Mark Richt: I Want To Stay At Georgia for 10 More Years..."At Least"

Mark Richt spoke openly about his desire to remain in Athens as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs and, given the buzz that suddenly seems to be accumulating around the team (both positive and negative), he has a good chance to state his case for seeing that happen if he completes a solid 2011 campaign.

In the meanwhile, he might want to take a long look at how his staff recruits offensive linemen as, yet again, Georgia finds that very unit in the news again for all the wrong reasons. This time the news surrounds junior, A.J. Harmon, who has decided to transfer.

Harmon was expected to play a key role in the offensive line rotation this season—particularly in the wake of the Trinton Sturdivant injury—but was unable to get his academics in order (at least that's the rumor floating around), leaving depth on the offensive line at dangerous levels.

That said, Mark Richt has made it clear that Georgia is not out of options yet.

Watts Dantzler, Xzavier Ward, and Zach DeBell are all due in this summer and, at least two of those three guys, are expected to play a contributive role on the line this year and that likely would have been the case even if A.J. Harmon had not made the decision to transfer.

As for Richt, he's been in this situation on far more occasions than he'd like during his tenure at Georgia and, to be frank, it would be more disconcerting if this were a conversation about Cordy Glenn or Ben Jones as Harmon hasn't been as impactful on the line as the scurry around him now might lead you to believe.

Although, to be fair, anytime you lose significant experience at the left tackle position—even if it is in a reserve capacity—you feel a little less easy heading into the season. Harmon certainly had the reps and the familiarity with the blocking schemes that you like to see in your linemen, but he never was able to breakthrough as a starter and it is likely he didn't see that changing much this season either—academic problems or not.

The arrival of the heralded tackles from the 2011 signing class just got a lot more interesting—hope these dreams won't be of the deferred kind.

Georgia Bulldogs: RB Coach Bryan McClendon Gets A Hefty Raise

Photo Credit: David Manning

Chalk this one up to the 'he's one helluva recruiter' explanation because, otherwise, I'm scratching my head at how running backs coach, Bryan McClendon managed to get a raise which more than doubles what he made in 2010 ($90,000 to 200,000). Tony Ball, Georgia's wide receivers coach, will also see his paycheck get a bump from $165,000+ to $200,000.

But, back to McClendon.

The raise, according to Chip Towers, was McGarity's way of being proactive in keeping the football staff intact. Both Ball and McClendon were apparently pursued by other schools this past season and opted to stay at Georgia. As a result, they were given "competitive counter offers" that allowed them to stay at Georgia and not disrupt the continuity of the coaching staff.

While I can certainly get on board with maintaining continuity, particularly in a year already marked with a ton of questions about Mark Richt's future at Georgia, McClendon's pay raise seems too generous given what he's done as a coach.

That said, it's easy to see that McClendon's value as a recruiter has given him more rope than he might normally have had. Mark Richt said as much himself when he was forced to defend McClendon's sub-par performance at recent speaking engagement.

Said Richt of McClendon's worth, "...Bryan McClendon is a hell of a coach, he’s a hell of a recruiter. And I’m glad we got Bryan McClendon."

Last season, McClendon was key in the recruitment of Isaiah Crowell, Zach DeBell, Quintavious Harrow, and Nick Marshall—all of whom are expected to be impact players at Georgia in the near future and a good recruiter is something that most any head coach will covet.

Bobo has a similar talent and has elicited as much loyalty from Richt as both McClendon and Garner.  By way of mention, however, all three men have had their fair share of criticism from both pundits and fans, about their ability as coaches—none of them appear to be in danger of losing their jobs anytime soon.

I suppose you can't blame Richt for wanting some of the best recruiters in the nation peppering his staff but, at some point, you would hope their coaching talents would be every bit as worthy of the praise.

McClendon is still young, only 27 years old, so he's still growing into his role as running backs coach (much like Bobo), but he is clearly a star on the rise, particularly as a recruiter, and if he's able to bring it all together this season, then Georgia will have made one very good deal.

Related articles

• Mark Richt is pissed off, and wants you to know it. (blutarsky.wordpress.com)

Georgia Bulldogs: Richt Feeling No Pressure in 2011

Photo Credit: Kelly Lambert

When asked if he felt any pressure coming off a 6-7 season, Georgia Bulldog head coach had this to say, "None, I don’t feel any pressure. None at all".

Well, alrighty then.

As much as the Georgia Bulldogs have been under the microscope these last 18-months, it's nice to see the head coach still taking it all in stride (I say that tongue-in-cheek, of course).

However, sarcasm aside, it might be a good thing that Richt is taking a laid-back approach to things this year. The optimist or, as some have come to label them—the Disney Dawg—might say that Richt's attitude belies a man who feels confident in his team, his strategy, and his coaching staff. He's not worried because he knows he'll be kicking butt and taking names in 2011.

On the other hand, the pessimist might look at him and say, "well, it's the same ol' shuck and jive from Richt. I swear that man is like a James Bond drink—shaken, never stirred". Okay, well, maybe that's a bit corny, but you get the point—everything about this program is under speculation and no one is certain what to believe just yet.

I tend to fall somewhere between 'wait and see' and 'it has to get better from here'.

Surely, Murray will be even better in year two of this offense. He has a better understanding of the reads, the progressions, and his role as a leader on this team. And, even if the running game stalls out of the gate, it won't be due to guys who have forgotten how to play ball or who have become complacent at doing their jobs because they somehow feel entitled to be starting in every game. 

Both Washaun Ealey and Caleb King, in my opinion, began believing their own press too much after a successful 2009 campaign that saw them enter 2010 as, possibly, one of the best running back tandems in the SEC. As a result, they were not prepared to get smacked in the mouth the way they were and, seemingly, lost all confidence as ball carriers—not to mention their lack of focus off the football field.

