I’ve made no bones about the downside – from the fan’s perspective – of this latest round of SEC expansion. But there is one part of the change I’m definitely excited about, how Big 12 offenses translate over a season in the SEC, land of the killer D. We’re about to get our first taste of that today.
I’ll have more to say about the Georgia-Mizzou meeting shortly. However, there’s an earlier game that should be worth watching, as Florida travels to College Station to take on Texas A&M. The tone of this one seems a little snippier than our game (of course, that may be because we’ve all been playing Where’s Waldo with the suspensions this week). Also noteworthy is that Muschamp has more direct experience dealing with Big 12 ball than Georgia’s staff does, although he downplays that a bit given TAMU’s new staff.
It’s a long season, so I don’t expect any definitive answers today. But it will be interesting to see how much of a clue we get.
Get The Picture 
The thing we should be worried about is that it make take a whole season to see the translation in the way WE’RE expecting it to happen. The grind of tough, physical opponents may result in an the SC-like November fade, but it isn’t November yet.
Should be fun.
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My sense/fear is that it will be a shoot-out, along the lines of 34-28. Having said that, I have felt all week that GA would pull it out. This morning, the anxiety is high though. Ahem….going to be a long day until kick-off.
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Agree, have felt mostly confident all along with recognition there are some legit concerns, and this game has had “danger” stamped all over it since it was first scheduled. Huge emotional high for Mizzou combined with a mobile QB, something that has given us trouble for over a decade, that is enough to say things could go sour and the Tigers get their upset. But we have an offense that can score on anyone, and defense isn’t a Mizzou staple. We have a defense that is missing a few critical links, but was loaded to begin with. That will allow Mizzou a chance to compete, and thus your score may be realistic. A day of kicking around reason for and reasons against….how many Saturdays have I spent doing just that? After all the to and fro, things usually go our way as we then begin to breathe again. Then comes the disection of our effort and the angst of next week worrisome game (learned that from Lil Nicky.)
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Hey Chicago – are you going to The Southern to watch the game with the Chicago Dawgs alumni club? We’ll have to catch up sometime. I actually feel good about our chances unlike other times, just hope it’s not misplaced confidence!
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I’m glad some fans are optimistic. I’m into full-blown Munson mode this morning.
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If the Dawgs have recruited and developed like they should, the reserves ought to be capable ot stepping in for the suspended players. No one on Offense is sitting, so it falls to them to carry the team on through. With a 30-point scoring contribution I still think a win is in the cards.
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Very good point about the offense, virtually all the ink is about the defense. I realize the OL and our PK are still yet to be proven but everyone seems to have forgotten that Big 12 teams are known to be a little soft on D, and UGA has been putting up impressive point totals against an SEC schedule. It could develop into a shoot-out if the defense doesn’t play more disciplined in their rush lanes but we are capable of winning a high scoring game with all the weapons we have on offense. Murray has the major responsibility in this game to protect the defense by not allowing the Mizzou offense short fields, or too much time on the field.
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And, in an interesting side-note I picked up somewhere, can you guess CMR’s record in SEC road games during which the Dawgs commit ZERO turnovers????? ….. 24-1.
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As a Gator fan, I wish we could count on our offense to “carry the team on through.” Good luck today, Dawgs, I know that may sound weird but my hope every year is that we are both undefeated going into the WLOCP. And that we win that one of course, lol.
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I feel a little dirty admitting this, but I will be cheering for the Gators today. We need to show these newbies what they are getting into.
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You and I might be in the minority RD but it would make me smile if Mizzou and A&M both went winless in conference play.
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I peg Missouri for 4-4 & aTm for 3-5.
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Ummmm, no. I want UF to lose every game, every year
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Lots of folks feel the same way on both sides I’ll bet. Don’t know what good it would do GA to beat FL in a 0-13 year, or vice versa, though. Except bragging rights and I’m not discounting those.
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In Jefferson City getting ready for the game. Just had a nice breakfast buffet at a Doubletree Hotel…….no grits. Missouri is a northern state in the SEC. WTF!
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Well, you know, corn production is down all over (probably esp. in MO what with droughts and all) so The Grits are getting harder to find. Good weather for gameday?
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Blue bird day. Not a cloud in the sky. Long pants and long sleeves. Windy.
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Sounds exceptional — a real football climate for a real conference opener. I did catch a weather feed that speculated there could be rain headed for Center MO come evening time. So snag a poncho, Pancho.
