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The Toughest Games on Georgia's 2007 Schedule

The Power T's Doug Coffin recently ranked his team's games from toughest to easiest. While doing so, Doug expressed his hope that "some prominent bloggers would step up and do this for their teams."

I'm not sure Dawg Sports qualifies as a prominent weblog, but Doug did single out this site as one he would like to see participate, so, for your Independence Day reading pleasure, here are . . .

Georgia's Toughest Games in 2007 From Top to Bottom:

1. Auburn on November 10:

This will always qualify as the toughest outing of the autumn in my eyes. The Bulldogs have lost to the Plainsmen 53 times in the Deep South's oldest rivalry, with 18 of those losses coming in the 27 series meetings played in the Classic City. The Red and Black have beaten the Orange and Blue just once in Sanford Stadium since 1991 and this game always makes me nervous as all get-out, especially when the Tigers get the Bulldogs right where they want them . . . in Athens.

I hate Auburn.

2. Oklahoma State on September 1:

It's the first game of the season against an offensively explosive up-and-coming B.C.S. conference team with loads of speed and a full recognition of its opportunity to post a statement win for a program that is going places. Bobby Reid is far too gifted and poised a quarterback to get as rattled as Jared Zabransky did in Georgia's last serious season opener and the presence of an unfamiliar yet very legitimate opponent at the outset of the Bulldogs' slate means that the Red and Black will not be given the luxury of having adequate time to gel. Oklahoma State is West Virginia with a balanced offense, a decidedly dangerous team that the Red and Black overlook only at their own peril. With Auburn, familiarity has bred contempt; the Cowboys, by contrast, carry the fear of the unknown and the 'Dawgs had better be ready, because the Pokes sure as shootin' will be.

3. at Tennessee on October 6:

Yes, I know that Mark Richt has won three in a row at Neyland Stadium, but Knoxville always is a tough place to play. Both coaches need this victory; a Tennessee loss could turn up the heat on Phillip Fulmer's seat and a Georgia loss could signal a shift in the balance of power in the S.E.C. East, giving the Volunteers three wins in the previous four series meetings. Winning on the road against a good team in a division rivalry always represents a challenge.

4. at Alabama on September 22:

The prospect of playing at Tuscaloosa invariably is daunting for Georgia, which has had little luck historically against the Crimson Tide and enjoyed absolutely no success against the Red Elephants on the University of Alabama campus. 'Bama ranked as low as fourth for two reasons: Mark Richt and Nick Saban. Coach Richt is the only man ever to have guided Georgia to victory in Tuscaloosa and Coach Saban, while he undoubtedly will turn the Tide around soon, will have a tough time righting the ship ere the first month of the season ends. I believe the 2003 S.E.C. championship game made its mark on Coach Richt as assuredly as the 1966 Cocktail Party left an indelible imprint on Steve Spurrier and, consequently, Coach Richt's focus will be entirely upon defeating the Armani Bear.

Not only is Nick Saban an excellent coach with a national championship to his credit, he also does a heck of a Geordi La Forge impersonation!

5. at Georgia Tech on November 24:

The fact that it's at Bobby Dodd Stadium at historic Grant Field is of no consequence, as home field advantage is insignificant in this series. (Since the Yellow Jackets' eight-game series winning streak from 1949 to 1956, Georgia has gone 18-7 against the Ramblin' Wreck in Atlanta and 18-7 against the Golden Tornado in Athens.) Georgia Tech figures to be significantly better this season and there is no game on the schedule the Jackets would rather win than this one. The fellows from The Flats have played the Bulldogs tough in each of the last three seasons and, with Reggie Ball gone, the Golden Tornado simply has to know that this is Georgia Tech's best shot at Georgia in years and likely its best for years to come.

