Paul Myerberg’s early preview is the best analysis I’ve read so far, particularly with regard to the psychology of both teams coming in. For example,
… Let’s not forget that we’ve been here before. Back in 2005, Boise went to Athens for the season opener holding a three-year mark of 36-3; four quarters later, Georgia escaped with a 48-13 win, dominating the Broncos from start to finish in a win that was thought to have sent Boise back to irrelevance. Not quite. There is a difference between the 2005 version and this year’s team: those Broncos were young and inexperienced, while the current Broncos are as battle-tested as any team in the nation.
Get The Picture 
Boise can game plan with the best of them. Be interesting to see what insight the qb transfer brings. See Bernie’s blog:
“Former North Gwinnett star Michael Tamburo is transferring from Boise State to UGA. He will be a preferred walk-on.”
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How do you “escape” with a 48-13 win?
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Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.
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I think he meant it with humor, that game truly seemed over in the first 45 seconds. Even the enthusiastic Boise fans were humbled. BTW, they were great fans, and enjoyable to be with in 2005, but I detect a difference in them now….and not for the better. Some of it is our big-mouthed, trash talkers that stir up things on every board but there is defintiely a “little man” complex about them now. It reminds me of GT fans, except they really do have a program that should be respected. I am glad we have them as the opener, it gives us time to prepare, and insures we will be focused. Good thing, we will be an underdog and a UGA win would be an upset this time. Last time it was all media hype by people who followed CFB part-time, but this Boise team is both talented, and experienced, plus they will be playing with great emotion. We can certainly win this game, not saying we don’t belong with them, but it will take a great team effort….and it won’t be a blowout. I will take an “escape” this time around.
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Same way we “prepared” for OK State?
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none of us were prepared for joe cox.
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I actually think we were ready for Ok State. Cox playing in that heat after being sick wasn’t good, but that game was very even. That openiong drive was a beauty but the offense disappeared after that. Penalties played a big role. We got totally hosed on a 4th down spot that wasn’t even close near the goal line giving them points, and the Personal Foul call for helmet to helmet on a clean hit gave them another score.
OSU was a legit team, we were one of the few teams that played against all their stars. Hate to say we got screwed but those two huge bad calls changed the game. Defense played well except for that long pass before halhtime.
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+1. Insightful analysis, Mac. That game never should have been scheduled as an opener. Okie State dedicated their new stadium that week and they owned the refs. The Dawgs would have had to beat them by 3 TDs to make the outcome unchangeable by the homer refs. You can lay that loss on Damon Evans.
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I think he was being tongue-in-cheek there.
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It was pretty smooth. Of course it doesn’t take much to go over my head.
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It was close for the first 3 1/2 minutes!!!
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Joe, not pickin’ on ya, but it was close for about 90 seconds.
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Thought we picked off the first pass, which I thought was the first play. May be wrong, getting old, but the route was on at that point. Didn’t have to wait for a score, the air went out of their balloon and our guys were pumped. Very decisive win, I don’t see anything like that in September.
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Sorry, rout, not route. I remember covering the 8 points I laid very quickly and never being concerned about the largest bet I had ever made on a game after the kickoff.
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Boise is talented, but it won’t be the same team as 2010. They are replacing quite a few contributors from last year’s team. Moore is a great QB, and they take care of the fundamentals to make up for the talent gap. It really comes down to whether Georgia learns to play fundamental football, and what strides are made on the defensive side of the ball.
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In 2005 I was worried we would take them lightly but that team didn’t. That game was dominated by the D. Our team now only wishes it had that D. If our D can dominate we will score some points, if not we’re toast.
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Bear in mind that was the same D that got shredded by Auburn and West Virginia. Willie was just getting started.
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That Georgia team had some help from the Boise State qb…..that might have been the worst game of his entire career. His jitters exceeded Murrays (UGa vs Fla) by a factor of 10. I look for them(Bosie) to be just a little bit too tight in the dome as well.
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2005 brings almost no meaningful lesson to 2011. If we are counting/expecting them to play tight in the dome, we’re done for already. They don’t lock up in big games anymore and their track record more than backs that up.
I’m overlooking a lot, but to me it boils down to:
our talent > their talent
our fundamentals ? their fundamentals
Unless we can match or better them in the fundamental aspects of the game, we will lose. It might be close, it might be a blowout, but it will be an “L”.
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Goodness…..Might I be too optimistic? I didn’t say we were counting on them being tight in order to win…. they will be tight. Of course they will. How soon do they adjust remains to be seen. Georgia will come with an attitude to be sure. If there are no meaningful lessons here from the previous game so be it. We aren’t playing on smurf turf (which some have attributed to an advantage for the Broncos) we are playing in the dome. Likely, some of Georgia players have been there before. Just as your have marked it up to a loss…. I have marked it up to a victory. But that’s why they play the game.
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I don’t recall Boise locking-up in DC last September v. VATEC. I don’t see how GA wins this game…I’m sorry folks.
