That’s the current point spread on the Georgia-Appalachian State game. The over/under is 62.5, so Vegas is projecting a final score of something in the neighborhood of 47-16. The Mountaineers have been held under that point total three times this season, by the likes of Montana, Samford and Furman. Either that’s an indication there’s not a lot of Grantham love, some cheap late scoring is expected against the scrubs, or the betting public is expecting a couple more special moments from Georgia’s special teams.
I mention this not because I really care how the final numbers shake out (as long as Georgia wins, duh) but because I think there are some tactical decisions coming up Saturday and it’ll be interesting to how some of them impact the course of the game. For instance:
- How much is Gurley going to play? I suspect more than you might expect, not because they’re looking to pad his numbers, but because he’s got to work on his conditioning.
- It also seems like an awfully good opportunity for Aaron Murray to work on his timing issues with some of the greener receivers. I hope that doesn’t mean he’ll play well into the second half, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more passing in the first half than you’d think. And more incompletions.
- Bobo may not care about stats this week, but I bet Grantham does. It’s also a chance to boost the psyche of a defense that’s been knocked around much of the season. Look for the starters to stay in the game longer than normal with a big lead (of course, if there’s not a big lead…). Another reason for that is that there are conditioning issues on that side of the ball, too, such as with Matthews and Harvey-Clemons, who was substituted for a good bit in the Florida game.
Nothing would surprise me. And that’s even before I get to the subject of Georgia’s generosity. The team we saw in the first half against Florida would destroy ASU; the bunch we saw struggle in the third quarter would make this Saturday a little too close for comfort. The truth will probably lie somewhere between. If that’s what we wind up with, and the Dawgs get healthier, I can live with that.
Get The Picture 
Also think about the fact that AppSt is the first really bad team UGA has faced this year…and it is the second weekend in November.
I think that it is still possible to have every team that UGA played, except App St, is a bowl team this year. I dont remember that really being the case that many times in the past.
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Totally agree with the Senator that we will see the first string D for an extended period … and that is one of my biggest gripes with CTG. Giving young guys some quality playing time in a game like this builds depth for when you need it … attrition, injury, etc.
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Practically every body starting on D is a young guy. Not sure where you would get them any younger 😉
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Agree … wished I could have edited that … change young to inexperienced … However the ILBs are all young past Herrea and Wilson.
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And unfortunately our top backup LB, Reggie Carter, is out with a knee injury.
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@ubiq
getting your backups extended playing time in these games also helps when 8 starters head for the NFL
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UGA almost never covers those big spreads. CMR is just too nice.
That said, I would like to see a shut out. That is an accomplishment no matter who you play.
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He could be the nicest man in America
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Last non-GASouthern Div-1AA team we played I believe was a 59-0 win. We may not pass the ball more than 2-3x in the 2nd half, but I doubt we start calling off the dogs after a few TDs either. Especially given how visibly pissed CMR about another nearly blown lead last week.
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First team O will get their 1st half workout, but Bobo will shift them into neutral at 21 – 28 points. D may let a score or two in, so the question is whether Mason/Green/Douglas/Bennett/Davis are good for 14 – 21 points on their own (as far as the spread is concerned). This is either 31 – 10 “just show up” win or 52 – 0 blowout. Which way to go in the Fabris Pool????
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i get it senator. you can live with mediocrity. just like Georgia administration and richt enablers always have.
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Should they fire Richt before or after the game?
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They will probably lure him to the airport and fire him there. Orgeron is all set to take over and buy the whole team In and Out Burgers after they beat Kentucky.
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The strategy and tactics of Haden’s Edward Snowden termination with prejudice operation against Lane in the LAX Valley of Death will long be studied at the Athletic Directors’ War College
“Haden fired Kiffin hours after the game, when the team arrived back in Los Angeles at 3 a.m. Kiffin was called off the team bus that was preparing to head to campus from Los Angeles International Airport and taken to a small room inside the terminal where Haden told Kiffin he was being dismissed.”
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either would be justified
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I suspect you’re going to be disappointed.
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I find myself growing fond of this anon guy. Where we’re you a few years ago? However, he must not read this blog very often to believe the gracious Senator is willing to put up with mediocrity.
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Bejeebus but fans like anon really piss me off!
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Enabler!
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+!
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I’d like Gurley to get 10-12 carries in the first half and then sit him. He needs to get back into game shape, so benching him for the game doesn’t make a lot of sense. I’d also like to see Murray play the first half with Mason taking over the 2nd. I do see the logic in Murray playing more to develop a rapport with 18, 81 and 27, however. So if that happens and he plays 3 quarters, so be it.
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This should be the week for Murray to break the SEC TD record. Could someone who’s been following the other QB records he’s chasing give us an update on where he stands in relation to them?
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I believe he has most of the rest of them.
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1 TD ties Wuerful, 2 breaks the record. Still a ways off tGPooE’s total TD mark though.
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On to important things…I am sticking with the damaged hat…and trying my damndest not to think about …..well, you know who?
Cauldron is heating.
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Keep it hot hot Scorp. I am staying with the little red panties…just in case.
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Georgia will go up 42-0 then 8 sacks, 3 over snapped punts, 2 missed FGs and 5 defensive confusions later the Dawgs will win 42-38
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Because we just had a 12 man penalty after a timeout, there should be a celebration penalty after a timeout while running out the clock at 42-38
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If ASU manages to keep it close, it’s just more evidence that there’s a whole lot wrong with this team that nobody seems willing to think about.
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Ironically, I find your lack of faith disturbing.
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I see us once again making a very bad team look like the NE Patriots. It’s what we do and how we roll.
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I think we kill them. I think Gurley will play very very little if at all. You don’t get in shape for football by playing football. you get in shape for football by doing exercises that mimic football and tax your cardiovascular system. my guess is that he is probably doing more “Cardio” than he normally does this time of year now that the concern about reinjuring his ankle has abated. I think we see a LOT of JJ and Douglas and a LOT of vertical passing to get as many quick strikes as possible.
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Favored by 31.5……..which team?
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The Bears
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Richt has not really called off the Dawgs on overmatched opponents recently. We may give up points by doing something stupid, but this App State team is a shadow of its former self. The question is how much of the 1st team O is in the game when Mason enters the game.
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