I've thought about this a lot. I hear a lot of people say that the only thing against Georgia is their schedule. I say that it's great that a team touted to possibly play for the national championship have a schedule that is tough as nails. Do we want to talk about Hawaii possibly playing for a National Championship? How about Kansas possibly playing for the National Championship? Kansas has made great strides, but the only team they ever played in the regular season in '07 was Mizzou. Kansas has more than enough to worry about in '08, so if they go undefeated this year then they deserve to play in the BCS title game.
If you take a look at the BCS champions of the past several years, you'll notice a common trend: one good out of conference game. 2007 LSU was Virginia Tech [ACC Champion]. 2006 Florida did not play anyone of note outside the SEC which will be the exception. 2005 Texas played Ohio State. 2004 USC played Virginia Tech [ACC champion of 2004]. 2003 LSU played at Arizona; sure it's Arizona, but they had to travel all the way to Tucson for it. 2002 Ohio State played Texas Tech and a Washington State team that finished #7 in the polls. 2001 Miami Hurricanes played at Happy Valley for the opener and hosted a #12 Washington team. 2000 Oklahoma didn't play anyone of note outside thier conference. 1999 Florida State played a #3 Florida team, and finally 1998 Tennessee played a #17 ranked Syracuse. All of these are examples of why playing a good out of conference game is usually a good thing for a good team. There are many good out of conference games this season, but I am trying to prove the point that having a tougher strength of schedule is good for a team with BCS dreams like USC, Ohio State, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri, and West Virginia.
Now onto dissect UGA's '08 schedule:
Georgia Southern and Central Michigan at home-> This is practice for the spread offenses of Florida, Vandy, Auburn, and Georgia Tech. Georgia has seen plenty of spread-option attacks. Dan LeFevour will tough to control b/c he is a mini-Tebow, but he will give Georgia good practice for real-life Tebow. Besides, Lefevour will play a Haugabook from Troy in '07 role: he'll put up good competition, but his team will not be able to pull out the win in the end.
South Carolina away-> Spurrier needs a QB to operate. He needs that pivotal role in his offense, and he just does not have one yet. Garcia was supposed to be the man, but legal reasons are keeping him from starting. Smelley and Beecher are far too accident prone to do well under the **** 'n fire.
Arizona State away-> It will be a good out of conference game b/c Carpenter has improved, but the O-line is too weak and the Sun Devils will have to find a running game quick without Torain.
Alabama at home-> This will be a tougher game than most predict. Bama has to play at Arkansas the week before, so they will not be able to look past their competition towards UGA. Saban remembers what it was like to play at Sanford in '04. Bama is the first big home game UGA plays too, so the team and fans will be fired up.
Tennessee at home -> The biggest home game of the season for UGA is this game. The dawgs have an off week too before seeing the Vols. The Vols had an off week before UGA in '07, and we know how that turned out. Tennessee is without Cutcliffe and Ainge, so the offense will sputter along if the UGA D is able to focus on Foster. UGa remembers the past two years of seeing Tennessee in Sanford, and the dawgs are foaming at the mouth for some retribution.
Vandy at home -> Although this should be an easy game, Vandy will compete and keep Georgia on their toes. Hopefully UGA will not get complacent with a big win in this game if it happens. Still, Georgia should be able to stay sharp while still resting a bit.
LSU at Tiger Stadium -> This is going to be a tough game. UGA lost by a touchdown to the '03 tiger team who eventually got the crystal ball. This year LSU will be practiced enough to give the Dawgs fits. This game'll be tough, but LSU will have a tough time winning b/c they're replacing their top-shelf talent against a veteran Dawg team.
The Cocktail Party -> This game is a coin flip. Florida has the scheduling edge b/c they have Kentucky before they go to Jacksonville, and UGa has to go to LSU. Still, I feel like UGA has the momentum in Jacksonville b/c 12 points was a virtual blow-out in the world's largest outdoor cocktail party b/c Florida usually skates by with a field goal or touchdown. I bet Tebow still remembers getting hit so hard he fumbled in '06 and getting sacked so many times in '07. Tebow may be superman, but he's not as cool as Leak was.
Kentucky away -> Kentucky is still a decent team, but they don't have Woodson anymore. Kentucky might revert to their old ways this year, but it might just be rebuilding for them too.
