South Carolina loss boosts Georgia’s chances in East
Georgia’s hopes of reaching the SEC Championship game despite its ugly loss at South Carolina got a boost Saturday night when the Gamecocks followed their domination of the Bulldogs with a loss at LSU.
South Carolina’s 23-21 loss, one week after its 35-7 rout of Georgia, means UGA will represent the Eastern Division in the SEC title game if:
- South Carolina loses at least one of its three remaining SEC games, the most difficult of which is this week at Florida.
Those are big ifs, of course.
“Right now, I think the best thing for Georgia is to focus on getting better, focus on (this week’s opponent) Kentucky,” UGA coach Mark Richt said Sunday. “It’s kind of a boring answer, as always, but it’s really what we’ve got to do.
“We’ve got some things we’ve got to clean up. We’ve been giving up too many big plays. We’ve got to make sure we get back to running the ball like we (were) early in the year. … We need to get more turnovers. We need to protect the ball a little better. We’ve still got things to clean up in some of our special-teams areas.
“We want to finish strong, and if we can keep improving as we go, we’ve got a chance to have some fun in the end here. But we’ve got a ways to go.”
This past weekend’s results — South Carolina’s loss, Florida’s victory at Vanderbilt and Georgia’s bye — left the Gators (6-0, 5-0 SEC) alone in first place in the SEC East. South Carolina (6-1, 4-1) and Georgia (5-1, 3-1) are even in the loss column. All other East teams have at least three league losses.
Because of its loss to South Carolina, Georgia would lose a tiebreaker with the Gamecocks; that’s why Georgia needs them to lose again. If Florida beats South Carolina on Saturday in Gainesville but loses to Georgia on Oct. 27 in Jacksonville, that would leave the Gators and Bulldogs with one SEC loss each (provided UGA beats Kentucky) and the Dogs with the tiebreaker advantage over Florida.
Etc.
Richt took advantage of Georgia’s open date to watch his son play quarterback for Mars Hill (N.C.) College. Jon Richt set school single-game records for passing attempts (52), completions (33) and passing yards (370) as Mars Hill defeated Catawba 35-28. “I guess I can be a dad who can brag a little bit, but Jon played well,” Richt said. “It was the last time I’ll probably ever get to see him play college ball in person, so it was a treat for me and the family.” … Georgia’s 7 p.m. Saturday game at Kentucky (1-6, 0-4) will be televised on FSN, it was announced Sunday. … Georgia inched up one spot to No. 13 in this week’s Associated Press media poll and remained No. 12 in the USA Today coaches’ poll.
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769 comments Add your comment
Utah Dawg
October 15th, 2012
2:23 pm
How is that fans that have never played or coached at high level can be so certain that the problem is the coaching? Richt has a better regular season winning percentage than Vince Dooley. The era between Dooley and Richt was a disaster. Winning percentage against the rivals was pathetic and did not even sniff a title. Who are you going to get that is better? The bashing and hating of the coaching staff is getting tiresome every time there is a loss or even a win not up to standards.
Danger Dawg
October 15th, 2012
2:25 pm
The people have spoken: Slow Roll is an idiot bug-troll. I have never seen him say anything good about the Dogs. Dogfans don’t make fun of UGA non-stop, just trolls. Anyone can see thru an idiot’s disguise.
KBP
October 15th, 2012
2:26 pm
Old dog, totally agree with you regarding our O-line. Also in the Fl game we will see who Grantham really is. John Chavious at LSU had a game plan that prohibited Connor Shaw from beating them with his running ability. If Grantham does not have a spy for Driskell, then we are toast. If Driskell has to pass to win then I like our chances.
In our game against SC, we were not only “whipped”, but we were outcoached as badly as we were whipped. There should be no shame in being outcoached by Spurrier, who is one of the greatest college coaches of all time, but when we fail to play well in most of the biggest games of the season since 2007, then that’s a coaching issue. Ugh, I really hate having to raise questions about CMR but the evidence is out there.
Spring Breaker
October 15th, 2012
2:27 pm
@Utah Dawg
I agree w/ your post. Vince Dooley was not the greatest coach by any means.
slow your roll
October 15th, 2012
2:27 pm
Go Dawgs! Beat Kentucky! ot sure what I have to do to make you guys believe i’m ALL DAWG! Love me some UGA!
Slow your roll's mama
October 15th, 2012
2:31 pm
My son is an idiot. My apologies to the board for my son’s pathetic behavior. He had no father figure in his life when he was little. It was tough on me trying to raise him. I did the best I could. But, I guess he still turned out to be a turd.
slow your roll
October 15th, 2012
2:33 pm
No need in childish behavior. Go Dawgs!
