Tag: Georgia Bulldogs (Page 8 of 10)

      College Football Week 8 Primer

      October 15, 2008 /

      Top 25 vs. Top 25

      Colt McCoyNo. 11 Missouri at No. 1 Texas, 8:00 PM ET
      For their first game after being crowned number one in the land, surely the Longhorns would rather face a Big 12 cupcake than a pissed off Tigers team reeling from suffering their first loss of the season. But at least Colt McCoy and Co. don’t have to worry about suffering a letdown after their thrilling win over top rival Oklahoma last weekend. Speaking of McCoy, he’s been nearly perfect this season, completing 79.4% of his passes and compiling 17 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He’ll get the chance to light up a suspect MIZZOU defense, although don’t expect Heisman candidate Chase Daniel to have back to back bad games, especially against a UT defensive unit that was destroyed by Sam Bradford and the Sooners. Remarkably, Daniel and the Tigers have scored in 23 of 24 quarters this season. Oddsmakers have made MIZZOU a 7-point underdog.

      No. 16 Kansas at No. 4 Oklahoma, 3:30 PM ET
      Despite walking away with victories, the Jayhawks have not played very sharp the past two weeks. In their 12-1 campaign last season, KU didn’t have to face the powerhouse programs of the Big 12, but they’re not as fortunate this year. Neither team is running the ball as well as they would like, but the Sooners will be looking to make a statement after losing to Texas last week. If sophomore QB Sam Bradford could hang 35 points on the Longhorns, imagine what he’ll do to the Jayhawks. Still, Kansas isn’t a pushover and is looking to make a statement in the polls as well.

      No. 22 Vanderbilt at No. 10 Georgia, 12:30 PM ET
      One might assume that since the Commodores suffered a crushing blow last week to Mississippi that they’d roll over and play dead this week in Athens. But Vandy has enough speed and athleticism to contain UGA’s explosive offense and they should be able to keep things close. The hard part will be containing QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno for four quarters, however. And if the ‘Dores can’t come up with a turnover or two, the Dogs should pull away in the end. Still, expect a bounce back week for Vandy, who could expose a young UGA secondary ranked 11th in the SEC.


      Javon Ringer      No. 12 Ohio State at No. 20 Michigan State, 3:30 PM ET
      It’ll be interesting to see if the Spartans can catch the Buckeyes looking ahead to their date next week with No. 3 Penn State. OSU has had a tough time moving anywhere in the rankings since being blown out by USC in mid-September, but they could use the next two weeks to make a huge statement to voters. MSU is playing awfully well right now, especially on offense where QB Brian Hoyer has provided balance with the dynamic running style of Javon Ringer. Since making a splash against Troy, Buckeye freshman QB Terrelle Pryor has leveled off in recent weeks, throwing for just 104 yards per game and one touchdown in his last three outings. RB Beanie Wells also seems to still be suffering lingering effects from an early-season toe injury as he rushed for only 94 yards on 22 carries last week against Purdue. Next Saturday’s PSU-OSU matchup should be great, but Sparty isn’t going to be a pushover this week in East Lansing.

      Upset Watch:No. 9 BYU at TCU, Thursday, October 16
      The Cougars arguably get their first test of the season against a Horned Frogs team that has already faced the likes of Oklahoma. TCU’s defense will provide a challenge BYU QB Max Hall and the high-powered Cougar passing attack and even though he’s a backup, Frog’s QB Marcus Jackson has led the team to back-to-back wins. TCU is also incredibly tough to beat in Fort Worth, so beware a major upset on Thursday night. (Of course the last time I suggested that BYU could be upset, they beat UCLA 59-0.)

      College Football

      Surprised by all the upsets in college football? Don’t be.

      September 29, 2008 /

      As I’m sure some of you were this past Saturday, I sat on my couch in utter amazement at what I was watching go down in college football.

      Maryland beat Clemson?

      Navy is on top of Wake Forest??

      Mississippi might knock off Florida???

      USC lost to Oregon State????

