From another thread
From another thread
dawgball wrote:
One of my favorite ways to bet is playing against off-season projections in the first couple of weeks. So far, two schools have received a ton of press. One good (Auburn) and one bad (Georgia).
Auburn is everyone's pre-season darling. I thin there are some writers out there that are ready to forego the season and hand them the national championship. What does that mean for me? It most certainly will mean playing the other side on August 30. USC is expected to roll over, play dead, and hoist Auburn to greatness on their run to the title. In the words of the ever-annoying Lee Corso, "Not so fast, my friend!" USC has an inexperience problem at QB, but that is what the boys in the trenches are playing for. Protection will be key to USC's entire season and especially this first game. If Booty can settle in he has weapons to help him in this battle. This game is obviously not going to be won on the offensive side of the ball for USC, but Booty needs to make sure he just doesn't lose it for them. USC's defense is out to prove their prowess against the the running game who anyone with a pulse has heard about.
Getting back to my point, my money will not necessarily be on USC or against Auburn, though. It will simply be against the hype that Auburn has received. There can simply be no value in playing Auburn.
Now the bad. Georgia is coming off of a miracle season. A lucky turnover in the South Carolina game, a last second TD against Auburn, two blocked field goals against a Clausen-less Tennessee, and a outright battle against Alabama. Put this with losing 7 players to the draft (8 counting Terrence Edwards who was picked up by the Falcons), the entire starting offensive line, and the consistent play from TE Watson--what do you get? Basically, a bunch of bad press. Most polls still have Gerogia in the Top 10, but how many times do you see the reigning SEC champ drop to the bottom half of the pre-season top 10?
Georgia's offensive line is not in as bad of shape as it sounds. Most everyone that will be starting this year comes in with experience. No starters but there are bodies with playing experience. Will the offensive line be as good? Without out a doubt not. Where Georgia is going to win ballgames is with returning QB David Greene making good decision (which is his strength) and on the defensive side putting pressure on opposing QBs.
Once again on August 30, my money will not be necessarily on Georgia or against Clemson but against the bad press that the Bulldogs have received.
Disclaimer: Georgia is my alma-mater, but I do my best to ignore that when making my decisions.
I, too, like to look at this angle. By "Underhyped", do you mean that they are getting very little press or that they are getting bad press? I like the good press/bad press situation.
GL
