Heat Check: Falcons and Bulldogs and Hawks, oh my!!!
Michael Turner, who can still play a bit, is pumped after scoring against Big D. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Our weekly Heat Check begins with the hottest team around. No, not Georgia State.
FALCONS: Made it to 8-0, disappointing Al Michaels and especially Cris Collinsworth in the process. Stacked 453 yards on Rob Ryan’s star-spangled Dallas defense. Next up is New Orleans in the Superdome, site of last December’s Drew Brees rub-it-in record-breaking. Barometer reading: Some in the national keep saying none of this matters if the Falcons don’t win a playoff game. When last I checked, there are no playoff games scheduled until January. Bradley’s Rule: Can’t win in January unless you qualify for the postseason, and being 8-0 makes qualification one less thing to sweat.
GEORGIA: That wobble at South Carolina aside, the Bulldogs are almost exactly where we figured they’d be. Picked to win the SEC East, they’re in position to do just that. Ranked No. 6 nationally in preseason, they’re No. 5 in the latest BCS standings. Barometer reading: Let’s say Georgia keeps winning and manages to topple No. 1 Alabama in the Dome. Could a 13-1 SEC champ that has beaten both the No. 2 and No. 1 teams (according to the BCS) possibly be left out of the BCS title game?
GEORGIA TECH: Believe it or not, the Jackets won a game. Believe it or not, they could still win the ACC Coastal Division. Believe it or not, they might even play for the ACC title without actually winning the Coastal Division, given that Miami is apparently mulling the option of again recusing itself from postseason play. Barometer reading: From two overtime losses to a 21-point thrashing by Middle Tennessee to the dismissal of defensive coordinator Al Groh to the departure of AD Dan Radakovich to … the Orange Bowl? Seriously?
HAWKS: Lost their opener despite limiting the Rockets’ starting guards to 66 points. Won two nights later at Oklahoma City, which played for the NBA title only five months ago. Barometer reading: Not to say I told you so, but I kind of did. This is going to be one wild team to watch.
BRAVES: Re-upped Brian McCann, Tim Hudson and Paul Maholm. Re-acquired Jordan Schafer. Are said to be interested in Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton, who figure to be the priciest free agents on the board. Barometer reading: It was reported by John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus that Hamilton’s asking price is $25 million a year. (That’s twice what Chipper Jones was making.) Also according to Perrotto, Hamilton wants a seven-year deal. He ain’t gettin’ it here.
GEORGIA STATE: Panthers lost their ninth game of an 11-game season and their sixth of six home games. They also named their locker room after coach Bill Curry, who’s retiring after Saturday’s game at Maine. Barometer reading: Curry’s career record is 93-127-4. Not many coaches who have a career winning percentage of .424 get anything nice named after them. Most such coaches only get called nasty names.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: It starts in earnest this week, and it will, as you may know, end here. Barometer reading: April 6, 2013 — the Final Four tips off in the Georgia Dome.
Further reading: Regarding that question about Georgia and the BCS title game … here’s the answer. (For now, anyway).
By Mark Bradley
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171 comments Add your comment
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 5th, 2012
11:50 am
Buckeye
Yea the big joke Im mean 10 sure has loads of tough teams this year
go join the big losers blog your team has done a fine job against the SEC
based in reality dawg fan
November 5th, 2012
12:04 pm
what you dawg fans should be worried about is Florida’s #6 SOS ranking and LSU’s #19 SOS…both will pass dawgs after the Bama beatdown..they are playing for the Sugar Bowl…UGA is headed for some no name bowl in sunny Florida…
Jailyard Dwag.....
November 5th, 2012
12:07 pm
Actually, I think that UG is # 4..# 4 in the SEC West behind Alabama, LSU, Texas A & M…If you thought that the USCe score was bad, just wait until the SEC Championship game..Watch this space so you can buy my tickets….Go Dwags
RxDawg
November 5th, 2012
12:08 pm
“Could a 13-1 SEC champ that has beaten both the No. 2 and No. 1 teams (according to the BCS) possibly be left out of the BCS title game?”
