Final Feelings: Georgia Bulldogs Ready for Rain, 2022 Home Opener
DON’T MISS OUT: Get our insider newsletter today!
ATHENS - Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are getting ready for the 2022 home opener. We’ve got you covered with this week’s final feelings.
Matt’s Final Feelings: We’re back at it again. Week Two of Final Feelings.
Let’s jump right into it.
I had a strong feeling that Georgia would cover against Oregon and make it look easy. I DID NOT expect them to win by 46 points and STILL take the entire 4th quarter off. The defense wasn’t perfect, but they still have the potential to be one of the best defenses in college football this season and played better than I expected them to play against the Ducks.
The offense was the story, though. Todd Monken created a game-plan that worked and the offense, led by Stetson Bennett, executed it to perfection.
Now comes the rat poison. OF course, the rat poison only comes out when you have a great team. He might not say it, but Kirby Smart wants the rat poison. He loves it. It gives him a chance to tell his players to block out the noise and “keep chopping”. It always gives him a reason to get after his team when they don’t practice at a championship level, which happened on Tuesday.
The Dawgs won with ease, and showed the rest of college football that they’re about to make another run at a national championship.
But enough about Georgia embarrassing Oregon in front of the entire country. Let’s take a trip down memory lane.
This weekend marks the 5-year anniversary of Notre Dame weekend. On September 8, 2017, the Dawg Post crew drove up to Chicago to check out the Windy City before heading to South Bend the next day.
After a long day on the road, your boy was ready to throw down. When we got to Chicago, the first thing we did was meet up with some Dawg Posters in Wrigleyville (big thanks to Dean for making that happen). After some beers, beers, and more beers, I remember stumbling to Wrigley Field for a rare Cubs night game. When we geo to our seats, I remember looking around and seeing red EVERYWHERE. I heard a hundred Georgia fans “Calling the Dawgs” in the restroom at one point.
Those Cubs fans had no idea what was going on - just a great memory.
The next day was one of the biggest Georgia games in program history. Not only did Georgia beat the Irish, but that victory was the start of one of the best five-year stretches in program history. After a tough 2016 season, the program needed that win. Kirby Smart needed that win. And ever since that win, the Bulldogs have had one of the top programs in college football.
Now back to the present. The Bulldogs might play in a monsoon against Samford, so I’m expecting a shutout from the defense. Offensively, I think the game-plan might be run, run, and run some more. I expect them to have a 35-0 or 42-0 halftime lead, and then end the game as soon as possible in the 2nd half.
All I want to see is an injury-free game and to see some of the younger guys get some action. I want to see more MJ Sherman and Xavian Sorey on defense, more Branson Robinson running the ball, I want to see Dillon Bell at receiver. Give me some Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton in the 2nd half. I want to see Oscar Delp out there getting some passes his way. That’s what I’m looking for.
Give me a 52-0 Georgia victory come Saturday night.
As for the rest of the games…
Earlier this week I felt that Florida would edge out Kentucky in the Swamp. After thinking about it, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Gators come out flat and fall on their face after a big win in week one. The Cats didn’t look great in week one, but I think they’ll come into the Swamp ready to play. Maybe I’m way off here, but I think Kentucky upsets the Gators on Saturday.
Alabama is going to embarrass Texas. The Longhorns might move the ball here and there, but the Tide are going to cover the -20.5.
Pittsburgh and Tennessee is an interesting one. Part of me thinks the Vols will meltdown against a quality team on the road, but I do think they’re a program heading in the right direction. I’ll take Tennessee to cover the -6 and win with a late touchdown.
South Carolina and Spencer Rattler did not look great against Georgia State in week one. The Razorbacks are solid, and they’ll beat the Gamecocks at home. I’ll take Arkansas -8.
Celebrate Georgia's 2021 NATIONAL TITLE
Check out DAWGSTRUCTION NOW!
Ryan’s Final Feelings: I woke up today ready to get after it. I went to sleep before midnight, and I feel invincible. Do you know how often I go to sleep by midnight? Almost never. I might start trying it more, but I am only going to be young for so long.
I am going to hoop today. Feeling energized enough to dunk, but I haven’t thrown one down in a year. Stay tuned. I will let you know if I lost my bounce next week.
In my opinion, we have an interesting week of football ahead, and the NFL is back. Man, I am so happy.
It is probably going to be a rainy day in Athens. We managed to avoid rain in all 13 outdoor games that the Dawgs played in last season. I don’t want to break that streak, but it is not up to me.
What I am looking for this week is a little bit more downfield passing. Against Oregon, the offense moved the ball upfield with a lot of quick, side-to-side passing. That’s fine. If it works, it works, and it worked really well against Oregon. But, I want to see them go downfield a few times against Samford, and I want to see a little more involvement from the tight ends.
On defense, they should shutout a team like Samford. I think they shouldn't even bend that much. Do they get better pressure on the quarterback? Do the linebackers flock to the ball better?
If it’s raining, we are going to see all four scholarship running backs get at least a handful of carries. I think that this game is great for developing your depth and younger guys. Carson Beck (not a younger guy anymore), Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton should all see the field. Even if Stockton only gets in for one drive, those moments matter in his development.
I think Georgia covers the 52-point spread. I’m going with 59-6 as the final. Allowing a couple field goals is nothing to be ashamed of.
