Showdown In Jacksonville: Biggest GA-FL Game Ever?

The stage is set. Both teams are coming off big wins (UF's 63-5 dismantling of Kentucky and UGA's 52-38 dominating road win against LSU) and playing their best football of the season. With the winner of this game unofficially clinching the East (the winner would have to lose their two remaining SEC games to not take the division) and giving themselves a very legitimate shot at getting a crack at a National Championship Game appearance, the stakes arguably cannot be higher. From a historical perspective, this is arguably a fact.

The following are other notable GA-FL games in which both teams came into the game highly ranked:

1976 #7 UGA vs. #10 UF (UGA 41-27)
1983 #4 UGA vs. # 9 UF (UGA 10-9)
1984 #8 UGA vs. #10 UF (UF 27-0)
1985 #17 UGA vs. #1 UF (UGA 24-3)
1997 #14 UGA vs. #6 UF (UGA 37-17)
1998 #11 UGA vs. #6 UF (UF 38-7)
1999 #10 UGA vs. #5 UF (UF 30-14)
2000 #13 UGA vs. #8 UF (UF 34-23)
2008 # 6* UGA vs. #8* UF (TBD)

*BCS Rankings

From purely a rankings standpoint, besides the 1983 game (#4 UGA vs. #9 UF) there has not been a year in which the two teams have been ranked higher. Not to mention, you can even make a case that this years' game is equal to that game rankings wise if you use the AP Poll's rankings (UF is ranked #5 and UGA is ranked #8).

If it were not for #1 Texas playing at #7 Texas Tech, ESPN College Gameday would be making its first trip to Jacksonville for the game since 2005. With the present day media exposure/hype and the fact that this game makes or breaks both team's seasons, in my opinion, this game is the biggest GA-FL game ever. Adding to the fact that the UF fans, players and coaches are now holding an apparent "grudge" against the Bulldogs after "The Celebration" that took place on the field last year and you have the elements for the perfect storm.

Despite the constant reminders from Gator fans that even after the Dawgs win last year, the Dawgs are still just 4-15 against UF since Dooley retired in 1988, I personally look at the numbers in a different way. Taking a much more recent sample size, I like to point out the fact that after last year's win the 5th year seniors on this team have gone 2-2 against the Gators in their career. None of these players were around when UF dominated the Dawgs throughout the '90s and first few years of the 21st Century. In their experience against the Gators, they have beaten Florida just as often as Florida has beaten them.

This year, amongst the players and UGA faithful, from Georgia's perspective, this is a much more confident bunch. While everyone certainly respects how good of a team the Gators have this season and the fact that they have the reigning Heisman Trophy winning QB, Tim Tebow, still running their offense, I do not feel like the Gators have the psychological advantage that they have used to their advantage over the years.

After sitting in the stands and watching Georgia put together its best performance of the season so far last weekend in Baton Rouge, in my opinion, I think they have their swagger back from last season. Despite all the injuries and the daunting schedule thus far that has worn out this team at times, I think the Dawgs are on the verge of playing their "A" game and putting it all together for four full quarters against an opponent. Much like last year when UGA busted out its first "A" game of the season against the Gators, in this all-or-nothing showdown Saturday afternoon between these two rivals, call me optimistic, but I think the Dawgs are going to once again rise to the occasion.

UGA 31 UF 27

The Second BCS Poll Is Out...UGA Is Up to #6

Last night, the second BCS poll was released to the public and despite the lack of upsets among the Top 10 teams, there was still a bit of a shake up in the standings:

1. Texas
2. Alabama
3. Penn State
4. Oklahoma
5. USC
6. UGA
7. Texas Tech
8. Florida
9. Oklahoma State
10. Utah

UGA's road win against LSU (who is now #19 in the BCS) moved the Dawgs up a spot to #6. Penn State's road win against the Buckeyes (it's first win @ OSU since 1978) helped close the gap between them and Alabama, while USC's less than impressive 17-10 road win against 5-3 Arizona dropped them a spot back to #5. Florida's impressive 63-5 home beatdown of Kentucky pushed them up two spots to #8 and despite the close 28-24 loss @ #1 Texas, OK. St. is still in the Top 10, only dropping 3 spots.

Two games this week will really shake things up: #1 Texas @ #7 Texas Tech and #6 UGA vs. #8 Florida.

The winner of the Georgia-Florida game should become the highest ranked 1-loss team, which could put one of them as high as #3 if #7 Texas Tech beats #1 Texas in Lubbock. The biggest reason this is not a guarantee is that no one is sure what the ramifications of Saturday night's Texas-Texas Tech showdown will be. Texas Tech could jump into the Top 3 if they knock off the Longhorns, but if Texas avoids the upset the GA/FL winner will probably check-in at #4 next week with the Top 3 (Texas, Alabama, Penn State) staying the same.

