Mr. Conventional Wisdom’s take on Georgia’s 2021 season

… is everything you’d expect.  Literally.

“I think the Clemson game is huge, (because) if Georgia can find a way to beat Clemson, the schedule sets up really nicely for them,” Barnhardt said. “You’ve obviously got to play Florida in Jacksonville and you’ve got to go to Auburn, I understand that, but if you beat Clemson you’re in really great shape.

“If you lose to Clemson, then all of your margin for error is gone, and you’ve got to run the table and probably beat Alabama in Atlanta. So I think there’s a lot riding on the Clemson game.”

And to think information like this is just out there… for free.

Thursday morning buffet

Sample the wares, peeps.

• Graham is reporting that College Gameday will head to Charlotte for Georgia’s opener.  Really, it would have been a surprise had it been announced it was going elsewhere.
• I’m old enough to remember when UCF said they’d play a 2-for-1 with Florida over their dead body.
• The best play in football is… (h/t Josh)
• Brent Venables is making serious bank.
• Georgia is sending two players to next week’s SEC Media Days, JT Daniels and Jordan Davis.  What’s the over/under on the number of times Daniels gets asked why he didn’t start sooner last season?
• “Is it now or never for Georgia?”  Narrative, if you’ve lost Mr. Conventional Wisdom…
• Take this for what it’s worth, a post from someone attending a luncheon yesterday at which Coach Smart spoke about the team.
• Geoff Collins, the college football director of player personnel pioneer.

Mr. Conventional Wisdom on playoff expansion

Yes, Tony weighs in on one of college football’s most contentious topics du jour and the results are… well, what you’d expect.

To the idea of an eight or 12-team playoff, I write a sentence I thought I would never write:

Bring it on.

I’m sure it’s pure coincidence that’s what the people running the sport want.

The opposite of an Envy and Jealousy post

C’mon, admit it.  You’re dying to know Mr. Conventional Wisdom’s take on Georgia’s opener.

This is a huge opening game as both teams have national championship aspirations. The winner gets a leg up. The loser can still get back in the race.

Okay, maybe not.

Mr. Conventional Wisdom has some burning questions.

I’ll leave it to you as to whether that concept is oxymoronic.  Instead, I’ll just focus on what he poses about Georgia’s place in the SEC East at the moment.

Burning questions: Is it now or never for Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs? Not only no but hell no. The narrative that the window of opportunity to win a national championship in Athens is closing is silly. As long as you recruit great players in sufficient numbers every year you have a chance. Having said that, does Georgia have a roster that puts them in the national championship discussion? Yep. Georgia has a franchise quarterback in JT Daniels. And if wide receiver George Pickens (ACL) gets back on the field some time this season it could get interesting. Even if Pickens doesn’t return there is a lot of talent (Kearis Jackson) in that receivers room. Georgia’s good. But can the Bulldogs win the East and beat Alabama? We’ll learn a lot about Georgia when it opens the season against Clemson.

You know, he almost had me with the first three sentences.  But he came through like the champ we all know he is in the last two.

Mr. Conventional Wisdom takes a victory lap so Greg Sankey doesn’t have to.

Think about this. If things go as planned today, the SEC will have played 68 of the 70 regular-season games it scheduled. (Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss and Vanderbilt vs. Georgia were not played). It has been a remarkable acheivmet.

— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) December 19, 2020

Since I’m not heading up to Athens today, Tony, you’ll have to forgive me if I feel a little empty right now.  But kudos to the SEC for not letting anything stand in the way of getting that sweet broadcast money.

TFW you realize you don’t need to provide a game day preview

Because Mr. Conventional Wisdom is on the mother.

Georgia has won eight of its last 10 meetings with Auburn. We expect Stetson Bennett IV to start the game at quarterback for Georgia. But who finishes the game? Key: I think Auburn is going to have to be able to run it some. Bo Nix can't throw it 40-plus times and win.

— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) October 3, 2020

BREAKING: Mr. CW calls it.

You heard it here first, people.

–@MrCFB on Georgia's QB situation heading into Auburn. “I would expect Stetson Bennett to start the game, all things considered.”

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) September 28, 2020

So much for that “running the Wilddawg with Zeus” rumor I was gonna start tomorrow.

Close, but no ceegar, Mr. CW.

Shot.

Four new head coaches will make their debuts in the SEC today. Have you noticed their opponents?

Lane Kiffin: Florida
Mike Leach: LSU
Eli Drinkwitz: Alabama
Sam Pittman: Georgia

Welcome to the SEC, fellas!!!!

— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) September 26, 2020

Chaser.

Yes. @Lane_Kiffin will be making his 2020 debut as an SEC head coach. He had previously been at Tennessee. I appreciate the clarification.

— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) September 26, 2020

Mr. Conventional Wisdom alert

BREAKING:  “Stay tuned.”

Nobody has a better grasp of the obvious than Tony Barnhart.  That’s why he’s Mr. College Football.