Gators favored by 16; does the bye week matter?
A few notes on Monday of Georgia-Florida week:
— Oddsmakers have made Florida a whopping 16-point favorite over Georgia on Saturday, even though the Gators have won their past three games by an average of 7.7 points — 10 over Mississippi State, 3 over Arkansas and 10 over LSU.
— As you know, Georgia is coming off a bye week and Florida is not. So here’s the data on open dates as they relate to the Georgia-Florida series: Georgia is 3-2 vs. Florida when coming off a bye week, while Florida is 14-4 vs. Georgia when coming off a bye week. The Bulldogs’ most recent win over the Gators -– in 2007 -– followed a UGA open date. That’s the only time since 1991, until this year, that Georgia had an open date before the Florida game. Florida, on the other hand, has had a bye week before playing Georgia 13 of the past 16 years. For whatever all of that is worth.
– Mark Richt was asked Sunday about the impact of the bye week. “With this game or series, I think there’s probably a little bit too much made of it,” he said. “Georgia, quite frankly, hasn’t had many open dates [before the game] and Florida has, but I don’t know if that has been the biggest factor other than whoever’s better that day.” He added: “It’a always nice to have a break, no doubt about it, and you hope you can turn it into a positive for your football team. But there is just no guarantee of that.”
– Overall, Georgia is 11-3 under Richt following an open date, including 1-0 vs. Florida.
— Just to put Florida’s defense in perspective: It has allowed only four touchdowns this season – two rushing, two passing. (The other two touchdowns scored against the Gators were on interception returns.) Florida is No. 1 in the nation in total defense, No. 2 in scoring defense, No. 2 in pass defense. Said Richt: “They’ve got guys at just about every spot that are better than your average bears, you know. They are just going to be a great challenge for us, no doubt.”
— Among the many strengths of the Gators’ defense: cornerbacks Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins. “If you had to draft two corners, I know the two I’d pick for my team,” coach Urban Meyer said. “And we got them.”
— Tim Tebow had perhaps his worst game as a Gator last week, and that did absolutely nothing to lower Richt’s regard for him. “I’ve said Tebow is one of the finest players in the history of college football,” Richt said Sunday, “and my opinion of him hasn’t changed a bit.” Tebow, you’ll recall, accounted for five touchdowns vs. Georgia last season — three rshing and two passing.
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189 comments Add your comment
mightyKC
October 27th, 2009
8:25 am
i heard coach richt is taking the boys on a slip and slide this week!
Billy Ray Valentine
October 27th, 2009
8:33 am
The Dawgs DB’s look like they’re on a slip and slide sometimes during coverage.
Topp Dogg
October 27th, 2009
8:51 am
Seems like UGA always goes into this game beaten before the kickoff , like a bunch of pussies wanting to run away.This time i hope we play like we have nothing to lose.I dont however want this game to save our pitiful coaching staff if we were to win.Dawgs go to the bank ,get a loan, and buy some balls if you have too.
Pago Flyer
October 27th, 2009
8:58 am
Half-time in JAX…FL 35 UGA 9
jeffdawg
October 27th, 2009
9:02 am
go gata…
KingGator
October 27th, 2009
9:15 am
I hear Ray Goff is available…
shards1967
October 27th, 2009
9:18 am
Tebow and his tight end Gonzalez will hook up time and time gain on Saturday and it will sustain Florida drives or end up as Gator TDs. Tebow will make UGA look like third graders. Evans and Reshad Jones will be discussing coverage breakdowns time and time again in this game. Ugly it will be folks. Just like the other ugly UGA losses this year and last year. The beat goes on.
Until UGA hires a new coach and a NEW STAFF with a NEW ATTITUDE ………….UGA will continue this ugly slide. When my wife says that UGA is “not like they were even 4 years ago”, we know that we are in trouble. She knows nothing about football. She is a UGA grad, too.
Florida defeats UGA and KY will be a toss up and Auburn and then Tech will defeat UGA. By the Tech game, UGA will be so down trodden in their beat down attitude, tech will win by 24. This season is rapidly winding down and hopefully, it will lead to change. This is not rocket science gang.
Richt has shown what he can do over 8 or 9 years and that is to NOT BEAT Florida with any regularity. Now? UT and Auburn and Tech and others have passed him by. Is this what UGA fans want to pay $$ for???
Not I.
