News and Notes...Who to pull for...

Well, as Erk would say, "That was something."  After the game, Captain immediately asked when was the last time we beat the #2 team in the nation.  Our minds went to the victory against #1 Florida in '85.  Of course, that was #1.  Then I was thinking about #2 Texas in the '84 Cotton Bowl ('83 Season).  I was right.  Texas was #2.  However, Butler's 60-yarder came against #2 Clemson in '84.  That wasn't a very good UGA team, but somehow we found a way to win that one.  We beat Bama that year in B'ham, but lost to South Carolina, Florida, Auburn and Tech.  Dooley had a way of winning those.  Of recent vintage, we beat #3 LSU in the SECCG in '05.  So, really, that was as big a game as we've won in almost 30 years.  I agree with Mark Richt.  That's a great team.  That's a tremendous defense they've got in Gainesville.  Jordan Reed is a junior, btw.  Let's hope he takes this opportunity to enjoy the riches of the NFL.  I don't know what they'd do on offense without Gilleslie and Reed.  Bad news for the Gators…#26 and #3 will be back in Jax next year.  Good news for the Gators…I don't think #29 will.  What a one man wrecking crew.  Here's your weekly 'who to pull for' deal, which is a lot clearer for the rest of the season.  Bottom line, it's in our hands and we just need a couple of chips to fall.  Here's the schedules for the rest of the season:

K-State
Nov. 3 - Okie St - 8 p.m. on ABC
Nov. 10 - @ TCU
Nov. 17 - @ Baylor (Can RGIII play?)
Nov. 24 - Open
Dec. 1 - Texas (What in the world are UT and KSU doing closing the season out against one another?)

Notre Dame
Nov. 3 - Pittsburgh - 3:30 on NBC
Nov. 10 - @ BC
Nov. 17 - Wake Forest - 3:30 on NBC
Nov. 24 - @ USC (You can almost bank on that one being on 8 on ABC, but I don't know if Fox has the rights to non-conference games in Pac 12 stadiums)

Oregon
Nov. 3 - @ USC - 7 p.m. on Fox
Nov. 10 - @ Cal
Nov. 17 - Stanford
Nov. 24 - @ Oregon St.
Nov. 30 - Pac 12 Championship Game (Friday night at 8 p.m. on Fox)

We need 2 of those 3 to lose a game.  Notre Dame has the easiest road, but seems to be the most vulnerable team.  You've got to believe Matty Trojan shows up to beat at least once in 3 tries (twice vs. the Ducks and once against the Trojans).  Even with a USC win, the Pac 12 championship game is likely to be hosted in Eugene.  It's hosted by the team w/ the best Pac 12 record.  However, the Ducks have 3 of their remaining 4 games away from home, and the one at home is vs. the most physical team in the Pac 12.  They've got the toughest road, especially considering they'll have to beat USC twice to run the table.

So, who else loses?  K-State looks really good, but is that an undefeated-type team?  Can they beat TCU in Fort Worth or can Patterson draw up a defense to stop Klein?  Can OSU put together a string of points on Saturday night to stay with them?  Can all those athletes in Burnt Orange actually play like a college football team on Dec. 1?

I think there's a good chance USC wins Saturday night.  They were embarrassed last week, but rolled on offense.  Monte Kiffin is still their DC, and I think Barkley has a moment in him.  If that happens and Bama looks like Bama and we take care of business, we will wake up to rankings on Sunday that look like this:

1.  Bama
2.  K-State
3.  Notre Dame
4.  UGA

Now, if Okie St. pulls it off Saturday night AND USC…well, brothers…it's on like it's never been on in 30 years.  And that sure would make for a fun few weeks of football.

Go Dawgs!