My Birds better beat the Aints on Sunday. I hope they go 2-15. They should beat the Aints twice and then lose the rest. I am all in on the tank. We need a more talented quarterback or a game changer on defense. They aren’t trying to tank. In fact, they’ll probably grab six or seven games just to spite me.
Pain.
It’s crazy that I am excited to watch the Falcons. They suck. I hate that they do. I deserve more from them. I really believe that. I’ve given them so much. I wish Matt Ryan the best in Indianapolis. I hope he gets that ring. The Colts are my sleeper Super Bowl team.
Back to college.
Alabama is gonna rock Texas’ sh*t. Enough said. Easy cover.
Florida-Kentucky is the matchup to watch this week. I think the Gators are going to sneak away with this one. Primetime in the Swamp is not a good combination for the Cats. I do think Kentucky is probably a little more well-rounded. I have been sleeping on Anthony Richardson. I need to see more if he is going to wake me up. One game is not enough for me.
That goes for the rest of the country, and Georgia as well. I need to see more football to have a better idea. I will feel pretty good about what we are dealing with after Week 3.
I think Tennessee gets by Pitt and covers the 6-point spread. They were explosive in that first game. Pitt will be a much better challenge, but I think they handle it. Kedon Slovis disappointed me against West Virginia.
How good is Texas A&M? They did not look great to me last week. Pay attention to that game against App State. I’m not sure what we are going to see.
USC is another team I really need to see more of. Going to play Stanford on the road will tell us a lot more. I think they are definitely more talented and grab that win.
You know what bothers me? All these people from my high school (and even people I know in college) keep getting engaged. Slow down bro. Chill out. You don’t even have money. How on Earth did you get that ring? How are you guys going to live?
I could not be further from that right now. If they are happy, then good for them, and maybe some of you got married between 18-22. It doesn’t even bother me because I am single. I’ve preferred the single life in college. It just weirds me out to see people I know. I’m going to be in the wedding party for one of these. That is weird. There’s my rant.
Dean’s Final Feelings: So here come the Trees across the country to face Georgia in Sanford Stadium. Its back-to-back fights for Kirby’s No. 2 Dawgs against the Pac 12. That league has had quite a summer. Things have been… what’s the word… concerning.
I’m not sure where Stanford fits into the future of college football, but it does, in a way, seem like a fit for the Big Ten. We will see if that happens or not. I would be floored if we ever saw the Trees align with the Big 12 - that’s not their brand.
A week ago, Stanford took out Colgate 41-10. That you allowed ten points to a Patriot League program is something David Shaw will have to figure out.
What’s that? Georgia is playing SAMford - not Stanford?
I’m not sure what that means.
No matter who Georgia beats this weekend there is still a fair amount to keep track of. The Dawgs’ defense was pretty good a week ago. And that was the spot insiders were most concerned about - would the defense be ready to go at the start of the season?
Looks like the answer it yes.
The speed was there. The shutdown of the run game wasn’t quite the same as it has been in the past. But its not like Oregon was running wild, either. When Bo Nix doesn’t have a Superman play in a game you’re doing OK.
And the thinking inside Kirby’s program is that Georgia will get better as the season goes on defensively. They’ll have to because they will get challenged. Tennessee is going to try to run up and down the field. Georgia will have to prove that it can slow down the Vols in November. Usually someone plays better than you expect (the Gators), and someone plays worse (the Taters; the Aggies - even Oregon).
None of those teams are on Georgia’s level right now, but it goes to show how wrong we can be about teams in the offseason. That said, it was one game for those teams. The Gators have a very tough fight this weekend with Kentucky.
That game will go a long way in figuring out who the real challenger in the East is to the Dawgs. I might be naive, but I think Kentucky wins the game straight up. Their offensive line play wasn’t what you wanted a week ago, but Stoops had built a solid foundation, and the Cats are pretty good.
We will see. I view that game as a tossup, but I’ll take the Cats - even with the game away from the Commonwealth.
Clemson is on sabbatical until they travel to Wake Forest for a game they should win going away. It does appear FSU has interest in fighting this season, and Miami looks halfway legit. NC State comes to Clemson the first Saturday in October. Of course the Tigers head to Notre Dame in November.
An undefeated season looks unlikely for Dabs.
We should say the same thing about A&M, but I would be quite cautious over these next few weeks. App State scored at will on Carolina (who is not great defensively and goofed around with FAMU for too long), and Miami looks like a very serious threat. If the Canes score 50+ on Southern Miss watch out.
Have you seen the new iPhones that were announced Wednesday? I’ve got an iPhone 11, and I’ve been waiting to grab this new phone.
Daddy’s putting his order in Friday morning. I’ve had this phone since the summer of 2020. I value my computers more than my phone, but I use my phone much more. When you do what we do for a living your computer is more important.
You can’t write an article on your phone - not if you are doing things the right way. You certainly can’t punch the hundreds of buttons you have to during the week with your phone exclusively. Still, it should be an improvement.
My current phone has been getting warm lately - I’m waiting for it to catch fire.
Quick picks:
Georgia covers the -52
Kentucky over the Gators straight up
Give me Texas and the points in a backdoor cover over the Tide (-20.5)
Arkansas covers the -9 vs. the Chickens
Take your Atlanta Falcons (+5.5) at the points in a loss against the Saints
We will see you from a rainy Sanford Stadium on Saturday.