Danger Dawg
October 15th, 2012
2:33 pm
Slow
quit attacking UGA and its fans and welcome aboard. Otherwise, troll on.
DawgNole
October 15th, 2012
2:33 pm
Georgia Suwanee Dawg
October 14th, 2012
8:21 pm
of course, what if we win the east and then beat lsu or bama?? you think they let us into the bcs? we got blown out 35-0 at home and had a weak schedule. they’ll take a lot of other one loss teams before us as SEC fatigue kicks in. our season is over. we are playing for next year.
____________________
“we got got blown out 35-0 at home . . . .”
Uh, it was 35-7–and on the road.
And you call yourself a Dawg?
Badland Dawg
October 15th, 2012
2:34 pm
our QB AM will never win the big game he never has yet….FL will put him out in the 3 or 4 th qt…he showed us in the Mich State game in the SC GAME AND IT WILL BE THE SAME IN THE FL GAME…its just QB AM he is not very good at this at all….there is always next year LOL..FL 35 UGA 14
Strange Murphy
October 15th, 2012
2:35 pm
Forget about the East, worry about the next game. Once again Georgia has left this in someone else’s hands. Just win the next game then the next after that and so on.
From what happened a little over a week ago Georgia does not need to be in the SECCG.
slow your roll
October 15th, 2012
2:39 pm
if we lose by less than 14 in Jax I’ll me happy. New Years in Tampa baby!
Top Dog: Stats are for losers like Sammy.
October 15th, 2012
2:42 pm
Alabama’s A.J.McCarron is a better QB than UGA’s Murray. ‘Bama’s QB is a leader and he doesn’t make nearly the mistakes Murray does. Saban has him equipped with a solid, well-coached O-line. That’s something Murray does not have at UGA. But Murray has meaningless stats against meaningless opponents. McCarron has won big games at Bama, Murray has won none. Hey Sammy watch was all of Murray’s stats in the 35-7 Beatdown in Columbia, SC. Post those stats, Statboy ! LOL !
Danger Dawg
October 15th, 2012
2:43 pm
After the SC loss, some of the trolls were spot-on with some of their observations. We stunk up the joint, but SC was not that good, and UGA was not that bad. The trolls on these blogs, are using that game to tear into Dawgs-hide. Truth is a mighty weapon to intelligent people, and half-truths are just as powerful to the unintelligent who are misled easily. This is called Dis-information and is being used against the Dawgs like a club. Time to stand up to the haters who really do have an agenda, which is to fracture the Dawg fanbase.
KBP
October 15th, 2012
2:43 pm
Utah Dawg, I hear you loud and clear. Coaches get too much credit and too much blame. The crown jewel of top-flight programs is competing for and winning NC’s. With the talent that we have had especially in ‘02,’03,’07,’12 it becomes disappointing to not maximize those opportunities. The Dooley era only matters if you want historical perspective, but if you want to compete in this era, look at what our current competitors have done. Ok, Auburn’s timing with Cam speaks for itself and now other than FL, LSU, and Bama, what other SEC schools would you think could have a realistic shot at a BCS title? Us and TN. TN has certainly fallen off recently and now all that is left is us. The success of our competitors and fan base/donors expectations is what leads to CMR ability to lead us to a NC being questioned. I never questioned him until the SC game and now I think the questions are justified and I really hate it.
Top Dog: Stats are for losers like Sammy.
October 15th, 2012
2:45 pm
Sammy: Could you post UGA QB Murray’s stats from the 35-7 debacle in Columbus ?
slow your roll
October 15th, 2012
2:45 pm
Six years ago yesterday, Georgia put up a good fight but we lost to Vandy at home 24-22. That was a tough one to take. Go Dawgs!
old dog
October 15th, 2012
2:46 pm
By the way, one is not a fair-weather friend because he (along with the average 3rd-grader) sees that we have done TERRIBLY IN o-line recruiting AND coaching. I was going to UGA games before many of you were born (I saw Scott and Stanfill play) and I’m not talking about records, etc. We have done pretty well over all. Some years, you are a little short here, some there. However, when you CONSISTANTLY do not address your most glaring issue, one that is the difference between mediocrity and superiority, it needs to be called out. Point-guard center and out of shape non-scrappy linemen are not the way! We have been out-recruited terribly here, and it is SO OBVIOUS!
Top Dog: Spell Checker is tripping y'all. LOL!
