UGA, Tech and the Falcons as division champs? I called it
In 2012, there was much cause for football celebration in these environs. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
For a while there, I had to ask myself, “Old son, did you really change your first name to ‘Homer’?” Because that’s what I was getting called by many of y’all. Prompting this charge was my stated belief that Georgia, Georgia Tech and the Falcons would all win divisions. But with 2013 near at hand, this Homer must confess that he considers his prognosticating work of 2012 a triumphant odyssey.
Because Georgia won its division. And so did Georgia Tech. And so did the Falcons. And who called it way back when?
The jinx of all jinxing. The archduke of addled thinking. Dumb ol’ MB.
Usually the annual Accountability Scoreboard serves a three-course dinner of Crow Soup, Crow Mignon and Humble Pie. Not this time. And yes, I’m as surprised as you are.
I predicted every Georgia regular-season game correctly. I did miss on the bigger part of my UGA prediction: The Bulldogs will not play USC for BCS title. (For the life of me, I can’t imagine what led me to pick a Lane Kiffin thing to win anything. I can, however, state with great certainty that it will never happen again.) The Bulldogs did not face LSU in the SEC championship game. Nor did they beat Alabama in the SEC championship game.
But Georgia did beat Florida, a pick I made in May and re-affirmed in October at a time when almost nobody was giving the Bulldogs a chance in Jacksonville. I’m kind of proud of that one, if I do say so myself.
Admittedly, I needed a heap of help to look good on my Coastal Division pick. I was wrong that Georgia Tech’s path to the top would be paved by a Labor Day upset of Virginia Tech. But even if Miami’s self-removal from the ACC title game affixed an asterisk to Tech’s season, the fact remains: The Jackets tied for first place and were the only eligible team left standing.
As for the Falcons: I’m willing to concede I may have underclubbed. I picked them to go 12-4. They could go 14-2. Back in February, I came pretty close to guessing what the Falcons would (and wouldn’t) do over the offseason, and in August I opined that Matt Ryan would have a huge season, which he indeed has. As we got into the season, though, I didn’t think the Falcons’ first loss would come in New Orleans. Tampa Bay was my incorrect choice.
I thought the Braves were a wild-card team, and they proved me right. (There was a time when I even suggested they might sneak up and win the East, but the mood soon passed.) Right after they traded for Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson, I suggested the Braves could play deep into October, but I never actually picked them to beat the Cardinals in the wild-card playoff/in. I’m kind of proud of that, too, because that’s one of the few times I’ve resisted making some sort of call. But if I’ve learned nothing else, I’ve learned that choosing a winner in any single baseball game is a fool’s errand.
Speaking of fools: I did pick the Falcons over the Giants in that wild-card round, and I did pick Georgia over Michigan State in the Outback Bowl. What can I say? My 2012 started badly. But it got better as it went.
I picked only one of the correct Final Four, and I didn’t pick that one — Kentucky, which happens to be my alma mater — to win it all. I went with North Carolina instead. Why did I not pick UK? Oh, I don’t know. Probably because I didn’t want to look like, ahem, a homer. Figured I’d save that part for later in the calendar year.
And I am on record — both written and video’d — as picking the Falcons to go to the Super Bowl (in the video) and win the darn thing (in print just this week). Go ahead and scoff. Homer Bradley will just point to the latest Accountability Scoreboard and smile.
Further reading: The 2011 Accountability Scoreboard (not a bad year).
Grim tidings: The 2010 Accountability Scoreboard (not a good year).
Ancient history: The 2009 Accountability Scoreboard (good on Tech, if nothing else).
By Mark Bradley
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186 comments Add your comment
todd grantham
December 20th, 2012
3:52 pm
and i couldnt be prouder of you!
Mark Bradley
December 20th, 2012
3:53 pm
Wow. I’m blushing, tg. Thanks much.
GeoffDawg
December 20th, 2012
4:05 pm
Want to go ahead and predict 2013 while you’re hot?
Pietas81
December 20th, 2012
4:09 pm
Congrats Mark, especially on the Falcons picks. There was zero optimism from the media for the birds before the season, aside from your column. A big props go out to you
Steve
December 20th, 2012
4:12 pm
Ready for the 2013 predictions Mark!
Michael
December 20th, 2012
4:15 pm
When can we look forward to the 2013 predictions?
The Grinch
December 20th, 2012
4:16 pm
If you want to call Tech back-dooring it’s division a win, knock yourself out.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
4:16 pm
I predicted every Georgia regular-season game correctly.
So did I and most other people. You say that like it was a challenge this year. I actually predicted the loss to Alabama and even the correct bowl game. If UGA continues to not play anybody then their results will stay pretty predictable.
GeoffDawg
December 20th, 2012
4:19 pm
As predictable as your posts Bob? You can set your watch to those.
Mr C
December 20th, 2012
4:19 pm
Falcons won’t win the Super bowl. Baby steps first…. let them win a playoff game first
todd grantham
December 20th, 2012
4:20 pm
Falcons SHOULD win Super Bowl, but you know what can happen.
bo
December 20th, 2012
4:21 pm
GT Bob: ” I actually predicted the loss to Alabama and even the correct bowl game.”
You really went out on a limb there, didn’t you?
Dawglasville
December 20th, 2012
4:25 pm
I thought your picks were crazy when you made them. Not bad. Very happy you were wrong about USC and Kiffen. I thought UGA would lose one, but not to USC or UF. Also thought we would lose to LSU or Bama.
Gee Bob, if UT, Auburn, or Tech would hold up their end our schedule wouldn’t look so bad.
Dawglasville
December 20th, 2012
4:35 pm
Bob – Outside of UGA and Clemson, who did Tech play? After Clemson gets hammered by LSU, about like they did in last years bowl game, the question will then be who did Tech play outside of UGA?
