Heat Check: Destiny’s Dogs? No-bowl Jackets? Whoa, Nelly
Surrounded by the enemy: The Georgia Tech band in Sanford Stadium. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Our Heat Check arrives just in time to warm what promises to be a chilly week. Face facts, folks: There’s not much happening in local sports.
Kidding.
GEORGIA: Will play for the BCS title — some guy I know predicted they would — with a victory over Alabama on Saturday. Barometric reading: Three weeks ago, people were saying the Bulldogs would have no chance against the mighty Tide. A lot of those same people seem to have changed their minds, and I’m not just talking about Georgia fans. I’m talking about neutrals who see the Dogs as no less talented as Bama. Just as Bacarri Rambo said.
GEORGIA TECH: Paul Johnson now believes his Jackets didn’t give much of an effort in Athens. (Who knew, huh?) But if Tech can rouse itself to topple Florida State — maybe the nation’s most overrated team — in Charlotte on Saturday, the Jackets will be headed for what Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports calls potentially the worst BCS bowl matchup ever: Tech against Kent State. Seriously. Barometric reading: Then again, if Tech loses to the Seminoles, it might not grace any bowl. Tech insiders insist they’ll land in a bowl even at 6-7, but there now appears no guarantee their request for a waiver would be favorably met
FALCONS: Everyone around the team was heartened by the one-point escape from Tampa Bay, for good reason. It was a big-time win over a tough opponent, and the Falcons haven’t beaten many tough opponents … well, all season. Barometric reading: They can clinch the NFC South with a month to spare by beating hated New Orleans on Thursday and then watching the Buccaneers lose at Denver on Sunday.
HAWKS: Remember when it was suggested this team was about to embark on a nice little run? This team has embarked on a nice little run. Having won five in a row, the Hawks hold the fourth-best record in the NBA East. Barometric reading: Check the schedule. They might not lose again anytime soon.
BRAVES: Waiting for B.J. Upton to decide where he wants to play. The good news is that Upton has long been hailed as one of the game’s biggest talents. Barometric reading: The sabermetric reality is that Upton was half the player Michael Bourn was in 2012. According to FanGraphs, Bourn’s WAR (wins above replacement) rating was 6.5; Upton’s was 3.3.
By Mark Bradley
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344 comments Add your comment
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 27th, 2012
2:47 pm
This just in………….
If GT goes to the Orange Bowl The Lifetime Channel will be airing the game Jan 3rd at 3 am
Mask of False Bravado
November 27th, 2012
2:47 pm
OkieDawg- That’s the most ridiculous statement……nevermind. If your team is invited to a BCS game, you take the $$$$ and play whomever they put in front of you.
GT Fan
November 27th, 2012
2:50 pm
ESPN just delivered a bombshell …. Bobby Petrino has just been named HC at Auburn!
WDE
November 27th, 2012
2:50 pm
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville you made me spill my coffee…that was good !
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 27th, 2012
2:50 pm
GT Fan
Oregon beat only one top 25 team
Thanks again for your moronic input
Mask of False Bravado
November 27th, 2012
2:50 pm
…….and still it will be the only team from Georgia in a BCS game.
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
2:50 pm
There was a reason Florida turned the ball over 6 times. It was due to a relentless defense that Florida had no chance of slowing down.
Then why doesn’t UGA force 6 or more turnovers every game?
Bumblers
November 27th, 2012
2:52 pm
Patched:
Tech would be happy with that coveted time slot….LMAO!!
BIG MIKE
November 27th, 2012
2:55 pm
You mean Stoops was hired as head coach at Kentucky.
GT Fan
November 27th, 2012
2:57 pm
Ah, the truth hurts don’t it, Patched Tire.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 27th, 2012
2:57 pm
GTBlob
We forced 2 on Tech
Mama Says
November 27th, 2012
3:01 pm
Funny, if Tech does win Saturday they will have beaten the most overrated team in the country yet Ga can avoid Alabama, Texas A&M, LSU doesnt have to play Oregon, Stanford or Notre Dame and they belong at the # 3 spot.
I agreee Tech dosen’t deserve a bowl win or loose however I wish you could admit Ga isnt a true # 3 in the nation.
