Heat Check: UGA isn’t exactly the hot choice in Jacksonville
Mark Richt with the only Gator against whom he has a winning record. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
The weekly Heat Check commences with a team that frankly didn’t look so hot Saturday night. But you’ve got to start somewhere.
GEORGIA: Picked in preseason to repeat as SEC East champs, the Bulldogs are a 6 1/2 point underdog to Florida on what is technically a neutral field. This tells us that the Gators have had the more impressive season to date, but you knew that already. Forecast: This doesn’t mean Georgia can’t win. On the contrary, how many times have the Bulldogs gone to Jacksonville with the better-looking team and lost?
FALCONS: Didn’t lose for the seventh consecutive Sunday. (Ha! Little joke!) But now the schedule gets intriguing, if not necessarily untenable. The next four opponents: Philadelphia (3-3), Dallas (3-3), New Orleans (2-4) and Arizona (4-3). Forecast: Win three of those four and the Falcons are looking at the NFC’s No. 1 seed come the playoffs. Win ‘em all and Don Shula and Nick Buoniconti and Mercury Morris get nervous.
GEORGIA TECH: So now we know. It was all Al Groh’s fault. (Kidding again.) Beating Boston College doesn’t prove much, but beats the heck out of not beating Boston College. Forecast: Not trying to get all pie-in-the-sky here, but it now seems the winner of the ACC Coastal will have at least three conference losses. If the Jackets run the conference table, they’ll have three conference losses.
GEORGIA STATE: Alas, the Panthers aren’t apt to run any tables. A week after beating Rhode Island, Georgia State lost to Villanova by 25 points. Of GSU’s seven losses, the closest has been by 21 points. Forecast: There’s a chance we’ve seen the final victory of Bill Curry’s coaching career.
BRAVES: Brian McCann had surgery, which complicates contractual things a bit. (But only a bit.) And the Cardinals, who have suddenly become the Braves’ nemeses, are on the brink of blowing a series in which they led 3-1. Forecast: If you’re the Braves, do you root for or against St. Louis tonight? I’m thinking against, but that might just be me.
HAWKS: They won two exhibition games at home. They’re 3-3 in games that don’t count. Forecast: The Hawks have only one exhibition game remaining — it’s Friday at Detroit — but the regular season doesn’t begin for 11 more days. And you thought the NBA playoffs lasted forever.
Further reading: Why Florida in Jax is a big game for Georgia — and an even bigger one for Georgia’s coach.
By Mark Bradley
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203 comments Add your comment
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 22nd, 2012
11:50 am
Dizzy
Mark Richt = Jim Donnan
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/11/02/should-richt-be-untouchable-at-uga-consider-jim-donnan/?cp=2
obamaSINLADEN
October 22nd, 2012
11:50 am
48-40-2 all time. ga leads.
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 22nd, 2012
11:51 am
Dizzy
Mark Richt = Jim Donnan
Both had trouble beating George O’Leary
Both couldnt beat a good FL team
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/11/02/should-richt-be-untouchable-at-uga-consider-jim-donnan/?cp=2
Dizzy
October 22nd, 2012
11:51 am
Sure, Richt’s 15 top 10 finishes in the last 25 years, ranking him #1 in NCAA history, is just terrible.
Sure.
Brett
October 22nd, 2012
11:51 am
UGA is trying to win an conference championship and the gators are trying to win a national championship. Tells us what type of programs these are
Idiotic Posts
October 22nd, 2012
11:51 am
The only ones getting DOMINATED in Jacksonville this year is UGA.
Dizzy, give it up! You’re reasoning is stupid.
Dizzy
October 22nd, 2012
11:52 am
Florida’s offense is about as bad as it was last year (#102 in total offense, #54 in scoring)
Defensive guys are same ones UGA beat 24-20 and ran for 185 yards.
tee off
October 22nd, 2012
11:54 am
The Dawgs are going in the wrong direction. They are getting worse as the season goes on. We came off a bye week and put up that kind of performance against the worst team in the SEC. That was embarrassing. If we play that way against UF we’ll lose by 30. If we do Richt has to pack his bags. Bring on Kirby Smart. Its time to move on.