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
4:38 pm
You really went out on a limb there, didn’t you?
I predicted that UGA would make it to the SEC championship game, lose to Alabama, and fall into the Capital One Bowl before the season started. Is that more clear?
dawgfan
December 20th, 2012
4:40 pm
Its not exactly going out on a limb to pick Tech to win the Coastal either GTBob. Half the division is an embarassment to the game of football and the other half is in trouble with the NCAA. Agnes Scott could have won the Coastal this year.
I would be more impressed if Bradley had predicted Georgia Tech as ACC “Champ,” with the caveat that they would also be the laughing stock of college football at 6-7 and Sun Bowl bound with an NCAA waiver.
That would be impressive.
Spanky
December 20th, 2012
4:44 pm
Bob, did you predict that Tech would lose to Middle Tenn, and a ONE WIN Kansas?!? Do you predict that anyone will ever give a flying crap about your opinions??
DawgFaithful
December 20th, 2012
4:46 pm
Bob,
If we continue to not play anybody?
We’re going to play the teams on our SEC schedule. That’s all we can do. You act like teams from other conferences schedule tough out of conference games. Who are they?
Next September we play Clemson, South Carolina and LSU.
dawgfan
December 20th, 2012
4:46 pm
“I predicted that UGA would make it to the SEC championship game, lo”se to Alabama, and fall into the Capital One Bowl before the season started. Is that more clear?”
LOL. Is anyone buying this load of crap? That means GTBob predicted us to beat Florida. Does anybody in their right mind really believe that this clown thought we could beat Florida?
Uh oh GTBob. Busted talking out your backside again.
Spanky
December 20th, 2012
4:46 pm
…scratch that…sub BYU with Kansas..that was last year… I predict Bob will have something to say about it..
Travis Nunnally
December 20th, 2012
4:47 pm
GtBob, you were wrong again. It all happened after the season started, not before the season started.
Birmingham Jacket
December 20th, 2012
4:51 pm
I’ll give you credit for UGA and The Falcons.
Georgia Tech a champion?
Hardly…
How about giving us your prediction of how much longer we will have to put up with our coach who belongs in high school, before we make a change?
gdawg
December 20th, 2012
4:51 pm
Woof woof woof. Woof woof woof. Bark Bark.
UGABob
December 20th, 2012
4:55 pm
Remember people, ignore GTBob! He is a moron! He knows nothing about college football. His life consists of getting you all worked up. That’s it! He is a guy who has no friends or woman, was picked on when he was young, and grew up without a father. His favorite team also happens to be one of the worst teams in college football. He has a lot of issues!
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
4:58 pm
LOL. Is anyone buying this load of crap? That means GTBob predicted us to beat Florida. Does anybody in their right mind really believe that this clown thought we could beat Florida?
Florida ended up better than expected. Before the season started most people picked UGA to easily beat Florida.
J-bone
December 20th, 2012
4:59 pm
I’m impressed – well done there MB.
Discount DoubleDawg
December 20th, 2012
4:59 pm
The real joke here is what this says about the ACC and GaTech… What a complete and utter joke
Hillbilly D
December 20th, 2012
5:00 pm
Even a blind hog can find the trough, once in a while.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:04 pm
We’re going to play the teams on our SEC schedule. That’s all we can do.
Yes, but that won’t change the fact that you have had incredibly weak schedules the past couple of years. Next year looks to be a bit more difficult. Good luck with it.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:07 pm
He is a guy who has no friends or woman, was picked on when he was young, and grew up without a father.
Dangit UGABob. I told you all of that in secrecy.
Bali
December 20th, 2012
5:12 pm
Ok Mark, so is the world gonna end tomorrow??
Hillbilly D
December 20th, 2012
5:13 pm
Let’s face it, most every major college team has 5 or so “pushover” games on the schedule. It’s the nature of the beast and how they keep the money rolling in.
Bali
December 20th, 2012
5:18 pm
Well GTbob said it, UGA is a disgrace to the state and should just shut it’s doors(from a different blog). I don’t know if the state would like that bob……UGA brings in a ton of money for our fine state. But I’m sure you’ll have some kind of a rebuttal.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:19 pm
Let’s face it, most every major college team has 5 or so “pushover” games on the schedule.
Pac 12 teams are playing a 9 game conference schedule and still frequently schedule tough out of conference opponents. Cal played Nevada and Ohio State. Stanford played Notre Dame, Duke and San Jose St. USC played Notre Dame.and Syracuse. UCLA played Nebraska, Houston, and Rice. Those schedules are much tougher than almost any SEC teams play and UGA is usually one of the lightest.
UGABob
December 20th, 2012
5:19 pm
Bali, that he will! That is what he lives for!
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:21 pm
UGA brings in a ton of money for our fine state. But I’m sure you’ll have some kind of a rebuttal.
The relatively minor amount of money that UGA generates would easily be worth the improvement in the state as a whole if the university were to close its doors or at least drop down to community college status in Athens.
Discount DoubleDawg
December 20th, 2012
5:23 pm
The pac 10 has 4 teams ranked in the top 25 BCS poll. The SEC has 6 ranked in the top 10. A 9 game pac 10 conference schedule is a gift.
UGABob
December 20th, 2012
5:25 pm
Yea, UGA never, ever plays out of conference quality teams! Clemson (2013), Boise St., Colorado, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, etc. I would add Tech to that list but they are far from a quality team. Remember little GTBob, these games are scheduled years in advance so there is no way to know how good or bad they will be. Do your comment on my comment GTBob! Do it!!!!
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:30 pm
Yea, UGA never, ever plays out of conference quality teams! Clemson (2013), Boise St., Colorado, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, etc.
