(Computer problems delayed posting)
A few months ago, there was bellyaching and whining and pondering the next coach.
Now I got a gomer selling me on Georgia 31-17 over Boise State, and the wagon’s filling up a bit.
That's why I prefer blathering in writing. Memories are shakier than the stock market.
Nevertheless, it's quite possible. I've been picking UGA for a week or so, and haven't talked myself out of it.
Why?
Aaron Murray, receivers who have something to prove, special teams, and the defense can't be worse fundamentally than it was a year ago.
Take some Valium regarding Isaiah Crowell.
He's a freshman. He's not the next 34. Period. Get over it and you'll be happier when that's proven true.
Crowell, like most of us, has yet to play a down of college football. Let's wait until that changes before canonizing. Any great run will be countered by two botched blocks and perhaps a fumble as well as reading the hole wrong.
So watch how Georgia deals with a very questionable running game. You know, a no-huddle - where everybody lines up and then stands upright and looks to the sideline - is a thought. Hmmm, yes it is.
Keep the tempo going, utilize some depth at wideout and tight end and then try to pound a little bit. This won't be a power offense for awhile.
Boise State isn't at full strength, and the Broncs lost some key receivers, which puts more pressure on Kellen Moore to be even a little bit better.
Of course, Chris Petersen could come out in a Wing-T one series and twins the next. Of course, if you simply cover like you were taught in eighth grade and tackle like you were taught in eighth grade, you can answer anything.
Size matters.
Yeah, it does, but some in red and black are really, really reaching with this as why Georgia wins.
Uh, hello? Boise State hasn't had a size disadvantage in the past? They Broncos haven’t' dealt with that before fairly well, like in all of their lone "playing the big boys" game each year? Against Virginia Tech and Oklahoma and Oregon?
Yessir, they did.
And let's note this. Most of Georgia's centers the past decade have been under 300 pounds. Ian Knight, 291 (13-1 SEC title team); Russ Tanner, 290, 295 and 297 (31-8 in three seasons), Nick Jones, 272 (started five games in 2003) and 296 (in 2006).
This year's preseason all-SEC center is listed at 6-1, 294. Damn fragile is William Vlachos of Alabama, who incidentally was the starting center on a national championship team that had a Heisman winner.
None of the preseason all-SEC defensive lineman crack 310, and that's first and second team.
The starting center for last year's national title team was listed at 293.
And get a grip. Preseason camp in the South will drop some weight. Nobody weighs on the first gameday what's in the media guide. I'm pretty sure Kwame Geathers has dropped some pounds, too.
Plus, I can guarantee hearing this at some point when it's noted that an opposing whatever weighs 350: "Ah, it's just fat. Can he play?"
Indeed. For those one or two big games a year against bigger teams, Boise State has found a way to handle it.
Technique and endurance - don't heavier people wear down a little bit quicker? - are more important than just throwing a weight out there and calling it the difference.
There's something a little different mentally about this Georgia team, from the top down. Word is they're better conditioned than in years, but we'll see. Strength and conditioning seemed like an easy scapegoat last year, but change can be good, and the S&C program has changed after apparently stagnating.
Georgia certainly has to do a better job of finishing, and the guess here is that the Dogs will, by a 30-24 count.
KICKIN IT OFF
Appalachian State at Virginia Tech: App State is thinking about moving up to I-A, and here's the Mountaineers chance to shock the world again like they did against Michigan.
But that win makes upsets harder to come by.
Still, the perennial I-AA national title contenders could give the Hokies some trouble for a half or so. Then again, Virginia Tech is on the lower end of the chat for the national title, so the Hokies may be pretty tight and ready.
This isn't the normal I-A vs. I-AA buffet.
Tech by 27.
Louisiana-Monroe at Florida State: There's title talk in Tallahassee, and ULM ain't much of an opener.
Of course, the Warhawks beat Alabama a few years ago - yeah, let's ponder that one - and are used to big stadiums.