UGA, class of 71,73
North FLA Falcon
October 27th, 2009
9:20 am
If UGA can pound the ball, control the clock and get a few drives going they can survive. Cox should throw screens or short passes, play it safe. No more than maybe 1 pick. On “D”, stack the box and force Tebow to throw. He throws ducks! His receivers have good hands but they are slow. Avoid big plays on special teams. A big Vegas line often means a close game, how much was UF favored by vs. the Vols or vs. Arkansas. GO DAWGS
TUCK FEBOW
October 27th, 2009
9:32 am
Heck yeah the bye week matters! We are nice and fresh and it came right when we needed it! I predict that Rennie Curran gives Tebow his second concussion of the year. I am not saying that I want that to happen but, I think it might. I think CWM is awful and he needs to be gone, asap, but i think the DAWGS might bring something this weekend and give the gaytors a tough time. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEAT FLORIDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Georgia Headlines – 10/28/09 | MrSEC.com
October 27th, 2009
9:46 am
[...] Mark Richt believes too much is being made of his team having an open date prior to this weekend’s matchup with Florida.2. Here’s a quickie preview of the [...]
Bulldawgy
October 27th, 2009
10:06 am
Stats of the past mean absolutely nothing. They are from different teams, players, and coaches. Every game is its own game – period. Throw out all of the previous games even this year. It all comes down to talent, execution, passion, and relentless effort for a full 60-minutes. Don’t believe for one minute that both sides are not going to bring their best game. Don’t worry, more stats will be talked about during the game and more will be made during it. At the end, there will be a score on the board and that is the ONLY thing that matters.
GATOR4LIFE
October 27th, 2009
10:11 am
How many bye-weeks have the Bulldog faithful had over the past 18 years? I agree with Bulldawgy, stats don’t mean anything. Gators will win (I don’t care how ugly or beautiful) and the Dawg nation will continue wondering why they are still a middle of the road SEC team under the current regime.
coach smith
October 27th, 2009
10:42 am
The mental aspect of this game is completely in UGA’s favor
-A week off
-16 point dog
-Everyone discounting the Dawgs and trying to figure out how many points UF is going to win by
-A Dawg’s win could change EVERYTHING around
this game feels very much like the 2007 game…..It could have the same result!
coach smith
October 27th, 2009
10:45 am
GATOR4LIFE
UGA has way more total wins and the SAME amount of SEC Titles (and played for one more) as Florida over the past 9 years
So explain to me exactly how UGA is a middle of the road SEC team?
Ferndolin
October 27th, 2009
10:50 am
How does FL get scheduled for a bye so often before playing GA? Coincidence? I think not.
Lets be honest
October 27th, 2009
10:51 am
I hope to see payback from 2002. Hope…
Ferndolin
October 27th, 2009
10:54 am
The scheduling has gotten weird. This year is particularly weird, and difficult. How far in the future are schedules made?
WHY DO MUTTS BARK?CAUSE BEES STING
October 27th, 2009
11:38 am
CAN U SAY 4-4 MUTTS? I LOVE THIS KARMA,TECH GOING 2 THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME,THE MUTTS R GOING 2 B N ATHENS CRYING FIRE MARK RICHT BOBO AND WILLIE,WATCH A REAL MAN OF FIRE LIKE PAUL JOHNSON,TAKE TECH TO THE BCS TITLE GAME B 4 ST MARK,WITH JUST 2 AND 3 STAR PLAYERS,HOW R THOSE 4 AND 5 STAR PLAYERS DOING OVER AT UGAY?
P.S. FLORIDA IS GOING TO PUT UP 60 PLUS POINTS THIS WEEKEND, THE MUTTS FINAL SEASON RECORD WILL B 5-7 AND U CAN TAKE THAT 2 THE BANK! GO BUMBLE BEES AND GO GATORS!
Richie
October 27th, 2009
11:40 am
Have some fun,Play hard,Enjoy!!!!!!
Dale
October 27th, 2009
11:44 am
The AP article after the GA/FL game will begin with “Tebow was frustrated recently with criticism about the Florida offense. He responded with record numbers…”
fire the ga coaches
October 27th, 2009
12:09 pm
i hope florida puts 60 on ga this whole staff is a joke bobo was a sorry quareterback and worsr at calling plays wille could not stop a high school team and if no changes are made the ad should be fired also please mr adams make some changes send mark to florida state
Judge Dawg
October 27th, 2009
12:18 pm
It will take 28 points at least to win. It has in the last past wins. We will do well to score 10. We have too many problems to fix in a bye week.
ratherBgambling
October 27th, 2009
12:24 pm
Gators big over the mutts……………book it
Dale
October 27th, 2009
12:43 pm
ratherB, that’s a pretty bold pick, you’re really going out on a limb. You really think the #1 Gators can beat the team that TN shut down and J Cromton picked apart? Wow. You’re going to make a fortune with such inside information.