Georgia Storms Through Baton Rouge 52-38...Showdown in Jacksonville Next

(Knowshown Moreno telling the LSU Student Section To Keep Calling Him)

It appears that just like last year, the Dawgs are beginning to hit their stride right before their annual trip to Jacksonville. Without question, Georgia's surprising 52-38 win was easily their biggest and most impressive road win since their 2006 37-15 upset of #5 Auburn.

After LSU students and fans got word of Knowshown Moreno's cell phone number and called it so much throughout the week that he disconnected the number, it was only fitting that after his 68-yd touchdown run that put the Dawgs up 38-17 late in the 3rd Quarter that Knowshown took the time to acknowledge his "admirers".

The game started with a bang on LB Darryl Gamble's 40-yard interception return for a touchdown and was essentiallay wrapped up on yet another Gamble INT TD , tying an NCAA record for interception returns for touchdowns by a linebacker in one game.

This was by far Georgia's best performance of the season. While the defense did get extremely complacent after going up 38-17 by giving up 21 points and 262 yards of offense in the final 19 minutes of the game, after holding LSU to 17 points on just 237 yards in the first 41 minutes, you cannot argue about the entire body of work.

Zero turnovers, going 6-14 on 3rd down (including some key third and long conversions), doing a better job of keeping penalties to a minimum (the 7 penalties for 59 yds were the 2nd fewest amount of penalties/yds the Dawgs had acquired all season), giving up only one sack against a veteran LSU defensive front, constantly pressuring LSU's QBs which lead to three turnovers, producing two sacks on defense and putting up 52 points @ LSU (the most points they had allowed at home in 15 years) all added up to a great road win.

At 7-1, UGA controls its SEC destiny. With 4 games left (three in the SEC), Georgia still has National Championship hopes. Despite the big win in Baton Rouge, those hopes and dreams begin and end in Jacksonville next weekend against the #8 BCS ranked Gators (6-1).

Make or Break Game For The Dawgs: Must Beat LSU To Keep National Championship Hopes Alive

As several pundits have stated this week, this game is essentially an elimination game. While the loser of Saturday's game will not be eliminated from the SEC Championship race, any hopes of playing in the National Championship will essentially be gone.

As history has shown, last year was an anomaly with a 2-loss team playing in the National Championship Game for the first time and while there have been plenty of upsets this year there is practically no chance that we will see a repeat of last year's craziness. Since LSU and UGA have already suffered an early season loss, to have a shot at the National Title game both have to run the table the rest of the way.

What makes this game even more intriguing is the fact that neither team has yet to post a signature win this year. Arguably, both team's best win came on the road against 5-3 South Carolina. Yes, some Dawg fans can certainly make the argument that the Vandy win last weekend was more impressive, though considering that Vandy has now lost two in a row and currently is not ranked, it's debatable. The same could said about LSU's early win @ Auburn (who is now 4-4 after tonight's loss to West Virginia), which looked impressive at the time but hindsight has suggested otherwise.

Both teams are loaded with talent, but in their biggest games thus far (LSU lost 51-21 @ UF and UGA's 41-30 loss at home to 'Bama) both teams have been disappointing. Whether it has been injuries (in Georgia's case) or the pressure of being the defending National Champ breaking in a freshman QB (for LSU), both teams find themselves at a crossroad. Win and you keep your hopes alive for getting to the big game. Lose and you must begin to refocus your season's goals.

Saturday afternoon should give a good indicator of what kind of teams UGA and LSU really are at this point. It was at this time last year that UGA put it all together in their stunning 42-30 win over UF and got the ball rolling for the Dawgs to finish the year the way they did. A year and three days ago, LSU had a stunning 30-24 win over Auburn at home that kept its National Championship hopes with a late touchdown in the 4th Quarter.

Historically, UGA is 11-14-1 against LSU, with LSU winnning the first 7 games of the series. UGA, however, is 5-2 in the past 7 games, with the last meeting being at the 2005 SEC Championship Game (a 34-14 Dawgs win for those of you with a short-term memory). This will be Georgia's first trip to Baton Rouge since the 2003 season. In a low scoring game, the Dawgs (ranked #11 at the time) lost a heartbreaker to #2 (and eventual National Champion) LSU, 17-10.

This game figures to be a similar game in my opinion. Much like the South Carolina game, look for this one to be a tough, low-scoring battle. And after falling short during their last trip to Death Valley, look for the Dawgs to pull out a close one, 21-17, and set the stage for a showdown against the Gators next weekend in Jacksonville.

