Heat Check: The Braves close in; Tech and UGA run wild
Pennant fever! Ger yer pennant fever right here! (AP photo)
Is it just me, or do the local teams never lose? Our Heat Check examines.
BRAVES: Swept the team they’re chasing, so the season’s final 2 1/2 weeks might actually see a real chase. They’re 5 1/2 games back with 15 to go — the Nationals have 16 remaining — and if you’re wondering if such a thing could happen: Sure it could. The pholdin’ Phillies of 1964 led the National League by 6 1/2 games with 12 to play. Heat Index: Even if the Braves don’t catch Washington, they’ve still all but assured themselves a wild-card spot. And, assuming they’re indeed a wild card and assuming they win the play-in, they could well play the Nats in the Division Series, which would be a best-of-five with the first two games at Turner Field. (With the new playoff format, teams from the same division can meet in Round 1.)
FALCONS: Technically they haven’t played yet — that comes tonight — but they had a very good Sunday. The Saints are 0-2. Tampa Bay blew a lead against the Giants. Carolina looked pretty good in getting to 1-1, but the Panthers have already lost a division game. Heat Index: If the Falcons beat the Broncos tonight, they’ll be 2-0 and leading the NFC South. (They’d also be 2-0 against the AFC West, not that it matters.)
GEORGIA TECH: Beat Virginia by 36 points, which is a pretty big deal considering the Cavaliers outmuscled the Jackets 11 months ago. Better still, Virginia Tech was routed by 0-2 Pittsburgh, and the magnitude of that non-conference loss suggests the Hokies could have two or three ACC losses in them. Heat Index: A season that started badly is brightening by the week.
GEORGIA: Beat Florida Atlantic by 36 points, which is no big deal. Freshmen Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley had 100-yard rushing games. The Bulldogs set a school record for yards (713) gained in a game, which assumes this qualified as a real game. Longtime interim Russ was instituted as an official UGA. A good time was had by all except Jarvis Jones, who sat with a groin injury. Heat Index: Already ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press poll, the feeling persists that Georgia is only now approaching peak form.
GEORGIA STATE: Here’s the local exception. The Panthers lost by 24 points to UTSA before a Georgia Dome gathering of 11,496. Georgia State is 0-3 and has been outscored 122-33. Heat Index: Might want to circle the Sept. 29 game at William & Mary, which is also 0-3. If the Panthers come home still winless, they could be looking at a season of abject wretchedness.
DREAM: Has won six of seven and just clinched its fourth consecutive playoff berth. Heat Index: No big deal, you say? Well, the past two seasons the Dream reached the WNBA finals.
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146 comments Add your comment
Joey
September 17th, 2012
11:06 am
Exactly, #3 Bumble-Bee.
Unfortunately those little fellers don’t even know who Tech is playing next, nor could they name a starter on Tech’s D.
They aren’t Tech-fans as much as UGA-haters . . .
azdawg
September 17th, 2012
11:07 am
Willy
September 17th, 2012
10:59 am
LOL. However, suggest you elaborate otherwise leaves a lot to interpretation.
Mark Richts Hot Seat Index
September 17th, 2012
11:07 am
Will come to a boil this saturday againnst vandy. Book it!
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
11:08 am
Bob
really? Who’s top 10 offense have we stopped? We aren’t children here Bob. Quit twisting stats to your favor. Are you wearing a cheerleaders uniform right now. Stats and rankings are meaningless or amazing. Which one Bob? You can’t have it both ways.
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
11:11 am
Bob
Sometimes you bring the curve down in the classroom. Too much coffee this morning?
Joey
September 17th, 2012
11:11 am
It never is a cakewalk, Bumble-Bee, just picking on an anonomous poster. Look on Shultzie’s article from Sat and you will see a heart-felt “Congrats GT!” from me. I always pull for y”all.
And, I’ll call UGA’s nice start “a roll” when we head to Jax without a loss, but there is a bunch of trouble between here and there.
Willy
September 17th, 2012
11:11 am
Interpretation needed?
Clemson girls are the best!!!!
Richard
September 17th, 2012
11:11 am
Hey, let’s give some respect to the Dream. They are the only team in this town that has even REACHED a FINALS in forever….and have done it twice in a row! I mean c’mon! They play pretty good games if you sit and watch them.
GT
September 17th, 2012
11:13 am
Va. Tech has to play both FSU and Clemson, but should beat them; we just have Clemson, though Miami has had our number for a while now.
Washington has retired its ace, could cause a chemical imbalance with them, winning the division is not out of the question.