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Ugh … Windy! What with the FR kicker and all. New worries.
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Roger the long day.
As I have mentioned, last season I was forced, by location and the WWL to watch Moo U twice. In neither game was Franklin really pressured. Oh he was hurried, harried a bit, but never the way an SEC quarterback is pressured in a conference game.
You can prepare for this all day, all summer, all pre-season, but until you deal with it under real game conditions I doubt you really understand it.
Franklin is a good athlete, but I did not see him do anything on the RGIII level and he really does not run any more effectively than Murray….or that’s the impression I got.
I posted earlier I thought the Georgia offensive line looked pretty damn good most of the time against Buffalo, even the sacks were either on the coverage or a running back missing a block.
The simplest way to keep Franklin from hurting us is to not let him have the balll.
I think you gonna see some real, honest to God old man football. (which does involve a first and bomb now and then.)
Oh, and Mr. 29, I think it is his right shoulder, but I could be wrong so try both.
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Don’t like seeing or want ANYONE hurt, but that is still a funny thought!
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LOVE Old Man Football — in fact, maybe the theme could become a rallying cry through the season if this one turns out as I imagine it will. Positively, that is.
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Help!
Panic setting in. Unhappy thoughts. Sick feeling in pit of stomach.
In dire need of some koolaid/happytalk.
No ‘Tree, no Rambo, no Commings, no Vasser, no Burnette…..re-shuffled O-line with gimpy true freshman and no backup. Freshman RB’s. Unranked home dog looking for respect.
Could someone please blow some sunshine up my arse.
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No worries, look how we took care of business in Stillwater and Boulder. What, oops, never-mind…look a squirrel!
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Dawgs have The Grantham … and I thought I read Burnette was probable /a gametime decision?
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Where’s my pipe?
Be with you in a little bit, fresh hell! Bend over and spread’em wide. Got an Aztec Special brewing that won’t be blown, but ladeled in. Remember, it’s instantaneous when it hits the inside of your intestines. The Aztecs did it this way to their priests who then hallucinated and made predictions. When you come out of the funk later, let us know who will win by gametime.
It’s ready! Here it comes in 5-4-3-2-1-Happy dreams!
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I’m seeing 30…35…no…40+ smashmouth running plays with a few long TD passes over the top sprinkled in going to…. King….Wooten….Brown…it’s little foggy – Franklin being helped off field after receiving a slobberknocker from Shawn Williams.
No need to wait until gametime for this prediction as the Aztec enema is truly instantaneous, Cojones.
UGA by 7
Must be the peyote, either that or the fact that every talking head in the world (McShay & Pollack excepted) is picking MO.
Go Dawgs
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It has to be some ratings-driven scheme, because it does seem that nearly all the TV types have picked for MU, but plenty of people in the print services are leaning toward UGa. And we all know where the $$$ are. Do the TV people think they can catch more flies with vinegar than honey in the ATL/Georgia market? Dunno.
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Relax…Mizzou and TAMU are middle of the road B12 teams. And TAMU has not even taken a snap with a new coaching staff and freshman QB. SEC is a step up. They will need time/seasons to adjust.
The only team that beats UGA today is….UGA.
#/dogscoverinfabris
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Go Aggie!
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Plusses and minuses to TAMU not playing last week so it makes it difficult to be sure exactly what we will see today. But of the two Expansion Bowl games top be played today, Florida looks to be the most likely victim. Awful is the best word to describe what UF’s offense looked like against Bowling Green, disorganized is another adjective that seems to fit. Game should be close and fun to watch. Safe to say we are all Aggie fans this afternoon, and we may be very happy this afternoon and evening…evening being the more important celebration we all want.
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All of us need to exhale. We have been so excited following the improvment of indivuduals and , we thought, team that we now have had playerectomied in the last few weeks such that the chipmunk- frenetic cheering has gone underground. And we are left standing here peering into a rahrah-absent hell on game day. Keep calm and fear not.
Until about 1800hrs. Then you can commence to run around in circles like a chicken with it’s head cut off. Shotgun 4 beers just before kickoff. That oughtta do it.
Smoke’em if you got’em! No!! ‘Tree, Rambo; put that shit down. you can be tested further. Hey! Do we have Minders with the guys we left behind?
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Living here in Houston, this game is the new Meteor Game for me. Can they both lose?
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