The emergence of Ken 'Boo' Malcome, and the pending arrival of Isaiah Crowell, has relegated both Ealey and King to second-tier status. For the most part, no one is expecting either of them to do anything more than contribute. To be frank, if Ealey breaks 500-yards this season, I would be surprised because he suddenly can't seem to stay healthy and, if Crowell or Malcome turn out to be the types of players many feel they can be, Ealey will likely be competing with Carlton Thomas for the last spot on the depth chart.

As for the receivers, that should be interesting. Neither Marlon Brown nor Rantavious Wooten look like they will be world beaters in 2011, but Orson Charles, Arthur Lynch, and Tavarres King look ready to make something happen and that may be all Georgia needs if the run game takes off.

I suspect the defense will be better in year two and, once offensive line coach, Will Friend, finds his rotation, the offensive line should be competent—if nothing else.

Does that mean Georgia is primed to win the SEC East and shock the world this year? We'll just have to wait and see about that one, but I'm certainly not willing to best against them—yet.

Related articles

• G-Day, You Turn Me Inside Out: Notes on the Georgia Bulldogs' Spring Scrimmage (dawgsports.com)

Bitter Much?

While perusing the offerings of chuckoliver.net, I came across this little gem from one of the site's contributors, Joseph Wyatt:

...When you run a program that has been as undisciplined as Mark Richt does it’s easy to see why “secondary violations” should be viewed just as importantly as major ones. You don’t want your players picking and choosing which rules they will abide by, so the head coach needs to set the example.  But that’s exactly what happens at UGA, players like Washaun Ealey and Caleb King decide which rules should be important to follow and there’s never any real consequence. 

It's easy to see why UGA has discipline issues...they learned it by watching Richt.

This excerpt is from an article—if you want to bother calling it that—about coach Mark Richt's credibility as a disciplinarian on a team where suspensions have become more prevalent than most would like—particularly in the last 18-months. 

The premise of Wyatt's post might have been more intriguing had it not been such a poorly veiled attempt to make Richt look like some sort of "aw, shucks' con-man.

As a matter of fact, it seethed with so much contempt, that it led me to question the author's allegiances—a question which was quickly answered upon reading the following byline underneath his name, "Atlanta native, lifetime Georgia Tech fan."

Well, that explains that. 

Ameer Abdullah Doesn't Have Nice Things To Say About Tennessee

Do you know who Ameer Abdullah is? He wasn't on the national radar during the recruiting season, but he did sign with a major Division I school—the Nebraska Cornhuskers—on signing day.

He received a nice slew of offers, including several from SEC schools, but it's his comments about his visit to Tennessee that will likely raise a few eyebrows—especially given the more positive, toned down, atmosphere perceived to be in place under coach Dooley.

Check out the question, and corresponding answer, given by Abdullah during an interview by Rivals.com writer, Mike Matya:

What was the worst moment during the recruiting process?

"Probably when I visited Tennessee. The guys down there… I really didn't want to surround myself with."

Ouch! What's up with that?

You have to admit that was a curious statement to make about a school with a first-class guy as it's head coach.

I'd be interested to know how Abdullah spent his time in Knoxville and with whom, exactly, he spent it.

Ironically, Abdullah's best moment in the recruiting process came courtesy of Tennessee's eastern division rival, Georgia. Abdullah witnessed former star receiver, A.J. Green, in action during his visit to Auburn:

What was your favorite moment during the recruiting process?

"Probably when I visited Auburn and they played Georgia. I saw A.J. Green in action and he caught 211 (yards) on them. That game and seeing him play was the highlight for me."

(sigh)...A.J. did have that effect on people, didn't he? But, I digress.

Honestly, Abdullah's pronouncement should come as a surprise to the Knoxville contingent as it was only a handful of months ago that he was singing a much different tune following an official visit in November.

Said Abdullah, at that time, "I didn’t know much about Tennessee. I learned they have a very huge fan base no matter how the season is going. I met with Tauren Poole, he’s a real cool guy and he was my host. I really like Tennessee."

Uh-huh, just another example of how the recruiting game can be a kick in the head.

Georgia Bulldogs: OL Candidates Continue To Be A Mystery

Who will be the new offensive line coach at Georgia? That appears to be the question of the moment.

Today, Georgia fans thought they got a hint from ESPN's Mark Schlabach when he tweeted the following message:

The automatic assumption from that was Georgia had nabbed Will Friend, the current offensive line coach at UAB.

However, why would Neil Calloway (former Georgia offensive coordinator and current UAB head coach) allow one of his best assistant's to leave? It doesn't make sense—logically. It's not as if Georgia is in the habit of spending a lot of money for assistant coaches, and it's doubtful that Friend would make significantly more than former OL coach Stacey Searles.

It's not an improbable hire, but it's not one that looks promising right now.

Then there's Mac McWhorter...who retired.  Is he suddenly ready to jump back into being a coach after only a few weeks out of the college game?

If he is, Mack Brown might be surprised to hear it—especially since Texas lost one of the top OL prospects in the country as a result of McWhorter's departure.

Greg Adkins' name is being thrown around too, but, as far as he's concerned, Syracuse is where he'll be come 2012—no one from Georgia has contacted him about the OL position (as of yet). And, when Adkins was recently asked about the possibility of him heading back to the SEC, he simply stated,  "No, there's nothing to it...I don't know where that started."

And then there's Brent Key.

Here's all I will say about him, he's currently recruiting for 2012—as recently as last night. If Georgia has him on the radar, he's not chomping at the bit to get on a plane.