      Okay, so we knew that last outcome because it happened on Thursday night. And we shouldn’t have been that surprised when upsets happen in college football because, well, upsets happen in college football.

      But the reason they’re happening this year is more prevalent than in years past: From smaller to big-time programs, the talent level is better across the nation.

      Ole’ Miss isn’t afraid to walk into Gainesville these days because they have players like Jevan Snead and Shay Hodge that can compete with Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin. The Beavers could care less that the Trojans are the top ranked program in the nation not just because they beat USC in Corvallis two years ago, but also because quarterback Lyle Moevao and freshman running back Jacquizz Rodgers can play for just about any team in the nation.

      Granted, Florida is going to beat Mississippi on most Saturdays and that’s why the Gators were No. 5 in the nation and the Rebels weren’t anywhere near the top 25 coming into weekend. Voters are often clueless, but they’re competent enough to recognize that the Gators and Trojans have more overall depth and talent than the Rebels and Beavers. But the fact of the matter is that the mid-level programs have caught up dramatically over the years.

      And on any given Saturday, Ole’ Miss can beat Florida. And Navy can beat Wake Forest. And Maryland can beat Clemson, and so on.

      This might be an obvious revelation to most college football fans, but there’s still a large group that assumes that these smaller schools are just getting lucky. That the bigger programs are shooting themselves in the foot on game day and playing down to their opponents. Granted, that might be the case in some situations, but it’s no longer the main reason why more storied programs are falling to mid-level and even FCS (previously known as Division 1AA) teams.

      Michigan losing to Appalachian State last year in Ann Arbor is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. Anyone who tuned into that game knows that the Wolverines didn’t necessarily shoot themselves in the foot for four quarters; the Mountaineers had enough playmakers to not only keep themselves in the game, but also win it.

      Michigan still had more total yards (479 to 387), fewer turnovers (2 to 3) and just as many penalties (each team had seven apiece), but they couldn’t stop ASU quarterback Armanti Edwards from passing for 227 yards and three touchdowns, or running for 62 yards and a score. He was the best player on the field that day and it showed.

      Whether these smaller schools are getting better at recruiting or the top tier programs are just flat out misjudging what these kids can do on the field, it’s clear that the talent has spread out across the nation.

      Or better yet, the overall talent level is just better on a whole. Maybe the bigger programs have just as much recruiting power as they always have, but there’s so much talent across the country that even the mid-level schools are finding Heisman candidates. (See Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour as proof.)

      That theory plays into how more and more undrafted free agents like Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo are becoming stars in the NFL. There’s just so much talent that there’s enough for every team to get a piece of the action.

      Either way, we shouldn’t be surprised when Ole’ Miss beats the Gators in Gainesville or when Navy pulls upsets over Notre Dame and Wake Forest. And quite frankly, things are better this way. (Or at the very least, they’re more exciting.)

      As college football fans, let’s hope that these mid-level programs continue to land some of the talent they’ve been able to over the past couple years. Because this past weekend in college football was fun as hell.

      College Football Quick Hitters:

      – Georgia got smoked by Alabama on Saturday evening not because Heisman Trophy candidate Knowshon Moreno wasn’t 100% healthy, but because Nick Saban’s Tide were more physical. UGA is a talented team and deserved to be ranked that high going into Saturday, but eventually the inexperience on the offensive line was going to catch up with them.

      – Wake Forest beat Florida State one week and than lost to Navy the next. Clemson fell out of the preseason top 10 after losing to Alabama in Week 1, then climbed back to No. 20 only to lose to unranked Maryland. Will someone please step up in the ACC? After they lost to East Carolina earlier this year, people started writing off Virginia Tech. But maybe Frank Beamer’s Hokies are still the class of the conference after all. Or maybe a relatively unknown like Maryland or (gasp!) Duke will emerge. Either way, things are going to be interesting in the ACC throughout the rest of the year.