You bet they would. The SEC fatigue is in full effect, and it would be UGA’s luck (again) that it would kick in the year we won the SEC.
But honestly none of that is really important. The odds of us beating Bama are slim. Reaaaaaly slim.
Tuscon
November 5th, 2012
12:09 pm
While it’s true Coach Currys record isn’t great, he helped to start our program. Naming our locker room after him is a nod at the generosity he showed by diving in and getting us going. Now we get to move on, and look to our brighter future. I truly hope Curry stays connected to the program as he has been a great asset(off the field).
based in reality dawg fan
November 5th, 2012
12:14 pm
Bama vs. Oregon – NCG
LSU vs Notre Dame – Sugar
KState vs UCLA – Fiesta
FSU vs Louisville – Orange
Stanford vs Nebraska – Rose
hide and watch…
DIT
November 5th, 2012
12:15 pm
Anyone else see a trap game for Bama this week. First of all before the Bammers get upset at this statement, think about it. Huge win, huge emotional win. Very good chance of a let down. Mett passed for almost 300 yards. Before that his most output was half of that.
Now you have A&M coming in on fire with a hot QB. It could happen!
And yes, the Dawgs could fall flat on their face against Auburn. Could be an interesting Saturday!
Steve Spurrier Rocks!!
November 5th, 2012
12:17 pm
UGA fans . . . puh-lease! Stop counting your chickens until they’ve hatched. You all will lose to GT and any chance of this silly BCS game will heave ended! THWG!
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 5th, 2012
12:19 pm
If FL wins out they will go to the Sugar Bowl instead of LSU
based in reality dawg fan
November 5th, 2012
12:22 pm
thats true patched…just thinking they cannot score enough to beat FSU…if they do, they are in, no doubt…
doug dawg
November 5th, 2012
12:22 pm
how about leaving things as they are? got to win the so-called championship, do you?. and then back to complaining and calling for cmr’s ass again. you guys and gals are stupid and delusional. if we had beaten usce, you would still be nasty and complaining. i’m sick, sick, SICK of you haters; don’t ever call yourselves ‘dawg fans,’ because you are NOT. YOU MAKE ME WANT TO PUKE.
be thankful for your school, if you went there, which i doubt, and your team. i can remember 6-win seasons which felt like national championships for us. stupid fools, and ungrateful morons.
based in reality dawg fan
November 5th, 2012
12:24 pm
here here…spoken like a true dawg…
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 5th, 2012
12:25 pm
Auburn will not beat UGA. No way, no how.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 5th, 2012
12:27 pm
thats true; they may not score at all against FSU lol
Steve Spurrier Rocks
November 5th, 2012
12:28 pm
Puh-lease UGA fans. Don’t count your chickens until they’ve hatched! After GT beats you, there will be no talk of UGA – BCS. You will be, once again, lamenting and demanding your coach be fired. THWG!
Steve Spurrier Rocks
November 5th, 2012
12:30 pm
Hey Donning of a New Era – but GT will!!!
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 5th, 2012
12:32 pm
I dont know though
A 2 loss SEC East champion might go to the Sugar Bowl over a 2 loss LSU team if FL loses another
Beast from the East
November 5th, 2012
12:33 pm
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 5th, 2012
12:27 pm
thats true; they may not score at all against FSU lol
————————
Yeah, our offense is offensive. That said, the Semis only managed 95 yards against our defense last year. Brantley’s 3 picks were their whole offense. It’ll be a low scoring affair, no doubt.
DIT
November 5th, 2012
12:33 pm
Hey Donning of a New Era – but GT will!!!
———————
I’ll take some of that action. Auburn more than likely will not beat UGA. However, they have a better chance than GT.
Beast from the East
November 5th, 2012
12:34 pm
I think if UF and UGA both suffer another loss, then the Sugar Bowl would take LSU for attendance reasons.
DIT
November 5th, 2012
12:35 pm
I bet Florida puts a game together like they did against SCe or LSU when they play the noles. I don’t care that it is in Tallahassee. Just a gut feeling.