The only reason UGA played Boise St was because of a huge payout they got at the last minute. They wanted no part of Boise St and you saw why. As for the other teams, including Colorado and Arizona St as quality teams is pretty generous. Ill give you Oklahoma St and Clemson though, although Clemson is an ACC school so they don’t count, right? So there ya go. 2 decent OOC games in 10 years. Congrats.
Discount DoubleDawg
December 20th, 2012
5:30 pm
Gosh if UGA should be a community college what does that say about tech… I know 4 kids personally in my town that were accepted to Tech and not UGA. I hear about it happening more and more and now I am seeing it with people I know. Not an anomaly…
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:31 pm
The pac 10 has 4 teams ranked in the top 25 BCS poll. The SEC has 6 ranked in the top 10. A 9 game pac 10 conference schedule is a gift.
Sorry but playing any Pac 12 team is a little more impressive then playing Buffalo and Georgia Southern.
Bali
December 20th, 2012
5:31 pm
Bob…..sometimes I wonder if you’re just a plant….sent here to rouse the ire in people
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:32 pm
I know 4 kids personally in my town that were accepted to Tech and not UGA.
Yes, GT is now nothing but students who were rejected by UGA. We all believe your theory.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 20th, 2012
5:33 pm
Bham Jacket…if you Tech grads are so smart then why don’t you cough up some of that big money and buyout Paul? Guess you like to sit on your azz and throw rocks at those that do spend the money trying to win a glass ball.
Auburn is coming after the Golden Corral poster boy Rodney Garner.
UGABob
December 20th, 2012
5:34 pm
Bali, that’s what happens when a person has nothing in their life except talking bad about UGA and the SEC. Sad huh? Poor little boy.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:39 pm
Bham Jacket…if you Tech grads are so smart then why don’t you cough up some of that big money and buyout Paul?
Most Tech fans don’t want to buyout CPJ and even if they did they wouldn’t donate $10 million to do it when they could donate to the institution instead. Its called priorities.
UGABob
December 20th, 2012
5:40 pm
This shows how smart GTBob is. Posted before the UGA/UF game. Hilarious:
GTBob
October 23rd, 2012
5:45 pm
Against common opponents (UT, Vandy, SC, UK) this year:
UGA: 3-1, +29 point differential
Florida: 4-0, +102 point differential
On top of that Florida beat a top 10 team. Something UGA hasn’t done in recent memory. Plus its Florida who UGA never plays well against. Sorry, but UGA seems like a pretty silly pick here Mark. I know you want to play the hopeful homer but be realistic every once in a while.
Jacket Man
December 20th, 2012
5:40 pm
Mark, I’ll chip in for the sling you’re going to need because you’ve just dislocated your shoulder patting yourself on the back!
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:43 pm
This shows how smart GTBob is. Posted before the UGA/UF game.
If I would have know that Florida would turn the ball over 6 times and pretty much hand the game to UGA then I might have chose differently. If they played again tomorrow I would pick UF and im pretty sure they would be favored in Vegas.
Discount DoubleDawg
December 20th, 2012
5:44 pm
the truth hurts huh bob? You have always had a hard time with the truth and facts… The seperation in academics between UGA and Ga Tech isn’t what it use to be. If someone thinks otherwise they are a fool. I know you are not a fool, so maybe you are just embarrased or in denial. All I know is, 4 high school seniors who I know personally (actually I know their parents) were accepted to tech and rejected by UGA.
Oh and colordao and washingon state are not that much better than buffalo and ga southern and those teams are in the pac 10. Try again… And yes I do think ga southern would give both of them a game.
Bali
December 20th, 2012
5:48 pm
Well Bob….why don’t you just write a fat check to your institution instead of spending pretty much all your time devoted to criticizing everything that is UGA? You’ll probably say that you write your checks in between posts……or when you’re at lunch….or on the weekends…..or when you take time off from UGA blogs to sit back and just peruse your work???
UGABob
December 20th, 2012
5:49 pm
Alllllllllways an excuse, just like most Tech fans.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:49 pm
The seperation in academics between UGA and Ga Tech isn’t what it use to be. If someone thinks otherwise they are a fool.
Tech is ranked much higher overall and in most individual areas that both schools support. Tech has a much much larger endowment and receives much more research funding. Graduates from GT make much more money on average then UGA graduates do. Tech is a member of the AAU. Etc, etc. But hey, you know some guys who supposedly got turned down by UGA and got into GT so they are ahead now.
Stinger 2
December 20th, 2012
5:52 pm
Great work Mark. Did Jeff S. congratulate you yet?
I can`t wait to see your 2013 predictions,,,,especially for the Braves.
For what ever its worth, I`m saying they will go at least to the NLCS.
Frank Wren has made some good moves and will make more if necessary.
His extension of Fredi`s contract insures that the Braves have an experienced
field leader who can withstand the insults and complaints of misguided Braves fans.
Fredi`s record for his first two seasons speaks for itself. 89 and 94 wins is not too shabby.
BobDawg
December 20th, 2012
5:54 pm
so Mark, do you want a cookie? Sorry, my wife always says that when I tell her when my predictions come true….
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:54 pm
Well Bob….why don’t you just write a fat check to your institution instead of spending pretty much all your time devoted to criticizing everything that is UGA?
I have written plenty of checks to GT. I never miss a roll call.
Mark Bradley
December 20th, 2012
5:54 pm
If I’d known Alabama would score four more points than Georgia, I’d have picked Alabama. That’s the thing that makes predictions fun — and maddening. You don’t know.
UGABob
December 20th, 2012
5:59 pm
Very true Mark! Too bad others on this blog don’t understand that. Kudos to you and great predictions in 2012!