I don't profess to know much more than anyone else where this search is concerned, it's all speculation until we see an official announcement from UGA, but none of the above guys seem to really be in play at Georgia—at least right now.

Guess, we'll just have to wait and see what develops over the next few hours and days as coach Richt hopes to lock down this position very soon.

College Football: Why Paul Pasqualoni REALLY Got The UConn Job

Photo Credit: KEVIN COLTON

The news that Paul Pasqualoni was hired as the head football coach at UConn—over perceived favorite, Mark Whipple—came as a surprise to some.

Not that the hire, at least on the surface, is a horrible one. Pasqualoni had a lot of success at Syracuse during his 14-year tenure—including multiple Big East Championships in the 1990's—but it's just curious given the fact that many were expecting Mark Whipple to get the nod.

So, what gives?

Well, according to at least one publication, the hiring of Pasqualoni had less to do with his mass appeal to the student body than it did with his ability to recruit the heck out of the northeast region—particularly the state of Connecticut.

A little less than a week ago, the football committee for the Connecticut High School Coaches Association sent a letter to the University of Connecticut imploring them to hire the former Syracuse coach as their next head coach.

Steve Filippone, the head coach at Daniel Hand High School in Madison, CT, had this to say at that time, "...we’re not trying to impose any kind of pressure or anything like that. We understand that’s not the way you pick a coach for a major college football team. They have a lot bigger issues to consider. We simply felt that this is an opportunity for us to say, in a pretty clear way, that we feel this man has the type of skill set, the type of reputation, that could clearly work with us … for whatever value that is."

Well, the value must have been pretty high as the Huskies definitely will be looking to lock down the talent in-state as well as reach deeper into the talent pools of both New Jersey and New York.

What better man to do so than Pasqualoni? A known commodity on the recruiting trail.

So, while the hire may not be turning heads, it makes plenty of sense and, in the end, UConn could end up having the last laugh in the Big East—if the gamble pays off.

Oh, and that whole Syracuse/UConn rivalry just got a lot more interesting. 

Related articles

• Report: UConn, Mark Whipple in final negotiations (sports.espn.go.com)

College Football: Wait...What? Maryland Bought An Edsall?

Reportedly, Randy Edsall—the now former head coach of the UConn Huskies—will be the new head coach at the University of Maryland.

Forgive the license here, but isn't the goal of firing a head coach—especially one that had as much success as Ralph Friedgen—to hire a better one?

It was assumed that Maryland wanted to go in a different direction with the football program. They were no longer satisfied with the plodding, mundane, and methodical pace that Friedgen brought to the table—that wasn't putting enough backsides in the seats.

They wanted a guy with...well...a pulse, a personality, and a bit more fire to his approach.

That led many to believe that the disgraced former head coach of Texas Tech, Mike Leach, would be the guy.

So, imagine the surprise and awe of many when it was discovered that Maryland traded a Friedgen for a freezer.

Not sure where that makes any sense.

While Edsall has done a fine job of making UConn semi-relevant at a school where basketball rules, his overall record isn't something to run home and tell your mama about.

He's been average, at best, and will now have to fight against even bigger fish in the ultra-competitive ACC.

Perhaps, the powers that be at Maryland saw something we didn't in UConn's beatdown on Saturday night. Maybe coach Edsall will bring his plodding, mundane, and methodical approach to College Park with more favorable results. And, if that happens, we should all be ready to eat a little crow.

However, at the moment, this hire is about as exciting as the Edsel of 59'.

Congratulations, Maryland. You just gave up Ralph Friedgen for...a slightly lesser version of Ralph Friedgen.

Related articles

• Report: Maryland picks UConn's Randy Edsall as next coach (sportingnews.com)
• Report: Randy Edsall To Replace Ralph Friedgen At Maryland (sbnation.com)

College Football: Mike Haywood Out At Pitt, Chancellor Releases Statement

Mike Haywood won't get the chance to leave his mark on the Pitt Panthers football program. After his untimely and ill-advised arrest on domestic violence charges, the former MAC Coach of the Year has been relieved of his head coaching position at the University of Pittsburgh.

Chancellor Mark Nordenberg released the following statement:

"After careful consideration of recent events, the University of Pittsburgh has dismissed Michael Haywood as its head football coach, effective immediately. He was advised of that action this afternoon.

To be clear, the University’s decision is not tied to any expectation with respect to the terms on which the legal proceeding now pending in Indiana might ultimately be concluded. Instead, it reflects a strong belief that moving forward with Mr. Haywood as our head coach is not possible under the existing circumstances.

This is a matter of real regret for the many people at Pitt who had looked forward to working with him. However, head coaches are among the University’s most visible representatives and are expected to maintain high standards of personal conduct and to avoid situations that might reflect negatively on the University.

We will immediately re-open our search for a head football coach, expanding the process to include a larger pool of candidates. Our goal is to move swiftly, but prudently, to find the right person to successfully lead the Pitt football program for what we hope will be an extended period of time."

Haywood has been released from jail on bond.

Related articles

• Mike Haywood Arrested For Domestic Violence In South Bend (sbnation.com)

WATCH: James Franklin Talks About The Future of Vanderbilt Football

James Franklin has officially been named the head coach of the Vanderbilt University football program, and now the question is what's next?

Franklin offers a bit of insight into what he feels will be his role as the new head coach at Vanderbilt, the type of offensive scheme he plans to run (multiple), and his goals for the immediate future—must get that staff in place in the interview below.

See what he had to say:



(video is courtesy of Vanderbilt University)

Related articles

• James Franklin Formally Announced As Vanderbilt Head Coach, Says Facebook (sbnation.com)

CFB Rumors: Gus Malzahn Still Mulling Over Vanderbilt Job—Seriously?

