The Cristal Baller: Georgia

Welcome to the Cristal Baller, where we make wholly unsubstantiated predictions on how all of the SEC teams will be performing in the 2009 season. Just like in Hollywood casting, couch time is rewarded with preferential treatment.

Last season found the Dawgs (sick ‘em?) ranked pre-season number 1 with a veteran QB/RB combo of Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. While they ended up with a respectable 9-3 regular season record, big losses to Alabama, Florida, and Georgia Tech made the season somewhat underwhelming. It didn’t help that the offense sputtered in big situations and the defense gave up an average of almost 26 points per game.

This year’s Georgia team is a bit of a question mark. Playing the role of Matt Stafford this season will be Jr. QB Joe Cox. From my own personal experience, QBs with Cox for a last name tend to be slow moving with a penchant for underthrowing receiver’s routes (See: Cox, Brandon), but I wish the Bulldogs the best with him. WR A.J. Green will continue to be a big play threat, but Georgia’s offensive line is going to have to step up for every game to help their inexperienced QB in a conference that traditionally doesn’t fare well for first year starting QBs. The Bulldogs also start their year against a solid Big 12 opponent in Ok. St. which could make or break them on the season. These are by far my most questionable picks because neither I, you, or Lindsey Lohan have a clue as to what Georgia is going to do this season.

Season Predictions: 8-4

Oklahoma St. 28 UGA 17
No matter how I look at this game, I can’t see UGA pulling it out. The cowboys are coming off a very solid 2008 season with more experience and some solid performances against some of the country’s best (including a “much closer that the score indicated” game against Oklahoma). Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are rebuilding their offense around Cox, and their defense is suspect at best.

South Carolina 24 UGA 21
I’ve said before that I think the Gamecocks are going to be a dangerous team this season because of how they play and where they are on certain teams’ schedules. Georgia is one of those teams. Look for SC to succeed where they came up short on their final drive during last year’s nail biter against the Dawgs.

Arkansas 31 UGA 28
I feel like the Arkansas offense is going to hit their stride this year and make some serious waves in the SEC. This will be one of those games, as the Razorback offense is coming in with home field advantage and even more experience than last year against an inconsistent UGA defense. Arkansas’ offense simply matches up better against UGA’s defense than vice versa, and that’s going to make the difference.

UGA 24 Arizona St. 10
This should almost be a repeat of last year’s game (which ended with a Dawgs win 27-10). The Sun Devils could be a threat, but I see the superior talent of Georgia carrying them through this home game easily.

UGA 17 LSU 14
I know what you’re saying at this point, “How the hell does this moron pick UGA to lose to Arkansas but win against LSU?!?!?!” This is how: LSU is OVERRATED this year, and this is a home game for the Bulldogs. I think this will be one of the best SEC games of the year, and will come down to Les Miles yet again making some incomprehensibly dumbshit call to attempt to win the game, except this time lady luck will give him a dirty sanchez and laugh at him.

UGA 28 Tennessee 14
Yes, I know that Tennessee has Eric Berry on defense, but he’s about all they’ve got. Look for an inexperienced Georgia squad with talent to railroad a less talented Tennessee squad that should be gasping for breath at this point under rookie SEC head coach Elaine Kiffen. I’m kind of hoping that Cox starts putting things together at this point in the season.

UGA 21 Vandy 10
Even building on last year’s success, I can’t see the Commodores topping UGA this year, unless the Bulldogs are absolutely decimated with injuries at this point. Look for a close game in the first quarter, followed by Georgia extending their lead and giving up some garbage points in the 4th.

Florida 38 UGA 10
I can actually see why Georgia coach Mark Richt wanted to move the GA/FL game to a “more neutral site” like Atlanta, because who the hell wants to play football in Jacksonville in late October (when it’s still damn hot). Don’t pay any attention to the fact that the stadium is almost always split 50/50 between FL and GA fans. Oh, the game? That’s not going to go well for the Bulldogs, who I expect to lose 2 players to injuries/being eaten because of Brandon Spikes alone.

UGA 28 Tenn. Tech 6
This is a gimme game. I’m looking for the Bulldogs to vent some serious frustration on the… hold on a second… this takes forever to load… (there it is!) Golden Eagles. Whew. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to figure out that mystery in time, but there you go.

UGA 24 Auburn 17
The Auburn defense will hold up well against the Bulldogs, but will eventually wear down due to offensive miscues by the Tigers. I hope to God that I’m wrong on this pick, but frankly I don’t think I am. Aw shucks, the fact that this game is being played in Athens doesn’t help matters much. I don’t really want to talk about this anymore.

UGA 31 Kentucky 10
By this point in the season I think we’ll see Rich Brooks’ squad run down and out of what little luck they had to start the season, while Cox and the UGA offense should be getting their feet under them a bit. Look for garbage points for Kentucky in the 4th and tears from Rich Brooks’ eyes in the 3rd.

UGA 24 Georgia Tech 17
The Dawgs come into this little affair with a bit of a chip on their shoulder after a soul crushing loss to the Yellow Jackets last year. I heard that Mark Richt needed a whole box of Oreos and a pint of Hagen Daas to get over last years loss. This year he will be celebrating with the same menu.