Whew

The ugly wins count just as much as the pretty ones do.

Your game day post, the other Columbia edition

I’ve got kind of a weird feeling about today’s game, not that I mean it in a bad way.  It’s just that usually when I’m optimistic, it’s after looking at stats and player matchups.  Not today (although those do favor the Dawgs).

What’s really got me feeling good are the intangibles.  I’ve posted about them already, but to reiterate, there’s every reason in the world to think Georgia goes into the game tonight focused and, to use a phrase, ready to hunt.  Missouri, on the other hand, has to be reeling from last week’s loss and can’t feel too good about getting thoroughly outplayed by its other P5 opponent, Kansas State.  I expect the confidence gap to be sizeable and like Georgia to cover.

Then again, I liked the Dawgs to cover last week and see where that got me.

And on that note, the comments are yours.

Advertisement

Your (non-Dawg) game day post

Lots of good stuff on today’s schedule…

Right off the bat, we’ve got Kentucky-Ole Miss, where we can see if either of these two teams is more than a pretender.  The ‘Cats get Rodriguez back, so we’ll find out if he’s still a difference maker.

Alabama-Arkansas is the 3:30 game.  I’d love to see the Hogs pull the upset, but ‘Bama is not a good matchup for them, as their pass defense is definitely their weakest link.

Wake-FSU should be fun to watch.  And can Kansas stay undefeated?  TAMU-Mississippi State is one Leach should win, but you know what I say about games like that…

Meanwhile, LSU is the latest contestant in Bryan Harsin:  Survivor.

I will probably check in on NC State-Clemson during commercial breaks for Georgia’s game.

What will y’all be watching?

The right time

“Night games, we love them,” junior offensive tackle Warren McClendon said. “The atmosphere there is going to be good, and shoot, I’m ready for it. After back-to-back 12-o’clock games, 7:30 is going to be nice.”

Towers also points out Georgia is riding a 15-game winning streak against SEC East opponents in their own stadiums.  Add to that a chance to get the bad taste out of their mouths after that sloppy Kent State win, and you’d have to think this team goes into Columbia with the kind of attitude you want to see from them.

You can’t stop them. You probably can’t contain them, either.

Here’s one of Rock M Nation’s keys to a Mizzou upset today.

Contain Bowers and Washington: The Missouri secondary has been fairly efficient so far this year, but this will be a major step-up in competition. Stetson Bennett has been one of the best quarterbacks so far in the SEC and as previously mentioned, he’s got some serious weapons. Brock Bowers and Darnell Washington play a vital role in the UGA offense, as they aren’t shy to utilize the TE position. For Missouri to heighten its chances of staying in this game, it will have to take away the primary targets and force Bennett into utilizing his secondary options. Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw will have their work cut out for them, but they have proven that they can indeed hold their own. As long as Missouri makes Bennett target the outside of the field more often than not, Missouri might be able to pull this off.

“As long as Missouri makes Bennett target the outside of the field more often than not…”?  Tell me you haven’t watched Todd Monken call plays this season without saying you haven’t watched Todd Monken call plays this season.

“It’s not my job to go trawling for hope on behalf of Auburn…”

But this al.com writer will do it anyway.

Auburn, despite everything that has happened over the last few years, has the money and the prestige to hire someone better than Kelly. That’s why Auburn remains one of the top football schools in the country. And, hear me out, what if Auburn and Georgia don’t play every season anymore when the SEC decides on its new scheduling system?

Urban Meyer won a national championship at Florida in his second season. Despite all of Florida’s success with Meyer and Steve Spurrier, Auburn leads the all-time series against the Gators 43-39-2. Auburn is elite, but it’s time to stop fooling around. The transfer portal and NIL collectives can bring Auburn back quickly.

The truth is that Auburn is the equal of Alabama in every way except for one very important reason, and that reason is Nick Saban. Even still, despite Alabama’s unmatched success over the last 15 years, Auburn is only one blown lead in the 2021 Iron Bowl away from leading Alabama in the head-to-head series since 1981. That’s when Pat Dye unlocked the Tigers’ potential and forever changed the dynamics of college football in the SEC.

Since Dye, Auburn has twice won at least four games in a row against Alabama. Tommy Tuberville, of course, won six straight Iron Bowls from 2002 to 2007. Since the 1980s, Alabama, even with Saban, has never won more than three straight against the Tigers.

What does average look like? Alabama’s record in Jordan-Hare Stadium since the first Iron Bowl at Auburn in 1989. It’s 6-11.

And, when it comes to all things Saban, Georgia can also thank Alabama’s coach for help against the Tigers. Saban’s protégé, Kirby Smart, is 6-1 against Auburn, which has allowed the Bulldogs to take a slight lead in the all-time series of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, 62-56-8.

He actually calls Auburn “elite” in the header.  I do not think that word means what he thinks it means.

Wake up!

Whoever thought to have Jarvis Jones narrate this week’s hype video deserves a raise.  It’s an inspired decision.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 | Game Five@SacManJones_29 | #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/gJPlmpvb45

— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) September 30, 2022

Get out there and hit somebody!