By the way CPJ was overheard by your reporters screaming at the team after the game Saturday and has said in several interviews since that his team did not play hard, I dont think it’s a sudden thing that he NOW believes
Miami or Bust
November 27th, 2012
3:01 pm
GT in the Orange Bowl
UGA in the BCS National Championship Game
…………………………. …………… Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 27th, 2012
3:01 pm
GT Fan
the real truth is
Tech sucks and they had a much easier schedule than UGA and yet they couldnt even beat Middle Tenn High;
again
Who did Oregon beat???????? Oregon St LOL
Stephen
November 27th, 2012
3:05 pm
Mark,
Remember when you were a Fangraphs, WAR, and CoolStandings hater? I’m so proud of how far you’ve come! My little columnist is all groans up! He’s all groans up!!
St. Simon's Daddy
November 27th, 2012
3:06 pm
Has any one seen my boy?
GT Bob should be a comedian.
Guess all Tech fans are Bama fans now. They change teams week to week. Enjoy the fish fry Jackets.
GT Fan
November 27th, 2012
3:08 pm
Patched …
Ariz, UW, USC, and Az St, would all beat every team on UGA’s not named SC or UF.
Oregon St, the Ranked team, and Top 10 ranked before losing @ UW, got drilled by the Ducks 48-24.
BTW, the other four teams (all 7-5) have been ranked this season as well. It’s – arguable – that the Pac 12 has the deepest league in the when you consider that all these team beat up on one another: UW, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Oregon, Or St, Az, Az St.
UGA PLAYED TWO GOOD TEAMS IN THE REG SEASON. And they’re 1-1 in those games, getting their butts handed to them in one of those. Oregon lost IN OT to Stanford.
You must have been looking in the mirror when you called me moronic.
Joey
November 27th, 2012
3:08 pm
Tucked in between two chick flicks, to hopefully improve the ratings, Patched Tire . . .
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
3:09 pm
We forced 2 on Tech
I know. One third as many as you forced against Florida and half as many as MTSU forced against us. You would think an unstoppable turnover producing defense like UGA’s would have done a little better.
GT Fan
November 27th, 2012
3:09 pm
Hey everybody, I just made Patched Tire cry!
ARdawg
November 27th, 2012
3:11 pm
“I know. One third as many as you forced against Florida and half as many as MTSU forced against us. You would think an unstoppable turnover producing defense like UGA’s would have done a little better.”
_____________________
If we had continued playing rather than the scrubs midway in the 3rd quarter, we’d probably forced 8 on you bugs
sidslid
November 27th, 2012
3:11 pm
Bourn’s WAR not adjusted for Bourn’s WIFFAIFR (Whiff after Infield Fly Rule). Jordan Shaeffer must be the R in WAR.
The Hammer
November 27th, 2012
3:12 pm
Patched Tire, the Pac-12 beats themselves up, just like the SEC, but they don’t get the respect they deserve, like the SEC does.
The entire Pac-12 had 11 out-of-conference losses, playing a considerably tougher out-of-conference schedule, compared to the SEC’s eight out-of-conference losses against a much weaker out-of-conference schedule. See here:
Pac-12 losses:
1) Notre Dame x2
Colorado State
2) Ohio State
3) LSU
4) Utah State
5) BYU
6) Nevada
7) Missouri
9) Fresno State
10) Sacramento State
(The last three all beat the putrid Colorado Buffaloes)
SEC losses:
1) Clemson
La-Monroe
2) Texas
3) Rutgers
4) Northwestern
5) Louisville
6) Syracuse
7) Western Kentucky
We can look at out-of-conference wins, if you like.
Roll Damn TIDE
November 27th, 2012
3:13 pm
Not only is Bama better than Georgie, T-Town is WAY better than Athens. And our women actually have class!
Dunwoody Jacket
November 27th, 2012
3:13 pm
Honestly, I hope we don’t get a waiver. This is going to be a painful loss to FSU, and probably another bowl loss. I wish we could just lick our wounds at 6 – 6 and come back better next year. We need a real defensive coordinator, CPJ needs to develop a better passing game, and win at least 8 games next year. If not, then CPJ needs to go. I think his offense as is will work in FBS or weaker schools / conferences in BCS. We can beat half the teams in the ACC with it, but not the games we need to win the conference championship (teams like Clemson and FSU this year). Also we never will beat a decent team from the SEC, Big 10, Big 12 or Pac-12.
