FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY STING LIKE A YELLOW JACKET!

Well, this coming Saturday is the last rodeo for the 2010-2011 BullDawg Football Senior Class. The last shot at playing in Sanford Stadium; the last shot at not having a losing season; the last shot at getting in a bowl game; and the last shot at kicking some “Yellow Jacket Tail!” All under the bright lights of a night game at 7:45 p.m. ET – televised by ESPN.

Believe it or not, the odds makers as of today have our 5-6 Dawgs between a 13-15 point favorite over the 6-5 yellow jackets. (source: AJC.Com) Now is that the “kiss of death” or what? So, why are they betting so heavy on the Dawgs? Well first, although sports pundits can say all they want about an open week not necessarily being an advantage to a team in an upcoming game, there is no doubt in my mind that there is, at least in this case. It couldn’t have come at a better time for our quarterback after taking some pretty severe “cheap shots” to his back and leg at the Auburn game. It has given him an extra week to heal and come back to play, which more than likely he will. On the other hand, those screaming little bugs we are playing lost their star quarterback, Joshua Nesbitt, in last Thursdays game against Virginia Tech, which they lost 28-21.

The second reason for the bookies being all “gah gah” over the Dawgs, is A.J. Green. A.J., who in all likelihood will be going pro after this season, has this opportunity to really shine for the scouts, and in doing so, a win will give him one more game to “show his stuff.” The third reason, which I assume is being considered, although I do not think it should, is home field advantage. This is certainly not based upon researched fact, but just my gut impression is that Mark Richt has been more successful at away games, percentage wise, over the last ten years than he has at home. Case in point, two years ago “at home” the Dawgs dropped a 28-12 half time advantage against Tech to end up with a 45-42 loss. Last year a very good GT team got beaten in Atlanta at their home by our very average Dawgs 30-24. (source: BullDawg Illustrated.Com)

Here is what I think about the game this weekend. Typically in an in-state rivalry game, whether it is Georgia – Georgia Tech, Alabama – Auburn, Florida – Florida State, etc., anything can happen despite the win – loss record of either team to date. It is simply because there is so much adrenaline and testosterone pumping that good folks make errors and fair folks play to super heroic levels some times. In this case, Tech has a very good option game, but their quarterback is out for the count. Will the backup rise to the occasion and play as a super hero? On the other hand, besides the fact that our Defense has simply “sucked” all season, they have “super sucked” at defending the run. Just think about what South Carolina did to us at the beginning of the year and what Auburn did to us at the end, i.e. NO IMPROVEMENT. So, will our run defense suddenly out of the blue become a brick wall? Or, will they play against the run as they have all season –VERY, VERY, BADLY?

The two keys to Georgia winning Saturday are to score quickly and often with the play action pass, screens, and a few long balls to A.J. Green and Chris Durham (the best two sets of hands we have). If we don’t and our Defense cannot stop the option, Tech will score slowly and suck the life out of the clock, keeping our offense off the field. If it is a close game and it plays out like that, Tech will win because they will end up being the last with the ball and will milk the clock to either preserve a lead, or to get down the field for a last second field goal before time expires. The second key is obvious, our Defense has to play more than one quarter before folding like a tent, as they have all season. We can only hope that they have been coached well the last two weeks on their individual assignments for the option.

Dawgs, you need to “sting” the Yellow Jackets and give yourselves and your fans some measure of respect!

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By: Dawgman1973 (Gary K.) Lead-Blogger “Dawn of the Dawg”