Out on a limb (again)

I typically give my prediction the week of a game, and I will do the same this year. It seems that I am better at predicting these games earlier in the season than I am as the season progresses. We'll see how this pans out.

Here is how I think it will unfold this Saturday.

I believe UGA will arrive in Stillwater as the understated underdog. We should get the early momentum and take some air out of the sails of the Cowboys' "Grand Opening of Boone Pickens Stadium" early and then hold on as the Cowboys make a late charge. Joe Cox should be efficient and spread the ball around. Richard Samuel will have a "coming out" party and rush for more than 150 yards, with a good chunk of that yardage coming on a single run of 50+ yards and a TD. A.J. Green will be double-teamed all day, but will still come away with a few "WOW" catches and some incredible runs after the catch. We will introduce our "hybrids" Aaron White and Orson Charles to the world and the unexpected Arthur Lynch will make his first TD catch. Carlton Thomas will also do his part by catching some passes "in space" and show us why our version of "Thunder and Lightning" will be a force to be reckoned with.

On the defensive side, our D-line will absolutely dominate their running game, though we may have some trouble containing their QB as a runner. We may give up a couple of big plays (mainly later in the game) but by that time, we should have the game in hand. I truly believe the defense this year has something to prove and will prove it in this game. We have struggled with mobile QBs in the past, and there's no reason to think that this year will be any different. One thing is for sure, though...I would not want to be Zac Robinson once he breaks the line of scrimmage because you know Rennie will have a bead on him and missle in like he was shot out of a cannon.

Dawgs up early and often, Cowboys make a late charge, but it's too little, too late.

UGA - 38
OSU - 27

Next opponent - South Carolina

Dawn of a New Dawg

Well...it’s almost here! The post-Stafford/Moreno era begins in a little over a week.

Both guys, along with a few of their teammates (MoMass, Ellerbe, Southerland, among others) will be missed, but are on their way to NFL stardom and the fortunes that will be made and lost as a result. I wish them all well, as I do any former Damn Good Dawgs! I find myself becoming a “fan” of whatever team they are with, if only for a split second.

It’s time to usher in the year of Joe Cox and I truly believe we will surprise some people who don’t give us too much respect this early in the season. Much has been made to try and equate Joe Cox to our last “Joe” (Joe T. III, a damn good Dawg, in his own rite) in that he will be a decent football player, with an average arm who is expected to come in and simply manage the gameplan. To these people, I say, “Joe C is no Joe T!” Joe Cox brings with him a winning tradition and attitude that goes back to his youth. Joe C. was
31-0 as a starting QB at Independence High School out of Charlotte, N.C. Anyone who follows high school football understands that, even though North Carolina is most known for its BBQ and Basketball, Independence is a major force in the state when it comes to some good, old fashioned football. A perennial powerhouse program in the state, Independence has a long tradition of winning and I believe this tradition and the atmosphere that the kids who come from that program grow up with is a big reason this year’s Joe is no Ordinary Joe.

I’ll have more thoughts on the season as we get closer to kickoff with Oklahoma State. Suffice it to say that Okie State has about as much hype heaped on it as the Dawgs did last year, comparatively speaking. Whereas the Dawgs typically start the season in the top 10 to 15, Oklahoma State has rarely, in its history started a season in the top 10, as they have this year. Will they be able to live up to hype, the expectations and the extravagant new “T. Boone Pickens Stadium” opening date with our Dawgs?

We’ll see...and not a moment too see!