Picking the Winners: Week 12

Big weeks for both of us last week, so let's keep the hot streak going...

Dan: I went 6-4 last week which is pretty nice if you hadn’t gone 8-2. What can one do? I was spot on with all of my selections except for my two SEC picks of Mississippi State and Tennessee, who got routed. Of course my Hokies also took it to me as well, but how was I supposed to know that Maryland is THAT bad? And while we are on the subject of Maryland, how in the world did they beat the Dabos? That is mind boggling. Anyway on to this week.

Dave: Last week, I guaranteed seven winners after embarrassing myself for most of the season. Not only did I deliver on my promise, I went one better. And even better than that -- my eight-win week moved us into a deadlock in the standings for the season (although both of our records still suck). So with just a few weeks to go in the regular season, the battle for the Jager Cup (which I assume is what we'll call the trophy awarded to the winner) is heating up. I'm not quite as confident this week, but I'm still feeling another winning record...

NC State (+19.5) at Virginia Tech

Dan: Has there been a more disappointing program in the ACC than NC State? I say no. The offense can put up points with anyone but the defense can not stop anyone. A good example is the Maryland game. Somehow NC State allowed 31 to that thing Maryland calls an offense. Ouch. I think even Turd Taylor can put that many up on NC State. Speaking of disappointing performances, that was my drinking performance last weekend. Wow. What a light weight. I was about five beers in and my head was already spinning and I couldn’t think straight. Back in the day I was an easy 12 beer, 4 jager, 3 car bomb, pee on my buddy’s sofa, call everyone out kind of guy. Not anymore. Five beers and then to bed for me.As for this week I guess I’ll put my faith in the Hokies… Virginia Tech 49, NC State 14.

Dave: I should have been 9-1 last week, but you had me so convinced of Virginia Tech's sulkiness that I figured they couldn't cover a big spread against Maryland. Serves me right for listening to anything you have to say. It's just like when I used to listen to you when you'd tell me that four Jager bombs before going out was a good idea. That never ended well either.

Having said that, let's take a closer look at NC State. The Wolfpack has lost five of their last six. The only win? A seven-point home win over that same Maryland team that Tech just went on the road and thumped by 25. Yes, Russell Wilson is good, and State's offense can move the ball. But close to 70 percent of the Pack's offense comes from Wilson's arm, and Virginia Tech has the ACC's top pass defense and the fifth-best pass defense in the country. Perhaps if Chuck Amato's man boobs were still on the sideline to distract Virginia Tech, this might be a close one. But alas, that won't be the case… Virginia Tech 45, NC State 20.

Mississippi State (+11) at Arkansas

Dan: Ryan Mallet is one of those QBs who isn’t very good, however, he puts up big numbers against horrid competition which artificially inflates his stats. Last week he was 23-for-30 for 405 yards against Troy. However, when he faced Ole Miss he was 12-of-34. Against Florida, he was 12-of-27. Against Alabama, 12-of-35. So enough with the hype of Ryan Mallet being a pro prospect. He stinks. He is just not a good player. This week they face a Mississippi State team that is really going to struggle to move the football and at times struggles to stop offenses. Essentially Mallet gets another chance to inflate his stats. Unbelievable… Arkansas 31, Mississippi State 13.

Dave: I hate Jerruh Jones. He drives me up a wall. He's a moron, he looks more like Michael Jackson every week, and he uses the word "literally" when he actually means "figuratively" (i.e. "Pacman Jones is literally on a high wire without a net"). And now his affiliation with the Cotton Bowl (the game is played in the new Jerruh World) could mean his alma mater, Arkansas, gets a bid to a bowl game it doesn't deserve. The trickle down from that is that I'll end up getting screwed on a bowl game, possibly missing out on New Year's Eve festivities while I feverishly write on deadline at the Chick-fil-A Bowl instead. I'm hoping they at least have free peppermint milk shakes there. I deserve something.

As for this game, Mississippi State has more on the line this week, needing to win out to get to bowl eligibility. Moreover, the other Bulldogs have lost only two games this season by more than 11 points (at Auburn in Week 2 and last week against Alabama). And Anthony Dixon and the MSU rushing offense are pretty darned good.

But here's the other side of that coin: You discussed Mallett's bad games, but you neglected one important fact -- they all came on the road. It's an oddity that Arkansas plays eight home games this season, but that's been big for the Hogs. Check out Mallett's splits:

On the road, he's 36-of-96 (38 percent) for 638 yards (213 per game) with three TDs and 1 pick and an 0-3 record. Plus three of his four worst games in terms of passing yards came on the road.
At home, Mallett is 139-of-198 (70 percent) for 2,247 yards (321 per game) with 20 TDs and 3 interceptions and a 6-1 record.

This one is at home again, and I expect Mallett to be sharp… Arkansas 41, Mississippi State 20.

Oklahoma (-4.5) at Texas Tech

Dan: I was going to write here that the most disappointing conference this year is the Big 12, but I must admit that pretty much all the conferences are disappointing outside of the Pac 10. Oklahoma sits here at 6-4 on the year and they are probably still the second best team in their conference. That is pretty bad if you ask me. I hate taking the road favorite here but I guess I will as Texas Tech has had some big QB issues this year as everyone keeps getting hurt… Oklahoma 27, Texas Tech 20.

Dave: Texas Tech seems like they might be OK this year, posting a 3-3 record in the Big 12. But look at that again: Against the crappy Big 12 North, the Red Raiders are 3-0. Against the more potent Big 12 South, they're 0-3.

But I've been catching up on "Friday Night Lights" this week, and I loved Mike Leach's cameo as a random customer at a gas station chatting with Kyle Chandler about pirates. You just can't beat seeing Mike Leach act. This week, I think he acts like a coach who can beat Oklahoma… Texas Tech 30, Oklahoma 27.

Connecticut (+6) at Notre Dame

Dan: I for one am excited about Notre Dame losing to UConn this weekend, then losing to Stanford, making their once promising season end at 6-6. Take that Domers! You have to enjoy how the media could not contain themselves talking about Notre Dame being a BCS team when they hadn’t beaten anyone this year. Heck, they lost to Michigan! The same Michigan team that is 1-6 in conference and has Rich Rod as their coach. This week I do not see things getting any easier for them… Connecticut 27, Notre Dame 24.

Dave: Ralph Freidgen is on the verge of being canned after a disastrous year at Maryland. Mark Mangino is now under fire from former players who have accused him of harassment and is being investigated by his own university. Andy Reid is once again ruining the Eagles season and driving my blood pressure to a very unhealthy level. And our boy Charlie Weis is the subject of constant speculation about his future with Notre Dame.

Bottom line: It's a bad year to be a fat head coach.

Part of me thinks that, with the writing on the wall, Notre Dame simply isn't hungry for a win this week (pun intended) and may be resigned to their fate. Weis will get canned, Clausen head to the NFL, and the rest of this year means nothing. But the logical side of this says that UConn's pass defense ranks 76th in the nation and Jimmy the D-Bag will be able to throw for 600 yards. I hate to do this, but I'm going to go with the Irish… Notre Dame 30, Connecticut 23.

LSU (+3) at Ole Miss

Dan: Talk about another QB that stinks this year. Check out Jevan Snead. Wow. He makes Ryan Mallet look like an All-American. Lucky for him he has Dexter McCluster to hand the ball off to. That guy is a player. Ole Miss has been rather feisty at home this year as they have taken it to all teams that have visited. Except Alabama, when Snead gift wrapped them that game (11-of-34, 0 TDs, 4 picks). I look for Ole Miss to pound the rock to Dexter all day long and bring home the win… Ole Miss 27, LSU 17.

Dave: I was really excited earlier this year because I was under the mistaken impression that Georgia would play in Oxford next year. I knew LSU was coming off the schedule, and I had it in my head that the Dawgs picked up Ole Miss in the West as a replacement. Not to be. Instead of heading to The Grove, I'll be shuffling off to Starkville on Sept. 25. Ugh. What a bummer.

Starkville and Oxford are the only two SEC cities I haven't visited yet, which is ironic since most fans seem to think they are, respectively, the worst and the best towns in the conference. Alas, I'll have to wait until 2011 before I can truly judge. In the meantime, here's how I rank the SEC cities:

1. Athens. I'm not just saying this to be a homer. I love Athens. Tons of fun stuff to do, tons of good places to eat, tons of cheap drinks to be purchased. And on game day, it's amazing. But I must say, if folks keep trashing North Campus on game day, the well-earned reputation as one of the best college towns in American could take a big hit.

