Monday Night Dawg Bites: SEC Expansion/Preseason BlogPoll/Bowl Projections Edition
by T Kyle King on Aug 29, 2011 8:22 PM EDT
in Georgia Bulldogs News
Email
PrintI’m sure you’ve noticed some of the news-like tidbits available on the right-hand sidebar; so certain am I, in fact, that I almost hesitate to mention these latest developments. You know to what I’m referring; that’s right, I’m talking about the "Moneyball" preview. I’m going to send vineyarddawg to see it first, because I’m not going to go see it unless I have confirmation that Brad Pitt gets shot to death at the end.
Oh, there were some other updates, as well, so I might as well touch upon those, too, as long as I have your attention. It appears the lawyers have cleared Texas A&M for SEC takeoff, opening the door for Dennis Dodd to dodder onto the scene with the lamest list of would-be 14th teams conceivable. Dennis, of whom the best that might be said is that he is not Stewart Mandel, needs to get a grip; there are two pretty good bets about this process, even if the Aggies are on board before kickoff: The league’s 14th team won’t be selected anytime soon, and, when it is, it won’t be Maryland.
In the here and now, the preseason BlogPoll has been released, and the Alabama Crimson Tide are ranked No. 1 by the narrowest of margins over the Oklahoma Sooners. The Boise St. Broncos, recipients of one first-place vote, check in at fourth, along with such other 2011 opponents of the Georgia Bulldogs as the twelfth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks, the 20th-ranked Mississippi St. Bulldogs, the 23rd-ranked Florida Gators, and the 24th-ranked Auburn Tigers (who also received one first-place vote). The Red and Black are ranked 18th.
Will that top 20 preseason ranking hold up over the course of the autumn? Maybe so, if Alex Scutchfield’s SEC bowl projections are to be believed: Alex has Georgia meeting the Michigan St. Spartans in the Gator Bowl on January 2, the same day the Palmetto State Poultry will square off with the Ohio St. Buckeyes in the Outback Bowl. Auburn and Florida, for the record, are predicted to play on New Year’s Eve.
There’s a lot to unpack in these latest developments, so I’ll throw the floor open for group discussion. Will Texas A&M officially be accepted into the SEC before football season starts on Thursday? Aside from the Aggies, which team or teams will be brought into the league along with them, and when will the final phase of expansion take place? Which teams are ranked too high or too low in the BlogPoll? Will the Bulldogs conclude the campaign in a January bowl game?
Go ‘Dawgs!
32 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
The Auburn Tigers receive a 1st place vote...
Conclusive proof that cocaine is a helluva drug.
"If there's one thing worse than chlamydia, it's Florida." ~ Emma Stone
by RedCrake on Aug 29, 2011 9:25 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
I read this...
I’m going to send vineyarddawg to see it first, because I’m not going to go see it unless I have confirmation that Brad Pitt gets shot to death at the end.
and laughed so ‘out loud’ that the sleeping Mrs. DavetheDawg thought a palm tree just fell on our roof. I think she wants me to give your a warning.
/newfoundpower!
"If we score, we may win. If they never score, we'll never lose."
-Erk Russell
I think it would be a more poignant ending if Brad Pitt's character doesn't die (obviously).
Instead, he loses all his money and has to go play intramurals, brother.
Then you have the “walk of shame” with that Incredible Hulk walking-away music from Family Guy, set to this:
/reaches for a hanky
Off topic...
I just watched the BSU-Va.Tech replay from last year. VPI did not get any semblance of a pass rush on Kellen Moore for most of the night. BSU had a few holding calls against them, but Moore had ample time to sit in the pocket, dump off when needed, and never got uncomfortable. I’ve never seen a Bud Foster defense seem to passive, almost Martinez-esque. Credit BSU’s line as well.
This is the key on Saturday night. Clog the middle, force the action on the perimeter.
And cover the damn wheel-route.
"If we score, we may win. If they never score, we'll never lose."
-Erk Russell
by DavetheDawg on Aug 29, 2011 10:08 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
And cover the damn wheel route.
I think you forgot to mention it.
by hailtogeorgia on Aug 29, 2011 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't know this wheel route of which you speak
I just remember that one play where Billy Bob ran down the field and looked confused and our DB’s refused to cover him.
/VarsityBlues’d
"If there's one thing worse than chlamydia, it's Florida." ~ Emma Stone
by RedCrake on Aug 29, 2011 11:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Let me preface this by saying...
I am not “in the know” with everything and i am not nearly as good a writer as the authors here. I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in. Most of it is obvious stuff, but hey I am trying here.