Peter
December 20th, 2012
6:07 pm
Really Tech as a division Champ…… Farfetched….. you mean they backed in to it because of Miami ?
Please with that high school offense… who even cares about watching that boring stuff ?
Discount DoubleDawg
December 20th, 2012
6:07 pm
If tech is so much better it is just shocking as to why they would accept students who UGA turns away… I agree this is a new problem for you and not one you are use to having to deal with. Think about it for a couple of days, ask your friend and I am just certain you will have some stellar excuses very soon.
Gordon
December 20th, 2012
6:20 pm
Discount,
1) Tech freshmen average 100 points higher that UGA on the SAT. Higher in Math AND Verbal.
2) Tech is an AAU school, UGA isn’t but wishes they were.
3) Tech is always ranked much higher than UGA by USN&WR.
4) Tech’s endowment is 3 times what UGA’s is, despite UGA having a 100 year head start.
5) Tech’s football team has a higher average SAT score than any other public school in the nation.
6) UGA might actually be harder to get into based on supply and demand, but Tech it is indisputable that Tech is harder to stay in.
UGA is a good school, but you should stick to bragging about football and stop making a fool of yourself.
Landover
December 20th, 2012
6:28 pm
Thanks for making ATL your home MB. I recall Lewis Grizzard praising you in one of his articles saying ” he is that good”.
Mark Bradley
December 20th, 2012
6:33 pm
Thanks, Landover. Mr. Grizzard was very nice to me.
Gene
December 20th, 2012
6:38 pm
Nice job, particularly on UGA.
Discount DoubleDawg
December 20th, 2012
6:40 pm
Gordon- nothing I have said isn’t true. Nothing.
Look, Tech is a good school. I agree. Tech just isn’t a great school and there is nothing wrong with that.
POOPDAWG
December 20th, 2012
6:42 pm
Congratulations Mark, but you just spoiled the moment by writing an article about it. Somebody else should have been writing this article then everything is kosher. I know , you waited a week and a half and nobody noticed . I will forgive you this time . Merry Christmas!
DMAN
December 20th, 2012
6:44 pm
You picked Tech Mark,you shoudn’t even have a post on this,what a joke!
GTDog
December 20th, 2012
6:56 pm
Oh, just wonderful Bradley. You picked ALL three local teams? I can see the New Years headlines now (in the AJC, no less):
“Falcons first team in NFL history to blow 6 game lead in 2 weeks”
“Georgia Tech stripped of Coastal title in correspondence course scandal”
“Ties to El Keebo Cartel, money laundering force NCAA to void Georgia Bulldogs 2012 season”
By the way….I remember Grizzard mentioning you when you were just starting out, something about being the “best sports guy ever with a Wierd Al afro”?
I’ll buy you lunch for a week if you change your AJC pic back to the afro days for awhile Mark……..
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 20th, 2012
6:59 pm
@GTBobby…
Most Tech fans don’t want to buyout CPJ and even if they did they wouldn’t donate $10 million to do it when they could donate to the institution instead. Its called priorities.
Then your program is Duke without the basketball program. Darwin Holt at 165 #’s killed the Ga Tech football program with a mighty forearm. Tech should give up football and save even more money for priorities.
jeffrey d
December 20th, 2012
7:03 pm
If UGA continues to not play anybody
Like Tech?
Reggie Ball for Heisman
December 20th, 2012
7:05 pm
Buffalo
Fla Atlantic
Ga Southern
Ga Tech
I agree, GT Bob, all four teams were pretty weak opponents, especially the last one.
GTDog
December 20th, 2012
7:17 pm
Yep, Tech grads have higher priorities than sports, yet some of them spend all their free time on sports blogs. Other teams’ sports blogs. Kinda scary if you think about it…..
jeffrey d
December 20th, 2012
7:19 pm
Yep, Tech grads have higher priorities than sports
That’s a lie. You’re always on this blog and Schultz’ to complain about Georgia like it’s your job.
George
December 20th, 2012
7:32 pm
Let’s all agree to improve our writing skills on this blog. I can just see Bradley laughing at some of these posts.
Big Al
December 20th, 2012
7:32 pm
Dat Tech is one fine football team. Mark, you should be proud.
billyBobjacket
December 20th, 2012
7:39 pm
Not that I didn’t (sort of) enjoy playing in the ACCCG, but Mark…you can’t really take credit for picking us to win the division because we actually didn’t…
smarter kids at UGA than GT
December 20th, 2012
7:43 pm
The admission standards at UGA have been far tougher than GT for more than a decade now!
But GT fans that still live in the 90s and never even attended the school, hang their hat on an Institute that is many a diploma factory for foreign kids that return to their native country(don’t blame them).
lanier
December 20th, 2012
7:53 pm
congrats you win a cookie
Pitbull
December 20th, 2012
7:58 pm
Actually Miami won the ACC Coastal Division and chose not to play in the ACC CG.
Tech simply was substituted for the ACC Coastal Division winners.
They lost of course. But you were right on the other two, Mark.
GTDog
December 20th, 2012
8:14 pm
Hmmmm, heff d…..perhaps you’re confusing GTBob and GTDog?
GTDog
December 20th, 2012
8:14 pm
Make that jeff d……………
Thrash
December 20th, 2012
8:15 pm
Hopefully the Falcons have a better fate than the other 2 chumps did.
SSIgator
December 20th, 2012
8:19 pm
So Mark, when can we look forward to your next “warm and fuzzy” article on UGA not winning the SEC-CG? Or are you finally over your mourning?
