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
GTBob
September 17th, 2012
12:20 pm
All you do is make their fans hate us even more.
Good. Mission accomplished. And yes I know who Tech plays next. Ohio St, right?
CubanDawg
September 17th, 2012
12:20 pm
@ DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
Why don’t you tell us what team you pull for? You claim not to be a GT fan yet your hatred for all things UGA sure smells like you’re a bug.
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
12:20 pm
And Bob, I don’t think you are immature like cryin ryan and little willie. You just would help Tech by not giving the Dogs more reason to beat us. It will be a good game this year. No need to be a putz.
GTBob
September 17th, 2012
12:23 pm
You just would help Tech by not giving the Dogs more reason to beat us.
You think that I have the power to influence UGA’s team because of how I post on the blogs? Im flattered.
Dawglasville
September 17th, 2012
12:27 pm
Goff said it best, “If you don’t believe that Tech is a rival, lose to them, and then you’ll learn just how big a rival they are.”
Just as there is no crying in baseball there is no logic in the mind of the fan of college football.
#3 Bumble-Bee
September 17th, 2012
12:33 pm
Bob
all your rants do is stimulate the Dog fans to have little to no class after another win against Tech. You are mad at the wrong people. You should get mad at a team that can’t win a game against an in-state rival. You are partly responsible for UGA fans hate towards Tech. You are one of Techs worst fans. You just fan the flames of hatred and the simple minds love someone to hate. Pathetic little man. We are done.
Big Crimson 75
September 17th, 2012
12:37 pm
Bobby — I expect to see you on the Falcons blog tonight — front & center, cheering on your boy Julio!!
Big Crimson 75
September 17th, 2012
12:41 pm
Speaking of on fire!!!!
The Alabama Crimson Tide has thus far won 3 games by a score of 128 to 14!
2 of the 3 games against pre-season top 10 teams with both of those away from Tuscaloosa!!
Geez, it’s almost unfair!!
Big Crimson 75
September 17th, 2012
12:43 pm
Bobby — good to see you clicking the dwags off one-at-a-time again today!!
I thought yesterday’s performance was one for the ages!!
GTBob
September 17th, 2012
12:47 pm
Thanks Big Crimson. And I like your team, but it is kinda boring knowing who is going to win the national championship after week 3. Can you guys lose a game just to make things interesting?
Josh Smith for 3
September 17th, 2012
12:53 pm
“Who does UGA have a rivalry with? Vandy?”
Uh no..UGA is 53-18-2 against Vandy. I was suggesting that domination is a lack of rivalry.The UGA-Vandy series was the worst possible example that could have been used. C’mon Bob, you’re better than that.
Big Crimson 75
September 17th, 2012
12:55 pm
Bob — thanks, butt not ready to count the chickens just yet!!
No year repeats itself, someone from a BCS Conference is going undefeated this year to play the Bama-LSU winner.
Good to see we can already rule out the Big10 after just 3 weeks!!
Focus on the family
September 17th, 2012
12:59 pm
Can Georgia State hire Bobby Petrino before Kentucky does?
GTBob
September 17th, 2012
1:04 pm
I’m sorry guys. I just have no life and get off on making fun of UGA. That’s all I have going for me! Anyone know the best part of Atlanta to pick-up a hooker? I am sick of being alone.
Jimmy Crack
September 17th, 2012
1:06 pm
“…the past two seasons the Dream reached the WNBA finals.”
Really? Wow. Still not going/watching until they start windmilling dunks.
Big Crimson 75..........
September 17th, 2012
1:33 pm
is an inspiration for bunk beds. Seriously dude. This blog has nothing to do with Bama, but your like a whinny little crybaby if we don’t blog about the things you like. Go run along and find a Bama blog. We really don’t care what you think about on GT & UGA’s football teams.
Lord Saban
September 17th, 2012
1:36 pm
I see that Mark is drinking that same kool aide that the dawg fans drink. Dawgs are reaching top form? Against who??? Buffalo, a Mizzou team that was 5-7 last year in the worst division in bcs football, and FAU which just like Buffalo is one of the worst football teams in America. Dawgs are giving up 21 pts a game which considering how horrible their schedule has been is pretty telling about their defense. Nothing like the fresh optimism of dawg fans before the meat of the season and reality set in.
Nick
September 17th, 2012
1:39 pm
Impressed so far for the most part with offense, very impressed with special teams and so far disappointed and concerned about that highly touted defense. The jury still reamains out with me…
Go Dawgs!
GTBob
September 17th, 2012
1:43 pm
I was suggesting that domination is a lack of rivalry.
Then you admit that UGA has no rivalries?
