Crazy weekend leaves Georgia 1/2 game out of first place in SEC East
Georgia’s football team awoke to new possibilities Sunday — and not just because a 43-0 victory tends to brighten one’s outlook.
Two surprising results elsewhere in the SEC on Saturday night -– South Carolina’s 31-28 loss to Kentucky and Florida’s 10-7 loss to Mississippi State -– scrambled the Eastern Division standings to the point that Georgia suddenly is within ½ game of first place.
Yes, Georgia.
Yes, the team that seemed destined to spend the season in oblivion after losing its first three SEC games.
After a crazy weekend, South Carolina leads the SEC East with a 2-2 league record, while Florida and Georgia are tied for second place with 2-3 league records. Vanderbilt is 1-2, Kentucky 1-3 and Tennessee 0-3 within the conference.
“People always say year in and year out that anybody can win on any given weekend, and that’s about what’s happening right now,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said Sunday. “It’s an exciting SEC year, no doubt.”
Georgia’s chances of winning the Eastern Division remain improbable, partly because the Bulldogs would lose a two-way tiebreaker to South Carolina on the basis of the Gamecocks’ 17-6 victory on Sept. 11.
And more significantly, Georgia has three tough SEC games remaining: Saturday at Kentucky, which beat South Carolina one week after the Gamecocks upset then-No. 1 Alabama; Oct. 30 in Jacksonville vs. Florida, which has beaten the Bulldogs in 17 of the past 20 meetings; and Nov. 13 at Auburn, which is undefeated and ranked No. 5 in this week’s Associated Press poll behind the play of Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback Cam Newton.
South Carolina and Florida remain in position to clinch the East’s berth in the SEC Championship Game if either team wins all of its remaining league games. (The Gamecocks and Gators meet on Nov. 13 at Florida.) Georgia would win the division if it wins its three remaining SEC games and if South Carolina loses two of its four remaining league games.
Georgia’s 43-0 victory over Vanderbilt and 41-14 victory over Tennessee the past two weeks make the Bulldogs the only SEC East team on a two-game winning streak at the moment. Florida, by contrast, is on a three-game losing streak.
Richt said he assumes his players are “keeping an eye on” the standings, but he wants the larger focus to remain where it has been for the past two weeks.
“The one thing we had to do to win these last couple of games was just focus on the process of becoming a better football team, rather than where we were in league play,” Richt said. “That was the big motivation for everybody –- to do the things we have to do to block better, tackle better, play more physical, play more disciplined.
“We’ve got some momentum, certainly, because of how we’ve played the last couple of weeks. But I don’t want to forget what got us into this mode; I want to keep focusing on that.”
Georgia’s immediate challenge is a Kentucky team that rallied from a 28-10 halftime deficit to beat South Carolina. Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline completed 32 of 42 passes for a career-high 349 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Chris Matthews caught 12 passes for 177 yards, and Randall Cobb caught eight for 63.
Kentucky’s offense could get another key player back this week. Tailback Derrick Locke, the SEC’s third leading rusher at 95.7 yards per game, didn’t play against South Carolina because of injuries to both shoulders. On Sunday, Kentucky coach Joker Phillips said Locke remains doubtful for the Georgia game but expressed hope he “might have a chance” to play if his shoulders continue to improve.
THE MUDDLED SEC EAST
Teams’ current conference records and remaining games:
South Carolina (2-2): at Vanderbilt Oct. 23; vs. Tennessee Oct. 30; vs. Arkansas Nov. 6; at Florida Nov. 13.
Florida (2-3): vs. Georgia in Jacksonville Oct. 30; at Vanderbilt Nov. 6; vs. South Carolina Nov. 13.
Georgia (2-3): at Kentucky Oct. 23; vs. Florida in Jacksonville Oct. 30; at Auburn Nov. 13.
Vanderbilt (1-2): vs. South Carolina Oct. 23; at Arkansas Oct. 30; vs. Florida Nov. 6; at Kentucky Nov. 13; vs. Tennessee Nov. 20.
Kentucky (1-3): vs. Georgia Oct. 23; at Mississippi State Oct. 30; vs. Vanderbilt Nov. 13; at Tennessee Nov. 27.
Tennessee (0-3): vs. Alabama Oct. 23; at South Carolina Oct. 30; vs. Mississippi Nov. 13; at Vanderbilt Nov. 20; vs. Kentucky Nov. 27.