GT Fan
November 27th, 2012
3:13 pm
Patched … Outside of the 2 good teams, UGA’s SEC opponents managed a whopping 11 conf Ws against ………. 37, Yes, THIRTY-SEVEN, Ls!. And the only reason UT got their 1 win is b/c they got to beat Kentucky.
Somebody get Patched a tissue.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 27th, 2012
3:15 pm
GT Fan
Oh so since the pack joke 12 has Stanford and UCLA for their conference championship we now are saying they beat up on each other
Lost to overtime to Stanford LOL Standford wow such a football powerhouse Stanford is
The only team that has ever been anything in the Pac 12 has been USC what have their other teams done????
Oh yea NOTHING
So yea moronic is an understatement
This nutty Tech season could yield a truly hilarious ending | Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2012
3:16 pm
[...] Further reading: Heat Check — Destiny’s Dogs? No-bowl Jackets? Whoa, Nelly. [...]
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 27th, 2012
3:20 pm
The Hammer
GT Fan
Who cares who the Pac 12 plays out of conference
Guess what
Who has won the most BCS National Titles
Who has won the most National Titles since the 60’s
Who has won the most Bowl games since 2000
Who has won the most Bowl games since the 60’s
You guessed it…. The SEC
From recent to the past 50 years the SEC is the best conference
Now here is a tissue to both of you
Oh and Congrats to the SEC for winning the 2012 ACC Championship
GT Fan
November 27th, 2012
3:24 pm
The Hammer …. THANKS!
SEC = $$ to ESPN (who signed a mutli-billion $ TV deal with the league a couple years ago) and the BCS.
Comm Slive implores his league to avoid out-of-conf “trap games” that aren’t in-state rival games so the SEC “brand” can maintain its appearance of strength. 99% of people don’t look at the OOC opponent, just the score. Then they say, WOW, look at how strong the SEC is.
By scheduling cupcakes of the cupcake teams, thus assuring no OOC losses, it makes the SEC look better when the only games its teams lose are league games.
UGA is not better than UF, LSU, Oregon, Tex A&M or Stanford. Teams ALL ranked below UGA, but AHEAD of South Carolina (UGA’s daddy).
The Hammer
November 27th, 2012
3:24 pm
Regardless, the fact is: the conference with the highest strength-of-schedule, year after year, including this one, is the old Pac-10, now Pac-12.
Here is an objective look:
http://masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cf&yr=2012&sub=11604&c=1
GT Fan
November 27th, 2012
3:25 pm
Patched … get another tissue, you’re starting to sob.
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
3:26 pm
From recent to the past 50 years the SEC is the best conference
Conference coattail riders are hilarious. I am almost fully convinced that UGA fans don’t really care if UGA wins a MNC as long as some SEC team does. I wonder if the Kentucky and Vandy blogs are like this also.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 27th, 2012
3:26 pm
This just in………
Depends under garments will be the proud sponsor of this years ACC Chumpionship
Super polydent will be the proud sponsor of the Orange Bowl if Tech gets there due to all the teeth falling out due to shock at the less than 200 fans that show up
Dawgs are thugs
November 27th, 2012
3:27 pm
If you wonder why Rambo (not his real name for you uninformed. He changed it so he would be BAD) UGA footballers are quite often in the gray bar hotel, then take a look at how some of them, not all, they played Tech. What a bunch of thugs! They did every thing they could to hurt Tech backs: throw them to the ground and try to body slam, slapped one back’s helmet and then pointed his finger at him, etc. Tech may never beat UGA in football, but it really disgusted me to watch Tech playing against soon-to-be-on-the-street thugs after football is over. Congratulations Dawgs for having such a stellar representative of your scholarship. By the way, I represent one of the few who actually graduated from UGA.
BIG MIKE
November 27th, 2012
3:28 pm
It’s not the PAC 12….It’s the PAC 2 and they poured the other10 in for good measure.