2. Baton Rouge. I'll be honest, this is the one town that would really push Athens for me. For one, while a lot of college towns sort of seem the same, you KNOW when you're in Baton Rouge. It's different than anywhere else you'll go. The fans at LSU are crazy, the atmosphere around the stadium is great, the noise in the stadium is intense and, well, you just can't top the proximity to New Orleans. Last year's trip was by far the best road trip I've been on. So much fun.

3. Auburn. I kind of feel like Auburn is like Diet Athens. It's a cool, small town. There's a good atmosphere among the fans. And I really like Jordan Hare. Of all the games I've been to, I think the crowd at Jordan Hare has been consistently the loudest. (NOTE: I haven't been to a night game at LSU, so that might change the previous statement if I had.) On the whole, Auburn doesn't stack up to Athens, but it's still a fun time.

4. Nashville. In terms of college towns, I'd rank Nashville toward the bottom of this list. But overall, it's a fun city. It's just that the fun has nothing to do with Vanderbilt. I did like covering a game at Vandy though, simply because it's almost like covering a high school game. Very low maintenance. It was a nice change of pace. Besides, if you're in Vandy, you almost know it'll be a noon kickoff, so you can get out early and start enjoying the nightlife. Oh, and the sweet potato pancakes at Pancake Pantry add major bonus points.

5. Fayetteville. I had never been to Fayetteville before this year, but everyone kept telling me I'd be surprised by how much fun it was. They were right. Yes, the woo-pig-sooey chant is obnoxious. But beyond that, I found the Arkansas fans to be pleasant, and the nightlife to be fun. The only downside is that every attractive girl I saw there was a Georgia fan in town for the game.

6. Lexington. I lived in Lexington for a year, so I know it as well as any SEC city. There's a lot to like about Lexington, but after being there a few months, the town reminded me of Delaware way too much for me to really appreciate it. That said, McCarthy's Bar is great, Pazzo's Pizza is delightful, and I cannot wait until next year's road trip there in October when I can make my way over to Keeneland -- by far the most beautiful horse racing track I've ever been to -- for a weekend of losing money.

7. Tuscaloosa. Maybe my impressions are not well founded, but it just seemed like a run-down town to me. I get the passion for football there, and that's commendable, but I'm not a big fan of the town itself. But, hey, Dreamland ribs do make up for a lot of other deficiencies.

8. Knoxville. I don't really like Knoxville that much, but I will say this: the tailgating on the river is probably the coolest tailgating area in the SEC. Also, I got to see cops beat the crap out of a guy in the middle of the street the last time I was there, so that was fun. But by and large Knoxville has the least attractive fans of any SEC team and with all the booing they did of Marlon Brown, I wouldn't exactly call them a classy bunch either. I mean, if you're going to be ugly, shouldn't you at least try to make up for it with some personality?

9. Gainesville. I'll be honest, I didn't enjoy my lone trip to Gainesville, but I was there for hoops and not football. Because Georgia and Florida only play in Jacksonville, I've never had the luxury of seeing what Florida's campus is like on game day. That probably hurts my opinion a bit, and prevents me from seeing enough ditzy blondes in jean shorts.

10. Columbia. I've been to Columbia numerous times as our pal Ken went to school there and always made sure to keep our bellies full of airplane bottles of liquor when we visited. (This was back when bars in SC weren't allowed to pour from bottles.) But Columbia just isn't a college town. There's no real campus feel to it. Getting to and from the stadium is awful on game day and the only thing memorable around the stadium is a giant open field. I have tons of respect for the dedication of South Carolina fans in spite of having very little to cheer about, but Columbia is just not on the same level as the rest of the SEC towns.

As for this game, I'm not sure what to make of it. Ole Miss has played just four Division I teams that currently have a winning record, and they're 1-3 against them. That lone win came against Arkansas, which I believe is a bit overrated. Jevan Snead is brutal and has just seven TDs and 12 INTs against BCS conference foes this season. But Ole Miss has survived thanks to Dexter McCluster, who has topped 200 total yards in his past three games.

With Charles Scott out, I'm not sure if LSU has the offense to put this game away at any point, but the Tigers' defense is solid and I'm thinking they get a few picks from Snead that set up a couple of easy scores. That'll be the difference… LSU 24, Ole Miss 21.

Oregon (-5) at Arizona

Dan: What to make of Arizona? They have extremely impressive wins vs. Stanford and at Oregon State. But that seems like years ago. They have since lost to an OK Cal team and Washington. Last week their offense looked like a shell of what it had been as they could barely move the ball up and down the field. I hate taking the road favorite here but I will be a square and do it… Oregon 35, Arizona 20.

Dave: The Ducks can lock up the Pac 10 with a win. Stoops brothers don't win big games. This one should be easy… Oregon 31, Arizona 17.

Vanderbilt (+17) at Tennessee

Dan: Isn’t it funny that three Tennessee players were involved in that armed robbery attempt and the only one left is the five-star recruit who had significant playing time his year. Hmmmmmmmm. Lane Kiffin wants to get all the facts first on him before dismissing him. Riggggggghhhhhhhhtttt. If he is a three-star or four-star, he is gone. Not a five-star though. Gotta keep him around. That is how I feel at least. As for this game I haven’t a clue, so I will take the points… Tennessee 24, Vanderbilt 13.

Dave: Two things you may not have noticed about Tennessee this season amid all the hype over Lane Kiffin and convenience store robberies and other such nonsense:

First, did you realize that the Vols are just 5-5? Most of the SEC rankings I see have them rated as the fourth or fifth best team in the SEC and most people are predicting they get a better bowl bid than Georgia. But if Tennessee doesn't win one of its final two games, they won't even be going to a bowl. Why does a couple of semi-close games against Florida and Alabama make people forget that the Vols lost to UCLA, were blown out by Ole Miss and struggled to beat Ohio?

Second, has anyone noticed that Jonathan Crompton has actually turned into a decent quarterback? I know, I know, it's so fun to make fun of the guy. After all, the mustache was hilarious. But look at his numbers in his last five games: 94-of-151 (62 percent), 244 yards per game, 16 TDs and only two interceptions. Meanwhile Tennessee is averaging 32 points per game during that stretch.

What I'm saying here is, Tennessee is worse than people think, but Crompton is better than people think. And since every part of Vandy's team stinks, I'm going to say the Vols get to six wins this week with ease (but they'll lose next week to Kentucky)… Tennessee 35, Vanderbilt 10.

California (+7) at Stanford

Dan: I love the Pac 10. I used to rip on the Pac 10 but I love the Pac 10 now. I think that I am secretly jealous of the offenses they have out there. And there is no better offense than this Stanford team. Wow! A 55-21 pasting of USC last weekend. I was speechless. It is good to see USC finally taking their lumps this year. As for Cal, have they ever done anything on the road? Ever? Nope… Stanford 35, Cal 17.

Dave: Stanford played spoiler for Oregon and put the final nail in USC's coffin, and the Tree is riding high. But here's my theory: Stanford is a bunch of smart, nerdy kids, much like Patrick Dempsey's character in "Can't Buy Me Love." Like Dempsey, Stanford found its way into the popular crowd, upstaging some of the cool kids along the way. Now everyone loves them. But we know how movies like this go, right? There's always a moment where the bottom falls out. I think Cal gives Stanford the Dempsey treatment this week… Cal 33, Stanford 30.

Ohio State (-12) at Michigan

Dan: I still think Terrell Pryor stinks. He is constantly bailed out by a good defense. One of these years he will not have a good defense, and he will have to rally his team for a win and it will be comical. Could you imagine watching him run a two-minute offense? Lol. So congrats Ohio St! You beat an Iowa team who had a backup QB playing. This same backup QB was 9-of-27 against Northwestern. Real quality win!

As for this game I think something weird is going to happen. I just can smell it. Rich Rod saves the day with a win, thus keeping him around another year in Ann Arbor where they stink it up again next year… Michigan 24, Ohio State 21.

Dave: I wanted to predict the upset in this game, too, but now that you have, I don't think I can do it. That said, 12 points seems like a lot to give Michigan at home, even if they are terrible this year. I firmly believe Ohio State stinks, too. Then again, Michigan has been blown out in three of its last four. Then again, they're 5-2 at home this season with only one really ugly loss. Then again, this is the Big Ten and I've already written too much about it… Ohio State 27, Michigan 20.

