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Thursday, August 12, 2010

SI preview

I hold in my hand a copy of the Sports Illustrated preview issue. The cover has, not surprisingly, Alabama, although those are regional covers.

Georgia is picked to go 8-4 overall, and 4-4 in the SEC, tied for second with South Carolina (sure) and Kentucky (whaaaa?).

Florida is picked to win the division but lose to Alabama in the title game. The only other mention of Georgia on the SEC preview page is A.J. Green (I've heard of him) under five players to watch.

Georgia is unranked, according to SI's top 25, but Georgia Tech is 14th.

Meanwhile, ESPN Magazine will be out with its college football preview edition on Friday. And I don't just mention this because I contributed to it.

Actually, yes, that is probably why I'm mentioning it.

So ... 8-4? Would you take it? Sound realistic?
Posted by Seth Emerson at 1:21 PM

29 comments:

Paul said...

Eight and four? No. Nine and three? Yes.

August 12, 2010 at 1:24 PM
Anonymous said...

I'd going with 9-3 also.

August 12, 2010 at 1:27 PM
hairy munson said...

that's ridiculous. we go 9-3 at the very least. I mean, who do they expect us to lose to? That means we drop 4 of 5 to USCe, Ark, FL, AU, and Tech.

If we start 3-0, look for 10 wins or higher. there's something about this team that hasn't been there since 05. there's a spark and a certain swagger to the way the players are talking, which makes me think they are really buying into the 3-4 and the fact that Murray will be under center.

My prediction: 10 wins (including one over lizards) and trip to ATL in December. We can talk SECC when we get there.

August 12, 2010 at 1:40 PM
Anonymous said...

9-3 is realistic. I think 10-2 is not overstating it if we keep our turnover ratio in our favor. That means Aaron has to be smart and play within himself. A very experienced O-line should give him time to do that.

Also, special teams will be able to flip the field at times. The D will be swarming the quarterback and should create more turnovers, so we should get beat much less over the top.

I like where we're at this season.

August 12, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Anonymous said...

In football, what is the record between UGA vs. UNC? or where can i find this info

August 12, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Anonymous said...

More likely to go 10-2 than 8-4. Far easier schedule + a better defense = a better record than 8-4.

August 12, 2010 at 1:46 PM
NCDawg said...

I get a loss to UF and a spilt on SC/Ark. I don't see GaTech gaining on us from last year. Auburn and Miss. St., maybe. I can see 9-3, 10-2 is a successful transition year.

August 12, 2010 at 1:53 PM
Anonymous said...

Sounds about like they copy-pasted last years results on their "predictions".

August 12, 2010 at 2:07 PM
IveyLeaguer said...

"So ... 8-4? Would you take it? Sound realistic?"

Heck no. If the defense struggles, we still can win 10 games, and I'll be sorely disappointed with anything less. Ten games is only average, that means we lose 3.

If we lose 4 or more games, it'll be time to replace the offensive staff.

"Is it realistic?"

Sure, this is the SEC. But only in that sense. To people like SI, who have only a superficial take, it might be realistic. But to anyone with a working knowledge of the Georgia team, 8-4 would be a terrible year, and a cause for drastic action (not Richt).