Announcer: Hey Gus, your team just won the SEC Championship, your quarterback is a Heisman Trophy Winner, your team is 13-0, and on their way to Arizona to play in the National Championship Game...what are you going to do now. 

Gus: I'm going to Tennessee?

Announcer: Huh?...What did you say?

Gus: I'm going to become the next head coach at Vanderbilt!

*record scratches*

Okay, enough with the jokes. Seriously, folks, if Gus Malzahn's best offer is a head coaching job at Vanderbilt, then he should hold out for something better.

This is in no way meant to offend the fine alumni of Vanderbilt University, but, your football team is awful. They've been awful for a long time and, due to the academic restraints placed on them via entry requirements, that isn't likely to change anytime soon.

That said, why on earth would Gus Malzahn take his offense, and his recruiting wares to a program that has become a perennial doormat in the SEC (13-67 over the last 10 years)? Does he feel that his stock is as high as it can possibly get at the moment?

After all, Auburn averaged better than 40 points per game this season using Malzahn's scheme—with the right personnel. However, he's not likely to get the same result at Vanderbilt as he will be competing with Tennessee for the state's best players and could find it difficult to pitch a perennial loser to a guy who wants to build an NFL resume.

On the other hand, if he wants a challenge, then Vanderbilt would definitely be the place to go. Since joining the SEC in 1933, the Commodores are 102-351-15—not including their dismal 2010 record. Have at it, Gus. If Dan Mullen can do it, why can't you?

Quite honestly, though, he's better off staying where he is and seeing how things shake out after 2011. More job openings, with a much higher profile, are likely to become available at that time and, if Auburn manages to stay relevant without Cam Newton (many feel the Heisman winner will bolt for the NFL this season), then he will have proven that he's not a one-trick pony.

That alone would pay dividends.

Hold out for something better, Gus. Vandy definitely isn't Disneyland. 

Related articles

• Gus Malzahn Leaves Auburn to Coach Vanderbilt (thebiglead.com)

Urban Meyer Says He "Had Oregon Ranked No. 1 For Quite Some Time"

There was a collective head-scratch when people found out that Urban Meyer was the ONLY SEC head coach who did not rank the Auburn Tigers No. 1. Some perceived it as sour grapes—Meyer was just mad that Auburn was winning with his cast-off quarterback.

While others didn't feel Urban needed to make any explanation at all. He had his vote, he used it on Oregon—it is what it is.

Well, Urban Meyer finally let the world know exactly why he dismissed Auburn in favor of Oregon, here's what Meyer had to say about his decision not to vote Auburn No. 1:

"It could have been 1A, 1B,'' Meyer said. "I watched that SEC Championship game and to say they are not the best team in America would be incorrect. I have not watched Oregon as much, earlier in the year I did. I've had Oregon ranked No. 1 for quite some time now. And it's just like when we were up there in the rankings _ unless you deserve to lose that ranking _ that's no disrespect to Auburn obviously. But it's 1A, 1B in my mind. I just had Oregon No. 1 for a longer period of time.''

Okay, Urban...whatever you say, buddy.

Georgia Bulldogs: Mark Richt Should Rethink His "No Staff Changes" Stance

2011 will be coach Richt's last season if he has another even close to this one. A 6-6 team is not what Georgia fans like to see, especially in what was supposed to be a "down" year in the SEC East.

At worst, most fans were hoping to see 9-3, but losses to Mississippi State, Colorado, and Florida have not set well with the fanbase and many are calling for blood.

So, when one glances a news article where their much-maligned leader is saying that he's not planning any staff changes, it has to leave you scratching your head a little bit.

First, let's get this bit of discourse out of the way, no one at this site is claiming to be an expert. No coaching experience has been had, and there is no reason for you, the reader, to believe that the opinion espoused here is any better or worse than that of the common, rational, fan.

That said, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that there are some gross issues lurking in the ranks of Georgia's football program. First, and most importantly, the strength and conditioning program is sub-par. The defensive line was sucking wind on Saturday night against Tech—by halftime.

If the team had to play in overtime, how many of you have faith the defense could have held? Even more, how many of you were actually worried when you saw Washaun Ealey go in for the score with time left on the clock?

Just saying.

Even more, everyone in the SEC knows Georgia's defensive and offensive lines are a joke. Just check this little bit of commentary offered by Florida's players following their overtime win in jacksonville. :

Florida's offensive players really enjoyed installing the no-huddle up-tempo offense during the bye week because they knew if they ran it correctly that the Georgia defense would be overwhelmed. 

And they really, really enjoyed watching the Bulldogs struggling in the fourth quarter.

"It's fun seeing 300-pound linemen wheezing for air and you're fine," offensive lineman Carl Johnson said. "The D-line, they're wheezing and you're like, 'He's tired. He's tired.'"

Johnson took particular pleasure in talking some trash during the game.

"When 31 [defensive end Demarcus Dobbs] got hurt, I was pointing [and saying], 'He's tired. He's not really hurt.' He was just tired and faked an injury to get out of there, stop the clock. If he didn't, we were on the ball, ready to go again, they were gassed."

It's one of the few times that an offensive lineman can get in some digs about being in better shape, and Johnson said he savored that feeling.

"You feel like you own them a little bit," Johnson said. "'You're blown, you're tired, you're gasping. I'm fine.' It's fun."

Freshman H-back Trey Burton said he could tell pretty quickly the defense was going to be gasping in the fourth quarter.

"The first quarter, they were done," Burton said. "They were about to tap out after a while."

Wow...talk about embarrassing.