Rutgers (-8) at Syracuse

Dan: Boy Dave, you must be happy that the college basketball season is here. I flipped on the Cuse game last night and they were busy trucking what was supposed to be a good Cal team. Seems that they just continue to reload each year which has to make you happy. Time for me to put a damper on your little party though. How many more years do you think Boeheim will be coach? And when he retires, do you think your program will go the way of your football program? That would not be fun. Have a good weekend… oh and Cuse doesn’t cover again… Rutgers 28, Syracuse 17.

Dave: Can I even begin to tell you how excited I am for Syracuse-North Carolina tonight? I have a number of people I'm looking forward to taunting as Cuse runs up the score on Roy Williams and Co.

But here's an interesting wager for you: Syracuse has scored just 87 points in their past six football games (in which they are 1-5). I'm betting the hoops team tops that number tonight. And they won't even need Greg Paulus to hit any 3s to make it happen.

As for the football game, I'll give a tip of my cap to one of my readers, Paul, who is a big Scarlet Knights fan… Rutgers 28, Syracuse 14.

Last week: Dan 6-4, Dave 8-2.
Season: Dan 44-56-2 (.440), Dave 44-56-2 (.440).

Behind Enemy Lines: Kentucky Wildcats

As we do every Friday, it's time to take a trip behind enemy lines and get the inside scoop on what's happening with this week's opponent, the Kentucky Wildcats. This week, the news comes courtesy of Chip Cosby, the UK beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

David Hale: Kentucky will be without Mike Hartline for the remainder of the season. What can you tell us about Warren Newton? How much will Rich Brooks ask him to do in this game?



Chip Cosby: Morgan Newton was one of the gems of UK's 2009 recruiting class, a four-star prospect by Scout. He's got great physical tools, 6-4, 220, good mobility, live arm. But he's very raw in the passing game when it comes to making reads and going through his progressions. Brooks and the coaching staff didn't ask him to do much last week against Vandy, instead relying on the running game. But if UK is to have a chance to win at Georgia, they'll have to take the handcuffs off and give Newton a chance to throw downfield some.



DH: Looking back at last year's game in Lexington, Randall Cobb nearly beat Georgia by himself. Kentucky has certainly put him to use all over the place this season, but with Hartline out, are we likely to see a little more of Cobb in the Wildcat and maybe even used a bit as a passer? And what's his health status at the moment?



CC: It all depends on health. Cobb is coming in with a bruised shoulder and is officially listed as questionable. It'd be a shock if he didn't at least try to play, but the bigger issue is how healthy he will be. If he's OK, he'll be Kentucky's No. 1 target in the passing game and will get plenty of snaps at quarterback in the Wildcat formation. Whenever Kentucky needs a big play, expect to see the ball in his hands in some way, shape or fashion.



DH: Kentucky runs for more than 200 yards per game, but Georgia's defensive line has been strong and the Dawgs have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season. How do you see the matchup of Derrick Locke & Co. going up against Georgia's big defensive line playing out?


CC: That will be the most intriguing matchup of the night. The Kentucky offensive line has been very good so far this season, not only in pass protection, but opening holes for Derrick Locke and the running game. But Brooks said this week that they'll face their biggest challenge of the year in Georgia's D-line, calling them better than both Alabama and Florida. Kentucky's going to come out and try and establish the run. Whoever wins the battle at the line of scrimmage will likely win the game.



DH: Kentucky's overall stats against the run look pretty bad, but much of that was done against Mississippi State and Florida's spread-options. How do the Wildcats stack up against a more traditional I-formation backfield like Georgia runs?



CC: The Kentucky defense usually performs better against more traditional I-formation teams. They completely shut down Vanderbilt, have done a decent job against Alabama the past two years and bottled up South Carolina's running game.


DH: Trevard Lindley is obviously an NFL talent, but Kentucky's pass defense has been exceptional all season, ranking ninth nationally. Add to that the fact that A.J. Green won't play in this game and Joe Cox's propensity for turnovers this season, and that looks like a matchup the Cats have to like. Do you expect the game plan to be to stack the box and dare Georgia to test that UK secondary?

CC: What's been remarkable is that the secondary has performed at such a high level with Lindley basically being hurt since the Alabama game. He missed four games and hasn't really been healthy since he's returned. With A.J. Green out, you can definitely expect for Kentucky to zone in on the run and see if Joe Cox can beat them downfield.



DH: What's your prediction for the game?


CC: I really thought Kentucky had a good chance to win this game, but with Cobb hurting I don't see it. I'm going with Georgia 27-17.

Big thanks to Chip for his help on this. You can read his UK coverage for the Herald-Leader HERE or view his Wildcats blog HERE.

Notes: Uga VII Dies Suddenly

After less than two seasons as Georgia’s mascot, Uga VII died of heart-related causes Thursday.

The English bulldog took the reins as one of the nation’s most well known mascots just last year. The death came as a surprise to Uga VII’s owner, Frank W. “Sonny” Seiler.

“We are all in a state of shock,” Seiler said in a statement released by the university. “We had no warning whatsoever.”

There will be no mascot present on the sidelines at Saturday’s final regular-season home game for Georgia, a rarity since the first Uga was officially introduced in 1956.

Georgia head coach Mark Richt was informed of the news Thursday afternoon and spoke with Seiler soon after.

“I was sad to hear about Uga VII,” Richt said. “You never think something like that can happen that quickly, and I’m sad we won’t have him on the sideline anymore.”

Uga VII presided over 23 games, with Georgia posting a record of 16-7 during that span – the fourth best winning percentage the Bulldogs have had with any of the Uga mascots.

The dog was a popular figure among Georgia fans following his introduction in August of 2008 prior to the Bulldogs’ home opener against Georgia Southern. Richt said the line of fans waiting for their photos with the dog dwarfed the amount hoping for a snapshot with the Georgia coaches or players.

Uga VII was known for his more laid-back personality, rarely showing as much playfulness as his father, who gained a reputation for a mischievous personality.

Seiler said there are several options for Uga VIII, but noted that no replacement would be made official until next year.

Georgia’s players were not made available for comment Thursday, but after news of Uga VII’s death, several players including Jeff Owens and Michael Moore expressed sadness and sympathy and posted photos of their time with the dog on their Facebook and Twitter pages.

“This is a very sad day for the Seiler family, but also for all Georgia people,” athletics director Damon Evans said. “Just as his ancestors, (Uga VII) had captured the hearts of college football fans everywhere as the country’s No. 1 mascot. He had been truly embraced by all those who follow the Georgia Bulldogs across the country.”

ON THE MOVE?

There will be five senior defensive tackles who take the field before Georgia’s final game of the season Saturday to be honored as part of the team’s senior day festivities, which means there will be a serious blow to the Bulldogs’ depth at that position next season.

Meanwhile, Georgia figures to return all five starters on its offensive line, which makes for a crowded depth chart ahead of A.J. Harmon, the burly redshirt freshman who switched from the defensive to offensive line prior to the season.

But while a switch back might make perfect sense for Harmon and the Bulldogs in terms of numbers, head coach Mark Richt said it isn’t likely to happen.

“I have talked to him about that throughout the year, and you never say never, only because you never know what kind of injuries may hit your team,” Richt said. “But right now, we have no thoughts at all about moving him. We feel like he’s making good progress.”

Georgia will return just four scholarship defensive tackles next year, including three true freshmen -- Derrick Lott, Kwame Geathers and Abry Jones. Deangelo Tyson and Jones are the only two to receive playing time this season.

Harmon has seen minimal playing time this season, but he has shown significant progress in shedding weight and getting into better shape after entering school at nearly 330 pounds.

“A.J.’s come a long way at O line,” Richt said. “He’s reshaped his body. He needs more strength, but we like how he’s been progressing so we think we’ll keep him there.”

While Harmon appears unlikely to swap positions, the door is still open for tailback Richard Samuel to make the move to linebacker, but Richt said no official decisions on that will be made until after the season, when coaches can do a thorough review of the scenario.

“I don’t want to get into that because I don’t want to disrupt his life right now, but we’re going to look at everything in totality once this season’s over,” Richt said. “We’ll look at some things when there’s a little breathing room and some time to think about it.”