Auburn away -> Auburn will be looking for revenge for the past two years; Cox was the main reason they got blown out though. Historically, UGA usually wins at Auburn and Auburn usually wins at Georgia. The series is weird like that, but I expect the trend to continue. Auburn is installing a new offense, so a seasoned spread-option defense like UGA's will do well against the new Auburn offense.
Georgia Tech at home -> Look for 8 in row in '08. Georgia has an off game before Tech this year too. GT will be practiced with their new offense, but they will not execute as well as the Georgia D will. A change might do the trick in changing some momentum in the series, but I don't expect Johnson to work magic his first year. The Georiga faithful will be fired up if Georgia is in the position to go to the next level.
Great teams need to show their greatness, and I think UGA can do it even with this schedule.
Besides, shouldn't a team be ranked in the preseason on how good they are instead of how likely they are to rack up easy wins?
Let me know if I'm a crazy homer.
Jessica Trainham
Jarah Mariano
Did You See That?
Top 15 Instant-Impact Freshmen
Comments (22) Add A Comment
I've got about 100 views so far, and no one has commented. Am I that good of a point maker?
Are you not entertained? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINTED?!?
How 'bout 'em
Gainesville, GA
Total Comments (1613)
I say it is about time someone recognized Georgia's Talent. There really should be no reason for them Dawgs to trip through this schedule. The talent pool is rich and the experience is building and hopefully the momentum will be full speed when we play the typically tough rivals. All that said it will be very exciting and I'm sure to be sitting on pins and needles through each game. I'm not delusional I'm just a realist. Sometimes we have a habbit of letting the hype get to us and allowing complacency to set in. Case in point, West Virginia.
MatDawg2020
Leesburg , GA
Total Comments (1)
Well LSU has alot of top shelf talent returning also, and you failed to mention that after LSU barely beat Georiga in Tiger Staudium they blew them out in the SEC championship in round 2.
*LSU* Later Gators
West Monroe, LA
Total Comments (2907)
...only to be blown out next year at UGA and in the following year's SEC championship game.
yeah, the recruiting has been awesome at LSU too, but UGA has not been too shabby either in the recruiting department, and the dawgs have the experience to back up that talent.
All in all, it'll be a good game, and I won't be surprised if UGA loses. I'll be sad and my shed a tear, but I won't be surprised.
How 'bout 'em
Gainesville, GA
Total Comments (1613)
I will tack on 1 more reason - respect from the polls.
A big non-conference win won't make up for a loss, but when they compare 3 or more champions from the major 6 conferences with equal records, the pollsters will give preference to teams with a big non-conference win, as they should.
The best examplke is Auburn. A weak non-conference schedule kept their undefeated team without an invite.
Don' schedule a big non-conference game, and you can expect to find yourself hoping everyone else looses to get your shot at the title. Schedule a tough non-conference game and you can find yourself with a NC invite yours to loose.
Prove It - just…
Total Comments (1065)
very good point prove it.
How 'bout 'em
Gainesville, GA
Total Comments (1613)
The LSU vs. UGA game will be awesome and I will be, as usual, in my nose bleed seat in section 613. I do think that it will be close. Of the 2 game I have predicted for LSU to lose this year, UGA is one. Besides we're not scheduled to win another BCS National Championship until 2010/11. Geaux Tigers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CenLA Tiger
Central Louisiana, LA
Total Comments (401)
Hey, see that guy on the right? no, it's not me
Consider the Bama and Florida games a lock for a loss (my GT lock is still pending this time around). I expect the Dawgs to get too amped for that first big game in Athens (ya know they always find a way to lose games at home that they "shouldn't"). They'll finally beat the Vols, but Florida is going to be too strong and rested. LSU will undoubtedly have a Ash Wednesday-sized championship hangover. And Georgia will have to survive the game against the ACC champs and Bama for the second time to go the Promised Land.
If UK, SC, UT, ASU and LSU are slipping, then how tough is their schedule? Maybe they only have one tough game this year. That WLOCP party, I admit, will be a monster game that should exceed the USC/OSU game in competitiveness.
Deep South Sider
Atl, GA
Total Comments (998)
You're crazy DSS. It made me laugh though to see you like that.