Atlanta Gator
October 27th, 2009
12:46 pm
Of course the bye week matters. Georgia will have two weeks to prepare for a known opponent, and Florida will only have one. Yes, that’s advantage, all things being equal. Will it make a difference in the outcome of the game? That remains to be seen, doesn’t it?
BG
October 27th, 2009
12:46 pm
Well, I am just glad that this is Tebows last year. I am so sick of hearing his name.
Joe Hamilton
October 27th, 2009
12:50 pm
Hopefully Al Ford will be in the replay booth for the game to help spur the gators on to victory.
Dawg Fud
October 27th, 2009
12:59 pm
Gators favored by a whopping 16? No, the whopping will be the 30 points they beat us by.
I love the Dawgs but we are clearly outmatched. This is the game that seals Martinez’s fate.
Dawg Fud
October 27th, 2009
1:01 pm
Atlanta Gator, please have mercy on us.
Dawg Fud
October 27th, 2009
1:04 pm
Cause Bees Sting…really? I mean really?
Look up “degenerate” in the dictionary. You will find your picture.
Question 4 Richt Haters
October 27th, 2009
1:05 pm
Who exactly would you suggest we go out and hire if we got rid of Richt?
While we have issues w/the DC and OC, I think Richt has earned ONE bad season, and it’s still in question how this season will end. His first season he won 8 games, he hasn’t had fewer than 9 wins since, had 2 top 5 finishes, 2 SEC titles and a 3rd trip.
You can not measure a coach by National Championships! There is too much LUCK involved in getting there.
In 2006, FL needed 3-4 teams to lose over the last two weeks and a blocked FG from a player that otherwise shouldn’t have even been in the game.
Richt knows there are staff changes that need to made, you don’t do them in the middle of the season though.
Let’s wait and see:
1. How the rest of this season plays out, I think Richt has deserved at least that much.
2. Let’s see what offseason moves are made.
It’s FAR TOO EARLY to call for the man’s head. I think perception vs realilty gets the best of us all sometimes.
GO DAWGS!
gatorman
October 27th, 2009
1:11 pm
Please don’t fire Mark Richt, we Gators love him!! Hmmmmmmmmm, maybe if Georgia fires him, FSU will hire him. Go Gators!!
Dawg Fud
October 27th, 2009
1:17 pm
jake
October 26th, 2009
3:17 pm
Write this down-Dawgs win 31-23
Okay, Jake. I have written it down. Now what I am supposed to do — wipe my butt with it?
Get real, dude.
Atlanta Gator
October 27th, 2009
1:32 pm
Dawg Fud—-As always, I will simply be satisfied with a win the Florida-Georgia game. Margin does not matter in rivalry games; only the win matters.
jack bull
October 27th, 2009
1:48 pm
slick willie will make tebow the absolute favorite to win the heisman after this week..mark my words.. heck, he’ll even make nesbitt a contender…
RMP
October 27th, 2009
5:08 pm
This has nothing to do with Willie Martinez, Mike Bobo, or Mark Richt. Georgia has lost 16 out of the last 20 against Florida. Make that 17 out of 21 on Saturday. How do you explain the 15 straight losses before Richt arrived? Reverse the current Georgia and Florida coaches on Saturday and you will have the same result. Florida players are better than Georgia players. You people buy into that “Rival 4 and 5 Star” nonsense every year – and the results don’t change.
same ole same ole
October 27th, 2009
6:13 pm
Taking a look at Florida’s schedule, how would anyone know if they are really good or not? Troy, Charleston Southern, barely beat Arkansas at home and a Tn team ran by a first year coach no impressive numbers to speak of, UGA should beat this team but I would not consider this some major upset they have this country deceived this year.
same ole same ole
October 27th, 2009
6:15 pm
If you guys do not beat them, USC just might
Sautee Dawg
October 27th, 2009
6:16 pm
RMP
Right on a couple of things there, I’d much rather have a 2 star player that’s been prepared to play as to have a 4 or 5 star player that’s not. Too much made of that Rivals and Scout.
Football is the same now as it was 100 years ago, the team that tackles the best wins on defense, the team that blocks the best wins on offense. Until these fundamentals are taught by our coaches and carried out on the field by our players we will continue to struggle.
77Dawg
October 27th, 2009
7:08 pm
Willy will confuse Tebow with soft in the middle and let wide outs roam free. FU will make a big mistake trying to go deep cause ain’t no Dogs can run that far and fast. Those Gatos will stumble head first cause no one to trip them. Miss Erk and the Junk yard dogs we got no name nor star but we play hard till our balls fall off. Miss Dooley funky moves at the side line too. Holy shti! I miss GA game of old. What we do wrong my Lord? Please take away those damn coaches.
