One-loss Alabama ranked ahead of undefeated Bulldogs in Super 16 poll

Overreaction narrative: I don’t care if they’re 4-0. It got even worse when backup Tre’ Perrier was also sidelined for a significant amount of time in the Alabama game.

Reality check: Well, yes. I’ve never been through anything like this and neither have our players.

Once this trivial game week was over, and Georgia had secured exactly what it paid for when it cut a check for $650,000 to Southern University – $649,998.75 for the band, $1.25 for the football team – the questions started. South Carolina was the best of the four Georgia victims … Georgia, a consensus top 10 team (though the exact ranking isn’t consistent) will face off against the 13th ranked team in the land. The season starts against the Alabama game.

Mayes believes the familiarity with Pruitt in the second year has led Georgia’s defense to play “more physical”, than last season. This is a winnable game for the Dogs. Unless they just get embarrassed Saturday, the Bulldogs are likely to be favored in the rest of their games. But this is Alabama. “I don’t think we should change anything, ” he said. This week’s game is a major test for: 1) Lambert; 2) The defense. Idaho trailed just16-13 at the half before GSU went insane on the way to 568 yards with the Vandals checking in with 395 yards. Also, he can’t afford turnovers. If the Bulldogs are 12-1 and SEC champs and their only loss was to Alabama, they’re at least on the short list. With a trip to No. 3 Georgia coming up on Saturday, he needs to get better in a hurry.

Roddy White (84), Andy Levitre (67) and Levine Toilolo (80) celebrate a touchdown by running back Devonta Freeman during the Falcons’ win over the Dallas Cowboys. We have an elite pass rusher that will go in the first round of the draft. “But somewhere along the line, our quarterbacks are going to have to make a few plays”.

Saturday night’s showdown in Athens, Georgia will go a long way toward determining whether the demise of Alabama is greatly exaggerated, or, whether the claims are founded and the Tide are on the decline. But sometimes the logical side of my brain is just a rumor. And it sort of looks like that’s the kind of team they have developed there. Alabama had previously beaten only one ranked team in Wisconsin, who was the number 20 team in the nation at the time the two teams played. Jabriel Washington will probably be available for this game. So at the risk of jumping ahead, they could be 5-0 going to New Orleans on a Thursday night (Oct. 15). But it’s doubtful that any team with two losses will make the playoff. Previous year it was the Gurley autograph scandal, followed by his season-ending knee injury, that wrecked last season. There are offensive line and defensive front issues still to be fixed but to be 3-0 when those problems exist exceeds what most expected. All their down linemen are returning starters, and they do a good job of freeing up the linebackers.

“I think Jake has improved and played well”, Saban said. Alabama’s got a really good tradition of running the football. “Players respond well to him, and he’s a good teacher”. Not that I have any problems with Toledo, but no MAC school belongs in the top 20.

Since this game is Between the Hedges, I like UGA’s chances to win a tight ball game by maybe a score over the Alabama Crimson Tide.

A victory over their longtime nemesis, one of only three Southeastern Conference teams that Georgia has a losing record against, would go a long way toward erasing the sting of those defeats. So maybe this is the market correction after overwhelming East Tennessee State (56-16) and then Edward Waters (58-7).