- Everything is pointing toward the Aggies becoming #13. An unlucky number, but not an unlucky addition. Financially this will be good for all involved, not to mention the future rivalries that can be had. I am looking forward to wiping the floor with them in the coming years. More to the point of the question, I think we will know by COB Thursday for sure if they are committed.
- FSU, Clemson, or even GT. I may get some feedback for the last one, but to me it makes sense. I know that it would definitely pull some recruits from UGA, but at least maybe we can start to keep them in state. I know they are having all kinds of issues right now, but so are others. Plus, I think it will add some “Umpf” to the rivalry putting SEC east title flavor in the pot. As for when it should happen, sooner than later. I would hope the move is made during this season and before next. I am not too sure how i feel about a 16 team conference though. Rome conquered the known world and it fell fast. No need to get too big for our britches, when everyone already knows that our conference is the best. Humble pie, my friends!
-Definitely BSu! Until they have the schedule of an AQ conference and win consistently, I will believe this in my heart to be true. I am not saying that they are overrated, but i am saying that they are overrated. They may come into Atl and wipe the floor with us, but I seriously doubt it! I am seeing a 38-31 UGA win. Our size will wear them down in the late quarters. Sorry bout that, got side tracked. I love my team, so allow me that feux pas. tOSU, ND, and USC are always ranked…can anyone tell me why? Maybe ND, but the rest are mediocre at best. Finally, UGA…I think until we actually start playing some games and winning, there is no reason we should be on here. We had a 6-7 season. Yes, we made some moves and got some seriously great talent in the “Dream Team” and JUCO transfers, but until I see it translate to some W’s…I am not sold on the ranking of our team. (NOW, please understand. I dont think there is a more excited person about the posibilities of this season, than myself…I just cant be let down like last year. I may have to pop a cap in some insurgents arse)
- My hopeful side says, if we can beat South Cakilaky, we will make it to the championship. Even with a loss to Bama or LSWho in the SECCG, we go to a January bowl with a 10-3 record…i am thinking the Capital One. Of course everyone is saying that. I have no original thoughts. Thanks in advance for your patronage.
Thank you, SAVdawgUSAF.
I agree with you on ranking Georgia; I, for one, left the Bulldogs out of the top 25 on my preseason BlogPoll ballot. With the schedule the Red and Black will face in the first two weeks, we’ll have a pretty good idea after September 10. Until then, there’s a reason why BlogPollsters are all over the place when it comes to ranking the ‘Dawgs; we just don’t know.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Aug 29, 2011 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Too many unanswered questions..
for the Classic City Canines. The potential is there, but of course its always there. As you say, we will know a lot about the Dawgz after Sept. 10. That doesnt mean we cant and wont get better as the season progresses. The chess pieces are in place…lets play!
by SAVdawgUSAF on Aug 29, 2011 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Dude... you think the Dawgs will beat the Broncos, and even make it to the SEC Championship Game??
by vineyarddawg on Aug 29, 2011 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Think?
More like, Hope! And no, I didnt vote for Obama.
by SAVdawgUSAF on Aug 29, 2011 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't hate the Tech to SEC stuff as much as some others
(Although I don’t think it would happen).
But if it did, I’m not sure it would impact recruiting much… at least not any more than Vandy impacts Tennessee’s recruiting. I don’t think kids picking between Tech and Georgia would pick Tech with more frequency as a SEC school than they do as an ACC member.
I would, however, enjoy watching the Jackets get pummeled by Florida, Bama, Auburn, and LSU in addition to the normal Georgia drubbing.
"If there's one thing worse than chlamydia, it's Florida." ~ Emma Stone
by RedCrake on Aug 29, 2011 10:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I dont necessarily agree with the instate comparison
of GT/UGA to Vandy/Tenn. GT tends to get better recruits than Vandy, even though they are in the ACC and completely misguided individuals. I think a GT with a SEC flavor to it becomes more salivary to some kids. I blame it on poor home trainin’.
Man, that would be awesome! The rambling wreck would be trampled on by those teams and become the bumbling jalopy.
/Glory, Glory to ole Georgia and to H3LL with Georgia Tech.
by SAVdawgUSAF on Aug 29, 2011 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Thats probably not the best comparison, but its the closest I could come up with
I’ll put it this way… how big would the recruiting battle be if Tech was annually going 4-8 or 5-7 (which I’m confident they would in the SEC)?
Either way, it would be fun to watch it develop.
"If there's one thing worse than chlamydia, it's Florida." ~ Emma Stone
by RedCrake on Aug 29, 2011 11:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Acknowledged
And you are right. They would probably be just like Vandy, and in the grand scheme of things, they definitely wouldnt want that.