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151 comments Add your comment
Stupid Dawg
October 17th, 2010
8:19 pm
We kould not beat Missiiissispi State, Kolorado but we will beet Aubarn, Kentuki and Florada and winn the East. We will then beet Aubarn in a rematch in SEC game after South Carolina looses to Florada and Vanderbilt. Once the BCS realizes that the Dawgs our the best teem, they will vote us into the National Championship game. It kould happen if we all believe.
UGA '83
October 17th, 2010
8:28 pm
Dawgnation – we have to win ALL of our games and hope that SC loses to Arkansas and Florida. We cannot tie SC – we will lose the head to head.
dawg nation
October 17th, 2010
8:38 pm
Some of you guys kill me. Even as bad as we started we still have a shot at winning the East and all you guys do is gripe and complain. We put together two good games and you still gripe and complain. Ya’ll are some miserable people!!! I believe we could win out and you still would &^%*(!! Get a life!!!! GO DAWGS!!! KEEP FIGHTING!!!
Delbert D.
October 17th, 2010
8:44 pm
Stupid Dawg – You cain’t even spell Flarta?
Coffee Bluff Dawg
October 17th, 2010
8:47 pm
Stupid Dawg,
If we all believe that you will leave this blog maybe that will happen too.
Real Dawg
October 17th, 2010
8:50 pm
Stupid Dawg gives all real georgia fans a bad name. We all know that after we win out and win the SEC we have too many losses to go to the NC game. More realistic is the AP voters will vote us as the AP National Champs. Also, everyone knows that kould is spelled correctly as coud. You probably are not really a UGA fan but a GT fans in disguise.
CHDawg
October 17th, 2010
8:52 pm
Thx Tim and Calhoun! Somewhat complicated to say the least. Calhoun, agreed on all points and especially on CMR! I would add that I thought Bobo called a fantastic game. He really burned Vandy’s run D strategy, and seemed to keep them on skates for most of the game. I caught UK’s comeback against both Aub and SC, and I can’t tell you how impressed I am with them. They marched back against all odds on two excellent football teams. They almost beat Aub and you know what happened to SC. Cobb is absolutely first class, and Hartline is superb, too. UK is very impressive and we will do great to get out of Lexington with a W. I don’t know about you guys, but at times on Sat I began to feel like our passing game was downright lethal. Maybe it was just Vandy, but supposedly their D backfield was their strong suit. We have a lot of outstanding receivers; I would hate to have to try to cover them all. I especially liked CMB’s use of multiple wideouts–as great as the old I is, when you have as many talented receivers as we do, I say get as many on the field as you can. Murray had almost 300 passing yds in about 3 qtrs, and that is getting to the point where opposing teams will have to change their D strategy to stop the pass–at that point I think we will be running more than one state. Go Dawgs!
Since Vince
October 17th, 2010
8:53 pm
All of these comical kool aid drinkers here on this blog. People people … once again this season is OVA !
Red
October 17th, 2010
8:53 pm
ONE GAME AT A TIME AND LET EVERYTHING ELSE FALL INTO PLACE. ONE GAME AT A TIME! GO DAWGS!
Dawgnation
October 17th, 2010
9:12 pm
UGA ‘83 – If there is a three way tie, the head to head tie-breaker goes out the window unless one of the teams has beaten the other two, which would not be the case. The next tie-breaker is division play, and that is where GA has the advantage.
My Two Cents:
October 17th, 2010
9:13 pm
South Carolina finishes 6 and 2 in SEC
UGA loses 3 in a row and finishes 2-6
Florida finishes 4 and 4
Kentucky 4 and 4
Vandy 1-7
Tennessee 1-7
UGA cannot win in Kentucky, may win in Jacksonville, lose to Auburn and all this SEC East talk will turn back to “how our program is in disarray” and “how many arrest do we have this off season” or “give coach Richt one more year, he has earned it” talk.
These two games( Tennessee and Vandy) were win games against the two worst teams in the conference.
Monkey says:
October 17th, 2010
9:20 pm
The overall power rankings as of today:
Auburn
LSU
Alabama
South Carolina
Arkansas
Mississippi St.
Florida
Kentucky
Ole Miss
Georgia
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Dennis
October 17th, 2010
9:21 pm
Cobb is a man on a mission. UGA is his next victim. Close your eyes Sat night because your going into a viper pit.