RECRUITING HYPE HEATS UP

What looked like an already crowded signing class for next season could get bigger for two reasons.

First, Georgia may have more scholarships to offer than previously assumed. With Tony Wilson, Bryce Ros and Neland Ball all earning medical disqualifications in the past seven months, a few more scholarships have opened up. Add to that the departure of juniors Kevin Perez and Ricardo Crawford, who both will graduate and leave the program despite having an additional season of eligibility remaining, and the Bulldogs have a bit more room to maneuver.

Still, Richt said the increased scholarships available won’t change the approach he has taken toward recruiting this season.

“I wouldn’t say that, oh now we can go get two more,” Richt said. “We’re recruiting the same guys we’ve been recruiting all along, so that hasn’t changed.”

While the extra scholarships may help boost Georgia’s signing class, which already has 18 commitments according to Rivals.com, it was the atmosphere from last week’s game against Auburn that may have an even bigger impact.

Georgia hosted one of its biggest crowds of recruits at the game, and Richt said the emotion of the win and the enthusiasm of the crowd, including an emotional moment when they chanted the name of injured safety Bacarri Rambo, did plenty to wow the potential future Bulldogs.

“It was fantastic … just how the crowd reacted to our team, to the Dawg Walk, to the play of our team and of course how they chanted Rambo’s name and just how loud they got at the end,” Richt said. “And for the official visits, they were in the locker room after the game and got to see how we celebrate in there. It was just a perfect night for football, and we played well against a very good team. It was a great representation of what Georgia football is about, so I couldn’t have asked for more on that one.”

DAWGS WON'T GO GREEN

It won’t be the first time this season that Georgia has gone to battle without A.J. Green, and the Bulldogs managed to post 31 points a week ago without their star receiver. Still, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said there’s no replacing a player of Green’s caliber without changing the battle plan.

“It was good to see and get those guys in there to have opportunities, and they made plays,” Bobo said. “It’s a little bit difficult in the sense that you have a guy that was pretty dependable when the ball came his way in his ability to make plays and cause defenses to account for him.”

Bobo said he still was unsure who would get the start opposite Tavarres King this week, with Michael Moore, Rantavious Wooten and Israel Troupe all in the mix.

Regardless of who plays in Green’s place, Bobo said the key will be for Georgia to continue running the ball effectively, even with Kentucky’s defense likely to put extra defenders in the box to stop the run.

“We’ll still probably get a little bit more one-on-one that we did when he was out there, but we’re still going to have to be able to run the ball efficiently,” Bobo said.

MIXED BAG FOR COX

Bobo has made no secret that he believes Joe Cox is Georgia’s best quarterback, but he’s not going so far as to call Cox’s senior season a complete success.

Through 10 games, Cox has completed 58 percent of his passes, throwing 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Cox’s season has been marked by inconsistency, from his five-touchdown performance against Arkansas to his dismal three-interception game in a loss to Florida.

“He’s been up and down,” Bobo said. “There’s been flashes of playing very well and leading this football team, but there’s been some inconsistency in throwing the ball accurately.”

Bobo said the lack of accuracy has been a surprise, given Cox’s history throughout his first four seasons in the program, but said the problems have usually been a result of hesitancy rather than judgment.

“Going into this season, he was a very accurate passer, knows his progressions,” Bobo said. “But a lot has to do with not trusting it, worrying about making the mistake, and then we’re making mistakes. You’ve got to play ball. If it’s not there, you’ve got to protect it, and there’s a fine line there. There’s going to be tight windows … and you’ve got to be willing to throw the ball in tight spaces, and then there’s going to be times when you’ve got to take a sack.”

FUTURE UNCLEAR FOR PUGH

Before the season began, redshirt freshman Makiri Pugh hoped he might be in line for significant playing time at both safety and nickel corner, but 10 games into the season, those opportunities have not developed.

Pugh has seen limited action on special teams but has made only the rare appearance on defense this season, and the lack of playing time has been frustrating.

“It’s been kind of rough really,” Pugh said. “I’ve only seen time on punt return and block, so I’ve just been trying to keep a positive attitude. I have guys ahead of me, so I’ve just got to keep on working. I’m just focused on getting better at the things I’m weak at to get that opportunity. Obviously the season is winding down, but you never know what can happen, so I’ve just got to stay prepared.”

With freshman Bacarri Rambo set to miss this week’s game, Pugh is hopeful he could see action as a potential replacement, but after a season of waiting, he has learned not to predict playing time.

“We’ll see how it goes,” he said. “I’ve been second team at safety and nickel the entire season, so I’m just going to prepare like I usually do, know the game plan and be ready. Playing is more of a reality. If one guy or two guys get nicked up, and I’m in there.”

With Georgia struggling to a 6-4 record, Pugh said it has been difficult to remain on the sideline, despite the losses. Richt has said he plans to continue playing starters for the remainder of the season rather than giving playing time to younger players in order to prepare them for the future – a plan Pugh at least tentatively endorses.

“We want to win, that’s the bottom line,” Pugh said. “But I think being on the bench on an undefeated team is a little different than being on the bench on a team that’s 6-4. But we care about winning and if they feel they have the guys out there that are giving us the best chance to win, then you have to go along with it. You’ve just got to work.”

What that means for Pugh’s future is still to be determined. The safety said he has not given serious consideration to a transfer, but will evaluate his situation once the season is over.

“I’m trying not to look ahead,” Pugh said. “We know we’re going to lose some seniors this year, but we don’t really know exactly how it’s going to work out. I haven’t really looked ahead too much because we’re in the middle of the season and I still have responsibilities this season.”

CLEARING UP THE CONTROVERSY

I had a couple people inquire about a moment on the sideline during Georgia's win over Auburn last week when defensive coordinator Willie Martinez was discussing a play with safety Reshad Jones and linebacker Rennie Curran appeared to shove Martinez away from Jones.

Some folks thought it was a sign of issues brewing between Georgia's defensive coordinator and its top defensive player, but Curran said it was nothing more than playful roughhousing that occurs all the time.

“I always try to get Coach Martinez pumped up, so I’ll come up and chest bump him sometimes," Curran said. "Before the game, we’ll be jumping up and getting rowdy and I’ll come up and push Coach Martinez just to get fired up. It’s perception, man. You see one thing and think another and take it out of proportion.”

(One other note... My latest Twitter updates are available along the right hand side of this page. For breaking info such as Uga's death, I may not have time immediately to post a story, but I'll typically post updates via Twitter that you can access.)

Veazey Paralyzed From Waist Down

Doctors updated the media today on the condition of Georgia secondbaseman Chance Veazey. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend, but the AJC has the full story. It's an absolutely awful situation for a kid who had a whole lot ahead of him before this accident, but he sounds like he's keeping a positive attitude, which is good to see.

I mentioned this on the blog yesterday, but if you're interested in helping the Veazey family through a monetary donation or you just want to keep up with Veazey's progress, here's the information you'll need:

In lieu of flowers and food, the family has set up a “Prayers for Chance” fund to help offset medical expenses through Athens First Bank and Trust Company (AFB&T). Donations may be sent to AFB&T, attention Phil Bettendorf, Senior Vice President, P.O. Box 1747, Athens, Ga., 30603. Donations can also be dropped off at any Athens First Bank location.

A website where individuals can send Chance messages and check for updates has been set up by the family. To send a note to Chance and the family, please visit: www.caringbridge.org/visit/chanceveazey.

Chat Wrap: Week 11

Tons of great questions from the readers in today's chat. One of my favorites of the year, for sure.

Big thanks to all of you who participated. And if you missed out, you can catch up on everything by reading the recap HERE.

We'll be back for another chat next Thursday at noon in advance of the regular-season finale against Georgia Tech.

Thanks again for all the great questions, folks!

Thursday Links (11/19)

(NOTE: Don't forget, we're chatting live at noon at macon.com/ugachat. You can post your questions now and check back any time after noon for the response.)

Among the many great aspects of my job is the fact that I get to know some of the players and coaches that most fans only get to see on the field. I won't lie, some football players are just that: Football players. That's mostly what they think about, talk about and do virtually all the time. But most are much more interesting for what they do off the field than on it.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of being a part of a couple of conversations between players and reporters that had little to do with football but made me awfully glad I cover this team for a living.

The first was with safety Makiri Pugh, who has written eight books of poetry and is working on several more. He talked at length about his love for writing, his goals for creating his own publishing company down the line and his approach toward his craft. It was incredibly interesting stuff.