Coach Dave Van Halanger might be a phenomenal man of character, and he might be one of coach Richt's closest friends, but he's done a poor job of making these players into athletes. They're soft, badly conditioned, and incapable of playing a full 60 minutes at game speed.
 
It's time for him to go and Richt needs to make that happen.

As for a second guy, look no further than Bryan McClendon.

Take a look at these stats posted by EC Dawg of The Leather Helmet Blog (another site all Bulldog fans should have bookmarked), Georgia's running game was worse this season (ranked 71st overall) than in 2009 (ranked 54th overall)—something ain't right, folks.

To be fair, 2009's lapse was understandable. Knowshon Moreno was gone and McClendon was walking into a group of backs who had 1) no SEC experience (Richard Samuel and Washaun Ealey), 2) trouble staying healthy (Caleb King), and 3) were incapable of taking the pounding (Carlton Thomas). Still, he managed to get decent production out of that bunch.

However, 2010 was supposed to be the year of the back at Georgia, with both King and Ealey returning to aide the young Aaron Murray in his acclimation to the starting quarterback role. Instead, both guys struggled to find the groove they showed at the tailend of 2009 and, even worse, both became inept at holding onto the football—that's just a gross lack of fundamentals.

McClendon might make a fine assistant one day, and there is no doubt that he is a darn good recruiter, but two-years as a grad assistant did not make him qualified to move into the position of full-time running backs coach. He's in over his head, and Richt should find someone with more experience to take over the job.

2011 will be coach Richt's last season if he can't get this ship turned around and, as nice a guy as he is, he needs to realize that being a good man only takes you so far. Unfortunately for him and his throng of supporters, the "what have you done for me lately" culture of college football is working against him.

It's time that he start finishing the drill as a head coach, and that means making the tough decisions about who's presence is most hurting his staff and letting them go—Finish The Drill, Coach.

Finish.The.Drill.

Big 12 Rumor: Did Nebraska's Taylor Martinez Leave The Team?

Twitter is hopping with another wild rumor, this one regarding Big 12 quarterback, Taylor Martinez—Nebraska's talented redshirt freshman.

No idea how this, unconfirmed, rumor began, but there is heavy speculation that the public undressing head coach Bo Pelini gave Martinez on the sidelines, during last night's 9-6 loss to Texas A&M, could have something to do with a decision to jump ship:



Honestly, the validity of the story seems questionable.

Why would Martinez risk another year of eligibility and his high profile position at a major school— a school headed to the even bigger spotlight of the Big Ten—just because his feelings got hurt on the sidelines?

That said, some feel that Pelini's less than hospitable demeanor could be the biggest factor and one of the main reasons why if this rumor turns out to be true, Pelini's could possibly be shown the door as well. 

Whatever the case, no one in Lincoln is ready to see a blossoming star exit stage left on a promising college football career at Nebraska.

College Football Betting Odds: 10 ATS Picks to Click This Weekend (10/2)

Last week treated the Lady a lot better than the two prior—7-3 ATS was the final tally. Not bad for a weekends worth of picks, eh? That lovely end brought the season record up to a much more respectable 20-15, but there is still much work to do in order to get well on the year.

So, if you want to glance at last weeks numbers, do so here, otherwise, let's get to this weeks teams worthy of taking a chance on—ATS of course.

(All lines courtesy of VegasInsider.com). 

1.  Wisconsin vs. Michigan State: Pick Em' (PK)

Wisconsin has played no one of any real substance this season, but they've still managed to be unimpressive in every contest—including the ones where they should have blown the doors off their opponent. Michigan State will be on an emotional high with the return of their head coach to the sidelines and could be up to the challenge of sending the Badgers home with their first loss of the year.

The Lady's Pick: Michigan State

2. Michigan at Indiana: Michigan (-10.5)

Michigan will, likely, have Denard Robinson back as their starting quarterback this week. That's big for the Wolverines because it became clear last week, when Robinson went out in the first quarter, that the team moves the ball a lot more efficiently with him in the lineup. Indiana has played no team that comes close to the offensive power that Michigan brings to the table—expect lots of points.

The Lady's Pick: Michigan

3. Connecticut vs Vanderbilt: Connecticut (10.5)

Vanderbilt may not be playing with a ton of personnel this season, but they are playing with a ton of heart. Connecticut has been on the ATS pendulum this season, doing well against the pansies but folding against the lesser opposition—perhaps it's harder to get up for the lower profile games? The talented running backs (for the respected teams) are due back this week and will be a major factor in the outcome. I think Vanderbilt can keep it interesting so long as Warren Norman can run the ball.

The Lady's Pick: Vanderbilt

4. Georgia Tech at Wake Forest: Georgia Tech (-14)

The Yellow Jackets have been an enigma this season and skepticism about their ability to play a full 60 minutes—on both sides of the field—has to be pretty high right now. That said, they are probably itching to get back on track after suffering such a heartbreaking loss at home last week and there are few teams in the ACC better to get well against than the Demon Deacons.

The Lady's Pick: Georgia Tech

5. Miami at Clemson: Miami (-3)

Everyone is back on the Hurricane's bandwagon after the way they dismantled Pitt last weekend, but Clemson looked impressive for 54 minutes against Auburn a couple weeks back and they've had an extra week to prepare for the Hurricane's arrival in Death Valley.

The Lady's Pick: Clemson

6.  Nevada vs. UNLV: Nevada (-20)

The Wolfpack has been on a roll. In the last two weeks, they've beaten both Cal (at home) and BYU (on the road). Now they will travel back to Nevada to take on the lowly Rebels. Though the Wolfpack ran away with this one last season, and should soundly beat the Rebels on Saturday, it just seems like one of those games where the emotional highs can catch up to a team and cause them to lapse momentarily. Nevada won't lose, but they may not win by 20.