David Granger
October 17th, 2010
9:25 pm
Really makes you look back at the South Carolina game and wish we had actually played to WIN the damn thing, don’t it? Wish we had let Aaron Murray actually BE a damn QB, and throw the ball on those third and long downs in the second half…instead of running draw plays off tackle. Thought for a while there we had Vince Dooley calling plays again.
Fat Matt Wilson
October 17th, 2010
9:32 pm
we best team in world we never lose again we win sec and natl championship if refs don’t take it from us like every other year.
dawgster
October 17th, 2010
9:34 pm
Not sure why we are even talking about this..but here goes…the dawgs to win the SEC east would have to win out..and SC would have to lose a least 4 games due to the head to head..there are alot more factors, but bottom line is win out and hope for some help…SC…i don’t really see where we could lose one more game and still be SEC East champions…win them all and lose to AU…SC would then have to lose 5 games…don’t see that happening…and My Two Cents..that is about all your comments are worth…glad to know you have the crystal ball with all the answers…the bottom line is the dawgs beat two SEC teams very handily, and right now that is all there is to it…two wins in the win column…isn’t that why we play the game…go dawgs
BobDawg
October 17th, 2010
9:51 pm
…. I said from the start this team would grow up towards the end of the season if the fans will just hang tight and chill a little…. One game at a time is the mantra…. Didn’t SC lose their tailback (Lattimore) last night also??? Plus you know their QB will have a meltdown towards the end of the season as always…
We get C. King back for Florida with fresh legs also…I like our damn fine Dawg also no matter what Corso says!!!! GO DAWGS!!!!!
Hunker Down
October 17th, 2010
9:55 pm
Interesting but if Vandy beats SC this week then they will be in first place in the SEC East
Buzy
October 17th, 2010
9:58 pm
What happens if UT and Vandy beat South Carolina? Vandy might be tough to beat in a half empty stadium with a gimpy lattimore.
LHardingDawg
October 17th, 2010
10:03 pm
While I’m not happy with a four loss season, they came at a time when the team can rebound, get healthy, and focus on the remaining games. Our chances are every bit as good as Florida’s and South Carloina’s. We also are getting Kentucky after two very intense games where they went one and one. Just saying!
ugadawg2005
October 17th, 2010
10:25 pm
UGA can lose to Auburn and still win the East even if SC only loses 2 more games so long as one of those games is in Gainesville and Florida beats Vandy. While UGA loses a head to head tiebreaker with USC, they would win one with Florida if they beat them. Florida would win with SC if they beat them. If the 3 teams are tied, the head to head records are all 1-1 and the next tiebreaker is divisional record. SC lost to Kentucky, so they would drop out leaving UGA and Florida which UGA would take on head to head. If UGA wins these next 2 weeks, they could go into the Auburn weekend with the UF/SC game deciding their fate regardless of what they do in Auburn.
Dawghater
October 17th, 2010
10:26 pm
Yep, the Dawg fans are ready to plan a blackout, Black Helmets whatever gimmick they’ve got next! Life’s turned. Dreams of another SEC championship’s beaming. After HUGE wins over the mighty Vols and Vandy! UGA is a contender! They’ve knocked off the mighty. One thing for sure. UGA be at the bottom of the SEC West with no hopes of digging out! CMR is a genious again! One thing for sure, better take the car keys away from your key players for the rest of the season. 11 arrests and counting. Not to worry, if anothe player is arrested you can suspend him for the Idaho State game!
Dawghater
October 17th, 2010
10:29 pm
ugadawg2005 – you put togehter a scenario to be proud of. 4 loses and still in the hunt.
Dawgs Win Out!
October 17th, 2010
10:32 pm
Richt has the Dawgs rolling—they will win out and win the east—mark it down! Florida’s finished and usc always folds at the end. SC loses to arkansas and florida. Ga will beat florida easily and take the division! The year of the dawg.
judge
October 17th, 2010
10:43 pm
If Richt beats Florida and Ga Tech he will not be fired. If he doesnt, he better start looking for his retirement home or his next job. They may not fire him right after the Florida game if he loses , but they will fire him at the end of the season. If you cannot beat this Florida team which one are you going to beat? Duhhhh. Better buckle down there maybe some change coming to UGA.
icedawg
October 17th, 2010
11:12 pm
All y’all are crazy, crazy, crazy.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
October 17th, 2010
11:33 pm
You gotta be a MUTT fan if your name is DELBERT D. WE IS THE JAWJA BULLDAWGS. We get the best recruits, best coaches, best cheerleaders, We won the NC 30 years ago. BLA BLA BLA
col fot
October 18th, 2010
12:15 am
If the tech trash on north avenue had to play in the SEC they mighe only be favored to win over Vanderbilt. The other 11 teams would stomp the yellow bunch…thats a fact, the cold truth hurts!!!
