Quick notes...

Did anyone see the turnout (or lack there of) for the ACC Championship game?? Each year has been pretty low, but this has to be the worst to date.


Georgia has 4 1st Teamers on Phil Steele's All-SEC Team. Knowshon, Green, Curran, and Mimbs were all on the 1st Team. Stafford, Massaquoi, Jones, and Boling were named to the 2nd Team. Atkins and Allen were named to the 3rd Team.


Here is a little info to put Georgia's "disappointing" season in perspective. Prior to Coach Richt, UGA had 22 9+ win seasons (with twelve 10+ win seasons). This year was Coach Richt's 7th straight season with atleast 9 wins. A bowl win will give UGA six 10 win seasons under CMR. That says a lot about how CMR has raised the bar of excellence at UGA.

Flashback to 2007...

Dawgs Make it 3 in a Row over Tigers!

Alright, so it was not pretty...again. But we won...again. We are 9-2 and now have a bye week to prep for GTI. I saw plenty of areas that need some work today (didn't we all?). The defense, though they held AU to only 13 points there were still WAY too many missed tackles and WAY too many penalties. The lack of discipline is very disturbing.

However, you have to believe that AU probably played one of their best games of the year today. They were motivated for numerous reasons; their coaches job, their pride (two thumpings in a row by the Dawgs), and for bowl eligibility. There are over 20 kids on that roster from GA that would have loved nothing more to beat their "hometown" team.

I am disgusted by the number of penalties. I am sickened by the poor tackling. However, considering the many obstacles the team has faced this year I am somewhat pleased to be at 9-2 with a shot to finish 11-2 for the second straight year. Some of you will disagree and talk about it being a disappointing season and I can definitely understand why.

Well, that is all for now. It has been a long day on the Plains after leaving out at 6 AM this morning. It was a successful trip. Bring on Tech and let's make it 8 in '08!

Georgia - Auburn Game Time Set

The UGA-AU game will be played at 12:30 and will be televised on Raycom Sports.

Time to go Willie Mo...

Here is a quote from Corvey Irvin in today's Athens Banner Herald:

"It ain't like you haven't practiced for it," defensive tackle Corvey Irvin said. "We practiced for that all week. We were prepared for it, but we couldn't stop it. We had missed tackles and missed assignments. We weren't very focused today."

Okay, not very focused?!?! I have now heard that excuse from someone on our defense after each of their meltdowns this season. I can MAYBE understand it once, but for them to time and again come out "not focused" is a joke and that responsibility rests squarely on Willie Martinez's shoulders.

Real Men of Genius - Mr Jorts Inventor

TD

Trev Alberts - UGA - UF Preview

Trev Alberts is the man! He picks the Dawgs to pull this one out due to Stafford, Moreno, and AJ Green.

TD

Comparing UGA and UF Opponents To Date...

When digging into the numbers of each of the teams competition through Week 9, there are many similarities.

Rankings of UF's Competition:
Average Scoring Offense of Opponents - 70th
Average Scoring Defense of Opponents - 60th
Average Total Defense of Opponents - 43rd
Average Total Offense of Opponents - 79th

Rankings of UGA's Competition:
Average Scoring Offense of Opponents - 71st
Average Scoring Defense of Opponents - 40th
Average Total Defense of Opponents - 37th
Average Total Offense of Opponents - 74th

UGA and UF have two common opponents to date, Tennessee and LSU. As we all know, UGA totally dominated UT, it just didn't correlate to points on the scoreboard. UF also dominated UT, but in a different fashion. UF set the tone early against UT with special teams. The most recent common opponent of the two teams is LSU. Again, both teams dominated LSU. UF did so in the "Friendly" confines of the Swamp, scoring 51 points while only surrendering 21 points. UGA beat down the Bengal Tigers in one of the most (if not most) hardest places to play in the SEC. UGA scored 52 points, while giving up 38. However, I have to say that our team looked to relax each time they got up by 3 TDs. Hopefully they realized that against the more explosive teams in the SEC you cannot take your foot off of the accelerator until the final horn sounds (or Chapel Bell)!

So, what does all of this mean??? Absolutely nothing! But hey, it gives us something to talk about until 3:30 Saturday when the two teams tee it up at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (how many times are they going to change the name of the place?!?)

Pontiac Game Changer - AJ Green

Be sure to vote at ESPN Pontiac Game Changer

Is the LSU D Overrated??

Okay, so here we sit at the mid-point of the season and yet LSU's "dominant" defense ranks near the middle of the SEC in nearly every statistical category.

Total Defense - 9th
Scoring Defense - 9th
Rush Defense - 5th
Pass Defense - 9th

Georgia's rankings:
Total Defense - 3rd
Scoring Defense - 8th
Rush Defense - 1st
Pass Defense - 10th

Here is some additional analysis from ESPN Research:
LSU's usually dominant defense has been somewhat pedestrian through the first half of the season. The Tigers are allowing 21.5 points per game, their highest total after six games since giving up 22.0 per game in 2000 (Nick Saban's first season). LSU also has given up 28.3 points per game in its four SEC contests.

UGA vs. LSU Analysis

So, we have finally arrived...the meat of our SEC schedule is now upon us. First up, the Bengal Tigers of LSU.


This game stands to be a true dog fight. While LSU may have the advantage when it comes to the lines of scrimmage, UGA has the advantage at all of the skill positions. Georgia's young line has been more than servicable the last two weeks as they have given up ZERO sacks.


Since the 1st half of the Bama masacre, Georgia has played some of the best all around football in the league. They went out and scored 30 in the 2nd half against Bama, essentially moved the ball at will against the #1 defense (at the time) of UT, and put up great numbers against Vandy.


So, where does this leave us as we head in to Death Valley?? I believe the Dawgs are ready to breakout. I know if you are a Georgia fan you have heard, probably even said it, "remember 2007, we were mediocre through the first half then caught fire." Well, I truly believe we are in the same boat again, maybe even better this year. Going in to the UF game last year UGA was not leading the league in offense as they are this year. All they have to do is put 7's on the board instead of 3's this Saturday and if they do, they will walk out of Baton Rouge with a W.

My Prediction:

UGA 27 - LSU 13

Below are some links to game analysis and picks:

Buck Belue

The Bleacher Report

CBS.com Picks

ESPN - Bruce Feldman