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
Joey
October 15th, 2012
10:08 am
Damn, Sammy (Patrick) could dig up stats to make Ray Goff look brilliant.
You may as well give up on you mission in life, which is to make everybody love Mark Richt – I don’t give a crap about career winning percentages nor how many games FSU won when Richt was there.
I care about the embarrassing blowouts we have to endure every time we play a good team.
How about these stats? Since the preseason #1 ranking in ‘08, UGA has lost 20 games.
9 BY BLOWOUT!
Nine blowouts – and some of you guys are still defending this head coach?
AltamahaDawg
October 15th, 2012
10:08 am
Well that was right on cue. Like I said, When the cry babiess get tired of pouting, The conversation can continue.
AltamahaDawg
October 15th, 2012
10:09 am
opps , wasn’t directing that at you Joey. Just bad timing there.
Dan
October 15th, 2012
10:12 am
Note to all UGA coaches…….it’s amzing what a team an accomplish when the offensive line is actually taught how to block( see LSU ). That clown Clowny did nothing Saturday night. The Dawgs are soft bottom line. Gators will d them a favor by whipping them to save embarrasment of having to play Alabama
Big Wally
October 15th, 2012
10:13 am
Sammy has convinced me…Richt is the best coach in college football. He kept that Central Florida game close, even when Georgia was so undermanned talentwise. I’m proud of the way he had the dawgs prepared for the Colorado game. We only lost by 2 points to that juggernaut Colorado team that powered it’s way to a 5-7 record that year. And let’s not forget, we were almost competitive with Boise State last year for a whole quarter and half. Take away 20 or 30 plays in the SC game and we were even with ‘em.
Alan J Homersmit
October 15th, 2012
10:15 am
Chip,
If we beat Florida and SC beats Florida…….SC wins the East.
If we beat Florida and Florida beats SC………does GA win East???????
If we lose to Florida and Florida beat SC………Florida wins East????
Whoever wins the East is going to get manhandled and embarrassed by ALABAMA.
Joey
October 15th, 2012
10:15 am
That’s ok, I been pouting a good bit myself, despite promising myself that I won’t, every day.
Sammy set me off again . . .
astrouga
October 15th, 2012
10:18 am
Flat:
I agree with you. We can’t win big games. Different year, different stars, same result.The specific reasons we don’t show up might change from year to year, but ultimately, coaching is to blame,. No doubt. I was just saying that the UGA has some impressive stats over the years since Richt has been here. Unfortunately, most of them don’t matter a whole lot to the fans. That said, some of the best moments in UGA football history have happened under Richt. These sorts of things make it easy to understand why so many fans are still behind him. If we weasel our way into the NC picture again, it will be because the players stepped up, not because the coaches did anything special (likely).
Alan J Homersmit
October 15th, 2012
10:19 am
Mark Richt is just like Joe Biden………………they think that getting your butt whipped is a laughing joke.
Coastal Dog
October 15th, 2012
10:21 am
The only thing that’s going to make us look good is to beat the living tar out of everyone else we play. Especially now that Florida is ranked #2 BCS we simply need to ‘take care of business’. We don’t deserve any more than we earn. I do agree that with South Carolina’s loss we have a chance to go from chump to champ again. No whining, Dogs and Dog fans! Show us on the field of battle. Peace.
Alan J Homersmit
October 15th, 2012
10:22 am
look to the right of this page under the “Local Sports Videos” tab. It clearly shows a picture of Mark Richt SMILING with Steve “The Master” Spurrier after Steve had just made him look like a stupid homo idiot.
FIRE RICHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
metrokdog
October 15th, 2012
10:22 am
Dogs upset fla, win the East! Dogs v. Alabama for the SEC title—mark it down!
crossdawg
October 15th, 2012
10:22 am
If we’d gone into Columbia with our crap together & played like we are capable of we wouldn’t have to worry about all these ifs. GATA
astrouga
October 15th, 2012
10:31 am
metrokdog:
On paper, we can’t win because historically, UGA can’t beat ranked teams. I still think we should be beat Florida, but we should have been SC by 20 as well. It is just hard to ignore all the losses in big games.
I agree though. UGA learns from the mistakes in SC, uses the extra week off to regroup, runs the table, and ends up in the SEC title game.
RedPanties
October 15th, 2012
10:37 am
Let’s see, Richt has never beaten the Gators 2 years in a row and is 0-10 against the last ten top 10 teams he has played, but this is his year–not so fast my friend, do you forget that Murray the midget QB has never beaten a team that was ranked at the end of the season. I for one don’t beleive this will be the game that all that changes unless those new 4 inch cleats Richt ordered for Murray really work.
ga gator
October 15th, 2012
10:38 am
We are not the 2nd best team in the country as there are several we would have trouble with including: Oregon, ND, OK and yes…even UGA among others. This Florida team finds itself at 6-0 despite not playing well in the 1st half against anyone, including Bowling Green. Somehow with the coaching staff that Muschamp has assembled they have made the proper adjustments at halftime and won with superior conditioning and for the 1st time in a couple of years depth. Saturday we started the game without 5 starters (3 on OL, 1 on DL and OLB), lost another (TE) during the game and still won the game. Driskel is for real as is Gillislee and now we just have to see how the season works out. Muschamp has shut up all of his critics and appears to be another great hire by the Nations best AD. He has a great staff and another top 5 recruiting class coming in. Things appear bright again for my Gators. Beat Ky Dawgs, I want the SEC East decided in Jax like it is supposed to be each year.