GTBob
September 17th, 2012
1:45 pm
Good to see we can already rule out the Big10 after just 3 weeks!!
It is almost guaranteed to be Bama vs Florida St or Oregon at this point.
strength of schedule
September 17th, 2012
1:52 pm
Murray State, Savannah State, Wake Forest,
the jury is still out on Florida State.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
September 17th, 2012
1:53 pm
Big week for the UGA football Dawgs no doubt. The 4th game will pretty much show what you are going forward since most schools play at least 2 decent football teams in that 4 weeks. The Gators are looking pretty sporty under Will no doubt. UT is a decent team and you best score some points if you expect to beat them but Sal has zero depth to give his starters a break and it showed last week vs UF. The QB play of the Gators is looking good with even better potential going forward. Mizzou looked pretty good and I was impressed that they didn’t fold after UGA took the wind out of them in a huge game. It’s really hard to get a read on USCe with the QB situation but no doubt they have some talent and Steve is an outstanding football whether you like him or not. The Hogs are a Harley Wreck no doubt but still a dangerous bunch down the road since they will have nothing to lose by going for 4th downs etc. Bama and LSU look very strong. I just hope Bama can continue to get better each practice and get more of these young folks ready for both 2012 and 2013. If we get better then we have a chance and if we don’t then we get beat. That is just the way it should be. Roll Tide
Auburn sucks and that is a great thing for UGA,GT,UT,UF, and Bama. When a foe is just buying players (most from UGA) it’s only fair they get caught. Can’t wait for the final article out of Memphis! Don’t confuse the Miss State story with the real deal.
Dawg in Sewer
September 17th, 2012
1:58 pm
WEsss winses sdthems alless. Yesesss sewers houndess issses heresss. yessss.
?
September 17th, 2012
1:58 pm
You mean Alabama might win the SEC West Division for a change this year?
Big Crimson 75
September 17th, 2012
2:07 pm
?
September 17th, 2012
1:58 pm
You mean Alabama might win the SEC West Division for a change this year?
—-
We might.
If so, it’ll be the 8th appearance — trailing only Fla.
Lord Saban
September 17th, 2012
2:12 pm
?
September 17th, 2012
1:58 pm
You mean Alabama might win the SEC West Division for a change this year?
For a change???
We won it back to back in 08 and 09 so we’ve won it 2 of the last 4 years. You guys have only won your division once in the last 5 years. And you only did that by backing in because you didn’t have to play Bama, LSU, or Ark. unlike S. Carolina.
Lord Saban
September 17th, 2012
2:19 pm
Big Crimson 75, you coming over tonight big boy?
Dawg 1
September 17th, 2012
3:06 pm
Ah wow… Some of you really need to think before you type…
Truth is, it’s too early to be putting Tech or Georgia at the top of their division, much less their conferences.
Tech looked ‘really good’ on Saturday. Virginia looked clueless on defense and pretty impotent on offense. I thought this game would be close, with an outside chance of Virginia pulling off the upset.
Two things will decide Tech’s year. Is the defense as good as it has looked? If the ‘D’ holds up, that is more than half the battle. Can the QB stay healthy? In this system, the QB takes a ‘lot’ of hits.. People can trash this system all they want – it works. But…. The the QB is ‘exposed’ on virtually every play.
As for Georgia. The concern here is the offensive line. They have not played a team with a strong Defensive Line. Vandy’s line really isn’t that test. It will start with the UT game and the South Carolina game will tell us all we need to know.
As for Georgia’s Defense. Keep in mind that 7 of the points to Missouri doesn’t happen with Rambo on the field and I’m guessing that Mizzou doesn’t get in the end zone. They score 9 points. Buffalo – who knows. And 7 of the points from Saturday came from an interception. Not worried about the ‘D’.
Off the top of my head, Tech has Clemson (10th) and Georgia (5th) left that are ranked. (It should be noted that Virginia Tech is unranked – based on last week).
Georgia has two ranked foes on the schedule South Carolina (7th) and Florida (14th) left on the schedule.
Lot of football between now and the end of the year. Last year Georgia stumbled out of the gate and finished the regular season strong. Tech started out ‘on fire’ and preceded to lost five out of their last seven.
Let’s hope both teams stay healthy…
See you in Athens.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
September 17th, 2012
3:18 pm
@?….If you have watched Alabama play football this year and you still question their play then you’re one of two things….stupid or a homer.
Techster
September 17th, 2012
4:13 pm
The dogs sure played a cupcake didn’t they? FAU. Now there’s a tough game. There are high school teams better than FAU. What a joke of a schedule. Over rated!
Steve
September 17th, 2012
4:14 pm
Duke = L O S E R!
Steve
September 17th, 2012
4:14 pm
Techster, Presbyterian? What a loser.