Then a bit later, I sat in while the Red & Black's Tyler Estep chatted with Rennie Curran for an informal piece he's working on and got to hear Curran discuss his passion for making music, his family background in Liberia and the local Liberian community in Atlanta where he has spent a lot of time growing up. He talked about what a great relationship he's had at Georgia with people ranging from teammates and professors to the lunch lady in the dining hall. He talked about his daughter and how much she means to him, his family and all they've done for him and his dreams of giving back to Liberia once he graduates and the speaking that he already does now in churches and schools in hopes of motivating young people.

It's so easy to get caught up with what these guys do on the football field because that's the picture most of us see of them, but it's nice to get a reminder every once in a while that there is a lot more to most of these players that what meets the eye. And while I'm always impressed at how much any student-athlete manages to find a balance between school and athletics and family and friends, that's really just the tip of the iceberg for most of them.

Anyway, I figured with the last home game of the season just two days away, it was probably worth mentioning just how much these kids are doing at Georgia beyond their work on the football field.

Now, some links...

-- I didn't post links yesterday, so if you didn't get a chance to read it, check out my story on the relationship between Caleb King and Washaun Ealey, and how it has dramatically helped both of their careers.

-- And I have a story in today's Telegraph on the sudden emergence of Israel Troupe. By the way, Troupe has been in a green non-contact jersey this week, but Mark Richt insists it's due to illness and that Troupe will be ready to play Saturday.

-- Here's a great story in The Statesman on how David Greene has reacted to the imminent loss of his record for most career wins to Texas' Colt McCoy. Greene is such a class act.

-- Marc Weiszer has the latest on whether Reshad Jones still has his sights set on the NFL.

-- Mel Kiper has updated his top five juniors by position list and Rennie Curran and Reshad Jones both make the cut. (Note: ESPN Insider required)

-- Is it bad that I'm just bored by the talk of coaching changes now? Jeff Schultz chimes in on the issue, but it seems to me that it's really pointless to debate right now. The vast majority of fans (probably the most any group has ever agreed on anything) want a change. Richt isn't going to mention anything about it until the season's over. So whose mind are we trying to make up here?

-- And on that topic, Buck Belue writes that there are other places to point the finger of blame before you start wanting the heads of coaches.

-- Bernie has his locker notes in for the week. I think this has been my favorite running blog post of the year. Nice work, Bernie.

-- David Paschall has a story on Joe Cox's ability to complete the deep ball and reaches the same conclusion I've been trying to argue for months -- i.e., Cox ain't too bad at it.

-- Fletcher Page has that story on Pugh, who has self-published two books of his own poetry.

-- Roger Clarkson looks at how quickly Orson Charles has adapted to a demanding position this season.

-- Battle Hymn Notes laments what might have been with this senior class, the first of the Mark Richt era to finish their careers with fewer than 40 wins.

-- Here's a fun post from Bubba N Earl that's well worth the read, but the comments (h/t GTP) make it so much better. Read the whole post, but be sure to check out the first two anonymous comments. Nothing like blanket anger directed at "progressive liberals" (who are well known for their hatred of free speech at football games) and the exceptional analysis that Georgia fans lack passion because they don't boo their own players enough.

-- The Red & Black finds out what some of Georgia's athletes are doing for Thanksgiving.

-- This Bleacher Report writer echoes a pretty popular sentiment: Dawgs fans are sick and tired of hearing from Georgia Tech fans, and they'd be quite appreciative if UGA could put an end to that next week.

-- Georgia Sports Blog posts some early thoughts about the good and the bad of the first two games of the Mark Fox era.

-- Randall Cobb is listed as questionable for this week's game at Georgia. I'm not buying it.

-- Think it's been a rough season in Athens? Chris Low writes about the challenges Kentucky has endured.

-- Remember when stories like this used to be the other way around, and it was Mark Richt trying to talk up Kentucky before a game?

-- Does it seem a bit ironic that Mark Mangino would insult players about personal issues? I mean, aren't the comebacks to that awfully easy? Luckily we'll always have Baby Mangino to make us feel better.

-- A buddy of mine who is a huge Minnesota fan is likely at the heart of this issue.

-- I'm less than thrilled with the on-field progress at Syracuse this season, but this article is yet another reason I'm gaining confidence in Doug Marrone as the head coach. (h/t Mike in Valdosta)

-- I'm so on the fence about Bill Simmons these days. I have a ton of respect for the guy whose work, no doubt, had a legitimate effect on my decision to get into sports writing. But at the same time, I friggin' hate Boston sports teams. So we've sort of reached an impass. Nevertheless, there's an extensive interview with him done by The AV Club about his new book, which is currently No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

-- Do you guys remember Darren Daulton? As a Philly-area native, I was always a fan. But did you know he's completely crazy now? Like seriously crazy. And better yet, he's started a new Web site dedicated to his craziness. (ESPN actually did a great piece on him a few years back about alien abduction and other stuff like that, but I couldn't find any video of it. Too bad.)

-- This probably makes me a giant nerd, but one of my top five favorite Web sites is BaseballReference.com, where you have access to an ungodly amount of baseball stats and can easily waste about six hours of any given day reliving the glory years of Teddy Higuera.

Anyway, one of the ways Baseball Reference pays for its site is by allowing readers to sponsor certain pages. I'm saving up to buy out "Sports By Seth" for this page. Anyway, this great blog posts finds the top 10 fan sponsorship comments on Baseball Reference, and it's just a delightful read.

-- Paste continues to crank out the "best of the decade" lists, and this one on the 25 best moments of live TV strikes me as a pretty good one. I particularly enjoyed watching the Patriots lose in the Super Bowl (thanks to a catch by a Syracuse kid) and reliving the amazing interview Jon Stewart did on "Crossfire."

-- Note to Steven Seagal: If you need to preface comments about your new TV show with, "This is not a joke," then it might be time to reconsider some life decisions.

-- I hadn't realized this, but apparently "V" won't be sticking around long. It goes on an extensive hiatus after next week and could look a good bit different when it returns.

-- Forbes does some math to calculate a list of Hollywood's most overpaid stars. I can't think of a better dubious honor.

-- Reason No. 3,641,893 to be very concerned about our future.

-- And finally, SciFiWire has a good story on the final season of "Lost," for which we will not see any advance scenes. As to why: "I think even a single scene from the show would basically tip what it is we're doing this year, and what it is we're doing this year is different than what we've done in other years," said creator Damon Lindelof.

Bowl Ticket Order Process Begins Thursday

From UGA release...

William C. Hartman Jr. Fund contributors can begin ordering University of Georgia football bowl tickets online Thursday, Nov. 19.

William C. Hartman Jr. Fund contributors will be mailed a football post season ticket application on Tuesday, November 24. This application provides William C. Hartman Jr. Fund contributors the opportunity to request Bowl Game tickets until the priority deadline of 5:00 pm Friday, December 4. The letter will include ticket prices as well as a patron number and PIN/email information. Orders will be accepted by mail, phone and online.

All games in which Georgia may be selected to play will be listed. William C. Hartman Jr. Fund contributors should request only the venues in which they are willing to travel. The Athletic Association will not charge your card until the bowl bid has been officially determined. Orders will be filled only for the game in which Georgia is selected to play and tickets will be assigned based on William C. Hartman Jr. Fund cumulative score. Any orders received after the priority deadline will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis regardless of priority.

In the event that the demand for tickets for a particular game exceeds Georgia's supply, it would be necessary to reduce and/or cancel orders. For more information, log onto georgiadogs.com and click the link for tickets or call the Ticket Office at 1-877-542-1231. Only Visa and MasterCard credit cards will be accepted.

Future Looks Bright for Murray, Mettenberger

Mark Richt isn't interested in looking ahead to next year, and probably for good reason. But his job dictates a steady focus on the task at hand. Ours doesn't. So the question on most people's minds, even as Georgia wraps up the 2009 season, is who might be playing quarterback in 2010.

Back in January, when Matthew Stafford announced he was leaving for the NFL, the job of starter was immediately passed along to Joe Cox. When Cox departs at year's end, things won't be so cut and dry.

"It'll be wide open," Richt said.

That means Logan Gray, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger will all get their shot in the spring, and the battle may not be over until fall camp breaks and the Dawgs begin preparations for next season's opener.