Browndog
October 27th, 2009
8:50 pm
Good teams overcome. The refs did not block two field goal attempts last weekend in the Bama game. UGA could not stop LSU and Ark had their chances. The refs may miss several calls but good teams overcome. UF should have the respect of everyone. Untill someone knocks them off they are the best, no question about it. UGA has to play lights out from the opening kickoff and it still may not be enough, but they control their own destiny. UF will beat UGA like a drum if they have the chance. It is up to the players to keep that from happening. UF should cover the spread but they haven’t for the last few weeks so anything can happen. UGA is playing for respect as no one gives them a chance to win. I’ll keep supporting the Bulldogs and hope that things improve.
Lee
October 27th, 2009
9:43 pm
Eureka!! I’ve figured out Joe Cox’s problem.
For the past four years, all he has done is scrimmage against a soft Willie Martinez defense. That’s why he never follows his progressions to the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th receiver – he’s never had to. He’s used to seeing the D-back playing off 10 yards.
Come to think of it, that might explain some of Bobo’s play calling as well…..
CRAZYTRADEMAN
October 27th, 2009
9:56 pm
Where is L-Dawg the UGA version of Saint Simons
jason
October 27th, 2009
10:06 pm
Look on the brightside. CWM’s D won’t hurt as much with the soft Cover 2, when you add the fact that UF has no down field passing attack to speak of. On the other hand the TE will probably have 200 yds. recieving.
I see the topic of Fire CMR has returned. When you talk of replacing both the OC and DC, you might as well replace the HC. How do people not get that?
jason
October 27th, 2009
10:09 pm
Here’s an idea. Charles and White TE post to the middle of the field. UF plays their Safeties deeper than anyone to keep from giving up the big play. There has to be 10-15 yrd. routes in the middle of the field to the TE. Also take some shots deep with Green and King. Even if the are not successful, it will keep the safeties back and the middle open for the TE.
LincolnHusker
October 27th, 2009
10:54 pm
I wish the Geogia Bulldogs much luck on Saturday, but the odds are created by looking at Florida’s Defense. They are number one in the country on Defense and that is remarkable, given the level of talent in the SEC. Defense wins championships, not offense. Fans love offense, but its ball control that will win it all for any team.
Mark Richt is a good man and a super coach, but then again so is Urban Meyer. Meyer has created a dynasty in Florida that will remain for several years. We are trying to get our dynasty back in Lincoln, but it seems we will have much more work to do.
My advice is to savor the game, win or lose on Saturday. You are watching a lengend in Spikes/Tebow, much like our heydays of the 90’s.
Florida 17- Georgia 6.
Gary S.
October 27th, 2009
11:13 pm
Florida wins with special teams and defense. We need to figure out how to play defense. With all the speedsters on the Georgia team, why does Logan Gray return punts? Are the dawgs conservative or what? Playing not to lose. Why can’t we run the ball? Seems like the running backs fall down when someone touches them.
FranktheFalcon
October 28th, 2009
3:47 am
Dear WeirdWillie,
My dog T-Bone normally watches the Dawgs on TV with me, but lately when we are on defense he crawls under the bed and puts his paws over both eyes. I beg him to come out, and I tell him it will get better, but I can tell that he doesn’t believe me. Coach, I am worried about T-Bone going into a deep depression like I have. Can you call T-Bone and give him some encouragement? It would mean a lot to the both of us. Please help if you can!
HappyDawg
October 28th, 2009
7:38 am
Frank the Falcon, You give Martinez a week to prepare and watch out. Florida is in for the Martinez MAGIC. He will dial up the defense to a new level. Being the finest DC in the country, Martinez game plan will put the #1 Gators look like Vandy, because no one is better the Martinez
WHY DO MUTTS BARK?CAUSE BEES STING
October 28th, 2009
8:15 am
KARMA 4 THESE ATHENS,GA COWARD MUTT TURNCOAT FANS,PLEASE LEAVE MARK RICHT,5-7 END OF YEAR RECORD 4 THE MUTTS! HOW R THOSE 4 AND 5 STAR ATHLETES OVER AT UGAY DOING? NOT SO GREAT U MUTTS R 4-3 BUT WILL BE 4-4 SAT NITE,THANK YOU GOD 4 BRINGING THESE REDNECKS DOWN TO EARTH,GO NERDS AND GO GATORS!