Friday, September 19, 2008

SEC Weekend Games of Interest: 9/20/2008

We’ve got a great weekend of SEC football ahead as we look to improve upon our 21-2 record. Here are a few tackle football matches happening in your nape of the woods, neck of the wape:

Mississippi State at the North Avenue Trade School: I usually like to joke around when Vanderbilt plays a school like Rice, saying smart people vs. smart people. This match up is more in the territory of redneck farm boys vs. Dungeons and Dragons nerds, because Starkville and Atlanta have so much in common. Example:

Traffic in Starkville, Mississipi


Traffic for the Techies in Atlanta

The Techies have looked strong so far this season and you can tell that they are a well coached football team. Mississippi State will have the toughest defense that the bugs have faced so far this year and have the speed to limit Jonathan Dwyer and Josh Nesbit. However, they are severely challenged on the offensive side of the football and will have a trough time trying to establish their power running game against Vance Walker and the rest of the Trade School defensive line. The success and consistency of MSU lies with QB Wesley Carroll and his ability to move the football. Like previous weeks, I don’t see the dogs of the west pulling through and see GTU surviving in a physical 7-10 point victory, dictated by the field position battle.

Alabama at Arkansas: There have been some great games played between these two squads since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1992. The previous two meetings have been great SEC football games, but don’t expect to see that again this weekend. Arkansas did overcome a 24-6 3rd quarter deficit last week to defeat UL Monroe 28-27. If my memory serves correct, Bama could have used one of those last season:

Look, yet another way to get this picture in the Blog!

Seriously, Arkansas has issues on the o-line and while they have racked up a ton of yards, they have been unable to translate this into consistent offensive points. Mt. Cody and the rest of the Crimson Tide defense are sure to stop any attempts the Razorbacks make at running the ball:



Big Tree Fall Hard!

This places the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Senior QB Casey Dick, and under Alabama’s pass rush, I don’t think he will be able to pull through. Alabama will control the clock and should come through with a sold SEC road victory by 10-14 points.

Florida at Tennessee: Battle for the mismatching color of Orange will begin in Knoxville tomorrow:

Orange = A Tacky Color

It’s hard to believe that 10 years have past since John Hall kicked the game winning field goal against the Gators, propelling UT to their 1998 SEC and National Championship run. It was a classic game on a classic night and now that this moment of retrospect is over, we can be thankful that this was Tennessee’s last SEC championship. I wish we could say the same for these guys:

Orange = Even Tackyier Color on these Guys

This was always a childhood battle of who could I hate more, my SEC equivalent of Michigan vs. Note Dame; you don’t want to watch and definitely don’t want to cheer. The moment Florida or UT lost, I was upset because I knew that the other team had won and in an ideal world, I would be able to watch both teams lose at once. However, like Wuthering Heights in 11th grade English, it is required reading for all loyal SEC fans.

This year's grudge fest pits two squads trying to prove various things early in the season. Tennessee wants to get past their early season loss at UCLA and make a statement nationally that they are still a power in the SEC. Florida is looking to showcase an improved defense and make a national statement by winning big on the road. Previous contests in Knoxville over the past 10 years would indicate that this is going to be a tight game. UT, with the home crowd behind them, will try to establish Arian Foster early to make Jonathan Crompton feel comfortable under center. It must be noted that UT’s longest rush against the Gators in the past two games is 6 yards. Look for the Gators to attack the Vol’s D with mismatches in speed and quick, efficient passes. A healthy Percy Harvin will see a lot of action. Logic says take Florida, but in an upset, I pick the Vols. I have been saying it most of the preseason and can’t back down now.

Vanderbilt at Ole Miss: This early season match up has proved the point in recent years that two bad football teams can produce one helluva football game. Remember when Greg Zolman and the Commodores beat Romero Miller and the Rebels 37-34 in a thrilling 1999 overtime upset?