The Lady's Pick: UNLV

7. Kentucky vs. Ole Miss: Ole Miss (-4)

It was nice that Ole Miss was able to get it rolling against Fresno State last week, but Kentucky will offer a different kind of challenge to this Rebel offense—a real one. Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb are looking to get loose after being, essentially, stalled against the Gators last week and this is just the game to set the Wildcats loose.

The Lady's Pick: Kentucky

8. Texas Tech at Iowa State: Texas Tech (-4.5)

Iowa State has a pretty good quarterback in Austen Arnaud, but chances are he won't be 100 percent for this one. Texas Tech hasn't been all that impressive, offensively, but they should have enough talent to outplay the Cyclones if they try hard enough.

The Lady's Pick: Texas Tech  

9.  Marshall at Southern Miss: Southern Miss (-9)

DeAndre Brown is questionable, as is Marshall's defensive stud, Mario Harvey. Both are considerably important to their teams for different reasons. If Brown is limited or held out due to injury, Marshall has enough play makers on defense to keep the game close.

The Lady's Pick: Marshall

10.  Virginia Tech at NC State: Virginia Tech (-3)

The odds makers are having a tough time believing in NC State. The Wolfpack has only been favored once this season—at home versus Cincinnati. The underdog roll seems to suit them just fine as they continue to rise above expectations. Look for them to do so again on Saturday.

The Lady's Pick: NC State

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 10 Things You Need To Know About Colorado

The vitriol and debate over the safety of coach Mark Richt's job will continue, but it's time to move on to talking about the game that's up next on the schedule—Colorado.

As promised, this weekly snap shot into each of the Georgia Bulldogs' opponents will remain a staple of this blog until the season is over which, for some, it already seems to be.

Either way, the Lady has not yet decided to give up on a season that, with four games in the books, isn't even half done yet. There is still plenty to be proved and salvaged for coach Richt and his beleaguered staff and the journey towards redemption begins in Boulder.

The last time these two teams met, it was a barn-burner, that took some last minute heroics for Georgia to seal the win. Here's hoping that this week the outcome is the same, but the score a little less close. The Buffaloes will enter the game confident and rested, whereas Georgia will play it's fourth game in a row—could that become a factor?

A.J. Green will finally make his season debut in Boulder and his presence will, hopefully, provide the spark Georgia is looking for to get things moving in the right direction. In the meantime, here's a little bit about the team they will be facing this weekend.

1. They have a very good run defense.

Currently, the Buffaloes are allowing a paltry 2.91 yards per rushing attempt (h/t cfbstats.com). They were blown out by the California Golden Bears in week two, but still managed to hold the Bears talented running back, Shane Vereen (currently ranked No. 22 in the nation in total rushing yards) to a modest 3.69 yards per carry (he averages 5.61 ypg)—his lowest output, of the season, to date.

2.  Their offensive line is a work in progress, but it shouldn't be disregarded as ineffective.

After the 52-7 thrashing at California, Tyler Hansen made a promise to play better the rest of the way and his offensive line has been more than ready step up their game in response.

Against Cal, the offensive line was ineffective and, nearly, non-existant as Hansen was sacked six times in the loss. However, by the following week against Hawaii, they seemed more focused and better prepared to do what they needed to protect their young quarterback.

There is plenty of size, strength, and leadership in this unit and, given the issues Georgia has faced in getting to the quarterback this season, this could end up being a very important battle to watch come Saturday.

3. Tyler Hansen isn't going to be shy about running on third downs.

Hansen has already made it clear that where third-and-short (1-3 yards) is concerned, he is not going to be hesitant to run for the first down—if need be. He is willing to do "whatever it takes" to sustain the drive.

Last week, the mobility of Chris Relf presented a slight problem for the Bulldogs so they need to be leary of Hansen's ability to move the chains with his feet.

4. They are coming off a bye week. 

The last game the Buffaloes played was against the Hawaii Warriors—a 31-13 win. They have been prepping for this game for two weeks, working on "Georgia stuff" to prepare for the physical nature that SEC play brings to the table.

Coach Dan Hawkins, who has faced Georgia before (as the head coach of Boise State in 2005), is unsure if the bye week was a good idea or not, saying, "There's pros and cons. We finished on a good note (Saturday). Maybe you just like to keep playing."

It would serve Georgia well to take advantage of any rust that the lay-off may have caused. 

5. They've established a nice 1-2 punch with Rodney Stewart and Brian Lockridge. 

The running game really took off against Hawaii, and the Buffaloes now have two capable backs who are more than willing to run the ball. Rodney Stewart is always dangerous (when healthy) and Brian Lockridge is one of the fastest players on Colorado's roster.

6. Beware of B.J. Beatty. 

The senior linebacker has been a monster this season, already recording 2.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss through the Buffs first three games. He is one of the stronger pieces of a very talented front seven— Forrest West is another. 

At 6'1", 260 lbs,  West is slowly emerging at the defensive end position and may finally be coming into his own now that he's 100 percent recovered from MCL surgery. 

Both will be around the ball, a lot, and bear watching. 

7. There is talent in the secondary. 

As a unit, the secondary has not impressed much this season. They rank near the bottom—statistically—of most every passing category (passing defense, passing efficiency, interceptions, etc.), however that does not mean there aren't players who are capable of making plays if given the opportunity. Both Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown are veteran leaders back there and they can defend the pass as well as any corners in the nation. 