The First BCS Poll Is Out...What Does It Mean For the Bulldogs?

Yesterday at 4:30pm, the first edition of the BCS Standings were released to the public. For those of you who have not seen them, take a look at the Top 10:

1. Texas

2. Alabama

3. Penn State
4. Oklahoma
5. USC
6. Oklahoma St.
7. UGA
8. Texas Tech
9. Ohio State
10. Florida

As you can see, UGA is checking in at #7, despite being ranked #9 in the Coaches and Harris Polls. The reason for that is due to the computer's ranking of the Bulldogs (6th). Surprisingly, despite being ranked ahead of the Dawgs in both the Coaches and Harris Polls, UF is ranked #10. The computer's #12 ranking of UF (with one computer ranking them #20) is the biggest reason for this.

A lot can happen over the coarse of the rest of the season, so it is hard to take this first poll too seriously. However, if history has any impact on how this year is going to turn out, here are some facts and figures (courtesy of Brad Edwards' ESPN.com column today):

• Nineteen of the 20 teams to reach the BCS National Championship Game were ranked in the top six of the initial BCS standings. LSU won the 2003 title after being ranked 12th in the first standings.

• In each of the past nine seasons, at least one of the top two teams in the initial BCS standings has gone on to play in the championship game.

• Only twice in 10 previous years of the BCS has the initial No. 1 team gone on to win the national championship (Florida State in 1999, USC in 2004)

Initial BCS rankings of eventual champions

YEAR	BCS CHAMPION	INITIAL BCS RANK
2007	LSU	4
2006	Florida	6
2005	Texas	2
2004	USC	1
2003	LSU	12
2002	Ohio State	6
2001	Miami	4
2000	Oklahoma	2
1999	Florida State	1
1998	Tennessee	3

How About Them Falcons? And A Belated Dawgs-Vols Recap.

First off, I would like to congratulate the Atlanta Falcons. Despite playing just 6 games, they have already exclipsed last year's win total ( going 4-12, of course). I must say, with a rookie head coach in Mike Smith and a rookie starting QB in Matt Ryan (who I was very hopeful of, being a big Boston College fan) I really wasn't sure what to expect from the Falcons this year.

To be completely honest, at the beginning of the season I expected worst case they would finish 4-12. I mean that is easy to say considering the fact that as bad as they were last year, they still won 4 games and best case they would win 6, maybe 7 games. But, after watching their performance the past two weeks against two solid teams in Green Bay and Chicago along with their 4 previous games, at 4-2 the Falcons actually have a shot to be relevant towards the end of the season.

Now, I am not going to say that they are going to win the division or even earn a wild card spot for that matter, but I fully expect the Falcons to be very competitive in each and everyone of their remaining 10 games. While some games (@Philadelphia, Denver @ San Diego) will be a lot more difficult than others (@Oakland, New Orleans and St. Louis), this team has a shot to realistically win 7, 8, maybe 9 games in my opinion.

If they are able to reach any of those win totals, I think practically every Falcons fan would have to be very, very pleased with Year 1 of the Smith-Ryan-Thomas Dimitroff (the new GM of the Falcons) Era.

Finally, I would like to congratulate the Dawgs for their effort Saturday against Tennessee. Not only did they rebound from their worst game since the 35-14 beat down the Vols gave us last year in Knoxville, but they came out from the get-go and played a solid game. I hate Philip Fulmer and the fans of UT in general, so sending them to their worst start (2-4, 0-3 in SEC) since 1988 certainly was enjoyable.

Controlling the ball for an incredible 42+ minutes and racking up 458 yds of offense (while holding the Vols to an incredible 209 yds) this game in a lot of ways was very similar to our performance against ASU in September: the score did not indicate the dominance displayed. Seeing Southerland come back was certainly a pleasant site to see, but losing Vince Vance (the 3rd LT to be lost for the season after starting a game for the Dawgs this year) is worrisome.

Let's see if the Dawgs can pick up some momentum to start the 2nd half of their season by beating an upstart #22/23 Vandy team that has given us fits (e.g. Homecoming two years ago and UGA's lackluster 20-17 victory @ Vandy last year) despite the fact that we own a dominating 48-18-2 all-time record against them .

The second half of the season will make or break the perception of the Dawgs season with matchups against Vandy Saturday, LSU, UF, Auburn, Kentucky and a surprisingly good GT team. UGA controls its own destiny. The National Championship hopes are still alive, though Georgia would have to run the table the rest of the way and take on more than likely either LSU or Alabama in the SEC Title game to make the dream a reality.