Bucky Belue hand it to Herschel
October 18th, 2010
12:33 am
I dont give a dawg if we lose all the rest of the games as long as we beat the Gators! woof woof Go Dawgs
Tide Roll
October 18th, 2010
12:38 am
Cam Newton grew up an hour from Atlanta. He signed with Auburn rather than Miss. State so he could be closer to his family in Atlanta. What kind of evaluation did Richt and Bobo do that would lead them to pass on this kid TWICE !? I believe they are making the same mistake again with C. J. Uzomah! Incredible.
MS Bully
October 18th, 2010
12:47 am
Watch out for the real Bulldogs of the SEC (Mississippi State). They went to Florida and came out a winner. That makes 4 in a row and ranked #24 in the nation. The only 2 losses are to undefeated teams Auburn and LSU (easily could have beat Auburn). Way to go Bulldogs!!
DawgDad
October 18th, 2010
1:39 am
Look, I want the Dawgs to win, but right now Kentucky is the better team, they are at home, and they have a shot to actually win the SEC East with a favorable schedule ahead. Quite frankly, I don’t see the Dawgs beating them.
Get Real
October 18th, 2010
1:42 am
For all you mutt fans, dream on! You will not win the SEC, let alone beat Ky next week. However, UF is sad this year, so I think you may be able to beat them, but AUB and GT are losses. The only way your team is going to a bowl game is to win 3 of the last 4, as the highschool Idaho State team does not count. Ok, your team is 3-4, you lose at KY Jelly and your 3-5, you will beat UF, 4-5, you will lose to Auburn, 4-6, beat the highschool, 4-7 and lose to GT, 4-8. If your lucky you will be 5-7 and that doesn’t cut it. Kepp up the great season. It’s enjoyable to be a GT fan and a mutt hater. Thanks for all the laughs this year. hey, who knows, you may have to forfeit the last game of the year, as all your players will be in jail. I give you that, you lead the nation in arrests with 13 and with red nasty panties. great year!
Jason
October 18th, 2010
2:23 am
Something I have noticed in the last couple of weeks…
1, Lowly GT and UF fans have become quiet and not as many on the UGA board here at AJC.
2, Auburn fans are just as obnoxious as they always were.
3, One loss has a way of shutting up a bunch of rednecks.
Bulldog Joe
October 18th, 2010
2:44 am
Oh, I feel much better now.
South Carolina with 2 fewer SEC losses than Georgia, needs what ?
You want South Carolina to LOSE to Arky with no defense AND LOSE to Florida with no offense
…while we beat Auburn, Kentucky AND Florida
B.S.
If South Carolina beats Arky OR Florida, it is OVER.
Never mind what we do
Of course, us beating Florida (but you want Florida to beat South Carolina – what’s wrong with that pic)
AND, us beating Auburn who beat South Carolina who beat us also requires us to beat KY who beat South Carolina
I have heard a load of hogwash in my days on the Internet,
MOSTLY ON GET THE PICTURE by Bluto
But, this takes the cake.
StatesBurr
October 18th, 2010
3:09 am
Since Vince: I used to date a girl from Queens NY: She always use the term OVA… She was an idiot also.
StatesBurr
October 18th, 2010
3:36 am
Tide Roll: Your opinion has Zero Relevance, loser. Better win this year.
Auburn Trolls: Win a few games and now you are in NC hunt… Please.
Jason: You are right! A loss and the Bammer Rednecks go back to their low self esteem shell…
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 18th, 2010
4:28 am
Monkey – you have S.C. rated way to high. Didn’t they lose to Kentucky who you have rated below them? Lattimore will miss the next game with an ankle injury and maybe two games. S.C. will lose at least one more SEC game and quite possibly two. Spurrier will implode and retire at the end of the season. He knows that HE cost his team both losses by jerking Garcia in and out of the line up. S.C. has started their annual swoon. At least 6 S.C. starters will enter the draft early and Spurrier will not start over at his age – he’s gone. Book it.
tennessee tom
October 18th, 2010
4:30 am
wouldn’t get to excited,after beating vandy and tenn you must be the tn state champs,thats about the only title uga will win
Bulldog Joe
October 18th, 2010
6:04 am
Georgia Bulldogs’ SEC Rank :
# 7 SEC Scoring Offense
# 9 SEC Quarterback Sacked by Opponent
# 6 SEC First Downs
# 8 SEC Third Down Conversions
# 7 SEC Fourth Down Conversions
# 8 SEC Touchdown Percentage in the Red Zone
# 1 SEC Settling for Field Goals
# 9 SEC Point After TD Scoring
# 6 SEC Average Yards per Play
# 8 SEC Touchdowns Scored
# 1 SEC Time of Possession, despite Defense handing the ball to the Offense, the Offense is one of the very worst Offenses in The SEC.