October 15th, 2012
2:47 pm
Sammy: Could you post UGA QB Murray’s stats from the 35-7 debacle in Columbia ?
Danger Dawg
October 15th, 2012
2:50 pm
Top
put McCarron behind UGAs line and Murray behind Bama’s line and talk some more. You got anything you actually like about “your” team? What a joke. Another fan who hates his team.
slow your roll
October 15th, 2012
2:57 pm
18 years ago today, a scrappy UGA squad put up a great fight but lost to Vandy 43-30. Remember crying my eyes out after that one, But I knew better times were ahead. Saw it in a vision. Go dawgs!
KBP
October 15th, 2012
3:00 pm
Top Dawg, McCarron played well against LSU in the BCS game and yes Bama has a better o- line than UGA, but he and Murray play in different offenses with different responsibilities. McCarron does not throw downfield nowhere near as much as Murray and that alone is going to prevent mistakes. I think Murray is better based on the type throws he has to make and what he is asked to do in his offense. Who knows about McCarron’s decision making until he has to throw 30 times a game? Football is probably the ultimate team sport and you can’t judge a QB’s greatness by wins and losses. Tebow had a better collegiate career than Stafford, but who is the better QB today?
cdog
October 15th, 2012
3:01 pm
georgia should take notes from LSU defensive coordinator. he didn”t worry about what steve spurrier was going to do.he lined up and told spurrier, here”s my best, beat me with your best. he didn”t hit and read and hold on the line of scrimmage as georgia did. georgia need an athletic quarterback. they have a loser in murray
old dog
October 15th, 2012
3:04 pm
iIhope we beat Florida…..been to J’ville many times. But if we do, we will out-gimmick them or something. We will not go toe-to-toe in the trenches and win………….
Danger Dawg
October 15th, 2012
3:05 pm
Anybody who thinks UGA doesn’t have problems needs glasses or a hearing aide. This doesn’t mean we should all give up and quit playing. It means we have to work harder. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, will be watching to see if UGA stumbles with Kentucky. Then they will be waiting for another collapse at the UF game. Look for the “silver lineing” in everthing. As the worst POTUS in history said (or his COS)”Never let a good crisis go to waste! “
DawgNole
October 15th, 2012
3:06 pm
Sammy
October 14th, 2012
9:58 pm
SC “domination” of UGA? Give me a break. Shaw had some good runs and 2 long throws, and Sanders had a good punt return. Should have scored from the goalline. Take away those plays, and UGA wins that game.
__________________
“Take away those plays, and UGA wins that game.”
Yeah, and take away UGA’s 4 losses last year and the Dawgs are undefeated. Duh!
Another stupid-Sammy post. You CAN’T “take away those plays,” dork; they happened, and nothing’s going to change that.
All of your lamebrained posts have the same thread: woulda, shoulda, coulda, IF.
Not just “domination” by SC. TOTAL domination!
Danger Dawg
October 15th, 2012
3:07 pm
Gotta go.
Floridadawg
October 15th, 2012
3:08 pm
Same ol same ol Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida are the teams that WIN National Championships! We are just a second tier team with great recruiting and preseason rankings. Time to change the batter!!
chase
October 15th, 2012
3:10 pm
Tampa Gator
Every week you come on and tell us “don’t read too much into the offensive performance of Florida because of this or this”…
The fact is : FLORIDA’S OFFENSE IS NOT VERY GOOD!
FLAT TIRE
Nobody should ever apologize for HOW you get into a SEC title game and only a moron doesn’t want to go because they are afraid of losing – THAT SIR, sums up who you are and proves that nobody should take you seriously
In 2005 when I was at UGA, nobody gave us a chance to beat #3 LSU and we STOMPED THEM
I still think FLORIDA BEATS SCAR because SCAR cannot win on the road – never really have, never will…they are still the same old gamecocks – can beat anybody at home when they are full of confidence…the minute that is shaken, they are done – especially on the road
and the way FLA has been run on – especially by VANDY, they may have a hard time vs UGA
South Cackalacky Gator
October 15th, 2012
3:13 pm
@astrouga & @Rick James
Can you read? I’m a Gator who lives in SC.
I think USC beats us this week. But know we will easily hand it to you Dawgs in two weeks…
I don’t think USC will lose to the Vols or Arky at home.
USC will represent the east, but the mighty Gators will take the BCS bid to the Sugar with a 11-1 record while UGA takes another New years day loss in Tampa.
Bulldog Ben
October 15th, 2012
3:14 pm
Good post chase.