While we've gotten to see a bit of Gray this year, the majority of the curiosity focuses on the two freshmen. In fact, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has even ratcheted up the curiosity factor but making Murray and Mettenberger off limits to the media for the remainder of the season.

Perhaps that move is simply to ensure the duo is concentrating on getting ready for the challenge that awaits, but either way, it's pretty clear that both are making strides, even while riding the bench (and avoiding interviews).

Mettenberger had farther to go, but his upside is tremendous. His arm strength is off the charts, but his footwork and his physique were question marks early on. But as the fall has progressed, Bobo said he's seen marked improvement.

"Zach has matured a lot," Bobo said. "He’s changed his body. He came in, he was 250 pounds. (Now) he’s 231 or 232 and has really improved his footwork and throwing the ball."

As much the physical side of the game has improved, Mettenberger has made strides in his mental approach, too. While Murray took his team to a state title his senior year at Plant High School in Tampa and was roundly considered one of the top quarterback recruits in the country, Mettenberger's skills remained raw and his background less polished. The result was some issues with confidence.

"It’s just him getting more confidence of the system and playing in a system like this where he played for four different coordinators in high school," Bobo said. "Aaron had played in kind of a different system and threw the ball a little more. Zach’s still learning that part, but has a tremendous amount of potential.”

That potential offers plenty of intriguing possibilities, but at the moment, Murray is the clear leader among the freshmen in the race to replace Cox.

A shoulder injury has forced Cox to back off his throwing during the week this season, and as a result, Georgia's backups get plenty of work, particularly on Wednesdays when Cox doesn't throw at all. Gray and Murray have gotten the majority of that work, and Murray has been particularly impressive, despite an elbow injury that caused him to miss several weeks of practice time.

"Aaron Murray comes in every day like he’s the starter, looking at the game plan and takes notes and does a phenomenal job mentally of preparing like he’s going to play every week," Bobo said. "And he’s really been throwing the ball nice the last couple weeks. Really no effects of the injury and doing an outstanding job."

The extra work with Georgia's first- and second-team offenses have been particularly important for both Murray and Mettenberger in their development. Bobo said it's rare for redshirted quarterbacks to get that type of experience, which puts Murray and Mettenberger ahead of the curve for next season.

More than anything though, the work with the No. 1 unit gives the two freshmen a taste of what it's like to be the starting quarterback, which goes much deeper than simply knowing the playbook and putting the ball where it needs to be.

"It’s been big to get reps with what we’re doing and not necessarily just reading a card, but also of learning how to lead, having to step into the huddle and having to tell the play to guys that are on the travel squad and playing on Saturdays," Bobo said. "That’s a valuable experience that you’re not going to get if you’re redshirted and you’re just down on the scout team.”

Fans won't get to see the results until the spring, but Murray and Mettenberger's teammates are already talking about big things in their futures.

“I’ve actually worked with them a lot," receiver Mike Moore said. "When we run routes with the QBs, and when Joe’s not throwing, they’re the main two throwing to us. They’ve been looking better and better every week, every day. Those two guys work hard. They’re very blessed. Mettenberger has a cannon for an arm, and Aaron Murray, you can’t write him off with his arm strength either. He throws a good ball, too. I think we’ll be pretty good in the future with quarterbacks.”

(NOTE: Don't forget we're chatting live at macon.com/ugachat at noon. Get your Dawgs questions in now.)

Practice Notes: Dawgs Ponder Bowl Destination

Step one is out of the way. Georgia’s win over Auburn last week made the Bulldogs bowl eligible, which helped alleviate a bit of the stress that might have crept in to these final two games of the regular season.

But step two remains – getting to the best bowl game possible. And for Georgia, that could mean a trip to Tampa for the Outback Bowl, which head coach Mark Richt is banking on as motivation.

“Coach said if we win this game (against Kentucky), hopefully we’ll be in Tampa. If we lose this game, we’ll be in Shreveport,” receiver Michael Moore said. “Obviously we want to go to Florida. That’d be nice.”

The possibilities are seemingly endless, however. If Georgia finishes strong by winning its final two games, it would end the year with eight wins and second place in the SEC East. That’s usually enough to earn a spot in the Outback Bowl. If they were to lose one or both, the Bulldogs could end up anywhere from Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Bowl to Shreveport, La., Nashville, Tenn., Dallas or Memphis.

“It seems like there is a big wad,” Richt said of the SEC standings. “You have two guys over here, one kind of over here and then there is a big wad. We’re in the middle of that wad, and I’d like to separate from that group if we could and convince the bowl people that we’ve done that. It’s going to be interesting.”

Of course, by season’s end, factors from money to fan interest can play as big a role as the standings, so the final result is still out of Georgia’s hands. The plan then is to simply worry about finishing up strong and let the chips fall where they may.

“Just going out 9-4 and having a chance to go to one of these Outback Bowls, Cotton Bowls, something on that kind of a level, that’s what we’re looking forward to now,” safety Bryan Evans said.

GRADES ARE IN

The annual NCAA graduate success rates were released Wednesday, and the results for Georgia’s football team showed marked improvement.

The report tracks four-year graduation rates, but the latest data tracks freshmen and transfers enrolling from 1999 through 2002. Georgia’s overall graduation rate increased from 70 to 75 percent from last year’s report, and the football program saw its graduation rate rise from 41 percent in 2007’s report to now.

“Certainly we are encouraged by the overall report and especially the improvement in many sports including a significant one in football,” said athletics director Damon Evans. “But while we continue to improve, we are not where we want to be. I want to also remember the Academic Progress Rate (APR) since it is usually regarded as a more accurate indicator of what our varsity teams are doing at present rather than six or seven years back.”

AH, MEMORIES

It was easily the most memorable play of Bacarri Rambo’s young career, but he doesn’t have any memory of it.

The freshman safety broke up a pass intended for Auburn’s Mario Fannin last week at the 2-yard line then lay motionless on the field for more than 10 minutes while being attended to by Georgia medical personal.

“He didn’t actually remember what happened at the time but after he saw it, he kind of remembered stuff around the injury,” safety Bryan Evans said.

Linebacker Nick Williams, a childhood friend of Rambo’s, said Rambo told him he remembered nothing, even the moments before the play, but said he is in much better condition now, back to laughing and joking with teammates in the locker room.

The saddest part, however, is that Rambo didn’t remember what happened after the play, Williams said. The crowd repeatedly chanted Rambo’s name – a moment Williams said he won’t ever forget – but Rambo doesn’t remember a moment of it.

"That was crazy, everybody was yelling 'Rambo' like in the movies or something," Williams said. "And he told me he didn't remember, and he didn't even remember the stuff up to the event. I was like, 'You didn't hear 93,000 people saying Rambo?' But he said he didn't hear anything. He said it was like he couldn't see and he couldn't talk at the same time, so I was like, 'OK, he was going through some things.'"

ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE

Georgia’s running game has sprung to life in recent weeks, and a new look to the offensive line has been widely credited for the improvement.

Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said the new lineup – with Clint Boling at left tackle, Josh Davis on the right side and Cordy Glenn moving inside to left guard – has played a major role, along with some improved running by the tailbacks.

But while the new lineup has shown improvement, Bobo said it has been less about dominating the line of scrimmage and more about playing smart football.

“We haven’t been as dominant as we’d like knocking people off the ball,” Bobo said. “But we’ve put our hat in the right spot and the missed assignments have gone down tremendously. That’s had a big deal to do with how we’ve been running the ball.”

UGA Sports Roundup

From around the UGA sporting universe....

GYM DOGS OPEN No. 1

(from UGA release)

The five-time defending national champion Georgia gymnastics team was voted preseason No. 1 in the GymInfo Preseason Coaches Poll released Wednesday. Utah was voted No. 2 followed by Alabama, Florida, UCLA, LSU, Stanford, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Oregon State to round out the top-10.

“At this point the polls don’t mean a lot; it’s just an opinion,” head coach Jay Clark said. “Certainly we are accustomed to being No. 1 and the important thing is that’s where we want to finish. I would have thought Alabama would have been voted No. 1 based on how they finished last year and who they have returning, but we are excited that people have such a high opinion of us. Now we just have to work hard every day to live up to the No. 1 ranking.”

The Gym Dogs received 13 first place votes, five more than third-ranked Alabama. Utah had six while Florida and UCLA received two apiece. This is the fifth straight season Georgia has been voted preseason No. 1.