Thogwummpy
December 20th, 2012
8:37 pm
BUT….let’s be clear for the record: Mark did NOT predict that Valdosta State would win another NCAA Div. II National Championship. Go “Sportscoats” (Blazers)! Would be pretty sweet if the AJC covered all the state’s college football half as well as they do high school… There’s a football powerhouse down there, and there’s hardly a peep about it until the championship game arrives. For sports journalism, that’s pitiful….just pitiful.
heeldawg
December 20th, 2012
8:48 pm
@GT Bob:
The state of Georgia is fortunate to have two fine institutions of higher learning like the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech. They clearly serve different roles, so comparing their academics can be difficult. However, your denigration of the University of Georgia, a sentiment predicated upon decades of athletic jealousy, is misguided and inaccurate.
Here are a few comparisons:
Annual budgets: U.Ga. $1.32 billion
Tech $1.19 billion
Endowments: U.Ga. $760 million
Tech $1.6 billion
Freshman admission statistics 2012: U.Ga. math/Verbal SAT ~1300
High school GPA 3.86
Ga Tech M/V SAT ~1400
High school GPA 3.85
Rhodes Scholars, all-time: U.Ga 22
Tech 3
Kiplinger’s Best Values Rankings among public colleges: U.Ga. 6th
Tech 31st
Smart Money Magazine Best Return on investment in college education;
Tech 1st
U.Ga. 4th
The University of Georgia is the principal undergraduate educational site of the majority of the state’s educators, journalists, attorneys, veterinarians, physicians, agricultural experts and pharmacists. It has the top-rated Landscape Architecture School in the nation, a top 5 rated School of Forestry, and is among the top10 Veterinary schools in the nation. The University has acclaimed programs in business (particularly real estate and risk management), Ecology, Law, English and the Biological Sciences.
In addition, the University of Georgia has won 37 NCAA championships, 130 SEC championships and had 27 athletes participate in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Georgia Tech has won exactly one NCAA title–in womens’ tennis.
Moreover, Georgia simply owns Georgia Tech in football, having won 11 of the past 12 games and 75% of the games overall over the past half-century–which is the exact source of the veritable tsunami of unsubstantiated and/or fabricated drivel that you spew onto these pages on a regular basis.
Get over it, Bob. The “academics” argument that you perpetually hide behind is simply a lot of smoke and mirrors.
mike on lake hartwell
December 20th, 2012
9:05 pm
that outback bowl was a win in every respect, just not on the scoreboard.
you get a pass on that one.
Ken in Alpharetta
December 20th, 2012
9:09 pm
gt bob just got punked by heeldawg. Great job heel!!
Dawglasville
December 20th, 2012
9:12 pm
heeldawg – Great stuff, wasted on trolls. You see, Bob, like the other Tech trolls like to thump their chests because they are engineers. All other careers are of course are secondary at best.
dap01
December 20th, 2012
9:17 pm
GA Tech is not the champion of anything. They are the 3rd best team in Georgia. They have a losing record. If they are the champion of anything, the ACC must be a NAIA conference.
BobDawg
December 20th, 2012
9:25 pm
SSIGATOR… It is Christmas time and we all need “Warm and Fuzzy”…. I’m over the SEC game and it was a classic, don’t you say??? We have our sites on the “Cornhuskers” and hopefully that is not a bad name ala Rob Parker?!
Old Gold
December 20th, 2012
9:28 pm
Tech is a joke!
Growler
December 20th, 2012
10:02 pm
Impressive picks Mark, congrats. But the “Stedy Fredi” column still lingers… and I’ll never give the Braves the free pass for the Wild Card debacle that you did. One game: Yes. Playing like a bad little league team it: No.
1Dog
December 20th, 2012
10:04 pm
Dogs roll again in 2013—book it. Another beatdown over fla and tennessee, win the SEC easily. This time, GA beats alabama for the title. Murray will not be denied!
daddo
December 20th, 2012
10:07 pm
I think the safest prediction one can ever make is that Georgia will not win the national championship.
DawgNole
December 20th, 2012
10:12 pm
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
5:43 pm
If I would have know that Florida would turn the ball over 6 times and pretty much hand the game to UGA then I might have chose differently. If they played again tomorrow I would pick UF and im pretty sure they would be favored in Vegas.
____________________
This after you spent most of the season insisting to me that fla wasn’t that good. I tried repeatedly to educate you, but you would have no part of it. Glad you finally see the light.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
December 20th, 2012
10:20 pm
UGA still didn’t win the SEC!
Olesmoky
December 20th, 2012
10:29 pm
Can’t wait for your 2013 prognostications..
diamonddaveincali
December 20th, 2012
10:59 pm
Mark since you added the final four, which I might add has nothing to do with the city atlanta or state of georgia, I want to know why you left out the Champions League in 2012. You are a sports columnist, right? why did you leave out soccer?
Not that special...
December 20th, 2012
11:02 pm
“The University of Georgia is the principal undergraduate educational site of the majority of the state’s educators, journalists, attorneys, veterinarians, physicians, agricultural experts and pharmacists. It has the top-rated Landscape Architecture School in the nation, a top 5 rated School of Forestry, and is among the top10 Veterinary schools in the nation. The University has acclaimed programs in business (particularly real estate and risk management), Ecology, Law, English and the Biological Sciences.”
Is this supposed to be impressive? Every single engineering program at GT is top 10 in the nation, with most being top 5. GT’s business school is ranked right behind Emory and higher than the “prestigious” Terry College of Business.
And please don’t even get me started on the Rhode Scholar argument…..
First, you have to be a liberal arts major to earn a Rhodes scholarship. So it’s basically a miracle that GT has any to being with. UGA also has a 100 year head start and has twice the student population so it’s statistically almost a given that UGA will get one every year or two.