Georgia still has not played anybody, now Florida looks like it has life again and South Carolina is there, no easy schedule anymore. If Georgia wins the division this year they may get some respect. If they win the whole thing they finally have live up to what people expect. All is in front of them.
Vel Crow
September 17th, 2012
11:13 am
Heat check, Its Monday again and the Braves don like Mondays. By the way, I think the best rule the SEC installed was stopping fan from rushing the field and courts. I watched the Utah-BYU game and it almost cost UTAH the game because of the fans storming the field.
Vel Crow
September 17th, 2012
11:14 am
dont
Willy
September 17th, 2012
11:17 am
Va Tech will lose to FSU and Clemson. VT will be underdogs in both of those games, I guarantee it!
GTBob
September 17th, 2012
11:19 am
Stats and rankings are meaningless or amazing. Which one Bob? You can’t have it both ways.
You really don’t understand the difference in statistical rankings based on actual results and team rankings based on subjective human voting do you?
GTBob
September 17th, 2012
11:20 am
Bob
Sometimes you bring the curve down in the classroom. Too much coffee this morning?
I don’t drink coffee.
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
11:22 am
Joey
I have lived in this state most of my life. Still don’t understand where all the money for education goes. Ga. High Schools produce some prime candidates to be rolled in life. Some of these kids have no chance to ever be happy. Followers, sheeple needing someone to take care of them. Pathetic, chronic whiners who think its cool to act stupid.
Willy
September 17th, 2012
11:24 am
Bumble-Bee, move to SC then!!!!
Jim
September 17th, 2012
11:25 am
Fla Atlantic plays at bama this week. Bet they don’t score 20 on bama!
flagboy?
September 17th, 2012
11:25 am
Could not have been happier to see Stanford beat USC. . .
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
11:28 am
So Bob, you think defensive stats derived from playing lesser opponents makes you a top 25 Defense? Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaa. I thought you were smarter than that Bob.
GT
September 17th, 2012
11:30 am
Willy I met to say, both (FSU and Clemson) should beat Va. Tech, the auto speller screws me up. This early part of the season has told us a couple of things in college football. One Va. Tech is beatable and the SEC eastern division may be partly back after a historically weak stretch. Auburn and Tenn. are still not SEC caliber but Miss State is stronger. It does UGA no good to play a weak schedule in this day and time. They can beat anybody if they face up to their problems in good competition and the coaches fix them.
flagboy?
September 17th, 2012
11:32 am
Virginia Tech. . .how long before the talk turns to Beamer being out?
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
11:34 am
Willy
Then the curve would go down, kmn. Are you proud of Ga. Public education? Maybe we should give the state more tax dollars to fix it, cause some of those school board members need another bonus, lol. Part of my body is called willy, can you guess which part it is?
GTBob
September 17th, 2012
11:36 am
So Bob, you think defensive stats derived from playing lesser opponents makes you a top 25 Defense?
I didn’t say that at all but compared to our defensive stats for the past couple of years it is a major improvement. I know in your mind GT will never be good at anything because they don’t play Alabama every game, but some of us like to see improvement in our team.
ryan s
September 17th, 2012
11:37 am
bumble
i’m pretty sure that vt pres uva > buff miss fla atl
ryan s
September 17th, 2012
11:38 am
gt plays middle tenn which beat fla atl 31-17. just sayin
Joey
September 17th, 2012
11:39 am
Me too, flagboy (11:25)
I am all for good coaches (and good teams) getting their due, but if Kiffin didn’t have his daddy coaching his D, he would never win a game. It’s just a matter of time before USC’s “straight-arrow” AD, Pat Haden, send Kiffin packing.
I do, however, thank Coach Kiffin for granting Jarvis Jones his full release.
Go Dawgs.
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
11:42 am
GT
We should have beaten VT. We have a very good team this year and if we focus on our next game and take them one at a time, we will prevail. No doubt about it. GT is that good this year. Our problem has always been defense and that seems to be improved. Dream a little bit. We got that loss out of the way early and by running the table, we can have an awesome year. This is not fantasy. It is obtainable.
Brutus The Buckeye
September 17th, 2012
11:43 am
Ohio State is the best tackling team in the country!
Dawglasville
September 17th, 2012
11:46 am
There won’t be a chance to mention this so here it is: Kudos to Blair Walsh. The first 3 years he was one of the best kickers we ever had. Don’t know what happened his senior year, but he is off to a great start in Minn. Could be a great story.