Greg Zolman: King of the 5-7 Season

Okay, I do, but it is probably a bad example. Both teams have looked solid early, Vandy with an early upset of South Cackalacky while Ole Miss nearly upset ACC darling Wake Forest (It is still weird to say that). I expect Houston Nutt and company to be on the offensive attack against the ‘Dores, who have been inconsistent against the pass. Vandy will continue to keep the ball in the hands of QB Chris Nixon and try to eat up yards and clock with their solid ground game. This should be an entertaining game with plenty of points and I look for the Rebels to improve to 3-1 with a victory in the 38-28 range.

Wofford at South Carolina: Look for the Ole’ Ball Coach to try and find some answers in this game. Chris Smelley was sold against UGA last week, but still missed some throws and sealed the fate of the game late by throwing an interception. Wofford fans that make the trip, I feel sorry for you; you have to spend an entire day and afternoon in Columbia, SC because some idiot scheduled your game for 7 pm. Look for Felon, excuse me, Stephen Garcia to see increased playing time and RB Mike Davis to get a lot of carries. South Cackalacky wins by 21 in this one. Continuing our trend of giving you pop culture factoids, National Beta Club founder John West Harris is a graduate of Wofford College. Both he and Fisher DeBerry, a Wofford alum himself, want you to now that the cockaboose is stupid.

"Steve, you can quit anytime. Carolina is looking for me to be there next washed up football coach"

Louisiana State at East Alabama Male College: This is the premier SEC game of the weekend and if you love physical, defensively dominant SEC football, this is the one for you. Past scores include 10-9, 20-17, and the epic 7-3 battle on the plains two years ago (we didn't even mention LSU's last second touchdown pass of last year). This isn’t exactly the environment where you want your Harvard transfer QB to make his first road start and expect Jordan-Hare Stadium to be absolutely rocking:


The Auburn Tiger defense looks as good as ever and will try to stop LSU’s attempt to establish a power running game early. The biggest challenge for both teams falls on which first year starting QB can make the most plays and the fewest errors. I believe Tony Franklin and Tommy Tuberville will put together a game plan that will put Chris Todd in position to manage the game and make good decisions. On the defensive side of the ball, Tuberville and Defensive Coordinator Paul Rhodes will do the exact opposite to LSU QB’s Andrew Hatch and Jarrett Lee. While Less (get it) Miles has won a ton of football games in his short LSU tenure, Tommy Tuberville is a better football coach and will have his squad in a better position to win this one. LSU has not won at Auburn in over a decade and I don’t expect them to start now, Auburn pulls out a 14-10 victory.

That wraps it up for this week; hopefully that UT-Florida pick doesn’t bite me in the butt. Go outside and have a Beam and Coke on Saturday Dawg fans, lord knows the people in Tempe won’t be doing it.

Go Dawgs!

Manifest Destiny: The Georgia - Arizona State Preview

For years, the critics have knocked Georgia (and other SEC teams) for failing to leave the comfort zone that is the Southeastern United States. All that changes this Saturday, as the Bulldogs head to Arizona to conquer the Sun Devils. This is a first stop of many over the next few seasons that could see the Georgia Empire expand from its humble beginning in the mountains of Northeast Georgia. We hope to conquer the ruling empire of the west coast (USC) later this year, and in coming years conquer the mid west (Oklahoma State), the Rocky Mountains (Colorado), and the Pacific Northwest (Oregon).



I believe we have the right to spread our boundaries across the entire continental US and move right on to Hawaii - Oh, we already conquered Hawaii.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's take a look at the target at hand: Arizona State.

Who are these guys?

The Sun Devils entered 2008 as a sleeper pick for a BCS bowl and why not? In 2007, they won 10 games and technically a share of the Pac-10 title with USC (though to claim it would be like Georgia claiming we won the SEC East in 2007. Only schools like Auburn claim things they technically didn't win.)

13-0 does not equal Championship...when you're Auburn.