Bumblers
November 27th, 2012
3:29 pm
Patched:
Please refer to the nerd’s league as the A She She league moving forward. Thanks.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 27th, 2012
3:30 pm
The SEC = $$ to ESPN
boo hoo hoo
Thats right; why sign a big money contract to a conference that has teams like Tech who cant even fill a high school stadium
heres a tissue
Big Donnie
November 27th, 2012
3:30 pm
It would be funny if GA gets shafted to the Capital One and Tech plays in the orange bowl. The bowls are a bunch of crap, as only one matters. And to get to the one that matters, the evil Lord Saban must be defeated. Aaron Murray, pinch your nut sac and strap on your jock. You’re going to have to play the game of your goofy, inconsistent career.
Now, I’m off to diddle myself over Saban’s 8×10 glossy.
Joey
November 27th, 2012
3:31 pm
“Conference coattail riders are hilarious.”
*********************************
Not nearly as hilarious as you techies, who coattail ride on ANYBODY who you think may can beat UGA.
Better hurry to Wal Mart and get your Bama tee-shirt and cap GTBob.
You can always exchange it for some Irish stuff, if we happen to win Saturday . . .
GT Fan
November 27th, 2012
3:33 pm
$ talks and B-S ….
You’ve heard that before, right Patched?
ESPN & BCS are in bed together. ESPN is in bed with the SEC. The majority of NCAA $ is generated from the SEC.
Not real hard for these “suits” to get SEC team(s) in the BCS Championship game when these “suits” are the ones picking, er ranking, the teams to be played.
Case in point … it’s happening right in front of our eyes. UGA is NOT Championship caliber in 2012. There are too many teams ranked below them who have played tougher schedules, and/or outperformed the Dawgs. Again, just stating truth & facts.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 27th, 2012
3:35 pm
Dawgs are thugs
Really how about those cutblocks and Tech players trying to provoke fights
How about the cut block that took Jenkins out and our Sophmore D linemen in the last 5 mins of the game
I guess you closed your eyes to that fact. Its too bad we didnt more big time legal hits by UGA to your garbage team
The only thugs Ive ever seen have come from that dump call North Ave
Joey
November 27th, 2012
3:37 pm
Conspiracies galore!
Bet GT Fan thinks there was a shooter on the grassy knoll . . .
GT Fan
November 27th, 2012
3:39 pm
The Hammer ….. I’ve tried explaining that to idiotic SEC fans too over the years, and I get the same ole “no way….these dog-turd brownies I’m eating are made with Ghirardelli” responses.
Since 1990, every PAC 12 has been ranked in the top 5 at some point. No other Conf can claim that. And football isn’t the only sport the PAC 12 is best in, top-to-bottom. They’re best in all sports.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 27th, 2012
3:40 pm
GT Fan
Who did we hear all year from your so called suites was the best team in the nation pre season
Oh thats right USC; you forgot that one
Trevor Madich was on College live promoting Ohio St getting of Probation to play ND
2 weeks ago everyone including Mussberger was all giddy the SEC was out
Oh you also forgot FSU was Herbstreit pick
Oh you also forgot ND was Holtz pick
I guess once again you need a tissue
BIG MIKE
November 27th, 2012
3:43 pm
@GT FAN(cy pants)
Everyone was saying exactly the same crap when UGA won it’s last championship….in oddly enough, the Sugar Bowl vs……oddly enough Notre Dame. Not as tough a schedule as so-and-so. Could be three teams above them if not for the losses against heavier opponents, yada yada.
The BCS really hasn’t changed a darned thing has it? We still argue about the same old crap.
Notre Dame, UGA and BAMA are the only teams that matter right now and the game between UGA/BAMA should be one for the ages. I would say this is the first playoff game, but Notre Dame doesn’t have to play a Conf Championship (that’s ashamed). If they did, who would it be? Ga Tech?
GT Fan
November 27th, 2012
3:43 pm
Oh, now Patched has reverted to saying a totally legal, and NCAA-wide cut-blocking technique, is illegal & dirty.
Did he already run out of tissues …. dang, didn’t his mom buy in bulk from Costco?
ARdawg
November 27th, 2012
3:43 pm
GT fan
You really are embarrassing yourself. Pull your pannies up and quit yer sniveling
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 27th, 2012
3:48 pm
GT Fan
I wasnt the one complaining about the legal body slams Tech got was I
Bumblers
November 27th, 2012
3:48 pm
GT Fan:
Please try and explain away the BCS record of the A She She (2-13) vs. the SEC (16-7)….let us know how they “put the fix in” on those games.