Hello from Orlando...

Well, here we are just two days away from the last game of the season. I love bowl season, but at the same time, I hate this time of year. We now have to wait nine months for the next game. Yes, I am one of those nuts that enjoys reading about our recruiting class and I enjoy the G-Day game, but the rest of the year my wife has to put up with me talking about what went wrong the season before...and there will be a lot to moan and groan about this off season. I don't know how long it is going to take to get over the Tech loss...maybe by the end of next November??

A quick analysis of the Capital One Bowl:

We have all heard about Javon Ringer. Yes, he is a work horse, but he is The MSU offense, so as long as our D can contain him then it should be a good day. Paul Westerdawg on the Georgia Sports Blog did some research that shows that Ringer failed to go over 91 yards against MSU's 5 "quality" opponents (including Wisconsin and Iowa).

Overall, MSU's offense is average and their Defense is not much better. I doubt that they have faced an opponent with the balance that we have. So, I believe that if our offense plays the way that it is capable of playing then we should be fine, and that it will be a very enjoyable Capital One Bowl.

PREDICTION:
UGA 38 - MSU 17

Go Dawgs!
TD

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!

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.

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?!?)

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