I told them earlier to sit their fat Azzes at home if they didn’t like being there should GA get to the SEC champ game.
Joey
October 15th, 2012
3:16 pm
You are one doofus, Danger Dawg. I haven’t read a post on her from a UGA fan, ridiculing UGA.
Ridiculing Richt and Co, hell yes, but not the school or team. There is a difference. Every fan should be offended by the sheer number of blowouts suffered by the Dawgs under Richt since ‘08, plus a couple by UT in both ‘06 and ‘07.
How can a program that attracts so many top recruiting classes get beaten so badly in big games, so many times?
There is no excuse, and even since “Richt righted the ship,” and that 10-wins-in-a-row, these blowout losses still occur.
Scoundrel
October 15th, 2012
3:18 pm
Put the crack pipe down gator lady.
Fair n Balanced
October 15th, 2012
3:19 pm
We are a middle to upper tier team in the mediocre category. Will need luck and hard work to beat FL. We just aren’t that good. Good players don’t make a team great. That takes coaching. We have good players who have mediocre coaching which equals a mediocre team. There seems to be little “coaching up” at GA.
Will Muschimp
October 15th, 2012
3:28 pm
All of you folks not going to the GA-FL game next week should be more than willing to part with your tickets then at face value or LESS. Come on. Step up ladies and sell them real cheap.
Rick James
October 15th, 2012
3:29 pm
@South Cackalacky Gator
Can you read? I’m a Gator who lives in SC.
I think USC beats us this week. But know we will easily hand it to you Dawgs in two weeks…
I don’t think USC will lose to the Vols or Arky at home.
USC will represent the east, but the mighty Gators will take the BCS bid to the Sugar with a 11-1 record while UGA takes another New years day loss in Tampa
———————————————————————————————————————-
I dont care if you’re a Gator who lives in the swamp.It adds no creditablity to your aurgument.And obviously I can read.Carolina will choke in one of the next two games which eleminates them. Georgia wins in Jacksonville runs the table and play in Atlanta.
Top Dog: @ Old Dog
October 15th, 2012
3:31 pm
LSU and Miles beat South Carolina in the trenches. Miles was not and will not trust his QB, Mett, when he knows that he could out-muscle the ‘Cocks with his O-line and stable of RBs. LSU/Miles played POWER RUN football and pounded SC’s supposedly dominate defensive front to exhaustion. Get the picture: Against a poorly coached, soft UGA O-line, the Cock D-Line looked to be all world. Clowney was a pain in the ass for UGA, but was neutralized and controlled by LSU’s O-line. Carolina’s D stopped UGa’s run dead in it’s tracks ! But LSU kept punching the Cock D in the mouth because it was better coached and had better athletes than UGA has on its O-line.
Bama vs. Mizzou was no contest because Bama’s well coached, strong O-line wiped out & overpowered the smaller Tiger D-line. Whereas, UGA’s inferior O-line and poor coaching made the UGA-Mizzou game a contest for 3 and a half quarters. The upcoming UGA-UF clash will further expose UGA’s weaknesses in the O-line. Florida’s D-line is strong and more than held it’s ground in the Gators win over LSU. Muschamp can’t wait to face UGA’s weak O-line. UGA’s rookie running backs make yards moreso on their on merits against inferior opponents than crediting a strong O-line. When UGA’s freshmen RBs meet at well coached, talented SEC D-line, they will hit a wall and be stopped dead in their tracks.
Richt’s offense directed by Bobo and UGA’s porous defense along with mediocre special teams play, is to blame for the 35-7 SC rout and the upcoming UF loss. UGA can look at film all they want, but it won’t help it’s soft, finesse, and weak O-line problems one bit when they face ranked opponents. it’s just another cop-out excuse like, ” We weren’t flat, we just got whipped”. LOL !
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 15th, 2012
3:37 pm
chase
Really Im the moron
You bring up 2005; 2005 was how many years ago????
Afraid of losing LOL
Nah not afraid I just live in reality unlike you and the rest of Richt bong smokers on here
I realize whats the point backing into a championship game when your $5 million coaching staff has no clue on how to beat top 10 teams with NFL talent on their roster
Oh and those same ole Gamcocks as you call them have beaten this inept coaching staff 3 years in a row. First time by the way ever yea this coaching staff has really done the program proud
Joey
October 15th, 2012
3:39 pm
Fair n Balanced, the bad thing is even if we come up with a good game plan, Murray just plays terrible in these big games. Even as bad as UF was last season, Murray had 11 straight incompletions in the second half in one stretch.