Georgia will face nine opponents in the preseason top-14 including No. 2 Utah, No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Florida, No. 5 UCLA, No. 6 LSU, No. 7 Stanford, No. 8 Arkansas, No. 12 Michigan and No. 14 Auburn. The Gym Dogs open the season at home against Stanford on Jan. 9.

CHANCE VEAZEY UPDATE

Doctors will be holding a news conference tomorrow to update Chance Veazey's condition. The Georgia baseball player was hit by a car last month. If you're interested in learning more or helping the family with medical expenses, here's all the info you'll need...

In lieu of flowers and food, the family has set up a “Prayers for Chance” fund to help offset medical expenses through Athens First Bank and Trust Company (AFB&T). Donations may be sent to AFB&T, attention Phil Bettendorf, Senior Vice President, P.O. Box 1747, Athens, Ga., 30603. Donations can also be dropped off at any Athens First Bank location.

A website where individuals can send Chance messages and check for updates has been set up by the family. To send a note to Chance and the family, please visit: www.caringbridge.org/visit/chanceveazey.

The son of Todd and Darby Veazey, Chance arrived at Georgia this fall as an Honor student out of Tift County High School. He is a Pre-Business major. Georgia recently completed fall baseball workouts with Veazey in contention for a starting position at second base.

BASEBALL ADDS THREE

Pitchers Taylor Hicks and Joe Robinson along with first baseman/outfielder Austin Wheeler all have signed a national letter-of-intent to attend UGA, Bulldog coach David Perno announced Wednesday.

Hicks, a 6-3, 207-pound right-hander, is the son of Kent and Sheila Hicks of Watkinsville, Ga. Since his freshman year, he has been a two-way standout as a pitcher/first baseman for the North Oconee Titans and coach Dwayne Sapp. He went 3-4 with a 3.10 ERA and 58 strikeouts and hit .400 with seven home runs and 27 RBI as a junior. He earned All Northeast Georgia honors, played on the national champion Team Georgia squad this past summer and participated in the Underclassmen Top 100 showcase. As a sophomore, he posted a 10-2 record with a 2.39 ERA, fanning 92 in 79 innings while batting .367-11-53. He holds numerous season and career records as a pitcher and hitter for the Titans who have gone 60-29 with a pair of Region 8-AA titles and a state semifinal appearance during his prep career.

“I’m very excited about becoming a Georgia Bulldog, it’s been a dream of mine all my life,” said Hicks.

“Taylor is a local pitcher who is really moving in the right direction as a big, physical, power right-hander with a tremendous upside,” said Perno.

Robinson, a 6-2, 190-pound right-hander, is the son of Edward and Katherine Robinson of Henderson, Nevada. Currently a sophomore at the College of Southern Nevada, he helped the Coyotes to a 35-20 mark in 2009. As a freshman for Tim Chambers’ squad, he posted a team-best 1.99 ERA, going 6-2 with one save in 14 appearances including six starts. He had three complete games and registered 53 strikeouts and 20 walks in 54.1 innings pitched. He earned first team All-Conference and All-Region honors. He enjoyed a solid prep career at Green Valley High School for coach Nick Garritano. As a senior for the Gators, he went 7-3 with a 3.33 ERA and 53 strikeouts to earn second team All-State honors.

“Joe emerged as the number one pitcher and All-Conference selection as a freshman at Southern Nevada, the same school as former Bulldog Bryce Massanari,” said Perno. “He is an impact guy with a high ceiling and a potential premium draft pick too.”

Wheeler, a 6-3, 185-pound left-handed hitter, is the son of Phillip and Kim Wheeler of Lilburn, Ga. An All-Gwinnett County selection by the Gwinnett Daily Post and Gwinnett Dugout Club, Wheeler batted .409 with seven home runs, 12 doubles and 36 RBI as a junior for the Parkview Panthers and coach Chan Brown. Also, he went 1-0 on the mound with a 2.91 ERA in 12 innings pitched. The Panthers went 15-13 last season and advanced to the first round of the state playoffs. Wheeler was a member of Junior Team Georgia last summer that captured the Sun Belt Classic national title. He earned All-Tournament honors after batting .500-5-15 in helping the squad post a perfect 10-0 record against teams from 10 different states. As a sophomore, he batted .310 in helping Parkview to a 20-8 mark.

“Austin will provide another solid left-handed bat in the lineup, and he is poised for a breakout senior season,” said Perno. “He comes from a great program where their student-athletes have gone on to enjoy successful careers at Georgia.”

From the Mailbag: FNL, Ginger Ninja, Bowl Picks and More

It's Wednesday. We're three days from Kentucky. Let's crack open the mailbag...

FreshmanDawg writes: Great blog, but I'm not sure you're giving Coach Searels enough credit. I think he's been planning the shakeup of the offensive line for the better part of the season, but if you remember it was Josh Davis returning from injury that allowed him to finally do it.

David: The return of Davis was a key cog in the new-look line, but I'm not sure I owe Searels more credit for it. For one, Davis has provided a viable alternative to Clint Boling at right tackle, but the key move was putting Cordy Glenn back at guard. What Georgia so desperately missed when Glenn was moved to left tackle was that big body up the middle that could open up holes between the tackles. It was Searels' decision to move Glenn out to tackle in the first place, despite Boling having worked so successfully at left tackle at the tail end of last season.

Now, you can also make the argument that, had Searels moved Boling earlier in the season, that simply would have left a gap on the right side until Davis returned to action. That's a fair point, but I might ask, what happened to Justin Anderson and Vince Vance? Vance was good enough to start at left tackle for much of last season and played there routinely early this season, but he couldn't man right tackle so Georgia could move Boling? And Anderson was Georgia's starting right tackle for most of last season until suffering a foot injury late in the year. Why couldn't he handle right tackle until Davis got healthy?

Maybe both Vance and Anderson have regressed. Maybe they didn't deserve the job. Maybe they couldn't have handled it. But shouldn't Searels' shoulder some responsibility for that, too? We were told prior to the season that the biggest asset this line brought to the table was its depth. So what happened to that depth? Yes, Sturdivant went down. But Georgia still had six more experienced starters, but it took Davis' return before Boling was finally moved.

I credit Searels for making the decision eventually and getting the ball rolling in the right direction now. But I think it's also fair to wonder what might have happened against LSU and Tennessee if Georgia had been able to run the football the way they have for the past few weeks.

Anonymous writes: Love your work, but I suspect you haven't spent too much time in Dallas. Razorback alums are everywhere in DFW - Cotton Bowl officials would be fools to ever take UGA over ARK, LSU or even Ole Miss. They'll take Arkansas if they're there, assuming LSU isn't an option. SEC East teams won't travel to Dallas.

David: This was a good point that I hadn't entirely considered. More importantly, perhaps, is that the Cotton Bowl will be played in the new Cowboys stadium this year, and Jerry Jones is an Arkansas alum. So assuming the Razorbacks can finish the season strong, there's probably a good chance they'll end up in Dallas, which would reshuffle the deck for the rest of the bowls and likely push Georgia to the Chick-fil-A or Music City. So if you're a Dawgs fan hoping for Tampa, start rooting against Arkansas.

Fuelk2 writes: I noticed Ealey was in the game in some clear passing situations. I take that to mean Richt/Bobo/McLendon are getting more comfortable with his blocking. Great news.

David: You noticed correctly. Here's what Mark Richt had to say about Ealey's pass blocking…

“He’s improving. I’m really not trying to beat him down anyway, but when you ask the question how things are going, I want to obviously say that he is progressing in that area, but I also want to make a strong point how important that job is. Some young guys want to fancy themselves as a running specialist and the passing is not quite as important or the route-running is not quite as important, but it really is important. He’s gotten better no doubt about it. … He is coming right along. Every time we have blitz pickup on Tuesday and Wednesday we get our scout teamers to go as hard as they can go and we make sure Washaun is getting a good bit of that action. He’s definitely getting better.”

Blog Goliard writes: Sure is good to have a running game again. I've been wondering how much of the difference we're seeing is the result of which factors:

a) Players: Ealey and King maturing and improving; offensive linemen starting to finally execute
b) Coaches' personnel decisions: Finally hitting on an efficient rotation of tailbacks, and the right arrangement of linemen
c) Coaches' playcalling: Starting to call enough runs, and the right runs
d) Opposition: Playing teams with weaker run defenses than, say, LSU

As a fan of troglodyte football who believes that there can never be too many inside traps and off-tackle runs, I am inclined to focus on factor c), but of course that's only part of the picture. Any thoughts, from David or others, as to how important each of these factors have been?

