Upcoming Game: Oklahoma State

Much like in 2007, the state of Oklahoma or should I say Oklahoma State believes that they are going to walk over Georgia in the opening game of the season. As a true Georgia fan, I believe that there is no way in hell that will happen. However I am willing to back up my thoughts with a few facts that play in Georgia's favor.

Oklahoma State Defense:

Oklahoma State lost 5 members of their starting defense from last year, not to bad til you consider where those 5 were lost. They are losing both DT's , that means that a non existent pass rush ( Ranked 105th in Sacks last season) just got worse. They also lost 4 members of their secondary, including a CB, and 3 safeties in their 2 deep ( both starters and a back up). Now a team that horrendous in Pass Defense last year(110th) also just got worse.

Oklahoma State Offense:

This should be Oklahoma States strong suit, they return most of their skill players from last year, including Zach Robinson(QB), Kendall Hunter(RB) and Dez Bryant(WR). However they have no proven second WR to take the pressure off of Bryant, they have also lost multiple receivers this off-season do to off the field problems and transfers. Now for the losses, they lose a NFL bound TE, no true replacements have emerged for him, as both replacements are young. The biggest loss that I see are from the offensive line, they lose both there Center and one OG.

My Take:

Now, as bad a Georgia's defense was last year, and we all agree that we were terrible on defense, we would have still been the best defense that Oklahoma State would have faced. Texas(55th) was the closest ranked defense from a BCS conference opponent, compared to Georgia (22nd). Texas held them to 24 points. What I expect from Georgia is strong pressure from our front 4, especially from Owens and Atkins. The loss of OSU's TE and 2 offensive linemen in the middle make this a highly likely scenario. I also believe that Dez Bryant will be a non factor unless a true secondary receiving threat emerges, as we will be able to double him and limit his touches. As long as our LB's and DL can control the rushing attack of Hunter and Zach Robinson it will be a long day for the Cowpokes.

Offensively, Georgia has a few question marks with the loss of 2 first round draft picks in Stafford and Moreno. However both positions will be operating behind a deep and talented offensive line, with most of the 2 deep having starting experience. I am fairly certain that we will be okay at the QB position with 5th year senior Joe Cox running the offense. However I am worried about the RB position. I expect to see Georgia returning to RB by committee, with Carlton Thomas being the most exciting RB in the bunch. Early I expect Georgia to run it up the middle a lot, taking advantage of the 2 new defensive tackles for Oklahoma State and making use of our strong suit (our offensive line). Once the safeties and LB's start to cheat up toward the line to contain the running game, expect AJ Green to go wild and the young secondary of Oklahoma State to wilt from the pressure of covering him.

Way to Early Final Score prediction:

Georgia wins 35-14

Delusional Fans or as the Gamecock Turns

This past football season has barely ended and the talk of football domination at South Carolina in ’08 has already begun. Who would have thought? I dropped into the gamecock forums today and in one thread found these gems!

Cocklover said
“I don't see any reason why we can't be 5-0 to start the season off. GO COCKS!!!”

Let me point out a few flaws here Cocklover……..NC State to start the season, hope you play better than this past years opener, Vanderbilt ( didn’t you have a loss last year ), GEORGIA in game 3, Old Ball Sack doesn’t have all off season to prepare this year. Now you finish this 5 game stretch with Wofford and UAB. MY guess on Carolina’s start? 2-3……3-2 at best.

CockyTalkin said
“Everybody just needs to get ready to win a lot of football games. I'm going to go with my perennial prediction of an undefeated season. Why??? Because I'm not psychic, and there isn't one guaranteed loss on our schedule. If we were a bottom tier SEC team like Vandy, or UK, or MSU I would probably have to say we were headed for a couple of guaranteed losses.”

You sir are correct, no guaranteed losses…..but if I was you I wouldn’t bet the house on the Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, LSU, and Clemson games. Oh and Kentucky is a bottom tier SEC team???? Didn't they win a Bowl game this year while you were home for Christmas?
CockRoche said
“Won't even speculate what we'll do, but I'm not sold on UGA just yet. UT beat them pretty badly and they should have lost to Vandy. OK, they beat a Florida team who's defense isn't that good, plus they were kind of due to beat the Gators. UGA was incredibly pumped for that game, but for some reason, I feel pretty good about our game with them.”

This is good to know, so no excuses this year???? Please!

Honk if????

Buy it on Ebay!

Sorry!

Things have been very busy this week and I have been unable to post. Will try and start posting again either tomorrow or monday.

Go Dawgs!

SEC Games of the Week Oct. 6th

Kentucky(5-0) at South Carolina(4-1)
This is the game that lets the world know if Kentucky is a real contender for the SEC East this year. Kentucky has the SEC's best scoring offense averaging over 46 points a game going against a SC defense that lost it's biggest play maker in Jasper Brinkley. Kentucky so far has had a balanced offense, averaging 223 yards rushing and 268 yards passing per game. On the flip side Kentucky's defense is unable to stop anyone on the ground, ranking 11th in the SEC in rushing defense.

South Carolina will look to pound the ball against a porous defensive line at Kentucky , though at this point in the season the running game has been less than spectacular. An interesting matvh up in this game should be Woodson against the SEC's #1 pass defense. If South Carolina is unable to get penetration into the backfield it will be along night in Columbia.
Prediction: Kentucky win 31-24

Florida(4-1) at LSU(5-0)
This game was being billed as a preview of the SEC Championship game, that is now in question as over the last 2 weeks Florida has been exposed. Auburn and Ole Miss to a lesser extent showed how to beat the Gators. LSU is not an offensive juggernaut, but they have the best defense in the country. Mark this down, this is the game that Tim Tebow gets hurt in. When Tebow run the QB option up the middle, expect to see the defensive line of LSU deliver some vicious hits. This one will not even be close so I'm not gonna waste much time on it. The game will not be as close as the score makes it appear.
Prediction: LSU win 30-21

Georgia Bulldogs at Tennessee Volunteers

This Saturday will go a long way to deciding whether Georgia still has a shot at the SEC East this year and whether Phil Fulmer still has a job next year.

Georgia boasts the SEC's 6th best scoring offense, averaging over 32 points a game versus Tennessee's league worst scoring defense, allowing over 37 points a game. On the other side of the ball is a Tennessee offense that is scoring an average of over 34 points a game against a Georgia defense allowing just over 17 points a game.

Look for the Georgia defense to blitz early and often to keep Eric Ainge on his heels and feeling the pressure most of the afternoon. Ainge has had to press a little more with the defense not providing enough overall help, and the running game being merely average. Expect there to be numerous interceptions in this game and the Georgia secondary steps up big in this game.

Georgia has notched 3 wins in a row in Neyland Stadium under Mark Richt. Look for that trend to continue. There simply is no better at getting his team prepared for big road games than Mark Richt. Tennessee simply isn't doing enough on defense right now and the rent is due on Richt-Neyland Stadium.

Prediction: Georgia wins 31-20

Xavier Avery Commits to UGA

Georgia picked up it's 21st commitment for the 2008 recruiting class. Xavier Avery committed to Georgia yesterday. He is a Rivals 3 star athlete and a Scout 3 Star RB.

Athlete
Ht: 5-foot-11

Wt: 185 lbs

Forty: 4.4 secs

GPA: 3.8