6. South Carolina on September 8:

This game worries me a bit more than its placement suggests, which attests to the toughness of Georgia's 2007 slate. I am nervous about this contest because it falls so early on the schedule, but I am comforted by the fact that it is being played in Athens. Despite the closeness of the 2005 contest, the Bulldogs have tended to fare considerably better against the Gamecocks at home. The Classic City Canines are 25-6 against the Palmetto State Poultry within the confines of Clarke County, while Georgia has been held to 20 or fewer points on each of its last six trips to Columbia. I'm fretting over this one, but I'm fretting less with the game in Sanford Stadium.

7. Florida at Jacksonville on October 27:

The Gators have nowhere to go but down. All trends eventually end, as evidenced by the fact that Florida's 15-2 run over Georgia from 1990 to 2006 was preceded by the Red and Black's 15-4 run over the Orange and Blue from 1971 to 1989. With U.F. rebuilding its national championship-winning defense and Georgia blessed with an October 20 open date, the 'Dawgs will do what they have done consistently for the last 43 years: beat the defending national champs. I feel better about this game than about any other outing against a probable top 25 opponent on the slate.

They're called headphones, dude. They work best when you put 'em over your ears.

8. Ole Miss on September 29:

The Red and Black have taken seven straight series meetings from the Rebels, who have beaten the Bulldogs in Athens just twice since 1970. Since the start of the Second World War, Georgia has not lost to Ole Miss in the Peach State without first having lost to the Rebs in the Magnolia State in the preceding season. While it was a nail-biter, the 'Dawgs beat Mississippi in Oxford last season. I believe someone will win with Ed Orgeron's recruits, but I'm not convinced that Coach O will be that someone and, at the risk of being head-butted by Ragin' Cajun Rebel, I don't like The Orgeron's chances on his first trek between the hedges.

9. at Vanderbilt on October 13:

The Commodores have always been a competitive team under Bobby Johnson and I expect them to contend strongly for a bowl bid this fall. This time, though, the Commies have Georgia's undivided attention, thanks to last year's embarrassing outcome in Sanford Stadium. It should make little difference that this game is on the road, since the 'Dawgs are 19-2-1 against the 'Dores in Nashville since 1959.

10. Kentucky on November 17:

I put the Wildcats very much in the same category as the Commodores. U.K. has a chance to attend its second straight bowl game but I believe the Bulldogs (and particularly Matthew Stafford) will be looking to avenge 2006's Bluegrass State disaster. I only ranked the 'Cats behind Vandy because Georgia gets the Blue and White between the hedges.

As long as this freakish behemoth doesn't show up, I'm feeling O.K. about the Kentucky game.

11. Troy on November 3:

Granted, the Trojans have been known to put some serious scares into B.C.S. conference teams, so I don't take them too lightly, but let's be honest . . . this is a Sun Belt squad. Omar Haugabook will make things interesting, if only because the prospect of hearing Larry Munson try to pronounce "Haugabook" in the fourth quarter strikes me as highly amusing, but the outcome most likely never really will be in doubt, even if the final score ends up being closer than it ought to be.

12. Western Carolina on September 15:

They're a Division I-AA team . . . a bad Division I-AA team. There is no excuse for an elite Division I-A program scheduling a Division I-AA opponent, period. This game will remind us all why.

I know good and well that some of you disagree with that assessment, so let me know what you think are the toughest games on the schedule in the comments below.

Happy Independence Day!

Go 'Dawgs!

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Troy
I might be tempted to move the Trojans up a notch or two simply because the game falls between Florida and Auburn and is thus a prime candidate for a "sandwich" or trap game. They may be a Sun Belt squad, but they're probably the most talented team in the league, and they're good enough to hang with us for at least a half if we're not focused. If Georgia is going to "pull a Colorado" in 2007, it's more likely to happen on November 3 than anywhere else.

I'd also move Florida up above South Carolina and Georgia Tech -- but I like your confidence just the same.

"Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'sir' without adding 'you're making a scene.' " -- Homer Simpson

by Doug on Jul 5, 2007 8:51 AM EDT   0 recs

Auburn
I recently read somewhere that Georgia has never beaten an Auburn team with a senior quarterback.  I would research this myself, but for arguments sake, lets just assume this is correct.

I think we win because Auburn's quarterback is a midget.  And if Auburn is poised to make a late, game changing score I fully expect Tre Battle to bound out of the closed-end of Sanford, intercept Cox, and return it for a pick 6.

Yessir, I hate Auburn, too.

by DavetheDawg on Jul 5, 2007 11:48 AM EDT   0 recs

Florida
I am going to consider UF the toughest game on the schedule until we beat them regularly.

by SkiDawg1985 on Jul 5, 2007 5:20 PM EDT   0 recs

Kentucky fan here; no respect; none at all
After all, we did beat the 'Dawgs last year.

Yes I know it will be much more difficult to beat you guys this year, especially with the game between the hedges, but it's definitely not out of the question, especially if Stafford plays against us like he did year and if our defense steps it up and stops the run like we did last year after the 1st quarter.

I guess we have to beat you twice just like you and the rest of the media believes to earn that much important respect.  In a way I agree with that....

But Kentucky has most of its stars returning this year and have a much improved defense.  Our O-Line is our main weakness but they should be much improved when we play you down there.

The UK-UGA game could go two ways.  A Georgia blowout or a game that's 50/50 to win.  

We have to wait and see like everything else in life....

by ukcatfan191 on Jul 5, 2007 6:33 PM EDT   0 recs

Let me be abundantly clear about this:
I would be far, far more worried about losing to Kentucky this year if Georgia had not lost to the Wildcats last year.

Because of last year's poor showing, I believe the Bulldogs in general and Matthew Stafford in particular will be more intently focused on this year's Kentucky game than they have been for any other showdown between the Red and Black and the Blue and White in recent memory.

For all our efforts to boil everything down to coaching and talent, football remains a game of emotion. This is why the 'Dawgs were able to obliterate an extremely good L.S.U. team on one Saturday in 2004 before turning right around and losing to a comparatively weaker Tennessee team one week later.

I meant no disrespect to the Wildcats; as I said, they should contend for a second straight bowl bid. I certainly do not intend to malign my own home state by disparaging Kentucky's clearly upgraded talent level. (Last year's U.K. signing class included eight players from the Peach State and seven from the Bluegrass State.)

Kentucky will be good again, but, last year, the Bulldogs played an absolutely atrocious game in the Commonwealth in which the Red and Black were awful offensively, defensively, and on special teams . . . and still they were but a play away from victory. With home field advantage, the motivating factor of last year's embarrassment, and the near-certitude that Matthew Stafford's worst game is behind him, I like Georgia's chances in the rematch.

In the end, though, you are correct that we shall have to wait and see. I wish the Wildcats well in the weeks leading up to November 17.

by T Kyle King on Jul 5, 2007 8:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

you're a good man Kyle: keep up the good work
Thank you for the wonderful explanation.

I thank you for being very respectful to me as well.  I want to apologize to you too for not being as respectful in the first place.

Your site is the best U of Georgia there is hands down.  I love your work very much.

Actually anything can happen in the SEC at any time.  Kentucky could win big one week and lose big the next.  We could lose in a close game

I'll root for you guys except when you play my 'Cats.

I also love Gator Pilot too.  I hope you guys kill each other this year and maybe help my 'Cats in the process.

Really I can understand now what you're saying with the SEC is tough as it is.

On A Sea of Blue we talked about the fact that this season in 2007 we believe that THE SEC IS BEST CONFERENCE THERE HAS EVER BEEN IN NCAA DIVISION 1-A FOOTBALL EVER.  And there is plenty of proof to back that up.  

In a way you're really 100 percent correct.  Just because we're the 10th "weakest" team on the schedule doesn't mean we're a bad team.  It's just that in your opinion the 9 above us are all better.