And the accompanying big butt-whoopins and paychecks.
FSU by 40.
James Madison at North Carolina: See ASU at VT. James Madison is no debutante, either, and UNC hasn't had the smoothest of summers. If the Tar Heels aren't sharp and intense, they can lose.
UNC by 17.
UCLA at Houston: The Oilers, um, Cougars will use this as an application game to go to the Big 12.
Sorry, Houston, you may win, but no BCS conference is all that hot for a team in a stadium with a capacity of 32,000.
Gee, that's smaller than Vandy.
Houston by 12.
South Florida at Notre Dame: Wow, a Holtz in South Bend who doesn't annoy the bejeebers out of you.
I've always liked Skip Holtz, and he's certainly got USF going.
The Bulls have some consistency they've lacked, and big road venues are no big deal.
Notre Dame appears to have the confidence and swagger Charlie Weis could never bring.
Notre Dame by 16.
East Carolina vs. South Carolina: ECU is a fringe BCS program that annoys BCS programs on a regular basis.
The Pirates outdraw ACC programs, and are unintimidated by the opponent or venue. They'll show up en masse in Charlotte, a true neutral site for both teams.
ECU has won three of the last four against USCE, but they haven't played since 1999. Still, ECU has only gotten bigger and better.
With maybe 10 first-time starters, the Pirates are a little too young for this one.
And USCE's quarterback shuffling is smart. Connor Shaw is a quality athlete who needs experience, and Stephen Garcia could go crazy good coming off the bench in this one. It gives Georgia something to think about, and Steve Spurrier is at his best when he has multiple quarterbacks to harass.
USCE by 24.
LSU vs. Oregon: The Tigers aren't any worse off without QB Jordan Jefferson, and we'll see former UGA quarterback Zach Mettenberger pretty quickly.
But don't be surprised if Jarrett Lee does OK for LSU. His job will be to manage the game for the defense and special teams to make the difference. And LSU's defense will be tested in tempo by Oregon's offense.
Conversely, yes, weather matters, because Baton Rouge and Dallas are the same, and bear little resemblance to Oregon's temps.
It's a huge game, so Les Miles will be at his WTF best.
LSU by 9.
LOUGHDMOUTHINGS
Didn't see Baylor-TCU on Friday, but goodness, what a way to get things going.
Sorry, UNLV-Wisconsin on Thursday wasn't quite it. ...
The good: football with no Chris Berman. The bad: football with Lou Holtz. ...
Sorry, FB, wrong again. The BSU-UGA line opened at 3-4 in mid-August and has pretty much stayed there.
It might have opened at 8 on a front porch in Boise, and I did see one lone 6-point spread that dropped, but the consensus line has been 3-4 and stayed there. ...
Yo, quit sniping about preseason polls being worthless just because TCU lost.
For one, don't put too much into them, but they are a little relevant.
For another, if it wasn't for a preseason poll, you wouldn't have given a crap about TCU-Baylor. And if your team beats, say, Boise State, you wouldn't be thumpin' your chest like a drunk monkey. ...
OK, I've heard this now from two people, an Auburner and somebody else (can't remember who). Put your beverage down:
Don't count out Georgia as a national championship contender.
And they're right. If Georgia beats BSU and USCE, the Dogs are a favorite pretty much the rest of the way. They're at 19th now, move up substantially with two wins against higher ranked teams.
A huge myth is that Auburn started 2004 too low and thus got screwed. Not even close. (And I'm having brutal computer problems today – thus this posting an hour later than planned - and thus can't get to my research backing that up, but will soon.)
At 19th, UGA moves up to about 15th with a win over BSU, and on the fringe of the top 10 by beating USCE. Then it's up to some other teams to lose - and they will - and the Pooches slowly move up.
Plus, if you win the SEC championship, you are more than in the conversation.
It's college football. Strange stuff happens four days/nights a week for four months.
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