The Devils are led by senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter, known for passing prowess as well as his bad attitude. He passed for over 3,200 yards and 25 five touchdowns and has a solid core of receivers in Mike Jones, Chris McGaha, and Kyle Williams, who together combined for 17 touchdowns in '07. The Sun Devil rushing attack is led by Dimitri Nanace, however has only averaged (as a team) 117 yards per game against rather weak opponents early on in '08. The question on offense coming into '08 was the O-line, which allowed 55 sacks last year. They have only allowed 4 so far this year, but don't be surprised if you see more of the hits like the one where USC kills Rudy over and over

(http://www.youtube.com/v/QaIM_yGOlYc&hl=en&fs=1) - I'm having trouble embedding video right now.

On defense, ASU returns seven starters from the '07 squad that allowed an average of 22.5 points a game. Their defense looks like Superman coming into this game, allowing only 295 yards a game. However, this was against weak competition and we all saw how solid their defense was holding a lead against UNLV last week.



What is Georgia going to do?



If we learned anything last week at South Carolina, I hope it is that we need a healthy dose of Knowshon (and Caleb) to help set up the passing game for Stafford. If you shut down the running game, it forces us to have to throw shorter passes to make up for lost downs. On the offensive side of the ball, I'd like to see Knowshon get 25 carries and Caleb about 12. This should allow Stafford to torch the ASU secondary with a mix of passes over the middle and deep balls. We definitely need a better performance by our receiving crew and don't be surprised if AJ Green catches 6 or more passes this week.

On defense, the weaknesses shown during the 4th quarter last week do scare me. Carpenter is the heart of ASU and if he is having a good day their offense will move the ball down the field. We need to ditch the constant zone and bring blitz. This line is not that good (as evident by their performance last year) and we should be able to get to Carpenter at least 4 times.



Coach Martinez: Please let the Liberian nightmare run wild!


What will happen?


This game could be a back and forth offensive battle. Look for both teams to score quick and early on as the defenses settle in. I look for this to turn into a game similar to the '07 Oklahoma State game, where Georgia's offense pours it on in the second half while clamping down on D. Knowshon should have a huge day (150 yards or more).


Georgia 38, Arizona State 23


Thursday, September 18, 2008

OUT WEST

We've been here since Tuesday...


Losing this...


Then we will be going here on Friday...


Seeing some of this...


Celebrating like this...


And showing the dominance of this...



Here we come, Tempe. GO DAWGS.

Weekend Garbage Late Edition

Greetings from Sin City! I apologize for this being late and shorter than I anticipated, but I've got to go lose more money on everything.

Polls

After our first week victory over Ga Southern, we dropped to number 2. After our trouncing of Central Michigan, we lost first place votes (even some to a team that didn't even play that week).

Now, after our close victory in South Cacklacky, we've dropped to number 3. At this point, we will be 10-0 and ranked number 12.

We also lost all but 2 of our first place votes in each poll, and Oklahoma also has less first place votes than they did last week.

However, I've never seen such a quick regression of a team's ranking this early WHEN THEY ARE WINNING ALL THEIR GAMES.

With this precedent, what happens if we lose a game? Do we drop out of the polls?

At this point, unless the Gayturds lose to the Vols, we will drop to number 4 even if we beat AZ State.


PAC-10

BUH-LOWS!!! Alright, lemme get this straight. Four of your teams lost to Mountain West Conference teams. Wow. You also lost to 3 other out of conference teams. In a week where all of your teams played out of conference, you went 3-7 and four of those losses were to a non-BCS conference.

Guess that PAC-10 domination never quite got off the ground.

USC

I hate you because Mark May loves you, and therefore I hate you. I'd typically be happy to watch a Big 11 team get slapped around like you did to Ohio State, but this means I have to listen to Mark May tell me how this is the return of the greatest team in history (everyone knows it's Bama, c'mon).


Gregg Doyel Can Suck A Nut

Thanks to the Senator for pointing this out nn his blog.