8. Dan Hawkins is a man with something to prove this season. 

This could be the last hurrah for Hawkins at Colorado. He knows it and so does his team. Every win is a statement that he is not going to be ready to hand in his resignation anytime soon, and a win over Georgia would definitely go a long way towards extending the good will.

9. The Buffaloes are 2-9 versus the SEC—all-time.

Georgia last faced Colorado in 2006, and the Buffaloes gave the Bulldogs all they could handle. If it weren't for some last minute heroics by former Georgia quarterback, Joe Cox, that game would easily have gone the Buff's way. The personnel has changed but the location might be a big advantage.

The Bulldogs have had some issues with conditioning this season and have looked tired in the fourth quarter, giving up the big plays, and allowing teams to score. If the high-altitude of Folsom Stadium becomes a factor late in the game, and the Bulldogs haven't capitalized on their scoring opportunities, things could get tight.

10. They turn the ball over a good bit. 

 

So far this season, the Buffaloes have four interceptions and four fumbles and they are ranked No. 100 in the nation in turnover margin (-1).

College Football Odds Week 3: 10 ATS Winners for Saturday (9/18)

Another week, another date with the odds makers. Week two found my luck to be slightly less than stellar as both the Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech didn't get the wins I predicted they would—against the spread (ATS).

However, in the end, the Lady ended the day 5-5 ATS—nothing to write home about—bringing the season total to 8-7 (ouch).

This week is bound to be better, if not, a change in profession might be considered. So, without further ado, here are ten teams who should be ATS winners on Saturday.

1. Georgia vs Arkansas: Arkansas (-2.5)

The feel in Athens right now is that the Georgia Bulldogs are a team that lacks any real continuity on defense and the Razorbacks are going to go into Sanford Stadium and steal a key conference road win—kicking the Dog' while it is still down. I don't see that happening, I simply do not. I expect to see a much more motivated team this week, playing in front of the home crowd, and I suspect Arkansas will be a little off kilter playing their first true game of the year.

The Lady's Pick: Georgia

2. Kansas at Southern Miss: Southern Miss (-5.5)

Despite what the win over Georgia Tech alluded, Kansas is still a team that hasn't found an identity. Georgia Tech ran into a buzz saw and didn't know how to get out of their own way. Southern Miss is a much more balanced team, with a significantly better passer standing behind center.

The Lady's Pick: Southern Miss

3. Vanderbilt at Ole Miss: Ole Miss (-14)

After the performance that Vandy gave last week, it seems risky to pick them twice in as many weeks, but I truly feel like they will play better this week against an Ole Miss team that hasn't exactly ruled with an iron fist this season.

The Lady's Pick: Vanderbilt

4. Washington State at SMU:  SMU (-20)

Washington State is terrible. I don't know that SMU can beat them by 20, but I feel fairly confident that SMU can score 20 against Washington State. Now, can Washington State score 20 against SMU?...That's the real question.

The Lady's Pick: SMU

5. Arizona State vs Wisconsin: Wisconsin (-14)

Neither team has really met a challenge this season, so both will probably look rusty against stronger defensive efforts. Expect the offense to struggle a bit early—on both sides.

The Lady's Pick: Arizona State

6. Air Force at Oklahoma: Oklahoma (-18)

Landry Jones is on a roll and the Sooner defense is coming together. The Falcons run a tricky scheme, but it's not unstoppable by any stretch. Count on the Sooners to figure things out early—long before the Falcons can do the same in Norman.

The Lady's Pick: Oklahoma

7. Louisville at Oregon State: Oregon State (-14)

The Cardinals aren't where they need to be yet, but they are getting there under Charlie Strong. Oregon State looked pedestrian against TCU—particularly on offense. The Beavers haven't found an answer for the departed Sean Canfield (QB) and that means a heavy emphasis on the run game. If there is one thing the Cardinals can do, right now, it's perform capably against the run.

The Lady's Pick: Louisville

8. Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan: Central Michigan (-9)

Central Michigan looks lost without head coach Butch Jones—now at Cincinnati—and Eastern Michigan is vulnerable against the run. Lucky for them the Chippewas running game is as bad as it's passing one.

The Lady's Pick: Eastern Michigan

9. Notre Dame at Michigan State: Michigan State (-3.5)

This match-up has been tough to call over the last four years as each team has traded wins at home and on the road. Notre Dame got the best of the Spartans last season but if Dayne Crist plays in this game, there is little doubt in my mind that the Irish will come away smiling.

The Lady's Pick: Notre Dame

10. Kent State at Penn State: Penn State (-23.5)

After getting nowhere offensively in Tuscaloosa last weekend, look for the Nittany Lions to find their scoring grove again this week.

The Lady's Pick: Penn State

Georgia Bulldogs vs Louisiana Special Teams:The Decided Edge Goes To The Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs may enter 2010 with questions on offense (how will Aaron Murray fare?) and defense (will the 3-4 be the difference?), but the special teams unit is set.

Blair Walsh (K) and Drew Butler (P), lead the way on a unit that is expected to be one of the best in the nation this season.

Last season, Walsh was one of the most accurate kickers in the SEC (completing 20-of-22 field goal attempts and all 50 of his PAT's), while Butler averaged 48.1 yards per punt to lead the FBS.  Both are expected to be even better this season.

As far as the return game goes, Georgia has no shortage of candidates—starting with Branden Smith.
Smith will be used as a punt returner this season and what he brings, without question, is speed. In case you forgot just how fast this young man truly is, take a look at the clip below:



Smith will share the role with other Bulldog players—A.J. Green and Bacarri Rambo could get some looks as well. Said Smith of the role, "I bring a lot,..Speed. That’s the main thing, is speed. Big plays. Punt return, you need a reliable guy to be back there, and you don’t really have a lot of speed, but
you’ve gotta be able to catch the ball, and just to have that breakout speed."

