I can't do this with my son anymore, because he's 2 1/2 and can talk and wants to talk about birds and trees and that stick on the ground, so yesterday I took my 11-month-old daughter for a walk in the stroller and previewed the football season with her. Here's what we came up with:
Game 1: Oklahoma State Cowboys
This game has the potential to be exactly like the '05 Boise State game. Don't say you're from a better, more powerful conference, RxDawgboy, because those same Broncos beat the Big 12 Champs last year in the Fiesta Bowl. I think that whoever wins this game (Georgia) has the chance to catapult into a fantastic season. Boise State had essentially the same team in '05 as the one that went undefeated last year, but we smashed them 48-12 and they did not recover. I'm predicting the same score: 48-12, Georgia wins.
Game 2: South Carolina Gamecocks
I'm dry-heaving just thinking about this game. The last time the Cocks came to Athens we won because Blake Mitchell couldn't complete a four-yard pass. However, I think that the off-field problems SCarolina's been having, along with the unexpected departure of Sidney Rice -- Spurrier said he had no idea Sidney was going to declare for the draft -- will put off the threat until we go to Columbia in '08. I think we win this one.
Game 3: Western Carolina Catamounts
Win, win, win.
Game 4: @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Honestly I think we're going to overprepare for this game because it's Alabama. I have a feud going with a local sports radio commentator who refers to himself as \" 'Bama Z\" and says that the Tide is going to murder us in Tuscaloosa this year. I told him I was going to harass him before, during and after that game, and I intend to keep my word. John Parker Wilson won't be able to play that game, as he will have herniated himself trying to carry Stafford's jock. As always, I hope they beat Tennessee, but I think the Tide will Roll Over for us Dawgs.
Game 5: Ole Miss Rebels
Let's be honest, that punt last year was in fact blocked and we should in fact have lost that game. Therefore I want revenge for the loss. Brent Schaeffer probably ought to find a nice hotel to hide in for a week or so. Dawgs win.
Game 6: @ Tennessee Volunteers
Man, oh, man do I want revenge. Most of you were here last year when the Vols invaded this forum. I just want to beat them into the ground. What we've got going against us is Erik Ainge will probably look like a Heisman candidate all year long, and he's got that no-huddle mastered. What we've got going for us is that they dress in orange and they haven't beaten us in Neyland since Tee Martin was their QB.
Game 7: @ Vanderbilt Commodores
REVENGE! Vandy might not even have a football program after this game. I guarantee we hang half a hundred on them, at least. We may score ninety. I took my wife to the Vandy game last year. Nobody talked the whole way home. REVENGE!!!!
Game 8: Florida Gators
Not much to say about this game. It is what it is. What we have going for us is that Tebow's never been a starter in the SEC before, and most of the starters from last year's NC team will be playing on Sundays, not Saturdays. What we have going against us is that it's the bloody Florida game, and I think we may be a year away from being unstoppable.
Game 9: Troy Trojans (HC)
It's a trap. Sandwiched between the Florida game and the Auburn game, plus it's homecoming. I know they're a Sun Belt team, but they're GOOD. They've beaten BCS teams before, and they won the SBC's first ever bowl game last year. I know we can beat them, but there's the possibility of looking past them. I don't want to do that.
Game 10: Auburn Tigers
Their running back is gone. Brandon Cox has on days and off days, and their O-line is suspect. I think this one will be high-scoring like the last one in Athens. I think it goes our way, though, because the recent trend is that one team beats the other twice in a row. Maybe a little 31-30 revenge?
Game 11: Kentucky Wildcats
REVENGE!!! They're in OUR house this year, and we actually have a kicker this time. Then again, they are getting REALLY good. I predicted them to win 8-9 games this year, and I'm not backing down from that. I just hope we're not one of those games. It's senior day, they beat us last year, and it's at Sanford. I think we beat them, but I'm not so sure about the half a hundred I predicted against Vandy.
Game 12: @ Georgia Tech Yellowjackets
You want the truth? I think this is a slaughter. Calvin Johnson is gone, they've got to break in a new quarterback (say what you will about Reggie Ball, but his team was familiar with him after four years) and as long as we contain Teshard Choice we shouldn't have a problem. Plus we should be a much higher-scoring team this year.
Like I said, my daughter can't really talk, but I'm sure she agrees with me on most of that.
GO DAWGS!!!!
Red and Black, Win or Lose