The second, and much more humorous….Bama has more Rhodes Scholars than UGA. So based on your (and most of DWAGNATION’s) logic, Bama is academically superior to UGA
So let’s get this straight. Based on the K-12 public education provided in Georgia, all of us should be hooping and hollering that we have such fine colleges in this state. GT and UGA have very different strengths so it is difficult to compare them directly (ie Rhode scholar explanation). I can almost guarantee that GT is respected a lot more outside of the state of Georgia than inside the state thanks to people like you and the rest of dawg nation. In summary, UGA is a good school that offers a few great programs and is respectable on a regional level. Georgia Tech is a great school where almost every program offered is top tier and is recognized and respected worldwide.
If you were to mention GT and UGA to an educated/business person in England/France/Italy/Greece/Russia/Japan/China/etc, which do you think will be recognized? I’ve personally experienced this, and I can tell you it is not UGA.
KEN COWART
December 20th, 2012
11:09 pm
Enter your comments here
oldfart
December 20th, 2012
11:15 pm
Tech should be ticketed for backing into it without a warning beeper. Other than that I will give you due credit Mr. Bradley.
Buzz2011
December 20th, 2012
11:44 pm
Hey Bradley, who won the SEC championship game this year
between the Dogs and Alabama?
Falcon Jim
December 21st, 2012
12:46 am
Years ago my late Father was the President of the Atlanta Optimist Club……………..but was the biggest PESSIMIST about Atlanta sports teams. Times go on, but nothing changes.
Falcon Jim
December 21st, 2012
12:48 am
I am not moderate. I am a conservative traditional American
Never First, Just the Best!
December 21st, 2012
1:07 am
Got any numbers for mega-millions?….lol
NFC South Champs
December 21st, 2012
1:22 am
Those defending Super Bowl Champs got their Gmens kicked 34-0.
NFC South Champs
December 21st, 2012
1:27 am
That 49′er defense gave up 34 points,
And Green Bay squeaked by Chicago
And The Falcons took the Giants to the woodshed.
john
December 21st, 2012
1:27 am
GTBob: Do the Tech fans a big favor: STFU.
drbasic1
December 21st, 2012
2:24 am
I WOULD THINK SOME OF YOU MIGHT FIND AN ACADEMIC BLOG
I thought this was a sports blog and SPECIFIC about MB’s predictions.
Everytime some person mentions the power of football between Georgia and Georgia Tech, seems Tech fans only recourse is to bring up academics or much more money a graduate of one school makes over another, you people are pathetic!
Whopper Dawg
December 21st, 2012
2:26 am
You called it, Mark. Congrats!!!!
pal
December 21st, 2012
3:04 am
The sec had 3 teams 0-7 heading into the final week. Only because tenn played kty, did they not have 3 0-8 teams in conf. The conf is very overrated and this will be shown in the bowl games.
drbasic1
December 21st, 2012
4:11 am
don’t think those particular teams are going bowling, goober. As for the others, put a “pay” in front of your name and get with me, i would be more than happy to take any money you can afford to lose.
Cloudodust
December 21st, 2012
6:01 am
I’m guessing you consistently Sacked Schultz. Enjoy that trip to Hawaii. Aloha, MB
Buckeye
December 21st, 2012
6:25 am
I pick the dogs to be 2013 National Champions Feb-July.
Buckeye
December 21st, 2012
6:27 am
I pick that the dogs will continue their losing ways against ranked opponents.
Buckeye
December 21st, 2012
6:27 am
I pick that their will plenty of pot to smoke in Athens during the off-season and at least 4 dogs will get busted.
Buckeye
December 21st, 2012
6:28 am
I pick that dogs fans will continue to trash their own campus
Peadawg
December 21st, 2012
7:09 am
Atlanta and UGA WON their divisions.
Tech “won” their division.
Big difference.
Buckeye
December 21st, 2012
7:30 am
I predict the dogs will be 1-3 on 9/29/13
blackandwhitestripes
December 21st, 2012
7:45 am
ugag never gets the prize with all of their 5 star NFL recruiting. What is the saying, a day late and a game short?
Joey
December 21st, 2012
9:00 am
I predict Free Tatts U will have to give up that ‘02 BCS Title one of these days . . .
http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/maurice_clarett_i_got_paid_more_in_college_than_i_do_now_in_the_ufl/12439528?linksrc=home_x_rg_head_12439528
DawginLex
December 21st, 2012
9:16 am
I predict Ohio State will lose to Georgia in the 2013 BCS title game.
After skating through another weak Big Ten schedule, delusional Buckeyes will once again have their hopes crushed when they face the 2013 SEC Champion Bulldogs.
52-28
Buckeye
December 21st, 2012
9:55 am
dogs,
I’m heading to Columbus for Christmas. Who would prefer that I stay there?
Buckeye
December 21st, 2012
9:57 am
dog 2013 losses:
Clemson
South Carolina
LSU
Vanderbilt
That does not a BCS title game, nor any BCS game (again) for the dogs.
Hellooooooo Liberty Bowl (again) for the dogs.
Buckeye
December 21st, 2012
9:58 am
I predict Urban will save his
TIME OUT!
TIME OUT!
TIME OUT!
Ah, the memories.
Weyman C. Wannamaker Jr. (A Great American)
December 21st, 2012
10:32 am
I went back and read Mark’s column.. and unearthed this little nugget:
“I’d be lying if I said I think Georgia Tech will be a great team. I see it going 9-3, which falls under the heading of “pretty good.”
If 9-3 (which they can only dream about now) falls under “pretty good” – what does their actual record fall under?
GTBob
December 21st, 2012
11:10 am
If 9-3 (which they can only dream about now) falls under “pretty good” – what does their actual record fall under?
The truth is that 9-3 is a really good year for GT. 6-6 is an average year. 7-5 or 8-4 is pretty good.
