Dogs could get jumped in polls.

[SacFalcFan]

Dogs could get jumped in polls

By Chip Towers | Monday, September 1, 2008, 06:00 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The new Top 25 rankings are not due to come out until Tuesday since Tennessee is playing at UCLA tonight. But there is already a lot of talk that Georgia could fall out of the No. 1 spot.

It’s not so much what the Bulldogs did or didn’t do in their opener against Georgia Southern as what the other Top 5 teams did. All of them won, some more impressively than others. Southern Cal was particularly impressive. The Trojans, ranked third in the AP poll (second in the USA Today/Coaches) won 52-7 at Virginia. That prompted one blogger I read to write, “if there are two teams better than USC they’re in the NFC East.”

No. 2 Ohio State won 43-0 over Youngstown State, No. 4 Oklahoma won 57-2 over UT-Chattanooga and No. 5 Florida won 56-10 over Hawaii. So everybody romped.

Georgia was pretty well cruising, too, until coach Mark Richt called off the Dogs late in the third quarter leading 38-0. The Eagles responded by scoring on touchdowns on three of their next four drives en route to a 45-21 final.

Richt has said repeatedly he’s not interesting in trying to “earn style points” with regard to performing for pollsters. But there’s a good chance there could be some poll movement because the Bulldogs’ margin by which they were named No. 1 was so slim. They got 22 No. 1 votes to Ohio State’s 21 and Southern Cal’s 12 in the AP poll. Georgia had 22 No. 1 votes in the Coaches poll with Southern Cal and Ohio State getting 14 each in that one.

The point is, it won’t take but a couple of folks to change their minds and suddenly the Dogs are looking up at somebody else in the polls. Should that be the case? Would you care if that Georgia dropped a spot or two? Many have said that’s bound to happen anyway in Week 3 when the Buckeyes play at Southern Cal.

Richt sees Bama up close

Alabama looked great in its 34-10 win over Clemson Saturday night. Georgia coach Mark Richt was there to see his son Jon Richt dress out for his first college game (Jon’s redshirting this season) and claims he didn’t notice much about the Crimson Tide.

“Watching that game I didn’t even notice the other team,” quipped Richt, who viewed from a Georgia Dome suite high above the field. “No, they were very impressive, but that’s for another day.”

Richt is cautious with his remarks about the game because he had to get a special waiver from the SEC’s scouting rule in order to be able to attend and see his son. Alabama visits Georgia on Sept. 27.

Tide O-lineman hurt

Speaking of Bama, star offensive lineman Andre Smith had to leave the game with a knee injury but early reports indicate it wasn’t that bad, according to the Mobile Press-Register.

Harvin to return

It looks like Florida may get WR Percy Harvin and LB Brandon Spikes back for this week’s game against Miami in The Swamp, according to the Gainesville Sun. Tim Tebow was impressive in the 56-10 win over Hawaii, particularly because he actually distributed the ball more than he carried it. Not that it should take away from the Gators’ performance but this year’s Hawaii team is a fraction of the one that lost only one game all last season to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl 41-10. No more June Jones, no Colt Brennan, most of their receivers, three of their starting linemen. You just can’t compare.

Kentucky looking strong

Don’t look now but Kentucky might be a team to contend with this season. The Wildcats’ D looked positively dominant in a win 27-2 win over rival Louisville on Sunday. Then again, the Cardinals haven’t looked very good at all since Steve Kragthorpe took over. According to the Lexington-Herald’s Mark Story they’re about ready to run Kragthorpe out of town.

[Headshot]

That would really be stupid if Georgia got jumped because of "style points." The fact that style points even play a role in standings is more than enough reason to change the system.

[jgator21]

That would really be stupid if Georgia got jumped because of "style points." The fact that style points even play a role in standings is more than enough reason to change the system.

Agreed.

[AF89]

That would really be stupid if Georgia got jumped because of "style points." The fact that style points even play a role in standings is more than enough reason to change the system.

For real. Outside of maybe Boxing and Cage fighting (where its possible to win on your own) sports that rely on judges aren't real sports. IMO (from a spectators point of view so nobody give me that crap about how hard gymnastics is)

[SacFalcFan]

yep UGA was jumped by USC in the coaches' poll.. i bet it happens in the ap poll as well.

[slamee101]

:lol:

Whatever.

[SacFalcFan]

NM

[SacFalcFan]

That would really be stupid if Georgia got jumped because of "style points." The fact that style points even play a role in standings is more than enough reason to change the system.

We will see today that style points do matter and mark richt is a terrible coach when it comes to getting style points. If we get to 40 points he just shuts it down. The only reason we scored 45 was due to wanting to get aj green a pass in the end zone.

[slamee101]

NM

We got jumped in the AP too?

[SacFalcFan]

We got jumped in the AP too?

not out yet.

[iQue]

I figured this much, after losing Trinton and now Jeff. We are not the sexy pick anymore, which is completely fine by me.

[slamee101]

I figured this much, after losing Trinton and now Jeff. We are not the sexy pick anymore, which is completely fine by me.

Fine by me too even though I think the rationale is dumb. I just hope our guys use it as motivation.

[slamee101]

Jumped in both polls. This is just stupid...I'm glad UVA is considered a powerhouse and leaving your starters in the game into the 4th quarter pays off.

[atripes]

No offense, but preseason rankings as a whole are a joke. Being #1 preseason should mean nothing to what your post week 1 ranking is. You should be ranked based upon your play, and USC played better than Georgia as a whole (backups included... yes they are still a part of the team). If preseason polls are necessary, then the previous year national champ should be #1 and the loser should be #2. Georgia fans putting all their worth into preseason rankings is kind of laughable.

The previous year's national champion was the best team in the nation the last time a game was played, and the loser was 2nd best in the nation. It should remain the same week 1 since no games have been played.

[Shaud]

If the coaches knew they would jump USC up to number 1 if they beat UVA then they should of just voted USC number 1 in the preseason.

This just makes no sense, but UGA still controls their on destiny so that is good.

[SacFalcFan]

No offense, but preseason rankings as a whole are a joke. Being #1 preseason should mean nothing to what your post week 1 ranking is. You should be ranked based upon your play, and USC played better than Georgia as a whole (backups included... yes they are still a part of the team). If preseason polls are necessary, then the previous year national champ should be #1 and the loser should be #2. Georgia fans putting all their worth into preseason rankings is kind of laughable.

The previous year's national champion was the best team in the nation the last time a game was played, and the loser was 2nd best in the nation. It should remain the same week 1 since no games have been played.

UGA was not outplayed by usc. UGA did nothing to deserve to drop to #2 in the rankings. Also 3rd stringers and walkons are not part of the equation of who should or shouldln't be #1. UGA didn't have their QB in the game in the 4th qtr like usc did. UGA shut it down and could have score 70 points, but didn't do it. A team shouldn't be penalized for not running up the score on another team.

Teams don't stay the same and thus you don't keep the #1 the year before the #1 next season. That makes no sense. If graduations didn't happen and players didn't leave early and you can say that all the teams were almost the same then that would work, but that doesn't happen..