Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog Fans! If you can avoid the natural disasters (and really thinking of those in harm’s way) and less than desirable TV advertisements, then things are actually pretty okay. Cooler temperatures are coming through the region, and you’ve probably only called the HOA on your neighbor’s Halloween decorations 2 or 3 times. In spite of it all, the college football world is spinning at full speed. And it always delivers the goods.
Things are a little weird here at the advent of spooky season. Arkansas beat Tennessee by scoring very little, and Vanderbilt beat Alabama by scoring a lot. Miami is winning games because of officiating, and Penn State because of good quarterback play. Michigan is losing games to unranked conference teams again, but that at least is an injection of normalcy.
Everyone clamored for it, so here it is.
Despite being a heavy favorite hosting Mississippi State this weekend, there’s a chance Georgia suffers the same upset fate. Because the Bizarro Bulldogs only lost to Texas by 22, that’s a better loss than ULM who were defeated by 48, but who also beat James Madison who beat UNC who beat Minnesota who beat USC who beat LSU who beat South Carolina who beat Kentucky who beat Ole Miss who beat Georgia Southern who beat Georgia State who beat Vanderbilt who beat Alabama who beat… us.**
There was some criticism over ABC’s broadcast crew for Auburn vs. Georgia, in particular some gaffes from the normally steady Sean McDonough. At least this week we will have a Bulldog in the booth, thanks to Matt Stinchcomb providing color over Taylor Zarzour’s play-by-play and Alyssa Lang on the sidelines. I honestly though Lang would be in a walking boot or cervical collar after the field-storming from the Vandy crowd last week, but it appears she’s got that Gamecock elusiveness.
Staying on last Saturday’s Strong Annoyance Hate Week, the intrepid reporters at the Red and Black handed out report cards for Georgia’s 8th straight win over the WarPlainsTiglesMen. After some critical scores for the UK and Alabama games, this one seems slightly soft. Maybe Carmela’s affections subconsciously guided Mr. Wegler into inserting some influence on the grades handed out.
There’s no word yet who will be calling the game October 19th in Austin, as the Georgia/Texas tilt will be broadcast by ABC at 7:30 pm ET. That will be right after the conclusion of Alabama/Tennessee, curiously scheduled for an odd-numbered Saturday in October.
The One Visor To Rule Them All has been in the press for post-game comments after Saturday’s conference win, and here are some local reactions. Personally, I think he just wanted the bonkers atmosphere in front of all the recruits brought in for that on-campus visit.
Kirby Smart held his Monday press conference to preview the Mississippi St. game. Possibly because he was asked several questions on his home crowd comments, he was fairly brief with other answers. It appears like Mykel Williams, Jordan Hall, and Jared Wilson will be available this weekend, but there wasn’t much of an update on Smael Mondon.
To win on the road in the SEC, you need to win all three phases of the game is a recipe as old as the game itself. But here’s an interesting take on why Georgia is a team to lose 3 phases but can still get the dub. (Hint: different phases than offense, defense, special teams).
That should get your Tuesday going. But feel free to drop news, nuggets, or comments below. If you’re in South Florida, go get safe. Be kind to one another, and as always…
GO ‘DAWGS!!!
**The algorithm did not take into account our escaping Lexington with a single point win in a barely double digit point game. But hey… it’s for funsies.