Its gonna be interesting to see who makes the cut. My guess is Clemson. If that happens, USC could possibly fall back into the lower tier.
by SAVdawgUSAF on Aug 29, 2011 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions
That probably a good guess
The only issue I have with adding Clemson (who I like in terms of adding a traditional rivalry) is that in a 9 game SEC schedule, this would allow SCAR 1 more cupcake opportunity than Georgia (who would still have Tech) and Florida (who would still have FSU). But this would be a problem for 2 of the 3 teams if Tech, Clemson, or FSU were added.
"If there's one thing worse than chlamydia, it's Florida." ~ Emma Stone
by RedCrake on Aug 29, 2011 11:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I hope y'all are right. Man, I hope y'all are right!
However, South Carolina’s objections to adding Clemson are even stronger than our objections to adding Georgia Tech, and the Tigers obviously bring no new markets that Georgia and South Carolina do not already provide. The case for Clemson is cultural and geographic, but, unless there’s a compelling case to be made that more games between Clemson and the current SEC lineup would lead to more TV viewers for the league, it won’t happen. Fortunately, Clemson’s history with Georgia and South Carolina, and Clemson’s recent games against Alabama and Auburn, offer at least some indication that such a case might be made. So far, though, I haven’t seen such a case set forth.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Aug 29, 2011 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions
It seems to me....
That the path to bringing Clemson in is one in which the schools that might add to the footprint decide not to join (likely out of fear…. SEC) and we have to have a 14th team. To me the worst case scenario would be adding another team in the West and moving Auburn over. The team added to the West would likely not bring any additional difficulty to that division (at least according to the possible teams I’ve seen) and would make the path through the East a real murderers row for all involved.
"If there's one thing worse than chlamydia, it's Florida." ~ Emma Stone
by RedCrake on Aug 29, 2011 11:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
A&M
Will be eating shyte sandwiches in the West. Auburn in the East doesnt effect us too much…since we play them every year, however, for the rest of the East it may jack things up a bit. Then again, it may make the conference more balanced with power on both sides. But, thirdly, how many NCs would we actually win…i could definitely see a 2 loss team making it there, but i dont know about the BCS computer itself.
by SAVdawgUSAF on Aug 30, 2011 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions
To me the soultion is simple...
Two words… Furman Paladins
"Uvarum, Uvarum Fit, Uvarum.... double Fit..."
- Augustus "Gus" McCrae
by Munson's_Marbles on Aug 30, 2011 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions
that'd make my wife happy
http://sportsandgrits.com/
by Mr. Sanchez on Aug 30, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Why not Wofford?
Or, I’m pretty sure they don’t have a football team, but back when I was at UGA, I knew a few Converse students that many would see as a welcome addition to tailgates.
If Auburn moves east...
Then who becomes our annual western opponent?
To anwer my own question...
Alabama would have to take Auburn, so we would have to split the two new western div teams with Tennessee. If that happens, I hope we call Texas A&M and let the them have Missouri or whoever the mythical team is.
by mbrd71 on Aug 30, 2011 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
won't work
Both Bama-Tennessee and Bama-Auburn must be preserved.
As has been discussed in various places, scheduling must accommodate these annual games, in addition to the two above: WLOCP, UGA-AU, Egg Bowl. I think I’d also include LSU-Ole Miss, but I will confess that those Western ways are not so familiar to me. Every other matchup that currently is played annually is fair game for change.
by NCT on Aug 30, 2011 10:33 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
So then slide Vandy westward, and bring both to the east
making the nightmare fuel even stronger as Auburn, Bama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida occupy the same division with SC and Kentucky.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
by Mr. Sanchez on Aug 30, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
A&M
Could become our annual western opponent, if they end up in the SEC. They’re a good program and i think starting a rivalry with them would be good philosophically and financially. win/win
I agree.
If Auburn is moved over to the East, playing the Aggies every autumn, and facing them in College Station every other year, would be good for us in a myriad of ways.
Among the benefits would be the opportunity to play regularly in what I (with my admitted bias) consider the best-named stadium in college football.
Go 'Dawgs!
And that;'s where I go away from them...
the case is cultural, and geographic, while the decision is financial, and Clemson is a huge loss financially. With money running the show, that should eliminate them.
And I’m not so sure we don’t get 4 Big 12 teams (Okie, Okie St, Missou?) sliding Auburn and Alabama east
http://sportsandgrits.com/
by Mr. Sanchez on Aug 30, 2011 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Dawg Sports
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