FWIW, I expect much better.
~~~

August 12, 2010 at 2:27 PM
HunkerDown said...

Eight and Four... Unranked but Tech is ranked. What a joke. We will win at LEAST 9 games. More likely 10 and possibly 11.

Our Oline and RB's and TE's and best WR in the country. All Murray has to do is play marginally well and not turn the ball over and we should score 28-34 points a game.

August 12, 2010 at 2:27 PM
Anonymous said...

8-4 would be a huge disappointment. Dawgs will look better this year and will play with some swagger! GATA Dawgs!!!!!

August 12, 2010 at 2:58 PM
WiseDawg said...

I agree with hairy munson. There is something different about this team. I can see it in Coach Richt too. I'm going to say 10-2. If Brandon Smith was for sure coming back, I might even go out on a limb and say 11-1. So tell me, what can Brandon Smith do in a week to clear up his academic issues when school hasn't even started? He can't turn in past due homework or retake an exam? Did he forget to enroll in his Fall classes? WTH?

August 12, 2010 at 3:00 PM
Anonymous said...

You guys think that a freshman QB and a brand new, never been played D scheme is going 10-2? I know we are emotional bunch, but come on. I would be EXTREMELY happy to go 9-3

August 12, 2010 at 3:14 PM
King Jericho said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
August 12, 2010 at 3:31 PM
King Jericho said...

They lost credibility with Tech being 14th. Seriously? Everyone but one guy that mattered on their team last year just got drafted. They're not Florida and they don't just reload.

10-2 for sure.

August 12, 2010 at 3:32 PM
JoshG said...

I would bet any writer at SI my unmortgaged house that we not only finish better than 8-4 and ranked, but higher than Tech by season's end.

August 12, 2010 at 4:05 PM
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
August 12, 2010 at 4:30 PM
Dave School's Toe Jam said...

Glad to see you folks being realistic and not drinking the CFN kool-aid. 9-3 sounds good to me and more wins than that would be icing on the cake. This group just needs to play smash-mouth football, stay focused and not let a W vs. the cocks or hogs get them overly confident and complacent.
Bobo over thinking his play calling could be the deal breaker. Cox wasn't the greatest last year but i think Bobo put him in some piss poor situations. The D may look like game changers in game 1 (as they should playing LL) but I think we may have some growing pains and mistakes at the beginning of the season.
I've learned to set my standards a little lower after last year pre-season so hopefully everything gets put together, we leave the black jerseys and helmets in the trunk and get back down to the f'n Junkyard Dawgs!

August 12, 2010 at 4:44 PM
ATL uga GRAD said...

I would be very upset with 8-4. Let's be honest. This is the first time in a long time where we have a schedule that is as easy as Tech's.

I Like flying low though...if we struggle then that is fine. It hurts less if they are right. But if they are wrong and we have a great season ("cough... 2007") then it will be that much SWEETER! Go Gawgs.

August 12, 2010 at 4:47 PM
BulldogBen said...

There is no way our turnover ratio and special teams (kickoffs/punts) will be as bad as last year. Both areas were addressed with new coaches. Even if ONLY those areas improve, we go 9-3 IMO. I've just come to accept that this is what happens when UGA has a down year and falls off the radar. People just do not give us the benefit of the doubt like they do other schools. (see also: LSU). We have too much talent coming back to go 8-4. If that happens, then something must've gone horribly wrong. ie- injuries.

August 12, 2010 at 4:55 PM
Bizzaroneck said...

I'm going to go on record as saying that 8-4 probably gets Richt fired. No one has forgotten how many seasons it took him to get rid of Willy. The schedule is way to easy for 8-4. 8-4 = Will Muschamp.

August 12, 2010 at 5:02 PM
Anonymous said...

Has Georgia ever had back to back "unranked" season finishes? This could be a first for Mark Richt!

August 12, 2010 at 6:04 PM
Todd said...

I think SI got us and Tech mixed up. That, or they ranked teams by reaching into a hat.

August 12, 2010 at 6:29 PM
Chilly P said...

Yeah, having more than 3 losses is always a disappointment.

August 12, 2010 at 6:36 PM
Brian from Hamilton said...

I got my SI today and can not find the four teams we are supposed to lose to. They say 8-4 (4-4) so they are giving the Dawgs a win at Tech. They have about five or six schools at 4-4 in the conference. Maybe they are trying to be safe? In the west we play Ark, MSU, and Auburn. I'm a little scared of Auburn cause we have won four in a row but we beat Ark at their place now we play them at home. MSU? We are not the "School up North" which was the only team they were motivated enough to beat last year. SC is tougher cause it is there. Who else? Kentucky beat us last year.... won't happen, UT?doubtful. I don't see four conference losses. So realistically thinking we lose to UF, one of Ark/SC (I think we win both) and maybe Auburn (it is at AU so I think we win). I don't see it. We have been winning 10 games a year (save last year) playing brutal schedules and now we get a breather and are supposed to go 8-4 (4-4) hopefully it fires up the team.

August 12, 2010 at 9:04 PM
Army Dawg said...

With a freshman quarterback and a new defense I think 8 - 4 is about right. More important than the 8 - 4 is how we play. There was a huge difference in Richt's 8-4 his first year and the 8 - 4 under Donnan his last year. Richt's first team played hard and every game that was lost was hard fought. If that is the way it goes down this year, while I don't like it, I can understand it with the QB and new defense. Now if we get blown out 3 or 4 times then it is a whole new ball game.

August 12, 2010 at 11:19 PM
dawgjammin said...

We best come out of the SC, ARK game with a split at the very least. I'd be extremely happy getting all the way through the TENN game with just one loss, but that would still leave 3 very loseable games on our schedule. nerds, UF and AUB. So, yes 8-4 is a very real possibility. What we've beat AUB 4years in a row? How much longer can that streak go.

August 13, 2010 at 6:50 AM
Dan said...

Caveat: I also think we're likely to go 9-3 or 10-2. My armchair analysis likes the offense (who couldn't?) and believes our talent plus motivation from a new coach will lead to an improved defense. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised at all if we go 11-1 and win a freakin' national championship; I also feel good about these guys.

HOWEVER, how can any of you say with a straight face we WILL NOT lose to UT or UK? The names Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke strike fear in my heart. UT has not had a better team than us since Richt has been here, yet we're about even vs. them, including the embarrassments three out of the last four years (one that ruined our best shot at a nat'l championship).

I'd also be disappointed with 8-4, or even 7-5. But I wouldn't be surprised at all.

August 13, 2010 at 10:11 AM
Kevin said...

8-4 is very realistic. However, losing 4 SEC games? eh, i would say 8-4 includes a loss against Tech, not 4 SEC losses.

I would be happy with 9-3, and think 10-2 is reaching to say "at least" that record.

We will drop a game we shouldn't because of the D, and for that I think 8-4 is a solid prediction... just hoping we do better

August 13, 2010 at 11:04 AM

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