      – I wrote this in my recap of the Navy-Wake Forest game but I think it bears repeating: The Midshipmen are often undersized, out-manned and usually have less talent than most of their opponents on game day. But the reason they can beat Notre Dame after failing the previous 43 times one year and then defeat a No. 16 Wake Forest team the next is because of their heart and determination. They never go into a game assuming defeat and for that, I love watching them play.

      – I realize to a large extent that Florida choked against Ole’ Miss on Saturday (a blocked extra point attempt, Urban Meyer? Really?), but that game just proves how hard it is to win in the SEC. Even the proverbial bottom dwellers of the conference are no pushovers.

      – How Wisconsin lost to Michigan after building a 19-0 halftime lead is still beyond me. In the first half, the UM players were playing like they had bet on Wisconsin before the game. The Wolverine defense is a little better than what people give them credit for, but there’s no way the Badgers should lose a game in which their opponents cough the ball up five times in the first half and spot them a 19-0 lead. What a disaster.

      College Football

      No. 8 Alabama cruises past No. 3 Georgia 41-30

      September 27, 2008 /

      Glenn CoffeeWhat a wild, wild week in college football. No. 1 USC falls to Oregon State. Ole’ Miss shocks No. 5 Florida. Little ol’ Navy beats No. 16 Wake Forest. Michigan turns the ball over five times in the first half, but overcomes a 19-0 deficit to defeat No. 9 Wisconsin.

      And if all that wasn’t enough, No. 8 Alabama rolled into Athens and stomped No. 3 Georgia, 41-30. So much for the Bulldogs’ plan to “Black Out” the Tide.

      Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide built a shocking 31-0 halftime lead and despite the Bulldogs best efforts at a comeback in the second half, Alabama cruised. They played about as close to perfect as they could, totaling 129 yards on the ground (Glen Coffee had 86 yards and 2 TDs), dominating the time of possession battle and despite playing in a hostile environment, amassing only two penalties for a nine yards. They also scored on their first five possessions and turned the ball over just once.

      Georgia was at a disadvantage with dynamic RB Knowshon Moreno hobbled, but even if he were 100%, it wouldn’t have mattered. Alabama came out with more energy, played a cleaner game and quite frankly, Saban just out-coached Mark Richt. The Dogs could do nothing in the first half and it was almost like Alabama was in UGA’s offensive huddle the entire night. And it was only a matter of time before Georgia’s lack of experience on the offensive line caught up to them like it did tonight. ‘Bama’s defensive front was more physical and it showed with how UGA could do nothing on the ground, which in turn affected Matthew Stafford and the passing game.

      Criticize Saban for the way he left LSU for the NFL and then the Miami Dolphins for Alabama, but the man has brought quality football back to that school in just two years. And with USC, Georgia and Florida all falling this week, the Tide will find themselves in great position to make a run at a title appearance. Saban’s biggest task now is not allowing his team to have a setback against programs like Kentucky, Ole’ Miss, Tennessee and Arkansas State over the next few weeks before they have to play at LSU in November.

      College Football

      Week 5 College Football Primer

      September 24, 2008 /

      Time to check out the big games, top matchups and potential upsets as college football heads into Week 5.

      Top 25 Action:
      Nick SabanNo. 8 Alabama (4-0, 1-0 SEC) at No. 3 Georgia (4-0, 1-0 SEC), Saturday 7:45 PM ET ESPN
      In their 27-10 win over Arizona State last week, the Bulldogs were able to physically dominate ASU in the trenches, but questions still remain about their inexperienced offensive line. After having trouble with South Carolina’s front four two weeks ago, UGA head coach Mark Richt made some changes that at the very least, worked in the win over ASU. But the Bulldogs’ offensive line will get another stiff test this week against a physical defensive front of Alabama. Tide head coach Nick Saban has his team believing they can win and their 328-92 rushing dominance in a win at Arkansas last week was nothing short of impressive. Last year ‘Bama gave Georgia everything they could handle before finally losing 26-23 in overtime in Tuscaloosa. So it should be another great SEC battle “between the hedges” this Saturday. Georgia is currently a 6.5-point favorite.