Idiotic Posts
October 22nd, 2012
11:54 am
But this is THIS YEAR. Florida is on fire……….UGA and Richt are going down the tubes.
Gatorzone
October 22nd, 2012
11:55 am
Will Muschamp has the boys in Blue playing with his “fired up, in your face persona.” They have adopted his personality and it shows every game… They come out looking to dominate and impose their will on teams and make them quit, like they did against LSU… Watch and see, by the 4th quarter, UGA will be looking at the scoreboard wanting the clock to hurry up and wind off… This is one of the grittiest, teams I have seen play in a long time. No, they are not great offensively, but it isn’t necessary when they can impose thier will on teams… They come out looking to hurt teams!
Bruce Benedict
October 22nd, 2012
11:56 am
Your logic of UGA losing when they’re favored meaning they’ll probably win as an underdog is flawed. Here’s better logic- UGA CANNOT beat good teams, and comes out scared, turning the ball over, and does not match their opponents intensity level whenever they have a big game. This is not a criticsm, but a fact. I wish I were wrong, but Florida 31- UGA 13.
JRW7
October 22nd, 2012
12:00 pm
Depends on which DAWG team shows up!
SSIgator
October 22nd, 2012
12:03 pm
“On the contrary, how many times have the Bulldogs gone to Jacksonville with the better-looking team and lost?”
_____________
Better question, how many years has St. Markus Rectumus taken a UGA team to Jax and lost? Pretty much the same thing.
Dirty Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
12:03 pm
I’ve been to J’ville expecting to win and we lost…I’ve been there expecting to lose and we won. So what’s the point? You never know…you just think you do. I prefer to have a ‘hit em in the mouth’ attitude and if that doesn’t work, ‘hit em in the mouth again’…and if all else fails and they manage to grind us into the turf…’spit in their face’. I ain’t ever backin down from any Florida POS…or any of them others either. So ‘GoDogs’…’real’ Georgia fans are with you through thick and thin.
Big Crimson 75
October 22nd, 2012
12:07 pm
Where’s the loss in the Falcons next 4 games?
Washington, Denver & SD are all better teams than any of these next 4 opponents.
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 22nd, 2012
12:15 pm
Dirty Dawg
I like your fire and miss that from UGA teams past
But do you really expect to get that from a coach that laughs after another almost missed field go and says a win is a win after almost losing to a team that has only won 1 game
SSIgator
October 22nd, 2012
12:22 pm
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville -
I see that Patrick has now returned as Dizzy. How many names does he post under?
azdawg
October 22nd, 2012
12:28 pm
Some of you dawg fans can’t see the forest from the trees. what makes you think the dawgs will suddenly play stellar defense when they’ve had their butts handed to them 6 out of 7 weeks where they couldn’t stop the run or pass from lesser oppponents and one of the worse running teams in the country (KY). Coaches and players keep saying week after week they need to get better/fix at stopping the run (and getting beat deep) but have yet to do it. We see the same porous defense week after week. If they haven’t suceeded yet proves they can’t fix it. It’s either coaching or the players themselves. Compare them to FL and look at whet they’ve been able to do. Shut down both SC (who creamed the dawgs) and LSU and A&M, not bad teams all. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude they’re better on defense all of which bodes bad for the dawgs offense and FL will run thru and around the dawgs (terrible) defense. throw in the fact that CMR has a terrible winning record when he faces a ranked team. Unless the dawgs defense suddenly awakens from the dismal performances of the past and gets numerous T/O’s, stops FL dead, the OL is able to protect Murray and open holes for Gurshell, otherwise they don’t stand a chance. The only saving grace when they lose would be if the dawgs make a game of it and show some life on both sides of the ball and do not repeat what happened to them in SC. at least leave FL w/some pride.