Read why Gregg Doyel is a buffoon. Rather than go through and react to every line this moron has written with all the fury imaginable, I'll just say this:

This sumbitch thinks Bama is probably a superior team to the Dawgs and should be ranked above us, because we're obviously vastly overrated. Are you kidding? I wasn't even that mad about how you said we suck, but I cannot stand for any notion that Bama is "superior" to us. I mean, they were the greatest team ever in the first week of college football, but Tulane almost received the torch of upset from UL-Monroe the following week. Now, you're feeding the the fan base that defines being in denial.

For that, your actions are inexcusable. Suck-a-nut.

Knowshon's UGA

"My Dawg" by Knowshon Moreno

posting will be slow today but we'll be back later with the SEC Preview as well as our preview of the Georgia - ASU matchup.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Viva Las Vegas!

Bulldawg Nation has decided to travel out west and will be in full force:


We had two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a saltshaker half-full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, laughers, screamers...

The majority of the Bubba 'N Earl staff left for Las Vegas last night with intentions to invade Tempe, AZ on Friday. Streit and I, the remaining bloggers left behind, want to wish them luck and look forward to their random reports in from the road.

Go Dawgs!

* Picture and Quote from book/movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Week 3: Impressions and Ramblings

A win is a win. Sometimes it ain't pretty, but at the end of the day all that really matters is the W.

Week 3 of the college football season has passed, here are my thoughts:

Georgia - South Carolina
- This was a typical Georgia - South Carolina game. Georgia dominates much of the game, but Carolina still has a chance at the end. This time, Rennie Curran played the role of David Pollack and saved us. (The B 'n E staff likes to knock me for being from Snellville, but our boys tend to come through when it counts.)

Snellville comes through in the clutch!




- Stafford proved that he is ready to lead this team. The Cocks brought pressure and Stafford made the right decisions that led us to a victory. He's a dropped pass and Richard Samuel lowering his head away from a two touchdown day. The throws to Durham and Green were NFL caliber.

Catch the damn ball!!!!



- Knowshon continues to amaze. That was the hardest earned 79 yard game I have seen in a long time.

- The bad things from weeks 1 and 2 remained. Too many penalties, bad kick-offs and not enough pressure. We've got some work to do in practice.
- We dropped to 3 in the ranks, which I think is crap. USC killed an overrated OSU team and deserves to be 1, but Oklahoma who has played no one did not deserve to jump us.

Notre Dame is back?
- In what I like to call "Pillow Fight 2008", Notre Dame put a hurting on Michigan 35 -17. This may not be a popular opinion, but I think Notre Dame may be a little better than people think. Don't be surprised if they end up with 8 wins this year.



USC shows its muscle
- Ohio State is horribly overrated. I know USC is good, but they only put up 3 points. The loss of Wells does not make up 32 points.



The Pac 10 is as bad as the ACC
- Arizona State showed that they are clearly not ready to compete for a spot in the BCS with a loss to UNLV, UCLA got demolished by BYU, Washington got blown out by Oklahoma, Arizona loses to New Mexico, Washington State loses to Baylor, and Cal's mighty running game got beat by a Maryland team that lost to Middle Tennessee State. Conference Power ratings are clearly defined with the SEC at 1 and the Big XII at 2.



Mississippi State picks up 2 in the 8th, but Auburn's closer shuts the door in the 9th
- Auburn 3, Miss St 2 - Are you freaking kidding me?!?! When Miss St. went for on 4th and 15 from the 50 in the fourth, Earl looked at me and said, "They should have pinned Auburn deep and went for the safety to win." The sad thing is, that could have really happened.

In Conclusion...

We escaped Columbia with a win and we are 3-0. We travel to the desert next week and we need to send a message to USC that the Pac 10 doesn't scare us one bit. With Bama looming, we need to fix the penalties and pass coverage fast.

Photos courtesy of the AJC and the Athens Banner Herald