I Return for some Post-Loss Perspective

It was an ugly game all around, but I'm not going to be too upset about this one.  Maybe it's from being desensitized by losing 5 games last year (many in a frustrating way), but I just have to look at this from a "what does it mean in the long run?" viewpoint.

So here's the breakdown.

First, take a look at Georgia's schedule this year.

Sat, Sept 4	vs Louisiana-Lafayette	W 55-7	1-0 (0-0)
Sat, Sept 11	@ #24 South Carolina	L 17-6	1-1 (0-1)
Sat, Sept 18	vs #14 Arkansas	12:00 PM ET	Tickets
Sat, Sept 25	@ Mississippi State	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Oct 2	@ Colorado	4:30 PM ET	Tickets
Sat, Oct 9	vs Tennessee	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Oct 16	vs Vanderbilt	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Oct 23	@ Kentucky	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Oct 30	vs #8 Florida*	3:30 PM ET	Tickets
Sat, Nov 6	vs Idaho State	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Nov 13	@ #21 Auburn	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Nov 27	vs #15 Georgia Tech	TBD	Tickets

If you had to pick which one or two games Georgia would lose this season, which would you pick?


Obviously not Louisiana or Idaho State.  Miss State, Vandy and Kentucky are usually SEC bottom feeders and not a huge concern.  Colorado is a bad Big 12 team.  Tennessee is down big time.  Usually Georgia fans expect to beat Georgia Tech (and Tech also lost to a terrible Kansas team today, a team which lost last week 6-3 to an FCS team).  


That leaves Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, and South Carolina.  Those are probably our 4 toughest games, and everyone knew it before the season.  The South Carolina game is our first tough game, away from home, and with a new QB, new defense, and no A.J. Green.  Knowing all of that information before the game, that would make a really good case to predict, IF Georgia only has 1 loss this year, that it could very well be to South Carolina.


So we really have 3 "tough" games left, and Florida is looking very down this season.  


In other words, if we were going to lose a game, it isn't surprising that this is the one.  Yes, Georgia usually beats South Carolina, but you can't win every game.


Second, look at the SEC situation now.  Our goal is to win the East, and it's looking like a race between South Carolina, Florida, and hopefully UGA.  If there was one East team to lose to, it might be good that it was the Gamecocks.  Take a look at their schedule.

Thu, Sept 2	vs Southern Miss	W 41-13	1-0 (0-0)
Sat, Sept 11	vs #22 Georgia	W 17-6	2-0 (1-0)
Sat, Sept 18	vs Furman	7:00 PM ET	Tickets
Sat, Sept 25	@ #21 Auburn	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Oct 9	vs #1 Alabama	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Oct 16	@ Kentucky	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Oct 23	@ Vanderbilt	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Oct 30	vs Tennessee	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Nov 6	vs #14 Arkansas	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Nov 13	@ #8 Florida	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Nov 20	vs Troy	TBD	Tickets
Sat, Nov 27	@ Clemson	TBD	Tickets

Look at that SEC schedule the Cocks are facing.  They have to play AT Auburn, against #1 Alabama, AT Kentucky and Vandy, against #14 Arkansas, and AT Florida.  That's ridiculous.  I feel pretty confident that even if the Gamecocks are better this year, they will still lose 2 SEC games in that schedule.  Maybe even 3 or 4.


That means if UGA can handle business the rest of the way, they will be FINE. Yes, easier said than done, but it isn't the end of the season yet, and I saw some things to be optimistic about.


Murray looks like a great QB for a freshman, the offense has playmakers and soon (hopefully) will have the best receiver in the country back, and the defense looked much better in the 2nd half (held the Cocks to 3 points and got  about five sacks).  


Plus, I think our new D's pass rush will work much better against Arkansas' defense.  Let's hope so.  


But still, the message is the same: Yes, it sucks to lose, but it's one game, and this season is FAR from over.  If we lose to Arkansas next week, I will be very worried, but for now, everything is still on the table.