Now I do think that we should be above Vandy.  But that's about it.  

Heck even Mississippi State could beat U of Kentucky this year.  We just barely beat them the last two years and are very capable of losing to them if we don't bring our "A" game.

Yes it seems like half of our players are from your state alone.  What's your take on that?

by ukcatfan191 on Jul 5, 2007 10:58 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

one more thing; i apologize for my home state WVU
fans' behavior towards you UGA fans in the Sugar Bowl two years ago.  They were very mean and disrespectful towards you guys.  And I didn't like that at all!

I guess you and the whole country know about how the bad 10 percent of WVU fans really are.  They even make W. Virginia's common folk look bad.

They are a major reason I like U of Kentucky instead.  U of Kentucky fans on the other hand like myself are our own worst enemies most of the time.  My above posts say that about me...

I loved it also when your Dawgs beat the Hokies.  I can't stand the Hokies either.

In fact my step-dad's best friend is a U of Georgia alum.  So I most definitely root for the Dawgs except when they play my 'Cats.

He even congratulated me on Kentucky's win over Georgia last year.  He is a fine Christian person, Kyle.  He is the typical Georgia Bulldog Fan....

Very courteous and respectful.  I could take a lesson from him....

by ukcatfan191 on Jul 5, 2007 11:07 PM EDT   0 recs

Don't worry about it
I can't criticize the West Virginia fans, because I reacted pretty harshly in the aftermath of that Sugar Bowl and, besides, it was one of the biggest wins not only in Mountaineer history but in Big East history, because it validated the conference at a time when its B.C.S. standing was shaky. Folks are entitled to gloat about a win that puts a good program on the national map.

As for the Wildcats' recent recruitment of Peach State players, I think it's simply a matter of demographics. Teams from sea to shining sea recruit players from California, Florida, Ohio, and Texas because they're populous states that are serious about their football. Georgia is home to a large number of good football players and Rich Brooks made the decision to cast a broader net, which has paid dividends in the quality of the kids the 'Cats now are getting.

The Georgia-Kentucky series is a good one, even if the won-lost record is a little lopsided in the Bulldogs' favor. The Wildcats historically have been a tough opponent for the Red and Black, and I know many Georgia fans who look forward to paying a visit to Lexington every other year.

Bear in mind, when I ranked Kentucky where I did on the list, it was in consideration of all the factors. If I were being asked to rank the Bulldogs' opponents solely on the basis of how good they were objectively, Florida and Kentucky would rank higher and Auburn and Oklahoma State would rank lower.

Subjective conditions like open dates, home field advantage, and how likely it is that the 'Dawgs will be "up" for the game came into play. The Wildcats are a good team and they will give Georgia a good game. I just don't think the Bulldogs will be caught by surprise after losing in Lexington last year.

by T Kyle King on Jul 5, 2007 11:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes you're right about WVU fans....
Most of them are good decent people like you and me.  It's really just a tiny few that are like that.  

And many if not of them don't even live in W. Virginia.

You're right about it being WVU's biggest victory in the history of their program.  I think they could actually win the National Championship this year if White and Slaton avoid the injury bug this season.  They both were hurt the last few games last year.  And it really cost them the game against South Florida.

Again I apologize for not being more courteous and respectful to me when I really don't deserve it.  Thank you again.  

Keep up the good work.

by ukcatfan191 on Jul 6, 2007 10:56 AM EDT   0 recs

Oops the words in my last comment didn't come out.
right like I expected them to.

I just wanted to apologize to you and thank you for being courteous and respectful to me when I didn't deserve it.

Maybe that will clear things up.  It even sounded confusing to me and I wrote the darn thing.

And many of those bad WVU fans don't even live in West Virginia.

Sorry for the typos.  I was in a hurry when I made the last comment....

by ukcatfan191 on Jul 8, 2007 12:29 AM EDT   0 recs

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