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With all due respect, I don’t see how anyone can count either UGA or Boise out completely. New year, new attitude and some new guys for both teams. Too many variables to say UGA or Boise can’t win. If I’ve noticed anything from the usual off-season smoke being blown up the our fanbase’s ass (and it’s not much until I see for myself whether or not these weights are being fudged and how legit Jarvis Jones and John Jenkins are) it’s that these players genuinely do care about Richt and the way they’ve been talking and carrying themselves as of late (excluding some insubordination by Ealey in the early goings of the offseason) seems to reflect that. When they accepted their scholarship offers they were pledging an allegiance to both UGA and Richt, and I think that in today’s society it is inevitable for these guys not to listen to the media and the talk of Richt’s job being in jeopardy. They don’t want to slack off at his expense, at least I would hope anyway
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*hope not
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Boisy losing nine starters is one way. Lot of new blood on the field for both teams.
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No, you are right, Boise did not lock up against the Hokies. VPI locked up and played a really sorry game. VPI should have won that game.
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If Boise State loses, any talk of a possible National Championship is gone. That is simply the wages of playing in a weak conference with only one other high-profile game (TCU) left on the schedule. That is pressure right out of the gate.
Georgia has pressure of another kind, and a loss would certainly ramp-up the heat on Richt. But it would not be inconceivable to recover and win the East after a possible lose on opening night, and then play for something greater down the road.
Both teams lost their two most productive receivers. Boise should have the advantage at running back because of experience, as well as QB. But Georgia, in 2011, is a mystery. Probably to everyone, including the coaching staff at this point. I wouldn’t bet on this game with your money.
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Please forgive the plagiarism:
EAT MOR HORS.
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I don’t know. I think we’re gonna play like we’ve got a belly full of hot urine. I also think the loss of their 2 WRs will be hard for them to adjust to early. They won’t be able to pound it on us.
If I’m a Boise fan…an educated one, that is…I’m thinking that I’m walking into a hornet’s nest. I remember going up to Knoxville a few times when we were better than them (2007, especially) and thinking that we might be in trouble because Fulmer was in trouble and he was going to coach his rear off, which is, I might add, substantial. I kind of feel that way about us. I’d hate to be playing us at this point in Richt’s career, after this signing class, in that dome, in this game. I’d hate, hate, hate it.
And I think that educated Boise fan would be right.
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Virginny Tech had the opener won last year and choked it away. Boise played perhaps their best game of the year and squeaked it out at the end with a nice comeback. This isn’t meant to be a knock on Boise State, but it is true. They are easily capable of beating anyone they play because they are very well-coached, they play hard, and they do what they do well. But, they have a talent gap they must overcome when they play many major conference teams. I think the same will be the case this year, but they will have much less experience to rely on in crunch time. I wouldn’t be surprised if this BSU team ended up having a down year (for them) just like the 2005 team. It may be just the right time for UGA to play them.
I still think it comes down to whether UGA sees real improvement. If they don’t, they will likely lose. If they do, and play up to their potential, then they should win.
Btw, is playing with a belly full of urine a good thing?
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A belly full of hot urine would seem to indicate nausea and total loss of all common sense, so I’m hoping we come out with a belly full of something else.
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No, trust me…it’s a very good thing.
Though not recommended for day to day operation.
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To return to the urine theme, my HS offensive line did have a habit of pissing in their full unis before kickoff, and I’m sure it wasn’t an original idea. Made them nasty and mean, they said. No one should get carried away with that line of thinking.
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I am not as worried about the Boise State game, I think it will be a tough game that comes down to the fourth quarter and that could go either we. We could lose it and bounce back for a good season. What I am worried about is a hangover from it, win or lose, the next week when we play South Carolina. If the Dawgs take care of South Carolina, then they have a good shot at winning the east, lose to Carolina and we are behind from the very beggining and the pressure really starts to mount.
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The difference maker for GA next year will be the leap forward during year 2 in Grantham’s D combined with Murray’s progress. We beat Boise and it’s not really that close.
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Well that, coupled with finally having size and depth on the DL (which we lacked big-time last season.)
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Call me a delusional, but I don’t think this game will even be close. Given the sort of schedule Boise plays, I don’t think there’s a single statistic you could point to that I would find meaningful. And I’m a believer in the recent changes we’ve made. Maybe not as bad as 2005, but I expect us to take a double-digit lead into halftime and never look back. I’m so much more worried about week 2 against South Carolina.
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Just a point of interest.
Kellen Moore’s younger brother, Kirby Moore (redshirt frosh) should make his debut start in Atlanta.
Kirby Moore is a 6-4″ or 5″ WR who holds the national High School touchdown scoring record.
Will be interesting to watch.
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I see two senarios. We get ahead early and let them slowly back in the game…because they are a smart enough team to not fold. Or we get behind quickly and then have to come from behind, a la Arkansas last year. We just have not shown that we can play 4 quarters.
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