David: Well, the honest answer is that it's been a combination of all four factors, but that sounds like a cop out. So, I'll give it a whirl.

I think the most important factor has been B. The combination of moving Cordy Glenn back inside and getting Caleb King healthy enough, giving Washaun Ealey enough playing time and shuffling Richard Samuel and Carlton Thomas to the back of the pack has been crucial in finally developing some consistency. Mike Bobo and Co. simply couldn't keep rotating three or four backs and expect any of them to find a groove. This rotation seems to work really well. In fact, I wrote about it for today's Telegraph.

I think A. has been important, but it's probably been as much of a symptom of the personnel decisions as it has been something that happened organically.

The other two have played a role, too, but if you look at the overall stats (not including sacks) Georgia ran the ball pretty well against Florida, despite being behind big early and the Gators' tough defense. So yeah, the numbers have been fattened up by Tennessee Tech, but I don't think that's the overwhelming reason for the improvement. Plus, Georgia gets fairly cushy matchups the rest of the way, too.

And the playcalling has been better at times, but it hasn't always been perfect either. Witness the first two drives Georgia ran last week against Auburn. The play calling didn't set up the running game for success, and it struggled as a result. So good play calling works wonders, but it hasn't always been good.

Watcher16 writes: You noted in an earlier post how Rambo wanted to hear his name chanted after a big play. When he's available to the media again, can you ask him if he was conscious enough to know that was happening, and if so, what he thought? Also, can you ask the defensive players what was going through their minds the first play after that hit and if they felt extra motivation/energy/adrenaline to get to the QB in honor of their fallen teammate?

David: We haven't had access to talk to Rambo since the injury, but reports are that he's doing fine. The sad part, however, is that he doesn't remember anything about the hit or the aftermath.

I talked to Nick Williams, one of Rambo's closest friends on the team, who said he talked to Rambo the next day in the hospital. Apparently Rambo didn't lack for visitors. He said the hospital room was packed. And while Rambo's visitors told him about everything that happened, he didn't remember any of the details himself.

“He didn’t actually remember what happened at the time but after he saw it, he kind of remembered stuff around the injury,” Bryan Evans said.

Even after Rambo regained consciousness, the details are fuzzy. In fact, he had no recollection of the fans chanting his name following the injury.

"That was crazy, everybody was yelling 'Rambo' like in the movies or something," Williams said. "And he told me he didn't remember, and he didn't even remember the stuff up to the event. I was like, 'You didn't hear 93,000 people saying Rambo?' But he said he didn't hear anything. He said it was like he couldn't see and he couldn't talk at the same time, so I was like, 'OK, he was going through some things.'"

As for how scary it was for the other players, there's no doubt it took it's toll. Virtually everyone I talked to discussed how tense it was while the players waited for official word on Rambo's status, but Williams probably put it best:

"It was like losing my brother. When you play with people so long -- and I've been to a lot of his games even in high school -- you think they're invincible. I didn't ever think Rambo could get hurt because he's never gotten hurt. But when I saw him not moving, it was like reality struck, like, man he could really be hurt. I was crying on the field. It would have been like that for anybody, but especially for me. We grew up together. It was like, is this real? I just couldn't believe. When he held his hand up -- I think about what could have been."

Anonymous writes: David -- I like your predictions but they are based upon logical circumstances and possible game results. In a tough economy some of the bowls won't choose based on order of finish no matter what the "rules" say. Money talks, PERIOD. How many times in the past 5 years or so have we seen Bowl Game reps pull some backroom discussions with teams who promise large fanbase turnout at their venues? A lot. Not saying all of your predictions are wrong ... just saying follow the money first.

David: Yup, it's a fair point. But it's also why I think there's no reason to expect Georgia to fall below the Chick-fil-A. I mean, wouldn't a UGA-Clemson matchup in Atlanta draw big numbers? And who's likely to travel more fans to Tampa -- Ole Miss or Georgia?

But again, there are a lot of backroom deals that go into these bowl selections, and there is virtually no transparency to the process. Which really is one more reason why the bowl system doesn't work.

Universal Remonstrator writes: I was just talking with a friend about how the Tech game is going to be at 8pm on ABC and how many night games we've had... it made me kind of realize that Joe Cox has been much better in night games as opposed to day games. Maybe a QB rating comparison?

David: Ask and you shall receive:

Time	Comp	Att	Pct	YPG	TD	INT	W-L
Day (6 gms)	89	162	55%	178	9	8	2-4
Night (4 gms)	61	98	62%	248	9	4	4-0

Now, I'm of the assumption that the better performances are a result of Cox's fair skin staying out of the sunlight. Besides, Ninjas work best under the cloak of darkness. But here's what Joe had to say about it:

“I like night games. I think it gives you a chance to get good sleep and to really just be able to relax on the way up to the game. It’s tough having early games because you wake up at like seven or eight, you eat and then it seems like you are on the way to the stadium and you’re ready to go. You don’t really have a chance to think about anything or calm down or be able to relax. You really just don’t have a chance. I think everybody really enjoys night games being able to kind of sit around all day and think about what we have to do and get relaxed about it.”

Anonymous writes: you may have posted before ,but how much better could we have been if we had a longer time of possession comparing to the opponents T.O.P. in all the games played ? I remember at one point in the game Auburn had the ball twice as long as us. Not sure how it ended up.

David: It's hard to speculate too much, and really, time of possession is determined primarily by two factors: 1.) turnovers and 2.) the running game. Winning time of possession isn't so much the goal as it is a result of accomplishing your goals. If Georgia had a reasonable turnover margin and had run the ball all year as well as it has run it recently, those T.O.P. numbers would have looked much different, and my guess is, the win-loss record would have, too.

Macon writes: Need some education here. I have been reading and looking at this "directional kicking" thing for a while. I have made it a point to watch other games and even a few pro games to compare. I do not see anything different. The Sunday night Colts - Pats game, same thing. Ball lands inside the 5 near the sideline. This seems to be the norm with other major programs also. I just think we are not covering well and it is not (outside the out of bounds kicks) an issue with Blair. Hell Auburn just squibbed it most of the time.

David: There is nothing wrong with the idea of directional kicking, but just like kicking deep, the decision on which philosophy you should employ comes down to the question of how effective you can be at executing it.

There is definitely a time and place for directional kicking, but there are three problems with this at Georgia right now.

1. Blair Walsh has not always been the best at executing the directional kick properly. His placement recently has been superb, but if you look back to last year and some occasions earlier this season, the ball simply didn't go where it was supposed to, meaning the play was flawed from the start.

2.) When you compare that against the fact that he leads the SEC in touchbacks, you have to ask if Walsh's skills are being used effectively.

3.) Georgia's kickoff coverage team has been dreadful (and perplexing). The use of players like Logan Gray simply doesn't make sense, and the execution of the coverage has been particularly poor. So what you get is situations like the Demond Washington return where Walsh's placement was perfect, but the wedge busters failed to do their job and all three safeties were out of position.

So, no, there's nothing wrong with directional kicking. Lots of people do it and do it well. So we're pointing fingers at the wrong enemy when we blame the idea of directional kicking.

But when you have a kicker who is inconsistent at ball placement, a kicker who is very good at kicking deep and a coverage team that has problems in both personnel and execution… well, you have to question the philosophy.

Anonymous writes: Friday Night Lights? Why is this show only available on Direct TV? That is pretty retarded to limit your self like that. I looked online but you cannot view it on NBC's website either. Got any insight Dave?

David: Don't despair, Anonymous. While FNL is airing on DirecTV now (Wednesdays at 9 on channel 101) that is simply part of a partial financing deal NBC set up with the satellite provider to help defray the costs of production. It's essentially what has allowed FNL to stay on the air. But, after the full season airs on DirecTV (commercial free), NBC will also air each episode, beginning in the spring. So even if you don't have DirecTV, you won't have to miss any of the show. You'll just have to wait a little longer for it.

OK, that's it for now. But I'll be taking your questions tomorrow at noon in our regular weekly live chat at Macon.com/ugachat. You can go there now, click the 'Play' button, and submit your questions. Then check back and participate live or read the recap for your answers any time after we wrap it up Thursday afternoon.