Steve Spurrier Rocks
November 5th, 2012
12:37 pm
DIT – Auburn better than GT?? Now, I know, for fact, UGA fans aren’t that bright.
Beast from the East
November 5th, 2012
12:38 pm
Hope you’re right, DIT.
DIT
November 5th, 2012
12:38 pm
I have to say Beast. I think if LSU wins out the Sugar Bowl will take LSU anyway. As you stated above for attendance purposes. UGA will be at the predicted Bowl ESPN has them going to.
DIT
November 5th, 2012
12:41 pm
Florida has been tested Beast. Noles, not so much. What top 10 team has the Noles played, beat? Florida beat SCe and LSU. Might as well add A&M into the mix as well. They will soon be a top 10 team.
They had a hicup(sp) against UGA. Mizzou was just coming out flat because of that loss. UF will pick it up from here on.
GTBob
November 5th, 2012
12:41 pm
I bet Florida puts a game together like they did against SCe or LSU when they play the noles. I don’t care that it is in Tallahassee. Just a gut feeling.
They could, but it is really hard to imagine Florida even scoring on FSU. Florida is 103rd in total offense. FSU is 1st in total defense. If Florida doesn’t create a passing game by that time then I don’t see them having much of a chance against FSU.
jim
November 5th, 2012
12:42 pm
braves and absentee ownership = continued mediocrity. Bourn is the answer and they are still asking the questions. Hamilton carries baggage that is problematic and if he is so high priced, why not just pay Bourn and be done with it?
DIT
November 5th, 2012
12:43 pm
Please don’t comment on my post bob. Anything you have to say, I’m not imterested. Thank you!
based in reality dawg fan
November 5th, 2012
12:43 pm
and LSU could have trouble this weekend in StarkVegas…both coming off of tough losses…can hear the cowbells now…
DIT
November 5th, 2012
12:44 pm
that’s “interested”
based in reality dawg fan
November 5th, 2012
12:44 pm
I’m 43 and still live in my mommy’s basement. My daddy flunked out of Tech after one semister, so I’m a Ramblin’ Wreck…….really……a Wreck. Since Tech no longer really plays football, I come here to try and rattle a winning program because I know that we’ll never beat UGA on the field again. I like World of Warcraft.
T-TOWN DAWG
November 5th, 2012
12:45 pm
I don’t think UGA can beat Bama, but if they did, here’s how they play for the MNC. ND will lose to USC. If Colin Klein has a serious injury, K State will lose to TCU or Texas. Uga beats Bama and plays Oregon for the MNC. A lot of if’s, but it is definitely possible.
GTBob
November 5th, 2012
12:47 pm
Please don’t comment on my post bob. Anything you have to say, I’m not imterested. Thank you!
Yeah, I don’t really care. If you are going to make posts that are not logically correct then you are probably going to get called out on it. If you think Florida has some great offense that is hibernating until the FSU game then more power to you.
based in reality dawg fan
November 5th, 2012
12:48 pm
that was cute…
DIT
November 5th, 2012
12:49 pm
@T-TOWN DAWG
_____________
I think the only chance we would have against Bama is that they come out totally over confident, flat, spot us 14 points….. I don’t mean to sound so bad, but after that come back they had Saturday night. LSU was beating them at the line. It was crunch time and they went right down the field and scored without panicking. That was too impressive.
based in reality dawg fan
November 5th, 2012
12:49 pm
Enter your comments here
Beast from the East
November 5th, 2012
12:49 pm
FSU has the number one ranked defense because they have not played anyone. Their defense would be about number 5 or 6 in the SEC, which is still a top 20 defense, but not the best in the country. They couldn’t stop NC State when it mattered and Clemson moved the ball well against them. They haven’t played anyone else worth a flip. We’ll see how we’ll they do in 3 weeks.
DIT
November 5th, 2012
12:51 pm
“Yeah, I don’t really care”
___________
And you answered my post why then?? Forget it, don’t answer that. I appears I hurt your feelings. Sorry, that was not my intention. I don’t like to see a grown man cry.
