JessN: Georgia preview: Bulldogs are masters of efficiency

JessN · Sep 30, 2015

Georgia preview: Bulldogs are masters of efficiency
by Jess Nicholas
TideFans Editor-In-Chief
September 30th, 2015 12:20 AM

By Jess Nicholas TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief Sept. 30, 2015 Prior to the season, fans and pundits alike circled the Alabama-Georgia game as one of the potentially more important and most interesting games of the college football season. Nothing has changed. Well, almost nothing. Alabama dropped its third-week game, 43-37 to Ole Miss, which spoiled the aura […]

Read More Here | Projected Depth Chart

GrayTide · Sep 30, 2015

Thanks Jess. You may be labeled an Eeyore for picking against the Tide.

CrimsonEyeshade · Sep 30, 2015

So it may come down to one key: How many plays can JC make during his first road game, against a quality opponent?

We haven't played particularly well on the road in some time. This would be a great weekend to rediscover our knack of keeping butts in their seats.

B1GTide · Sep 30, 2015

Let me just say that I disagree and leave it there.

tide96 · Sep 30, 2015

I don't think you really believe that we are going to lose this game. I think you just want us to play the underdog role.

KentuckianaBFan · Sep 30, 2015

tide96 said:
I don't think you really believe that we are going to lose this game. I think you just want us to play the underdog role.

Shhhhhhhhhhh!:wink:

DC Tide · Sep 30, 2015

Thanks, as always, for your excellent previews. It's hard to believe that it has already been 7 years since the Blackout Game. For fun, I thought it'd be neat to go back and re-read the 2008 Georgia game preview. Some of the parallels with this year's preview are interesting:

OVERALL

Georgia leads in five categories, Alabama in three. But there are really only two categories where either team holds a big lead – Georgia at quarterback, Alabama on the offensive line.

Alabama leads in a comparison of UA defensive line vs. Georgia offensive line, but Georgia probably holds a slight edge when things are turned around (i.e., UGA DL vs. UA OL), due to the ability of Georgia linemen to get up the field and Alabama’s pass-blocking concerns on the right side of its line.

The matchup that will decide this game is probably Alabama’s Wilson at quarterback against the Georgia secondary. Alabama can’t be as one-dimensional against Georgia as it was against Tulane, Western Kentucky and Arkansas and expect to win. Wilson will probably have to throw 25-30 times, at least, for Alabama to have a chance.

And if Wilson throws 30 times, he needs to complete 20 of them. Twenty completions would be just one fewer than Alabama’s top three wideouts have combined all year so far. Alabama simply has not been good at making things happen 5 or 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.

It’s for that reason that a couple of different things are expected in this game. One, Georgia should win. Two, the score for both teams should be lower than expected. Neither team has faced an opponent like the one it will see Saturday. Stafford hasn’t gone against a secondary like Alabama’s, and Alabama hasn’t gone against a front seven like Georgia’s.

The game being in Athens – and with a potential national championship on the line for Georgia – also should tilt the emotional balance Georgia’s way. The operative word there is “should,” because Alabama still has much to play for and Georgia has not shown it can consistently keep its head in big games.

What looked like a blowout win for Georgia in the preseason is now much closer. Alabama will have a shot to win this one late, but for the Crimson Tide to pull it off, Alabama will have to show strengths in areas of its game where it has yet to make a showing in 2008.

Georgia 20
Alabama 17

Full preview is here: http://www.tidefans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75929

trenda · Sep 30, 2015

DC Tide said:
Thanks, as always, for your excellent previews. It's hard to believe that it has already been 7 years since the Blackout Game. For fun, I thought it'd be neat to go back and re-read the 2008 Georgia game preview. Some of the parallels with this year's preview are interesting:

Full preview is here: http://www.tidefans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75929

Ha! It's like deja vu all over again. (thought it fitting to slip in a Yogi quote this week)

Bamaro · Sep 30, 2015

tide96 said:
I don't think you really believe that we are going to lose this game. I think you just want us to play the underdog role.

Unfortunately, I dont think that is the case.

81usaf92 · Sep 30, 2015

GrayTide said:
Thanks Jess. You may be labeled an Eeyore for picking against the Tide.

There is a huge difference between a fair breakdown that doesn't favor us and being an eeyore. Take his ATM breakdown last year for example.