      No. 24 TCU (4-0, 1-0 MWC) at No. 2 Oklahoma (3-0, 2-0 home), Saturday 7:00 PM ET
      The Sooners wrap up their non-conference schedule by hosting an undefeated TCU team that ranks 13th in the nation in points scored. Of course, Oklahoma is the top ranked program in that category, so lets not get ahead ourselves in predicting an upset. The Sooners have outscored opponents 164-42 and are second in the nation with a 40.7 average margin of victory. OU head coach Bob Stoops has been around the block more than enough to know his team can’t relax before conference play. Oklahoma is an 18.5-point home favorite.

      No. 22 Illinois (2-1, 0-1 away) at No. 12 Penn State (4-0, 3-0 home)
      Entering the season, Ohio State and Wisconsin were considered the class of the Big Ten. While that might still be the case, the conference produces an underrated matchup this Saturday in Happy Valley when the Nittany Lions host the Illini. So far this season, PSU has one of the best offenses in the nation, ranking sixth in total yards, 31st in passing yards, eighth in rushing yards and third in points scored. But the last time the Lions squared off against Illinois, they turned the ball over three times inside the Illini’ 30-yard line in a surprising 27-20 loss in Champaign. Film of that game will almost certainly be shown to PSU players leading up to Saturday’s game. Illinois is currently a 15-point road dog.

      Upset Watch:
      Chris ToddTennessee at No. 15 Auburn Saturday 3:30 PM ET CBS
      Considering they were crushed 30-6 by Florida last Saturday, not too many people will give the Vols a chance this weekend against the Tigers, who are coming off a narrow loss to No. 6 LSU. But Tennessee played better against the Gators than the final score indicated. The UT defense surrendered only 16 first downs and 243 yards against the high-powered Florida offense. That bodes well this week when they take on an Auburn offense that has only managed 17 points in their first eight quarters against SEC opponents and is largely still a work in progress. Oddsmakers have established Auburn as a 6.5-point favorite.

      Other notable games:
      No. 1 USC at Oregon State, Thursday 9:00 PM ET ESPN
      Remember the last time USC traveled to Corvallis? The Trojans certainly do.

      Mississippi State at No. 5 LSU Saturday 7:30 PM ESPN2
      The Tigers are coming off a huge win last week in Auburn. Will they have a letdown against unranked Mississippi State?

      Arkansas at No. 7 Texas Saturday 3:30 PM ET ABC
      Bobby Petrino’s bunch were hammered last week at home against Alabama. Petrino can probably count on similar results this week in Austin.

      College Football

      South Carolina fumbles away opportunity to beat No. 2 Georgia

      September 13, 2008 /

      Steve SpurrierThe South Carolina Game Cocks were a goal line fumble away from tying No. 2 Georgia and possibly pulling off a huge upset at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday.

      Trailing 14-7 early in the fourth quarter, SC drove to the UGA 1-yard line, but Game Cocks’ running back Mike Davis fumbled trying to leap over the goal line and the Bulldogs recovered for a touchback. Georgia eventually hung on for a 14-7 victory.

      It was over when… Georgia’s Reshad Jones picked off Chris Smelley’s pass at the Dawgs’ three-yard line with less than a minute remaining.
      Gameball goes to… Knowshon Moreno: His four-yard TD in the third quarter gave Georgia the lead and figures to be one of the most important Dawgs’ TDs of 2008.
      Stat of the game… 112: The Dawgs didn’t help their cause by losing 112 yards on 11 penalties.

      This game really could have gone either way and while some will note that the No. 2 team in the nation should be able to beat an unranked opponent by more than a touchdown, this was a prime example of how tough it is to win in the SEC. Good teams have to win ugly sometimes and that’s exactly what Georgia did.

      South Carolina’s defense deserves a ton of credit for limiting UGA’s potent offense to only 14 points. And while turnovers eventually did them in, the Game Cocks had an opportunity to win at the end and that’s all they could ask for.

      College Football

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