If he gets pass protection, he is very good. If not . . .
Ed
October 15th, 2012
3:39 pm
Yep, it definitely keeps us in the hunt. The only thing that makes us look bad is our inability to block and tackle, or to be competitive against any team that is ranked anywhere near the top 10. Which doesn’t bode well for the UF game.
Forget beating UF, if that happens it’ll be a sweet bonus. For now I’ll accept a team that comes out and fights like hell for 60 minutes, win or lose. Just look like you want it as bad as the other guy. Is that asking too much?
Will Muschimp
October 15th, 2012
3:42 pm
Then sell your Tickets flat tire. Oh. I forgot. You cant afford them!!!
RiffRaff
October 15th, 2012
3:42 pm
Richt has already shown he cannot beat top 10 teams. So Fla wins. No faith in this coaching staff.
SKB
October 15th, 2012
3:45 pm
If UGA wins out beating Florida. They are 11-1.
That means with any luck we beat Alabama, we can win the SEC. Which will get us possibly to Number 2 on BCS poll. We can possibly win out the national championship game.
Gurley= herschel walker
THIS IS OUR YEAR
PT
October 15th, 2012
3:48 pm
They won’t loose another game!
South Cackalacky Gator
October 15th, 2012
3:56 pm
@Rick James
I just don’t think UF can stop the USC D-Line. And I really do believe that the Mighty Gators will put a shutout on the Dawgs in JAX! Take off your red and black glasses….you guys have become the Clemson/VT of the SEC….great recruiting classes, but then can’t handle the big games…When was the last time you guys beat a quality ranked opponent????? Come on! And after watching the Carolina team this past two weeks, they aren’t the old Carolina October Gamechokes…they will win out.
Be smart and reserve a RV spot in Tampa for New Years.
Top Dog: @ KPB
October 15th, 2012
4:01 pm
Precisely my point, KPB. UGA under Richt operates a finess, pass-first offense with a limited over-achiever, Murray at QB. Whereas Bama, LSU, and UF are run-first offenses that play POWER ball and will pound a defense into exhaustion. I’d rather dump finesse,pass-first, big-game loser, Richt, and join the POWER ball run-first club with a new coaching staff that has that mentality. The mundane 90s FSU-ACC offense of Richt has had it’s time in the SEC and Richt has gone as far as he could. The only rival team with limited recognition Richt can beat is an ACC team, Ga.Tech. He couldn’t beat UF enough (only 3 wins & 9 losses) and now has lost 3 in a row to South Carolina. We will never win a national title with a coach that wins against sub-par opponents and always loses to ranked teams. It’s past time to make that change!
old dog
October 15th, 2012
4:04 pm
@Top Dog……..
You are my hero…………………our o-line is D-II on a good day! We could have kept pounding and would have gotten nothing, as our o-line is not even in the same ballpark as LSU, S.C., or ‘Bama………again a non-debatable point. If, by grace, we go to the SEC championship game (and I seriously doubt it) we eill THEN learn (like we did last time) what a REAL-O-LINE IS! We are close, guys, but just can’t do it up front!
SKB
October 15th, 2012
4:07 pm
Head coach records:
Mark Richt = Overall 111–39 (.74)
Bowl 7–4
Nick Saban =Overall 152–54 (.73)
Bowl 7–6
I wander who the better coach is..Nick Saban over recruits.. he would sell his soul for a win. I would take Mark Richt over Satan any day
Will Muschimp
October 15th, 2012
4:09 pm
Yep. Sell ALL your tix old dog…..Sell them NOW!
Rick James
October 15th, 2012
4:16 pm
@South Cackalacky Gator
I just don’t think UF can stop the USC D-Line. And I really do believe that the Mighty Gators will put a shutout on the Dawgs in JAX! Take off your red and black glasses….you guys have become the Clemson/VT of the SEC….great recruiting classes, but then can’t handle the big games…When was the last time you guys beat a quality ranked opponent????? Come on! And after watching the Carolina team this past two weeks, they aren’t the old Carolina October Gamechokes…they will win out.
Be smart and reserve a RV spot in Tampa for New Years.
———————————————————————————————————————–
Carolina chokes again and I’m sure you thought Florida would beat Georgia last year. And I’m assuming you think Florida is a quality opponent this year right? And just because of that all they have to do is show up in Jacksonville right? How can you say the Gamecocks arent the same chokers when they choked Saturday night? Nobody thought they would lose to Auburn at home last year but they did..They will lose to Florida,Tennesee or Arkansas..