92tide · Sep 30, 2015

81usaf92 said:
There is a huge difference between a fair breakdown that doesn't favor us and being an eeyore. Take his ATM breakdown last year for example.

agreed.

TideEngineer08 · Sep 30, 2015

I agree with everything except which team you think is under more pressure. That is clearly Georgia. They are the team that is undefeated. They are the team at home. They are clearly favored to win this game. They are the team and the coach that still has a giant monkey on their backs. All of the pressure is on Georgia in this game, IMO, and that will greatly effect its outcome.

Sure, you can make the point that with a loss, all championship hopes are dashed for Alabama. And while that provides some pressure, it's nothing like what Georgia is going to feel in this game.

CajunCrimson · Sep 30, 2015

Perhaps my memory betrays me, but Jess has always had an elevated respect of the UGA program, at least where making picks are concerned. So, I'm not totally surprised. Also, though -- if you look at the nation as a whole -- college football has become so incredibly difficult to pick games consistently....

Roll Tide!

Check out the records of the CBS "experts" vs the spread.....

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/features/writers/expert/picks

fundytide · Sep 30, 2015

Thanks, Jess. I think this pretty much sums up the matchup. I'd be curious to know your thoughts on Georgia coaching vs. Alabama coaching. Specifically, who is more likely to make successful in-game adjustments? I've been wondering if Pruitt's experience at Bama gives Georgia an advantage in that they know how Saban and Smart like to scheme defensively.

BamaDMD · Sep 30, 2015

81usaf92 said:
There is a huge difference between a fair breakdown that doesn't favor us and being an eeyore. Take his ATM breakdown last year for example.

Absolutely. We are a vey good team and have lots of potential, but we knew in the spring that offense was going to be the question mark this year. It actually has done better than I thought it would be and has great potential if all the pieces fall into place. But we are not there yet and I am hoping that it comes together this game or this will be our (I'm not going to say rebuilding because we have the talent) "retooling year".

92tide · Sep 30, 2015

fundytide said:
Thanks, Jess. I think this pretty much sums up the matchup. I'd be curious to know your thoughts on Georgia coaching vs. Alabama coaching. Specifically, who is more likely to make successful in-game adjustments? I've been wondering if Pruitt's experience at Bama gives Georgia an advantage in that they know how Saban and Smart like to scheme defensively.

georgia still has richt at the helm.

fundytide · Sep 30, 2015

92tide said:
georgia still has richt at the helm.

Ha ha! Richt is good for one 'derp' game per season. Hopefully, this Saturday will be it. In all seriousness though, as closely-matched as these two teams are, if both avoid critical mistakes, this one could come down to in-game adjustments. I'd prefer that it come down (again) to depth and conditioning in the fourth quarter but it might not.

CajunCrimson · Sep 30, 2015

Also - they haven't been tested.....not even a little....

I think when they hand it off to Chubb the first time and he gets 1 or 2 yards....and the first time we deflect a pass at the DL.....reality will start to sink in.

CrimsonForce · Sep 30, 2015

CajunCrimson said:
Also - they haven't been tested.....not even a little....

I think when they hand it off to Chubb the first time and he gets 1 or 2 yards....and the first time we deflect a pass at the DL.....reality will start to sink in.

Yep. I really want to see Chubb (and LF) go up against a real front 7. Now, if Chubb and Fournette run through Alabama's defense as easily as they have everyone else's then go ahead and crown them the next Bo and Herschel. I have a feeling that's not going to be the case though. I think the Bama defense will hold both of them, more so Chubb, well below their averages..

derek4tide · Sep 30, 2015

I love the way the talking heads on ESPN, FoxSports, etc keep referencing the stats for the uga offense this year. I mean, come on man, it's Vandy, SCar, ULM and Southern U. Not exactly a juggernaut of defenses.

JessN: Georgia preview: Bulldogs are masters of efficiency

Administrator & Editor-in-Chief

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

TideFans Legend

All-SEC

All-SEC

1st Team

Hall of Fame

TideFans Legend

TideFans Legend

TideFans Legend

TideFans Legend

Moderator (FB,BB) and Vinyl Enthusiast

1st Team

Hall of Fame

TideFans Legend

1st Team

Moderator (FB,BB) and Vinyl Enthusiast

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

TideFans.shop - NEW Stuff!