We don’t score Touchdowns, don’t make 3rd Downs, Settle for Field Goals, get Sacked, and don’t Score. Other than that, Aaron Murray is just awesome at 3-4.
Bulldog Joe
October 18th, 2010
6:13 am
Georgia and Kentucky are the only SEC teams to
play
NEITHER
Alabama nor
LSU
and, BOTH LOST 3 Consecutive SEC games including 2 SEC West teams each
ANYWAY.
Both of those teams, therefore are out before they have to face-off
Against Alabama or LSU
We do face-off vs Auburn and only can play the SPOILER ROLE
Like Aaron Murray is a little freckle on the butt of Cam Newton.
Bulldog Joe
October 18th, 2010
6:37 am
This AFTER :
1. Stephen Garcia was FAR BETTER than Aaron Murray and is 4-2, not 3-4
2. Ryan Mallett, before his concussion, was FAR BETTER than Aaron Murray and is 4-2, not 3-4.
3. Chris Relf, was FAR SUPERIOR than Aaron Murray too & he ran for 82 yards and a TD vs Florida at the Swamp and is 5-2, not 3-4, because head-to-head beat Aaron Murray in a ROUT.
4. Alabama is 6-1 and Greg McElroy is a big winner better than Aaron Murray at 3-4
5. LSU is 7-0 without a QB while Aaron Murray is 3-4
6. Auburn is 7-0 and Cam Newton is so much better than Aaron Murray 3-4
7. Mike Hartline is so much better statiscally than Aaron Murray
Aaron Murray loses 15 seniors and 4-5 juniors after this OVER 2010 season with 4 LOSSES already, so 2011 is not going to be great, either, now is it ?
Where does that leave Aaron Murray # 8 in The SEC ?
Bulldog Joe
October 18th, 2010
6:39 am
Aaron Murray is our best player
Bulldog Joe
October 18th, 2010
6:39 am
What does that tell you ?
AltamahaDawg
October 18th, 2010
7:10 am
So it’s 4-5 now, not 6, huh?
NoAxeToGrind
October 18th, 2010
7:13 am
What UGA fans have to worry about is that Richt will eke out enough wins to take some of the heat off and to justify keeping that incompetent Bobo another year. The longer Richt hangs around, the longer UGA will be an inconsequential program in SEC play.
JB
October 18th, 2010
7:31 am
So, just who is predicting that UGA will win the SECE?
Folks are saying it’s possible but not, by any means, a done deal.
Perhaps this is a team that has finally gotten a clue. We do still have a Fr QB (a good one but a Fr). One that just got the best WR in the country back. One that is learning a new defensive scheme.
Perhaps all of that is now starting to come together.
They did just win two consecutive SEC games by 70 pts. Has any other squad done that?
That said, if rthey are starting to put it together then, yeah, it’s possible they could win out but no one is saying that with certainty, by any stretch. I’d also say that teams are near as excited about playing us as they were several weeks ago.
Hey Joe, just who are the “4-5 Jr’s we’ll be loing”. I can think of one.
This oughta be rich.
HBTD!!!
» BBL: Cobb’s tweets create a Sunday stir John Clay’s Sidelines
October 18th, 2010
7:39 am
[...] Crazy weekend leaves Georgia a half game out of first place, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC. [...]
rosezeee
October 18th, 2010
7:46 am
Murray is way underrated. All he does is execute and not make mistakes.
Lone bright spot this year.
SCTexan
October 18th, 2010
7:48 am
Was BoBo on the SC sidelines calling plays Saturday? I know he didn’t show up till the second quarter, but he had to be there. I mean, you run the wheel play twice, pick up 60+ yards and never run it again, and your #2 receiver gets a couple of passes the first quarter and not again till the last drive of the fourth? Please tell me why you don’t kick the field goal and go to overtime?