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2009 PREDICTIONS: OKLAHOMA STATE
Today concludes our two-week blitz into opening weekend. We had a good time answering these questions, so the plan is to continue this Q&A format on a weekly basis through the season. But for now, today's question is: How will the Oklahoma State game play out? Who wins and what is the final score?
Dunk:
This week has been a good week for the Georgia Bulldogs. Okie State has lost some key players, their coach has added some motivation to the Georgia team, and there have been very few injuries on the UGA squad. So, on that note I think the final score will be 31-21 Georgia! The first quarter will end with a 7-7 tie. I expect a few miscues from both offensives. At halftime, UGA will be leading with a 17-7 lead. The UGA defense will come up with some key plays to keep Okie's offense from scoring in the second quarter and the Georgia offense will put up some big drives. The third quarter will be a nerve racking quarter, but I think it will be a good test for the Dawgs. The quarter will end with the Dawgs leading 20-14. Finally, the last 15 minutes will be a dominating offensive attack by Georgia. I think that Okie State will score a touchdown late, but Georgia will tack on 10 more points themselves making it 31-21.
Foltz:
Georgia makes an early season statement in front of a nationally televised audience and pulls off what will seem to be a nationwide upset but to the locals it was practically a guarantee: 34-24. Just as T. Boone's hedge funds for OSU Athletics continue to fall, so do the Cowboys high expectations after this one.
Joe:
First, I want to say that I don't think this game is going to be a shoot out. This is the first game of the year and neither side is going to be firing on all cylinders offensively. However, if it is a shootout, I don't think Georgia can hang with them- if they score over 30 points we will lose. At the same time, I don't think we are going to hold their offense below 20 points. I expect both offensive teams to get off to slow starts. I'd be surprised if there are more than 17 combined points at the half. Georgia will keep a small lead throughout most of the game as our defense proves stout. Unfortunately, I expect a late 4th quarter score by OSU to tie the game at 23. Joe Cox, Richard Samuel, and AJ Green march us right down the field and Blair Walsh nails a 40 yarder to give us the lead. The defense holds in the last 2 minutes. Samuel rushes for 110 yards and a TD. Cox passes for 220 yds and 2 TDs (1 INT). DAWGS WIN 26 - 23
Nate:
What an opening game! I can't imagine very many people writing for a UGA fan site will be picking OSU in this game, and I won't be bucking that trend. Oklahoma St, as a program, is in that phase where they still need to do more to prove they really belong to be mentioned with programs vying for a national title. Beating Georgia would certainly help prove that notion, but I don't see it happening. A great history stat for this game is that UGA is 3-1 on the road versus top 10 teams in Mark Richt's tenure. A closer look behind that stat reveals that all 3 of those wins were accomplished with a first year starter at quarterback (Greene @ UT in 2001, Shockley @ UT in 2005 and Stafford @ Auburn in 2006). The best way to win a game this big on the road is to play sound, opportunistic defense and control the clock with a determined, pounding running game. Guess what, the strength of our team is the o-line, so I'd expect to control the clock with a determined, pounding running game. As for the defense, I doubt any unit in America is more resolved to redeem last season than the UGA defense. Behind the leadership of Owens and Curran, I expect us to be swarming and smothering tomorrow. I also predict that we'll score a touchdown on either special teams or defense. There's been a renewed concentration on turnovers this preseason, and the last time there was a focus on turnovers (2007) UGA was one of the best in the nation in turnover ratio. I don't think OSU's defense will keep us under 30, and I don't think our defense will allow OSU to hit 30. Final score: 34-27 Georgia, with OSU scoring a late TD (but failing to recover the onside kick) to make it closer than the game really was.
Dunk:
This week has been a good week for the Georgia Bulldogs. Okie State has lost some key players, their coach has added some motivation to the Georgia team, and there have been very few injuries on the UGA squad. So, on that note I think the final score will be 31-21 Georgia! The first quarter will end with a 7-7 tie. I expect a few miscues from both offensives. At halftime, UGA will be leading with a 17-7 lead. The UGA defense will come up with some key plays to keep Okie's offense from scoring in the second quarter and the Georgia offense will put up some big drives. The third quarter will be a nerve racking quarter, but I think it will be a good test for the Dawgs. The quarter will end with the Dawgs leading 20-14. Finally, the last 15 minutes will be a dominating offensive attack by Georgia. I think that Okie State will score a touchdown late, but Georgia will tack on 10 more points themselves making it 31-21.
Foltz:
Georgia makes an early season statement in front of a nationally televised audience and pulls off what will seem to be a nationwide upset but to the locals it was practically a guarantee: 34-24. Just as T. Boone's hedge funds for OSU Athletics continue to fall, so do the Cowboys high expectations after this one.
Joe:
First, I want to say that I don't think this game is going to be a shoot out. This is the first game of the year and neither side is going to be firing on all cylinders offensively. However, if it is a shootout, I don't think Georgia can hang with them- if they score over 30 points we will lose. At the same time, I don't think we are going to hold their offense below 20 points. I expect both offensive teams to get off to slow starts. I'd be surprised if there are more than 17 combined points at the half. Georgia will keep a small lead throughout most of the game as our defense proves stout. Unfortunately, I expect a late 4th quarter score by OSU to tie the game at 23. Joe Cox, Richard Samuel, and AJ Green march us right down the field and Blair Walsh nails a 40 yarder to give us the lead. The defense holds in the last 2 minutes. Samuel rushes for 110 yards and a TD. Cox passes for 220 yds and 2 TDs (1 INT). DAWGS WIN 26 - 23
Nate:
What an opening game! I can't imagine very many people writing for a UGA fan site will be picking OSU in this game, and I won't be bucking that trend. Oklahoma St, as a program, is in that phase where they still need to do more to prove they really belong to be mentioned with programs vying for a national title. Beating Georgia would certainly help prove that notion, but I don't see it happening. A great history stat for this game is that UGA is 3-1 on the road versus top 10 teams in Mark Richt's tenure. A closer look behind that stat reveals that all 3 of those wins were accomplished with a first year starter at quarterback (Greene @ UT in 2001, Shockley @ UT in 2005 and Stafford @ Auburn in 2006). The best way to win a game this big on the road is to play sound, opportunistic defense and control the clock with a determined, pounding running game. Guess what, the strength of our team is the o-line, so I'd expect to control the clock with a determined, pounding running game. As for the defense, I doubt any unit in America is more resolved to redeem last season than the UGA defense. Behind the leadership of Owens and Curran, I expect us to be swarming and smothering tomorrow. I also predict that we'll score a touchdown on either special teams or defense. There's been a renewed concentration on turnovers this preseason, and the last time there was a focus on turnovers (2007) UGA was one of the best in the nation in turnover ratio. I don't think OSU's defense will keep us under 30, and I don't think our defense will allow OSU to hit 30. Final score: 34-27 Georgia, with OSU scoring a late TD (but failing to recover the onside kick) to make it closer than the game really was.