richt lost 3 years ago to a team who did not make the AP Poll Top 25 even, even with their win over Mark Richt when Okie State beat us with Zach Mettenberger not even getting a single snap at QB despite chronic sore shoulder of Joe Cox keeping him out of practice at least once a week his entire career here who in addition had to fly to the game on a charter flight because of the flu.
Mark Richt lost in 2002 to a team who did not make either the Coaches’ or the AP Top 25 polls, and went 0-11 on 3rd down conversions for the entire game against Ron Zook’s Florida “team” 2002.
Mark Richt lost to 5-loss Kentucky in 2006, too.
2007, Mark Richt lost to a mediocre 4-Loss vols team in a blow-out of Biblical Proportions 14-35.
Really Bradley?
September 2nd, 2012
9:50 pm
well, you are a glorified blogger who gives his bias thoughts and opinions…but can’t report facts because you are not a reporter…but these predictions are hilarious! falcons have the same players from last year with a questionable upgrade with Asante…Asante is a gambling cornerback who gets burned on simple double moves..Eagles always trade their worst players to desperate teams and laugh in the end…look at kolb in Arizona, he lost his starting job and eagles got a ransom from cards…you’re banking on Saints to fall apart, still a dangerous and talented team despite suspensions + coaching staff has been together longer than majority of teams staff in nfl…there’s a foundation down there in bayou and they are not unorganized like most people may believe…Ga gave up 23pts to Buffalo..Ga should’ve demolished them…I know it’s only 1st game, but that would concern me a bit if improvements aren’t made
Live from Tech-Tech: Rain (and an upset) could be coming | Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2012
5:16 pm
[...] game in what stands as a massive season for Georgia Tech and Paul Johnson. As previously mentioned, I like the Jackets to win. I have found absolutely no one else in the media who seconds that emotion, but I’m [...]
Susan Guru
September 4th, 2012
10:31 am
Mark If can remember correctly you’re pick from last season was the Falcon 12-4 and going to the superbowl.
12-4 you had them winning the division
Seem like a repeat from the last couple or years
Mark Bradley
September 4th, 2012
10:33 am
Nope, Susan Guru. Had the Falcons going 12-4 and winning the wild card. They went 10-6 and were a wild card qualifier. Never picked them to go to the Super Bowl last year.