DIT
November 5th, 2012
12:52 pm
You answered that question for me Beast. Play in the A She She conference you should have a top 5 defense. With the exception of FSU & Clemson, there are no other offenses in the league.
Habersham Dawg
November 5th, 2012
12:53 pm
“Here are the Sagarin SOS rankings for each team currently in contention:
Bama: 17th
K-State: 33rd
Notre Dame: 16th
Oregon: 47th
UGA: 39th
These are the current SOS rankings which means Oregon and Notre Dame will more than likely improve in the coming weeks and UGA will more than likely get worse because of the terrible teams left on their schedule. So at the end of the season even if UGA plays Alabama they will have a worse SOS then the other teams in contention and will have more losses.”
GTBob, Oregon and K-State are very close SOS to Georgia, I don’t really see the SOS for any of the teams changing that much with only three games to go. Now if Georgia does win out and Alabama forgets to show up for the SECG and the other three teams go undefeated, I still don’t see Georgia in the BCS championship game. The way they lost to South Carolina is too damning. But I’d really like to see UGA play one of those three (Oregon, K-State, Notre Dame) in a bowl game. I believe they’d win it.
HA !!
November 5th, 2012
12:55 pm
POOOR Sponge Bobby. He got his feelings hurt. What a Tool!
GTBob
November 5th, 2012
12:55 pm
And you answered my post why then?? Forget it, don’t answer that. I appears I hurt your feelings. Sorry, that was not my intention. I don’t like to see a grown man cry.
I was saying that I don’t care if you want me to respond or not. If you want to post on the AJC blogs, then there is a good chance that I am going to respond to you. You are just going to have to live with that or find a new place to post. Ill go back to crying now.
C'mon Man
November 5th, 2012
12:56 pm
You write:
“Let’s say Georgia keeps winning and manages to topple No. 1 Alabama in the Dome. Could a 13-1 SEC champ that has beaten both the No. 2 and No. 1 teams (according to the BCS) possibly be left out of the BCS title game?”
Mark,
It must be good to work for a company that obviously doesn’t drug test. Then again, anyone who reads this knows you are on drugs (or were when you wrote it).
HA !!
November 5th, 2012
12:58 pm
Sponge Bobby – Don’t go away crying….. Just go away!!! waaaahhhhhhh.
ADH
November 5th, 2012
12:59 pm
Not sure why some think that UGA would jump Oregon or KSU if they beat Bama. If “O” or KSU win out, they each would have beating 5 ranked teams. UGA would have only beaten 2 and have one loss to boot.
JB
November 5th, 2012
1:00 pm
I love the Dawgs, but we will see in the SECCG why Saban is going for his 4th title, 3rd at Bama in like 6 years, and why Richt hasn’t sniffed one in 12. The reason is pretty simple. If it takes 10 great things to be a great college coach, Richt has say 7 of them…and Saban has probably all 10. ( leave being liked out it, he ain’t being paid to be liked).
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 5th, 2012
1:00 pm
Beast
Thats true as well; the problem with FL is their motivation now
DIT
November 5th, 2012
1:00 pm
I have to admit and was and still in a way shocked that we beat UF after that SCe appearance or lack thereof. However, for UGA to beat Bama in the SEC CG………… Too many things have to line up in perfect order for that to happen. Bama is just that good.
I know, I know, that’s why you play them.
GTBob
November 5th, 2012
1:01 pm
You answered that question for me Beast. Play in the A She She conference you should have a top 5 defense. With the exception of FSU & Clemson, there are no other offenses in the league.
Statistically speaking, Florida’s offense is about as bad as it was last year. Its actually pretty eerily similar. FSU’s defense is even better statistically than last years squad. Last year Florida couldn’t do anything against FSU. It was ugly. According to you all of these facts point to a potential offensive explosion by Florida.
ADH
November 5th, 2012
1:01 pm
Personally, I’d love to see an Oregon and KSU BCS championship game. Don’t think the scoreboard could handle it…