Mike
December 21st, 2012
11:39 am
yeah real tough calls with ugas creampuff schedule and the saints with their issues. like tb or carolina was gonna be in the hunt. So it was a coin flip. Hardly worth tooting your horn over. Next time make predictions like what teams will win each division in football and who will make the wild card and then the champ games and sb. Then you can gloat if you got most right.
Mike
December 21st, 2012
11:41 am
7-5 is pretty good? In the pathetic acc? Wow way to set those expectations high. 7-5 in 4-4 in the acc and 3 ooc wins over creampuffs. of course gt lost to 2 cp this year.
if 4-4 in conf in the acc is good, then the acc should move to div 1aa.
Vampire Bill
December 21st, 2012
12:23 pm
I predict that these AJC blogs in 2013 will be 80% nonsense and jibberish, 15% sports and 5% mediocre humor.
Buckeye
December 21st, 2012
12:25 pm
si.com Daily Jolt
Coincidence that the Matthew (I’ve yet to make an honest woman out of @kellybhall) Stafford leads the most “underachieving” team in the NFL?
Think not. dogs don’t fall far from dog trees.
Big Ten Champs Nebraska
December 21st, 2012
2:19 pm
Wow
Ron D
December 21st, 2012
3:50 pm
Great job, Mark! I didn’t believe you on the Tech prediction but it came true.
UGA, Tech and the Falcons as division champs? I called it
December 21st, 2012
4:01 pm
[...] (AJC photo by Add Audio. In 2012, there was much cause for football celebration in … …Source Tags: Champs window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : 275244229221412, status : [...]
GTBob
December 21st, 2012
4:12 pm
7-5 is pretty good? In the pathetic acc? Wow way to set those expectations high.
We have been playing in the ACC for a while and haven’t done much better then that. Why should I expect more now?
Pro Fan
December 21st, 2012
5:12 pm
People call you a homer Bradley,Not because of you picking GT uga and the Falcons to win,but of you picking uga to win all the time and crying for a month when they don’t.GT btw didn’t actually win the Coastal..Miami did…….talking about predictable nonsense from bloggers other than GTBOB,look no further tha dawgfan…same old BS every time you see this guy..Just like BOB going to uga blogs talking nonsense,you can count on dawgfan to do the same on GT blogs..What’s up with that BOYS!!…Ga Tech may not have had a good year this time,but an embarrassment?It’s pretty obvious that you have never played a down in football at any level…andhave NO idea what it takes to play the game at college level..and GT BOB…UGA played the schedule that was made out awhile back…Its not their fault that the teams they played this year didn’t have steller years.UGA played what was put in front of them and won the SEC east…Justlike dawg your another one that’s probably never played a down of football…..I personally like both UGA and GT and would be proud to have either of my sons play football or baseball for either…But I hope that neither of them ever go to college around either one of you nitwits or anyone like you….GOOD LUCK TO UGA and Ga.Tech in your bowls..y
Sven Ottke
December 21st, 2012
5:16 pm
GT: highest avg SAT score for football for incoming
UGa: 80% special admits
Eat that Heel Mutt
A person SMART enough to know.....
December 21st, 2012
7:43 pm
Well the world is still so I guess UGa gets another 32 years to be preseason national champs.
kingdaddy
December 21st, 2012
7:59 pm
Smart
At least we always have Techies to make us feel better about our wretched football team, lol…
A person SMART enough to know.....
December 21st, 2012
8:04 pm
KingDaddy….whatever helps get you through the day. LOL
A person SMART enough to know.....
December 21st, 2012
8:07 pm
KingDaddy I have the FLU and I feel like crap. Laying on the sofa watching one of your Favorite Coaches and Teams play football. Are you watching O’Leary and UCF vs Ball St game? This makes it the 3rd day and still don’t want to do much.
Pitbull
December 21st, 2012
9:17 pm
Looks like Mike’s mom bought him a computer for Christmas and gave it to him early.
Hope he grows up and matures a little.
Pitbull
December 21st, 2012
9:17 pm
Looks like Mike’s mom bought him a computer for Christmas and gave it to him early.
Hope he grows up and matures a little.
Birmingham Jacket
December 21st, 2012
11:41 pm
Why are all you UGA fans so optimistic about 2013?
Youre losing your entire defense– and great D is a common demonitor in Sec championship teams.
And hate to be a discouraging voice of reality… But despite the pep talks you give each other, and fancy wishing… Murray is GONE!
New QB. New defense. Tougher schedule.
I see 8-4 or 9-3 at best. And the vultures will be once again circling the wagon to run Richt out of town.
boykin
December 22nd, 2012
3:02 am
Great article, Mark. I predict GTBOB will come out of his Moms basement and join reality with his Jackets as LOSERS!
Zip 30327 Rich
December 22nd, 2012
6:41 am
We kick Nerd Tech’s arse again highlighted by another couple of body slams again next year. I called it. You read it here first.
Zip 30327 Rich
December 22nd, 2012
6:45 am
I also predict GTBob comes out of the closet.
Buckeye
December 22nd, 2012
6:47 am
Morning dogs,
Leaving for Columbus. Want me to stay there?
The only numbers that matter
December 22nd, 2012
7:50 am
32-28
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 22nd, 2012
8:46 am
so after 15 years the UGA folks pay Garner 300k? Come on Man.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 22nd, 2012
10:29 am
predict that these AJC blogs in 2013 will be 80% nonsense and jibberish, 15% sports and 5% mediocre humor.
That 80% is way too low sport…but the 5% humor needs to be around 10 %.
I told you folks auburn was coming after Golden Corral Man Garner.
@Buckeye…next year it will be Bama vs the Buckeye’s for the glass ball. Should be a great game.
Ddawg75
December 22nd, 2012
10:37 am
Gt Bob… Say what you please…but at least when Georgia plays weaker teams they win.