DwayneL
October 22nd, 2012
12:31 pm
UGA going to get KILLED by Gators this Saturday!
beanster
October 22nd, 2012
12:44 pm
I would love to see Aaron Murray get hit in the mouth and fight back for once in his career. I believe our D could have a breakout performance and keep UF off the board. It’s just that I’ve never seen AM play well when he’s under pressure, and we all know he’ll be under pressure Saturday. I’d love to see him scramble some, just to keep them honest. Roll out passes, fake the toss and keep it on a sweep…something, ANYTHING to break the monotony the CMB offense. If UGA lines up to play vanilla ball against Muschamp’s D, it will be a long day for Dawg fans.
Red Stick
October 22nd, 2012
12:46 pm
It’s very simple. If Georgia plays like they have the last 2 games they will not beat Florida.
Maybe the Gators’ offense isn’t lights out but their formula of a strong defense and special teams has them undefeated and in the hunt for a national title.
Geaux Tigers
Joey
October 22nd, 2012
12:47 pm
SSIgator, last week he got laughed off the blog as “Sammy.”
Better than Hope Scholarship
October 22nd, 2012
12:51 pm
All you parents out there. Cash in your 401k and take Gators and -7. It’s not a bet, its a lock. Send your kid to UGA for free.
To Tell the Truth
October 22nd, 2012
12:51 pm
Ain’t gonna happen GA as the Gators will OWN you again!!!!
LMAO!!!!
GO GATORS!!!!!
Phil
October 22nd, 2012
12:54 pm
Hate to sound negative here, but after watching the Kentucky game we are in serious trouble against Florida. Our defense is pathetic, plain and simple. If we couldn’t stop Kentucky’s running backs, then how are we going to stop Florida’s? They have excellent players at the skill postitions, can run after the catch and are fast. I see them busting some long runs in this game. Their QB can run, we all remember the SC quarterback running all over and around us to pick up the first down.
Our offense may be ok in this game but the defense is in trouble. Our kicking game is suspect, extra points are a gamble every time we try one.
Hate to say it guys but I see Florida big in this one.
GwinnettDad
October 22nd, 2012
12:56 pm
UGA has choked in nearly 90% of the big games it has played under CMR. Why expect anything else against the Gators Saturday until they stop choking? Betting on UGA might be a great bet. After all, certain things happen once in a century, as in the upcoming 12-12-12 date or the 10-11-12 date that just happened. That’s how likely it is that UGA will win a big game under CMR.
muleshoe
October 22nd, 2012
12:58 pm
that being said Phil, I guarantee the dancing and trash talking by the UGA safeties will be top shelf…no one talks a better game than the flag magnets…
Columbus Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
12:58 pm
Muschamp has taken lemons and made lemonade from Urban’s mess he left him. He is no bigger traitor than Kirby at Bama. I saw a post somewhere that stated “The Gators are trying to win another national title, while Georgia tries to win an east title”. This, in Muschamp’s second year at Florida. UGA deserves MUCH better than it gets from it’s President, it’s A.D., and it’s administrators. All of the other large state universities in the SEC strive for excellence, and most achieve it. UGA is lagging so far behind at this point it has become the laughing stock of the SEC in football. Time to do what is needed at UGA. McGarity are you out there?
Phil
October 22nd, 2012
12:59 pm
Oh by the way, Richt will defer to the 2nd half if we win the coin toss. Florida goes down and scores on the opening drive, our players get rattled, and the rout is on.
Sounds familiar doesn’t it??
Phil
October 22nd, 2012
1:02 pm
Columbus Dawg
McGarity is a total buffoon, don’t expect any changes. Even though we get blowed out Saturday, we are still on track to win 10 games this year. That calls for an extension in McGarity’s thinking! What a total idiot.
Doug
October 22nd, 2012
1:04 pm
Accuracy? LOL He wrote not for behind!