Rick James
October 15th, 2012
10:43 am
@GTBob
So every SEC team that has ever reached an SEC championship game or National Championship game has only done so because someone else lost? Good to know. Its kinda sad that you don’t believe in the concept of just winning all of your games and not relying on miracles to help you out
———————————————————————————————————————————-
Indeed..Every team that moved up in the polls yesterday did so because teams in front of them lost..Teams jump over teams that they dont even play stop pretending you dont understand that.Its not always just the win or loss sometimes its the timimg.But in your eyes its only a bad thing when it benefits Georgia.Since you didnt address this part of my comment.Alabama won the national title last year without winning their division or conference title.They lost a game in November which allowed them time to rebound and climb back to the top of the polls.I’m not saying its right or wrong but its a system that hurts and benefits everybody.Had Georgia gotten pounded by Middle Tennesee State instead of South Carolina I could see your point but I dont.,Your views are those of an envyous Tech fan.You should worry less about Georgia and more about the fact the your program is about to be eclisped by Duke..
Sammy
October 15th, 2012
10:43 am
We won 3 big games last year, beat 2 ranked teams, and beat Florida.
He Hate Gator
October 15th, 2012
10:45 am
Sammy, when’s the last time UGA finished in the TOP 10? yet, they’ve put the most players in the NFL….
He Hate Gator
October 15th, 2012
10:45 am
What 3 big games?
Sammy
October 15th, 2012
10:46 am
Richt’s career record against winning teams is better than Saba’s, not too bad.
Richt’s career win % is better than Saban’s, not too bad.
Richt’s record against Alabama is 3-1, not to bad.
Richt’s career win % vs. ranked teams is 54%, Saban’s is 64%, not too bad.
astrouga
October 15th, 2012
10:46 am
GaGator:
Great post. I agree completely with your assessment of the season so far. The Gators have that UGA feel to them — they keep winning, but you can just tell they don’t have it all together yet. I feel a loss coming on for them, but it won’t be against SC, unless they pull a UGA and don’t show up.
It would be great for the league for the winner of that game to end up in the SEC title game and take down Alabama or LSU.
Personally, I’d rather have LSU, just because we owe them a beating.
Sammy
October 15th, 2012
10:47 am
Beat 2 ranked teams in 2011, Aub & Tech, and beat Florida, that’s 3 big wins in 2011.
buick59
October 15th, 2012
10:47 am
not gonna beat Florida…unless they suddenly learn how to block and tackle.
Joey
October 15th, 2012
10:47 am
ga gator I think you are selling the Gators a little short. When you have a nasty D like y’all have, you can afford to have an inconsistant O, which is what the Gators also have.
I’m afraid my fellow Dawg fans writing about us “winning out” will get a jolt of reality in Jax – Driskel is a bigger version of Conner Shaw, who we had no answer for. And while the Gators may not have the pass-rushing ends of SC, the entire D is sound and DBs are better and faster.
Just my take on your team.
dawg fans have no idea how little respect America has for UGA football
October 15th, 2012
10:47 am
well dawg dummies, it took Muschamp a season and a half to overtake the UGA program…took Spurrier a little longer, but he’s got his program past the dummydawgs…take the over in the Music City bowl vs. Tulsa…UGA loses a close one…
He Hate Gator
October 15th, 2012
10:48 am
Sammy those stats regarding Saban are meaningless……he’s won how many titles?
GatorBait 18-4
October 15th, 2012
10:48 am
Your championship team of last year barely beat the worst Gator team in the last quarter century. Those boys you beat in Jax last year are full grown men now————–you won’t beleive it unless you saw the Gators destroy LSU’s will in the 2nd half——your poor puppy won’t know what hit them.
If I were you I would book the best hotel in Shrevport now.
anon1
October 15th, 2012
10:48 am
Backing into the SEC championship game won’t help them get better. With Florida #2 in BCS, doubt Ga will get past them.
Sammy
October 15th, 2012
10:49 am
Top 10? Bear Bryant had 1 top 10 finish in his first 11 seasons.
Richt has had 6 top 10 finishes in his first 11 seasons.
Saban had 3 top 10 finishes in his first 11 seasons.
Guess that means, at this point in their careers, Richt’s 6x better than Bryant and 2x better than Saban?
Thanks for asking.
Joey
October 15th, 2012
10:49 am
“Richt’s record against Alabama is 3-1, not to bad.”
*******************************
Until you consider the latest game vs Bama – an embarrassing, ESPN Gameday, blowout on National TV.
Dang what a Richt-Fan-Boy . . .
Sammy
October 15th, 2012
10:50 am
You guys said we wouldn’t beat Florida in 2011…
you were WRONG!
