Know Thy Enemy: Update on UGA's Scheduled Opponents

Checking in with our future opponents...


Peterson vs. UAB
UAB – The Blazers beat East Carolina this week after flirting with an Oklahoma upset. Over the past several years, UAB has given the big boys fits. Their biggest moment came during the 2000 season when they upset Nick Saban’s first LSU team in Baton Rouge. (ht – dawgrun.com)

2000 LSU 10 UAB 13 W
2003 UGA 16 UAB 13 L
2004 MSU 13 UAB 16 W
2005 UT 17 UAB 10 L
2006 OK 21 UAB 14 L

Ultimately, the Oklahoma match-up was closer than it should've been due to a -3 turnover situation working against the Sooners. 2 fumbles and 2 INTs will give any opponent a shot at victory. The Dawgs need to get up huge early on the Blazers so that they can sit on the ball in the fourth quarter and run out the clock. Our banged up and razor thin Offensive Line needs this game to end as quickly as possible.


No. They're bringing the other Ralphie to Athens.
Colorado - The Buff's pathetic 0-2 start cost UGA a national TV audience for this match-up. The team's starting QB in the Champ Sports Bowl last year who was their 2nd team QB entering the first game quit the team yesterday. He had been moved to third on the depth chart.

The Buffs have tried two different QBs in their first two games. The latest starter, Bernard Jackson, is more of a running threat, and that is all he can do. The Buffs passed for 71 yards against CSU, and they ran it for 75 yards (CU vs. CSU Box score and recap). At least they were balanced. The Buffaloes get #22 Arizona State next on the road.


Looking for an ass to kick.
Ole Miss - Ole Miss was blown totally out of the water on the road at Missouri 34-7. Per ESPN: "The Rebels were outgained 169-7 in the first quarter and surrendered 471 yards overall." Ouch.

Ole Miss has some interesting weapons in Patrick Willis, Shaeffer, Green-Ellis, McCluster and Green, but they don't have the lines or experience to keep up with a focused UGA team. At first glance, this sets up as another road game warm-up for Stafford. HOWEVER, with winnable games against UK (away) and Wake Forest (home) in the next two weeks, the Rebels could rebound and enter our game with a heap more confidence than they're feeling right now.


I. Hate. Their. Whole. Family.
Tennessee - As I said earlier this morning "In 2004, UGA gave up 294 yards rushing and 28 points to Div I-AA Georgia Southern. UGA finished 2004 with the 15th ranked run defense in the nation. GSU was running the wishbone, just like Air Force was. To think that UT will suck b/c of the Air Force game is wishful thinking." Lastly, UT lost two starters on defense for the year.


0-2. That's how The Commodores roll
Vandy - Vandy is 0-2 with road losses to Michigan and Bama on the books. They took Bama to the wire, but they almost always do. Vandy without Cutler is like The Commodores without Lionel Richie...or J.D. Nicholas.


Croom at practice. Image: BulldogBlitz.com
Mississippi State - They have yet to score a TD this year. I have no idea why Omarr Conner isn't playing QB. He's the only playmaker on their team. They have two shots at victory coming up against UAB and Tulane. After they they have back-to-back games with #6 LSU (road) and #5 West Virginia (home) before they get Div I-AA Jacksonville State. #10 UGA is the following week. I would imagine that Croom has to win these next two "lesser" games to have a shot at keeping his job.


Seeing Leak getting mauled by a Vandy guy makes me smile. (SI.com)
Florida - The UF vs. UT game shapes up as the best match-up of white hot QBs in the SEC since.....well.....Manning vs. Wuerffel? Ainge is 35-47 (74.5%) for 624 yards and 7 TDs on the season. Leak is 40-59 (68%) for 600 yards and 7 TDs so far. Greene never really lead an offense that was consistently explosive enough to be the featured guy in a "QB Showdown." Mark Schlabach talks about SEC Separation Saturday.


There's always Ashley Judd Watching basketball season
Kentucky - UK is wretched. They have been outscored 100-35 through two games.. UK blows and my math is teh suxorz. Their games with Ole Miss, South Carolina, Miss State and Vandy would have Walter Camp weeping in his grave. Here's the crazy thing...as horrific as the Cats are, they can still go bowling. No seriously. They would have to sweep CMU, Ole Miss, SC, MSU, Vandy and ULM, but it's possible.


Cox threw 4 INTs in his debut vs. GT last year. Stafford threw 3 vs. SC. (Image: AL.com)
Auburn - I like the home TigerPlainsEagles at home this week vs. Less Miles and the Bayou Bengals. Although, I'm pulling for LSU. With Bama, Arkansas, Ole Miss and MSU looking various shades of lousy, there's almost no way this game isn't for the SEC West Title. Pat Forde can't wait for the LSU/AU game. Me either.


Bill Hartman and Dan Magill (Image: Anti-Orange Page)
Georgia Tech - Chan Gailey must have serious mixed emotions this week. First, PSU gets smoked by ND, thus making his narrow loss look better. Plus, UNC, NC State, Duke and UVA all look like teams that would struggle in the MAC going a combined 2-6 to start the season with their lone wins coming against Wyoming in overtime and Appy State. It would be difficult for ChaNixtic Ball to avoid winning those 4 games.

However, this week they get a Troy team coming off a near victory over FSU in Tally. So far on the season, Reggie Ball is 22-40 for 223 yards. With UVA, Duke and UNC in the division, it would be hard for GT to finish worse than 3rd in the Coastal.

As for UGA:
Right now, the biggest keys to UGA's season are:

• The health of the offensive line. We need Michael Turner healthy ASAP.
  
• The pace of Matt Stafford's development.
  
• Red zone offense.

I thought a 9-3 preseason record would be about right, but with some serious luck on the injury front.....I'm feeling better about 10-2 or better. The schedule shapes up nicely.

PWD

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