I was seriously conflicted when GT played for the NC in b-ball a few years back. My ultimate conclusion: even though they are a Georgia team, they're still techies and thus our rivals.
Bama is a possible loss b/c the dawgs will be fired up for ASU, and they may not have any "emotion" left in the tank for Bama since it is at home. You're right about the dawgs getting beat at home for games they're "supposed" to win.
The schedule isn't as tough as most people think b/c the SEc will take a minor step back b/c the lower tier teams are slipping this season; most people are still riding high on the two consecutive NC wins, so they're perception is biased. Georgia, Florida, Bama, and MSU will take a step up while LSU (just barely), Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Auburn, Vandy, Miss, and South Carolina will take a step back. LSU will still be up there in copeditiveness, but they need a veteran QB.
Go Dawgs!!!!
How 'bout 'em
Gainesville, GA
Total Comments (1613)
Can anybody explain why a lot of the PREseason polls have UGA #3, #4, or #5? The funny thing is these idiots justify themselves by saying "UGA has the talent to be ranked #1 but they have the toughest schedule in college football. How do these guys post their PREseason rankings based on how tough somebody's schedule is? Shouldn't it be based on who has the most talented team going into the season? I mean if they want to put UGA at #3, #4, or #5 because they have a tough schedule shouldn't they then call their rankings POSTseason rankings? They are obviously saying that UGA will not finish #1 because of their schedule. So shouldn't that be their POSTseason rankings not their PREseason rankings.
DesertDawg35
Scottsdale , AZ
Total Comments (6)
DesertDawg,
The preseason polls are just guessing where the teams will finish the year. Kind of dumb to even have them before the first of October,...but then what would us fan have to bicker over all summer? The WLOCP should be great this year and i'm going to pick the coach that has only lost one time in his first 3 years to one of our "3 Big Rivals".
GO GATORS!!! TAKE BACK THE JACKSONVILLE SWAMP!!!
Gator4ever
Gainesville , FL
Total Comments (1)
Good point desert dawg. A team should be ranked on how good the team looks going into the season instead of how tough their schedule looks. What if that team makes it through without a loss along with everyone above them going unbeaten? Then you have a team who is more deserving b/c they played a tougher schedule who is ranked lower.
If you will recall Gator4ever, that one loss was to the same team who will probably be ranked #1 going into this season. The WLOCP should be an all-out war in '08.
GO DAWGS!!!!
I've had Gator tail, literally, and it was delicious.
How 'bout 'em
Gainesville, GA
Total Comments (1613)
Go Gators! Dawgs suck!
jjgator
Gainesville , FL
Total Comments (20)
Gator tail is dawg bait.
I need to get some good Gator loafers and maybe tote around a Gator skin suit-case with me in Jacksonville.
How 'bout 'em
Gainesville, GA
Total Comments (1613)
I had to read the article to vote on your TD. I'm still trying to decide UGA or USC for the BCS Winner TD argument, but you made good points here.
College Football…
Total Comments (82)
thanks for actually reading the blog that was linked on the TD. I'm usually too lazy to read a blog on a TD, but I guess I'll start practicing what I preach.
How 'bout 'em
Gainesville, GA
Total Comments (1613)
What are the dimensiions needed to properly bury a Bulldog?
51 x 33
(note '06 game vs Vols)
TuckerVol
Lookout Mountain , TN
Total Comments (1)
I guess the dimensions to bury a bluetick coonhound give you less space with 41 x 14 (note '03), but the bigger difference in dimensions will make a more rectangular box for a smaller dog.
How 'bout 'em
Gainesville, GA
Total Comments (1613)
Good blog...I agree I see Georgia's schedule as difficult but, very manageable. Although I would definitely be a little more hesitant about Central Michigan. I won't actually call it right now this far out from the season but, if I were making predictions for that week of the season I might take a good long look at Central Michigan vs. Georgia as a a possible upset
badgerfan07
Whitewater , WI
Total Comments (1604)
good blog, you should check out my UGA schedule breakdown as well. I definitely think that Auburn wll win the SEC west and that the winner of the SEC will play for the title game. And unfortunately, if we don't win this year we have another chance next year but our schedule is just as tough, if not tougher than this years
TebowsKryptonite
Total Comments (240)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.