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 22nd, 2012
1:06 pm
I really believe we can beat FL
If coach Richt wasnt such an Energy Vampire to the program
Maybe FL comes out flat and gives us some turnovers cause our coaching staff does nothing but coach to hang on instead of coach to win
Ed Pilcher
October 22nd, 2012
1:06 pm
UGA gets bent over and punked on national TV again this weekend.
Ed Pilcher
October 22nd, 2012
1:07 pm
Book it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 22nd, 2012
1:09 pm
Phil
I agree
or if FL defers we get the ball first run the ball up the middle 2 times for no gain then throw a sideline pass then punt
UA Grad
October 22nd, 2012
1:09 pm
Ease up on that irony pipe, Dizzy.
Phil
October 22nd, 2012
1:10 pm
Flat Tire,
I don’t think Muschamp will allow his players to come out flat. Did you see how flat our guys came out against Kentucky? And this was AFTER knowing that South Carolina had lost before ever hitting the field! Those guys should have been fired up, they had just been given new life!!
Richt is an Energy Vampire, no doubt.
Getting Punked on National TV Twice in Less than 3 Weeks Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
1:15 pm
Gurshall gonna run all over that porous “D” of the Gators oh yeah it’s on Dawg fans! We are the best team ever dot com! I booked it! Dawgs 48 Gators 3 ! Go Dawgs!
Honky Talkin
October 22nd, 2012
1:19 pm
The only chance the Dawgs have against Florida is if the swine flu gets the whole Gator team. The Dawgs had to squeak one past the 1-7 Wildcats.. Hahahahaha!
GatorsforRicht
October 22nd, 2012
1:24 pm
Don’t be so hard on Richt dogs, he ain’t doing that bad. Sure we have already passed you again and are on the way to Atlanta to try to take down Bama, not too likely I’m afraid, but you always have those CapitalOne bowls against Mich St or Purdue to look forward to so keep Richt around for awhile.
Mark Bradley
October 22nd, 2012
1:24 pm
For further reading: http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2012/10/22/florida-in-jax-big-for-uga-its-even-bigger-for-mark-richt/
DaculaDawg
October 22nd, 2012
1:30 pm
I want to thank all of you for the never ending laughs I recieve from reading these comments. Everyone ranting and raving on here just makes my work day go by a little faster. At the end of the day though nobody knows what will happen this Saturday in Jax, but we will all be watching. All you can really do is hope for the best and see how things play out. I’ll be sharing some good food, cold beer, with family & friends. Can’t wait. GO DAWGS! GATA!
sidslid
October 22nd, 2012
1:41 pm
Lot’s of brownies down the gut since last year’s Dawg D.
Mask of False Bravado
October 22nd, 2012
2:30 pm
Is the in-season drug testing this week? I know it takes a few days for the results to surface.
TechBuzz
October 22nd, 2012
3:18 pm
the dogs will get waxed by muschamp and uf this weekend—another 10-2 season, with losses to the only 2 good teams they played. No, tech isn’t good and ga should beat them easy.
Stinger2
October 22nd, 2012
4:19 pm
UGA fans who continiously criticize CMR are really pitiful and sad people. They
think UGA should win every game and some kind of championship every year. Get real folks. SEC is big boy football. Maybe you should start a campaign to go to the ACC. Then you could win anytime. As long as you are in the SEC be prepared to losea game or two every year. In the meantime, give CMR a break and ease up.
colelinski
October 22nd, 2012
4:55 pm
I’ve said this before. Either the Georgia players are’nt very good or Mark Richt can’t coach. Youall can decide which one it is.
Florida in Jax: Big for UGA, it’s even bigger for Mark Richt | Mark Bradley
October 22nd, 2012
5:25 pm
[...] Further reading: If you missed today’s Heat Check, it can be found here. (Georgia is mentioned.) [...]
GT Girl
October 22nd, 2012
9:06 pm
‘Bad Dawg’ again, you have the best on here. Keep ‘em coming, your writing is amusing.
Dawg Tired
October 23rd, 2012
8:55 am
Looks like Hershal Talker has coem up with a unque idea nobody else has thought of.