Ddawg75
December 22nd, 2012
10:42 am
Buzz2011…who won the ACC also ran championship, how close was the game, and who had to file an appeal to get a FIVE win team allowed to play in a bowl game?
ARdawg
December 22nd, 2012
11:04 am
Bradley
You don’t get credit for the GT pick. That credit goes to Shalayla. Good job on the others though
A big woof woof to MB
December 22nd, 2012
12:12 pm
If Coach “Spike” Richt would have spiked the ball, you would have had half the national championship game participants right.
A big woof woof to MB
December 22nd, 2012
12:15 pm
your average is great considering a baseball player hitting .300 is considered exceptional today
All I'm Saying Is...
December 22nd, 2012
2:40 pm
Even a blind squirrel, Bradley, finds a nut eventually so after all of your epic fails when it comes to making predictions the odds were in your favor although that Georgia Tech call is a reach. All that typed, I do hope your streak continues with the Falcons winning it all.
Kramer
December 22nd, 2012
4:35 pm
Mark, kudos to you for your predicitions but, you can’t be serious about tech. I mean, if Miami was not being Miami you would have missed that one big guy. Now, if you would have predicted that tech would be champ because Miami would take itself out of the championship game due to infractions then I would have said you were a brilliant man.
GJ
December 22nd, 2012
6:47 pm
Tech was NOT division champ.
gy6
December 22nd, 2012
8:38 pm
get back to me after another humiliating UG bowl loss.
Pro Fan
December 23rd, 2012
10:27 am
My bad…ALOT more nitwits on here other than GT BOB and dawgfan…..these idiots couldn’t be water boys on Ga Techs or UGAs football teams……
Pete Van Weird
December 23rd, 2012
12:21 pm
…probably the best article you have written….at least, recently;;;
NFC South Champs
December 23rd, 2012
2:46 pm
31 to 18, ———— how ’bout them FALCONS !
The Monger
December 23rd, 2012
5:27 pm
Actually Mark, Georgia Tech did NOT win its division, it was actually 3rd, behind both Miami and North Carolina. However, both universities self-imposed penalties that took itself out of the ACC Championship game. So you are wrong yet again, as you are with 99 percent of the garbage that comes out of your mouth…
phil
December 23rd, 2012
6:05 pm
Mark is again delusional….
Tech didn’t win anything. It was given to them.
The Braves collapsed. Georgia choked in horrific fashion.
Lord knows what awful choke is upcoming from the Falcons.
And Mark is proud of this abysmal failure?
phil
December 23rd, 2012
6:07 pm
Fire FG!!
Run that by me Tech champs are you kiddin
December 24th, 2012
3:15 am
First all GT yellowjackets did not win divison Miami did but the fore sighted President of Miami delacred self void so had give Tech coastal by default…Now On dec 31 before a crowd of folks more at there Make Tech fans cry at game full house USC trogans come a knockin dec 31on CBS. And after 3rd quarter Tech fans be gone all USC Fans left with score 61-17 then all eyes be on Tech coach as he watch USC add on more in a 75-17 Thrashin of the dead yellow jackets off field!
Kennesaw Falcon Fan
December 24th, 2012
9:21 am
Tech didn’t “win” their division. Joke that they were in the ACC championship and a bigger joke they are in any kind of bowl.
The rut
December 24th, 2012
12:15 pm
I love the Flacons, but if they beat GB or NE they will have to score 50 points because they will give up 48.
atlfan
December 24th, 2012
1:45 pm
nice to see atlanta sportwriters being positive about the home city teams!!!
Departments of Unintended Irony
December 24th, 2012
4:16 pm
@The rut: how many points did the Falcons give up to the Giants?
Happy Holidays
December 24th, 2012
9:13 pm
I like how Gtu grads think their school is respected globally. IT IS NOT.
Esquire
December 25th, 2012
8:16 am
Merry Christmas from New York City!!!
WE ARE THE MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS!!!
Daniel#12
December 25th, 2012
11:27 am
Mark, fact is you missed on GTU. Tech did not win their division. They lost a tie-break for the division. Miami won but declared themselves ineligible. A miss is a miss.
copper
December 25th, 2012
4:26 pm
the gnats were the only pick most disagreed with, but most didn’t realize the acc would suck as bad as it did.
Just an Old Dawg
December 26th, 2012
7:14 am
Good pickin’ MB. Where do you think the Dawgs will be next year? I guess you have to wait and see who the qb will be before you decide, or does it make that muck difference?
Just an Old Dawg
December 26th, 2012
7:15 am
much difference?
vesaversa
December 26th, 2012
9:36 am
Good job man .
vesaversa
December 26th, 2012
9:36 am
Good job man .
Flo- Ri - Duh
December 26th, 2012
11:17 am
Division champs: Falcons earned it – Dawgs backed in to it – Insects were given it. Am proud of UGA in SEC champ game .. so close.
4DaBirds
December 26th, 2012
1:19 pm
Who’s gonna win the Super Bowl Nostradumass? JK
Craven Morehead
December 26th, 2012
2:23 pm
GTBOB – stirring up the fleabags!!!! It’s the refs! Wait til next year!
Hydrant Sniffers
December 26th, 2012
2:26 pm
Delusional moronic leghumpers. NOBODY has UGAg on their radar but dimwit Walmart shopping fleabags.
Lobosolo
December 26th, 2012
8:18 pm
How long you gonna leave this up? Move on, o self-appointed one… Only thing worse than one of your columns is one in which you slap your own back and keep it up for two weeks… enough!
Lobosolo
December 26th, 2012
8:20 pm
See Daniel#12 above… smh…
Indydawg
December 27th, 2012
2:06 pm
Whaddya want? A cookie?
The percentage hasn’t been very good the past 20 years….