On kick returns, Brandon Boykin will attempt to work his magic again. The junior defensive back had three returns for a touchdown last season—including two that were more than 100-yards. He is definitely a commodity at Georgia and will, hopefully, be special again in 2010:



The Cajuns unit is also very good. Special teams has been one of the bright spots for them under head coach, Rickey Bustle (who doubles as the special teams coach) thus far.

For those who didn't know, Bustle was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 1993-2002 and he picked up a thing or two about how to run a special teams unit from the master—Frank Beamer.
Louisiana ranked 26th in the nation in both kick and punt return defense in 2009, allowing 20.15 and 6.15 yards per kick/punt—respectively.

They also are third in the nation since 2002 in blocking kicks (41)—an impressive distinction to be sure.

Spencer Ortego is the team's punter and, in 66 attempts last season, he averged just over 40.0 yards per attempt. More remarkable is the fact that only 21 of the 66 punts attempted were actually returned—for a grand total of 21-yards.

Their place kicker, Tyler Albrecht, also returns. His longest field goal in 2009 went for 48-yards, but it was for the win against Kansas State so he has some proven ability in the clutch.

The Cajuns are a lot less impressive in the actual return-game as they haven't been able to find a reliable kick or punt return man who offers the explosiveness you'd like to see on the field. Bustle is hopeful that he will be able to find a guy this season who can take the ball and run with it—literally—because last season, the Cajuns ranked 118th in the nation in kick return average (18.06).

Georgia Bulldog Football Is Almost Here...(VIDEO)

A nice little fan video to get you a little more pumped for the season...as if you needed it.

College Football Preview: TCU, Cincinnati, and Northwestern Are On "Upset Alert" in Week One

The college football season is just around the bend now and we are all steadily watching the injury reports and scrimmage outcomes as we get ever-so-close to snap one of the NCAA football season.

Even more, if you are anything like me, you are taking a closer look at the match-ups taking place in week one and wondering who might be caught sleeping a little while still basking in the glow of their preseason hype.

In 2009, it was Oregon. So enthralled were they with the accolades and the prognosticators who thought they would be a potential sleeper pick for the BCS title, they forgot to show up against a very hungry Boise State team with a lot to prove and one very huge chip on their shoulder. The result, a loss for those Ducks and a permanent place in history for one Oregon player who couldn't keep his hands to himself.

So, who should be very careful tip-toeing into week one of 2010:


1. TCU vs Oregon State (TCU -12.5)

The Horned Frogs are eager to right the wrong that was their loss to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl last season. They came in with just as much pomp and circumstance as those Broncos from Idaho, but failed to deliver on the goods as they walked away with a bitter loss.

2010 promises a new look to their defense, minus Daryl Washington and Jerry Hughes, but the corps of their offense and plenty of talent on the defense still remains. That said, they will be looking to run over and place a firm set of handcuffs on the Mountain West again this year in hopes of gaining another shot at BCS glory.

However, they would do well not to overlook the under-appreciated and under stated talent of the Oregon State Beavers. The Beavers were one win away from making a Rose Bowl appearance in 2009 and played very well against the Pac-10 last season.

They have a solid offensive line, two phenomenal talents in both Jacquizz and James Rodgers, and a chip that sits similar to the one that Boise came in with against Oregon last season. If the Beavers can find an adequate replacement for QB, Sean Canfield, this game could be a lot more interesting than many think.

2. Cincinnati at Fresno State (No Line Yet)

Despite the fact the Bearcats lost Tony Pike (QB) and Mardy Gilyard (WR) to the NFL Draft and their former head coach, Brian Kelly, to Notre Dame, people still seem to feel they will be the team to beat in the Big East this season.

The Bearcats have options at quarterback, most notably QB Zach Collaros who fared well in relief of Tony Pike last season. Even more, the receiving corps, even minus the talented Gilyard, has just as much promise with Armon Binns leading the way and former USC recruit, Vidal Hazelton, finally able to contribute as well.

Plus, there is plenty of reason to feel that Butch Jones, who replaced Brian Kelly when he moved on from Central Michigan as well, will do a more than capable job of replacing him at Cincy too—at least that's the thinking.

No matter what the Bearcat hopeful are shooting for this season, the fact remains that they are still questionable on defense and apt to give up more points than you'd like to see on any given Saturday—a weakness that shone most brightly near the tail end of the year.

Fresno State gave the Bearcats all they could handle last season in a 28-20 loss in Cincy, look for the Bulldogs to come out firing on all cylinders in this rematch as they try and avenge that bitter loss on their home turf—minus the stellar running of Ryan Matthews but with the, hopefully, much improved arm of Ryan Colburn.

3. Northwestern at Vanderbilt (Northwestern -3.5)

The Wildcats lost a significant portion of their offense with the departures of QB Mike Kafka as well as their two leading receivers, Andrew Brewer and Zeke Markhausen. Even still, they return the bulk of their offensive line so new QB, Dan Persa, will have a firm foundation as far as that is concerned.

Their defense will be solid up front, despite the loss of Corey Wooton, but their secondary will need an overhaul after losing all three starters.

Vanderbilt may seem like a relative throw-away opponent for the Wildcats who are much more steady in several key areas than the Commodores who will not only be breaking in a new head coach, but are also shaky on the offensive line—at best.

So, how could this game possibly be an "upset special"...well, no one thought Northwestern should have lost to either Syracuse or Minnesota either. The Commodores may have plenty holes to fill but their fiery new coach will have them more prepared for this game than any other this season and that makes this a dangerous proposition for the Wildcats.