4 Keys to the Game:
Core Premise: Georgia has more overall talent and better coaching. As long as Randy Sanders is at UT, we will always have a great shot to win. The outcome comes down to these 4 things.
1. Intensity - Which team wants it more. Arnold Harrison told me that the team felt that there was no possible way that UGA could lose to UT in 2004. After beating the Vols 4 in a row and beating the hell out of LSU the week before, it was a foregone conclusion that UGA would win. He said, "that's why we lost." If the Dawgs have prepared the past 2 weeks for this game like it's the biggest game of the year, then we should win. If not, we've ALREADY lost.
2. Georgia's Centers vs. Jesse Mahalona - Mahalona is an old Hawaiian word for Unstoppable Can of Whoop Ass. Georgia must find a way to contain a guy who ranks between the Pineapple and Don Ho as greatest Hawaiian exports in history.
3. DJ Shockley vs His Legacy - He's smart enough and talented enough to beat the Vols. So far, he hasn't really nutted up like he did in the past. If the line gives him some time, he should be fine. If not, I worry about a Chernobyl sized meltdown.
4. Turnovers - In reality, this is the #1 key to every game.
Story that CBS will Cover:
Off the Field Issues for UGA and UT -- The biggest difference in off field issues between Georgia and the Vols...Georgia players got out of jail early on Good Behavior. Vol players had to do their full prison sentence.
In all seriousness, most of our kids got in trouble for Boys will be Boys stuff. For instance, we had our punter get arrested for skinny dipping with the dean's daughter. Are you kidding me? In the old days, he would've gotten a helmet sticker for that.
Predicted Score:
UGA 24 vs. UT 23
BTW -- Catch the rest of my comments on the game via AOL's Sports Bloggers Live Show now available as a PodCast. The show aired Thursday Night. The download button for the PodCast is available in the upper right hand side of the screen.
10 comments:
I don't think much of your score prediction, but your translation of Mahelona's name is hilarious.
Tomorrow will be Hobnail Boot III because:
a) Although Richt's teams sleepwalk through games against lesser comp(but always win), his teams damn near always get up and play well in big games, especially true road games (except UF 02 & UT 04 - Aub 04 & LSU SECC 03 were simply buzzsaws).
b) UT 05 is not a buzzsaw
c) Clausen is banged up, and Ainge is a turnover gift waiting to happen
d) UGA no longer intimidated by Neyland, like they were 1980-2001
That being said, tho things I fear:
a) Riggs, specifically if Fatmer actually commits to giving him the ball more than 10-15 times
b) Turnovers, the mystical unknown of the football universe.
Tennessee 16-26 Georgia. Final.
You guys are hilarious - you won't be able to get Rocky Top out of your head for weeks. TN 21 GA 17
And I have a kid at UGA but the orange runs DEEP!!!
I agree VolBabe.
"Rocky Top you'll always be home sweet home to me. Good ol' Rocky Top Rocky Top Tennessee!
Go Vols! TN 24 GA 17
I was in Knoxville in '03 and was privy to hear 100,000+ rabid fans go completely silent at the end of the half. Best college road game experience of my life. In Tennessee's defense, their fans were some of the classiest, well-mannered, polite, and gracious I've ever experienced again. I was shocked. Knoxville is a close second to Athens as far as game-day experiences, but I'm biased. Georgia will roll the Vols this afternoon, 31-13. Now you know.
"Georgia has more talent" - Not sure about that one (if nothing else I'd have to go back and look at recruiting rankings - which frankly are little more than kitty litter liner).
"You have a chance as long as Randy Sanders is coaching" - You're right on that one.
Richt is a good big-game coach except Florida. Every coach has their nemesis.
Not convinced that Shockley isn't "Quincy Carter without the lisp". Carter used to look like Peyton in "easy" games but other than LSU his freshman year, he was average, sometimes worse, in big games.
It's just hard to tell what Georgia has based on their opponents.
Tennessee has real good if not great D. Offense is boring, borderline schizo.
If Vols win, 20-13 Vols.
If UGA wins, 27-10 Dawgs.
Thanks Oliver for the favorable ocmments re: Vol fans. I wish I could say the same from my trip in 1997 to Athens. More heckling from fans before the game than normal - nothing's as bad as Gaynesville, plus some dumb b-tch pulled out in front of us as we're driving into town and we totalled our car.
"Rocky Top"? What is "Rocky Top"?
It hasn't been stuck in my head since earlier today... last year.
Good luck the rest of the way Vols.
If the Georgia fans heckled you in 1997, tennvolchamp, it's because you drove to Athens when the game was in Knoxville.
Let me be the first to congratulate the Dawgs on their awesome win . . . now let's hunker down and keep up the momentum the rest of the way. Go Dawgs!
Stewart Mandel needs his head checked ... what douche!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/stewart_mandel/10/09/weekend.rewind/index.html
The fact is we won't ever know if UGA or any other SEC team could hang with a USC or a Texas b/c coaches from either team don't have the cahones to schedule a true SEC contender ... oh well, no love once again from the bias sports news world.
Great win for UGA. I hope you win the East and go on and Win the SEC. Bottom line is that we just don't have a very good team.
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