BIG UGLIES
September 17th, 2012
4:23 pm
Oh the Nerd fans are sooo funny. Got beat by a WEAK WEAK VT team and want to talk smack.
Resident Georgia Fan
September 17th, 2012
5:08 pm
The SEC dominates the rankings like the Beatles dominated the top hits list. Doesn’t get much better than this.
db
September 17th, 2012
5:15 pm
Looking forward to tonight’s game. I have Ryan as my FF qb. Currently 10 points ahead and playing my daughter who has Julio & Michael Turner…
Go Roddy White!
And Go Falcons!
Josh Smith for 3
September 17th, 2012
5:15 pm
“Then you admit that UGA has no rivalries?”
Not at all. The series with rivals Florida, Tennessee (although recent), and Auburn are all surprisingly even overall, even including the stranglehold that UF has had on UGA for the last 20 years or so. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll concede that GT is a rival of UGA. But there is a significant gap between them in the series’ win column and unless the triple-option becomes widely popular again, I doubt that will change until Paul Johnson is gone.
concern
September 17th, 2012
5:57 pm
The Braves will finish ahead of 3 teams in their group to advance to the Playoffs. What a wonderful setup. About 30% of pro team advance.
On college football only 2 out of 120 or less than 2%. Something is not right?
UGA = Yawn
September 17th, 2012
6:49 pm
I love GT and although I am programmed to not like UGA – I respect coach Richt. Maybe that’s because I’m GT. Seems the UGA fans complain about him so terribly every year. We don’t have that luxury at GT with our coach. I like him. The offense is fun to watch when it works. Who thought running the ball 60 times and hardly passing would be exciting – but it is. He just needs to do better against VT, UGA and in bowl games lol.
MS Bully
September 17th, 2012
7:05 pm
Look at who is #23!!. Hail State!!
A prediction
September 17th, 2012
8:02 pm
dogs have peaked in rating…and will be heading down.
Tech not rated…yet…but soon will be rising (probably rising faster than dogs falling).
Where they stop, nobody knows.
Fun football season!
Dawg in Griffin
September 17th, 2012
9:17 pm
An SEC team will win the NC for the 7th consecutive year. That’s mighty.
Sidslid
September 17th, 2012
9:55 pm
Not to get all Elias Sports Bureau on you, but I can’t imagine two weekends in a row in ATL history where Braves swept, Tech, UGA, and Falcons all won
daddo
September 17th, 2012
11:43 pm
Tick, tick, tick….it is only a matter of time before UGA’s weak offensive and defensive lines are exposed. Weak schedule only provides an illusion. NOTHING has changed with UGA. Nothing.
Go Tech
September 19th, 2012
4:40 pm
Dog fans are a riot. All excited and ga ga and bragging about how good they are. You just have to laugh. Dog fans somehow rationalize to themselves how great they are even though they really don’t know because their team only plays weaklings.
heeldawg
September 19th, 2012
5:47 pm
Tech will win this week in a cakewalk, because Miami is absolutely terrible (Vandy would beat them by 20). Tech has a pretty decent team this year, however. Could win 9-10 games. Don’t see them beating Georgia, but then I didn’t see them beating Georgia before CPJ’s lone win over the Dawgs, either.
Goldenrod, Virginia is NOT a “strong” team, although they are better than Miami. You did beat the crap out of them, so that’s something. But order has been restored for some time now–Georgia has resumed the dominance in the series which they have maintained for half a century. That’s the definition of “restoring order,” i.e. returning things to the way they always have been. And the Dawgs have beaten Tech pretty consistently over the last five decades. What you really want to do is restore DISORDER, which I doubt will happen this season–but, as I said, I’m not exactly Nostradamus.
I think Georgia wins this weekend by a couple of scores. The line’s about right. But watch the Missouri-USCjr game. If Franklin plays, there could be an upset in Columbia this weekend. USCjr has the 98th-ranked secondary in the NCAA–and their best DB has been suspended. If the pass rush is even a tad slow, it could be a long night for the Gamecock secondary.
LSU drops Auburn hard as the War Tigers continue to pay back the devil for their ill-gotten title. Don’t see them beating Georgia or Bama this season, which means that 6-6 may be the best they can hope for. Serves ‘em right…
Way early prediction for the end of the year: Georgia wins the East at 11-1 or 12-0 and plays 12-0 Bama in the SECCG. The winner of that game plays FSU for the BCS title. SEC extends its streak.
Just a few thoughts going into the weekend…
David
September 21st, 2012
12:17 pm
It’s ridiculous to state the puppies are nearing top form. They won’t be in top form until they get back to their two-arrests-per-week benchmark of excellence.