OK, we've been breaking this one down long enough. Time for official predictions:

Georgia: 34

Clemson 28

Should be a fairly high-scoring game like last year, but the Dawgs have experience going on the road and pulling out a close game and I think that will happen here.

Close? Nahhhh..

UGA 38
Clemson 16

I don't see UGA doing much suffering this year. Clemson's in trouble

WPS

Hey, I'll take it. :D

None of you will buy anything short of a UGA bias score prediction so I'll just ask, "What would make you any of you think UGA can keep Clemson from scoring 30+ points ???"

Are you aware of what we have and what you don't ???

Keep you from scoring 30?!??!?

We have one of the best defenses in the country. I expect Pollack and Thompson to put tremendous pressure on Whitehurst all game long against yall's suspect O-Line.

Even if Whitehurst gets comfortable in the pocket, he's not going to pick our great secondary apart.

Still, with that said I think it will be close. If I were biased, I wouldn't predict the game to be close.

GDawgs88 Wrote:We have one of the best defenses in the country. I expect Pollack and Thompson to put tremendous pressure on Whitehurst all game long against yall's suspect O-Line.

88, last year you had one of the better defenses in the country and your 2003 squad is not on par with them yet. Those players may be turn out to be better down the road, but for now it's one step backward. The only significant returning defensive line starter is Pollack and he is a load. However, he also benefited from a stud defensive tackle (presently departed) who commanded frequent double-teams. Now, Pollack will likely be the recipient of the double-teaming.

You've also apparently overlooked the loss of all three starting linebackers. You're dreaming if you genuinely believe they'll be replaced without cost.

You do return a talented secondary but the back-up corners are both serving a two game suspension. Depth will be a problem back there right out of the chute, and that's without even considering that you'll likely have a less threatening pass rush than you did last year.

C'mon, dood. You know how I am about those "just cuz" theories.

If Pollack was so great last year, don't you think teams would have already been double teaming him?

And no I don't think that losing those 3 LB's aren't going to not hurt us. But I'm happy with the guys coming in to replace them.

And one more thing, how many times has Climpson beaten a top 10 team under Bowden? I don't think it's ever happened.

GDawgs88 Wrote:If Pollack was so great last year, don't you think teams would have already been double teaming him?

Not when Johnathan Sullivan was already being double-teamed.

Tony Gilbert and Boss Bailey also commanded excessive amounts of attention.

This is true, Samurai. Good point. :)

My official prediction:

Georgia 36
Clemson 33

A field goal in double OT lifts the 'Dawgs over the Taters.

I worry the most about Shockley entering the game. I thought we got good pressure on Greene last year and I see no reason why we can't get similar pressure on him again. But with Shockley back there, he is always a threat to bust a big gain out of a busted play. Even when you execute well enough to disrupt the designed play, Shockley can make you pay through the nose.

What's worse, he is more than your typical running QB. As a freshman, he displayed an ability to deliver the ball accurately to his recievers. No doubt, he will have refined his passing skills some as well as learned how to read defenses better and make better decisions. It's beyond me how Richt avoids a QB controversy.

SamuraiTater Wrote:

GDawgs88 Wrote:If Pollack was so great last year, don't you think teams would have already been double teaming him?

Not when Johnathan Sullivan was already being double-teamed.

Tony Gilbert and Boss Bailey also commanded excessive amounts of attention.

Beleive me, Pollack WAS getting double teamed last year. He was too good to ignore.

SamuraiTater Wrote:It's beyond me how Richt avoids a QB controversy.

Because Greene is one of the best QB's out there.