Tech could still be the best team in the ACC. Clemson is like a box of chocolates… The question is how good is FSU? I said before the season started Tech will be 9-3 and could go 10-2. What in the hell has happened to Beamer? Why can’t he keep his kids focused?
Joey
September 17th, 2012
11:47 am
Bumble-Bee, if your county is like mine, just drive by the Board of ED parking lot and you will see where those education dollars in your property tax bill are going. Ours has a half dozen Lexus and Mercedes in it.
In my little county of 4 schools, we have a Superintendent, 2 (TWO) Asst Superintendents, all knocking down $200,000 – 120,000. Hell, our nutrition director makes $90,000+. Each school has a principal, and 2 or more asst principals, all getting paid big for no teaching.
My point is the teachers aren’t getting the money, the folks who never see a student, are getting it.
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
11:47 am
Ryan
What’s UGA got to do with anything? Some of you can’t get past UGAs dominance over us these last few years. It isn’t important until we play them again is it? What’s UGA got to do with us beating UV? EXCATLY, NOTHING.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
September 17th, 2012
11:49 am
“why does that bother you so much?”
Because I have in-laws that talk about how great UGA is and every year I run out of tissue paper when they come over to cry about UGA. I’m just worried that my tissue paper will have to endure another let down.
GT Dude
September 17th, 2012
11:49 am
@ GTBob
I don’t drink coffee, but alas you do drink your whisk clear!
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
11:50 am
Joey
I would say most of them send their kids to private school, lol.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
September 17th, 2012
11:50 am
UGA fans say these two things every year:
1: Write it down.
2: We’re going to win the SEC.
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
11:53 am
Willy
Was that you in the men’s room looking over my shoulder tapping your foot? Don’t get mad cause I turned you down little boy. I don’t swing that way.
Joey
September 17th, 2012
11:53 am
Dawglasville, you are better at forgiving than me.
With a couple more 30 and 40 yarders last season,(SC, MSU) we woulda been 12-2.
And regarding focus, looking at most teams, it must be getting harder to keep the kids focused these days (ex. UGA playing 2 of every 4 quarters), unless your name is Nick Saban . . .
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
11:54 am
GT Dude
You ever been to England?
Willy
September 17th, 2012
11:55 am
Bumble Bee,
Are you sure you didn’t have to swing that way when you were at Tech? 30% girl ratio….29.9999% of whom are ugly as hell.
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
11:59 am
Anybody who thinks GT doesn’t have a real chance for a huge year is not being a realist. We just need to not get ahead of ourselves. If we play them one game at a time, we can exceed most peoples expectations.
GTBob
September 17th, 2012
11:59 am
It isn’t important until we play them again is it?
Of course it is. The UGA hate has to flow all year long. What kind of worthless rivalry only exists for one day?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
September 17th, 2012
12:01 pm
Can anyone explain how Notre Dame can join the ACC but football is excluded?
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
12:02 pm
Willy
I’ve told you before, I’m not interested in you. Go away little boy. Maybe you can find an empty stall at the library mens room.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
September 17th, 2012
12:02 pm
” unless your name is Nick Saban”
There are plenty of coaches who can keep their teams focused. CMR is not one of them.
ryan s
September 17th, 2012
12:04 pm
bumble is obviously an idiot. i’ll leave it at that.
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
12:09 pm
Ryan
when YOU can’t mount an intelligent argument, YOU resort to insults, lol. Very mature.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 17th, 2012
12:12 pm
DEBUNKING THE CHOKE HYPE:
Buffalo blows out K.C.
Jets blow out Buffalo
Pittsburg blows out Jets
Broncos beat up Pittsburg
What this all means?
The Falcants beat a horrible KC team that has been the punching bag of losing teams.
Sorry losers but CHOKE is still a JOKE
Josh Smith for 3
September 17th, 2012
12:15 pm
“What kind of worthless rivalry only exists for one day?”
Considering Richt’s record against Tech, I’d say the UGA-GT rivalry is the answer to that question.
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
12:17 pm
Bob
I like your post, but you are so unfocused on Tech football. Do you even know who we play next? Do you even care? UGA this, UGA that, geez dude, get with the program. Beat Miami first. You have UGA on the brain. All you do is make their fans hate us even more. They feel like we aren’t relevant because of morons like you and cryin ryan and little willie. Talk about Tech football for a change, you might even like it.
GTBob
September 17th, 2012
12:17 pm
Considering Richt’s record against Tech, I’d say the UGA-GT rivalry is the answer to that question.
UGA dominates GT so that’s not a rivalry. UF dominates UGA so that’s not a rivalry. Who does UGA have a rivalry with? Vandy?