Sammy
October 15th, 2012
10:51 am
Bama backed into the Natl Champ last year, LSU backed into the Natl Champ in 2007.
Guess Saban & Miles arn’t good coaches.
blazer
October 15th, 2012
10:52 am
no kidding!!! S,C, plays tougher schedule from west!
AltamahaDawg
October 15th, 2012
10:53 am
And NO insider, I won”t admit we have the “worst Special Teams in the nation”. Because of cource, I am not prone to distorting reality, nor talking like a child pitching a hissy fit.
We have issues at punting, and appearantly extra points seem more difficult than a 50 yrd FG. They seriously need to work on those. Both have a common element, that will improve in time, IMO.
But in pretty much all the other categories of special teams, UGA is in the upper half of the league and actually better than many teams that I am betting you think have it all figured out.
frank
October 15th, 2012
10:53 am
lose to all the tough teams on your schedule, win vs all the easy ones+ hope the competition loses enough of their tough games so you can back in to a meaningless sec-east title.
Titles are won on the field!
beep beep beep that is the sound of Mark Rick backing into a plastering vs bama and a meanngless sec-east crown.
Maybe we should give him a lifetime extension for this one? I bet he can be found swimming at the ramsey center, or filiming commercials.
Live from Vegas
October 15th, 2012
10:54 am
Richt, Bobo, and Grantham still running the show at Georgia? Take Florida, lay the points. We got a saying out here that has made us alot of money:
If Georgia’s opponent is high in rank, look for the Dawgs to go in the tank.
Casino’s have made a ton of money using that advice.
astrouga
October 15th, 2012
10:55 am
I think Florida wins this week, but Driskell will be picking grass out of his teeth all day. They are going to get pretty beat up by SC. It would be sad if Florida can’t field their best in two weeks against us. It would be a lot more meaningful of a win for the dawgs if we beat Florida at full strength.
Sorry Florida fans, “Muschump” is Richt junior.
ga gator
October 15th, 2012
10:55 am
Joey, not selling them short, just a realist. If we could throw the ball down field better (need better WRs) the offense would be more consistent. The D IS nasty as you say and the secondary is much improved since last year as those 3 true freshman we started have grown up. The sleeper in all of this is Ms State. Mullen finally has a QB and their D appears to be very good. He might beat LSU this year. You are right in that Driskel is a bigger Conner Shaw, or you might say a faster Tebow. Dude is 6-4, 240 and runs a 4.5 40 with a cannon for an arm. We just need some receivers.
joe jenkins
October 15th, 2012
10:57 am
I’m getting sick and tired of some of yall saying that sc is a great team……If ol zack hadnt of threw that dumb pass…that game would have been a blow out….connor shaw’s flaws in the passing game are being covered up by spurriers sceme…just wait fla will expose them this sat. I don’t why we can’t win a championship…we have top ten recruiting classes every year….Richt was good in his early years…but he just got too complacent…he has put on about 60lbs…..kept terrible coaches around for so long like willie and jonn janceck….rodney garner. Now grantham looks like willie…but fatter!!! Are we ever going to hire the right DC?
icedawg
October 15th, 2012
10:58 am
Makes them look good? In fact it could actually make them look worse. LSU played offense and defenese, the DAWGS, neither. How can that make them look good?
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
October 15th, 2012
10:59 am
Dawgs are always either a.) overrated b.) overhyped c.) looking for help to “walk-in” the backdoor or d.) all the above. Sounds like the collegiate form of welfare or Obama’s form of welfare. Dawgs should start playing in the Upward league where everyone gets a trophy!
Sammy
October 15th, 2012
11:00 am
UGA’s OLine have allowed less sacks than Alabama or LSU or Florida.
How about that?
Live from Vegas
October 15th, 2012
11:02 am
35-7 Sammy…how about that?
astrouga
October 15th, 2012
11:03 am
This is the reason we lost to SC. A slightly-above average defense with one star got the jump on us:
JADEVEON CLOWNEY, South Carolina sophomore DE said Murray was tapping the center’s leg before snaps to signal for the snap:”The offensive line gave away when they were going to hike the ball, so I got a good jump on it and our crowd got into it.”
Sammy
October 15th, 2012
11:03 am
Alabama & Florida field goal % is 85%, UGA is 80%, not too bad.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
October 15th, 2012
11:03 am
@ Rick James:
You may want to remind “Moobsy” that USCe is now in the same position that UGA is in. Gotta have help to win the SEC East.
Another note of interest is that Awww Barnnn has a worse record than GT but Aww is playing in a “Big Boy” Conference. Could it be that Auburn and GT will have a “Bowl Free” season???????????????
Sammy
October 15th, 2012
11:05 am
UGA leads the SEC in kick/punt blocks, not too bad.
Sammy
October 15th, 2012
11:07 am
UGA has 39 tackles for loss, Bama has 41, Florida has 35, not too bad.
Sammy
October 15th, 2012
11:07 am
UGA has 10 sacks, #2 Fla has 12 sacks, not too bad.