Why the hype (here) on the Falcons?

Repeating: Tennessee and South Carolina will be better than people think, as will the Falcons.

Still sticking with the Falcons as a team that can win seven games, or more. What people miss or refuse to acknowledge – because whining is apparently more fun – is that last year, the 4-12 Falcons gave up only 18 more points than they scored.

They had, in fact (sorry for the F word), the ninth-best best point differential in the NFC. Much better than the 6-10 49ers, who get a lot of love. And 60 points better than the Cowboys, who get slobbered on.

That’s relevant. Shows that despite the clown show to start the season and changes afterward, the Falcons remained competitive and had talent.

Fact is, Atlanta found a to lose very, very winnable games – a touchdown margin or less, a very narrow parameter - against the likes of Kansas City, New Orleans, and Tampa Bay, not to mention Dallas, Chicago, Carolina, Detroit, and the LA Chargers.

If the Falcons go .500 in single-digit margin losses, they’re 8-8.

No, they haven’t started clicking yet from start t finish, but there are more bright spots than people realize, or want to, since people like whining.

They could easily – not easily, but you know – go on a three-game winning streak, over the Jet (in London, and when for the love of God will that experiment stop?), Dolphins, and Panthers.

Maybe four, with the Saints. By then, perhaps there’s momentum to upend Dallas, even at JerryWorld.

The Falcons have potential, and they’ve shown in in three of the four games. They have one shoulda-won under their belt in a big transition year, and one closer-than-the-score game.

They’re just not that far away from being a .500 team, and that’d be a pleasant surprise.

Loughdmouthings

Past and current law enforcement enjoyed pointing out a prediction that didn’t pan out on Saturday.

Why UGA-Arkansas might be tighter than folks think: 1. Sam Pittman, for a few reasons; 2. UGA hasn't played a testing O: USCE and Vandy? Nope. UAB? Nope. Clemson? Not near what we thought. Don't be surprised at a 4-quarter game. QB situation not as big as people will make it.
— Central Georgia Sports Report (@CentralGaSports) October 2, 2021

Piling on is 15 yards.

Had Arkansas not laid an egg the size of Montana, well, we’d have had a game for more than three minutes. The only aim the Razorbacks had down pat was on their foot, because, well, you know.

When you have three penalties on one play, when you can’t avoid the pre-snap five-yarders from the start, when you leave about a three-yard gap on the line on a punt so big Uga coulda waddled through, it’s a mess.

The good news for Arkansas is it won’t play that bad the rest of the year.

Thus, we’re still not totally sure about Georgia. Almost. Close. But they still haven’t been tested, in part because of the things the Bulldogs do and in part because of the schedule and in part because two opponents were over-ranked and, well, that’s a chunk.

Repeating a version of last week’s guess: Auburn has a mobile quarterback, and now has two different QBs with experience. An open-minded game plan and the appearance of Good Bo – and an efficiently active Bo who can perhaps make the defense finally have actually work for awhile - can make things mighty interesting.

And the Auburn crowd can dish out a bit of what Georgia’s yellers did on Saturday. The Bulldogs, though, are likely to be more disciplined than the Hogs were. Wouldn’t be hard. …

Public service announcement: Not to pile on, but go to Twitter and search “urban meyer video.” And prepare to cry. …

Did you see that story about the really good high school football player at a college game Saturday? Huuuuge news. Granted, he was at a different one last week and will be at a different one this week and the rest of the season, and odds are he had a good time, liked the coaches, felt at home, was impressed with the facilities, and felt a good vibe with the current players.

Didn’t? Go visit www.stalkingHSplayers.com (not really a website, but kind of close to what goes on). That a high school kid visited a college game is ‘national’ news – maaaan, how the national media outlets have dropped for BS clickbait – is pathetic. It’s bad enough how such visits are “covered” by local “media.”

For this topic, yes, quote marks around media. Such a sucker topic. …

Last week here: “Still, it’s too early to say the Geoff Collins regime has turned the corner.”

Yup. …

As per the Georgia High School Football Daily, Mount de Sales dismantling of Aquinas – which has really dropped from consistent to anybody’s guess – last week was one of the state’s top upsets, the 15-point underdogs winning by 28, a point turnaround of 43.

Conversely, 20-point underdog Spalding turned in a stunner with its 31-26 win over Perry, which had “undefeated” basically – basically, because the Panthers have Washington County this week in a fill-in game that’s a might good fill-in game - written all over it until the regular-season finale against Baldwin.

The only other Central Georgia game that merits “surprise” status might be Stratford’s 42-6 at Calvary Day. The Eagles were an underdog, and the Eagles don’t get hammered very often, certainly by co-Class A teams.

GMC struggling so much with Wilkinson County and pulling out the game-winner in the final minutes was a big surprise, too. …

The NCAA should be barraged with email and calls to eliminate the one-time transfer rule, starting with the 2022-23 year. It’s absurd, and leads to things getting out of control.

And it sure doesn’t teach dealing with adversity. …

Dear Friday night gamecasters: Dear beloved FridayNightGamecasters: It's not about you, it's about them. Not y'all, them. The participants and the parents and the people outside of the booth. So: accuracy, knowledge, fairness, less screaming, and some professionalism. ... Please.

Polls

Reminder that we split up the polls into divisions, because, well, it makes sense. A so-so record by a bigger school against better competition likely means deserving a higher ranking in an overall poll than a smaller school with a better record.

One game is one game. Polls are big-picture items. Who would beat who right now? If they played 10 times, who’d win more? Tis mere reality.

This is more fair, allows for more teams to be ranked. And there are many more 3A, 2A, and A programs in Central Georgia than larger programs, so they deserve more rankings.

Division I (6A, 5A, 4A)

1. Warner Robins

So much for being drowsy after a brutal drive to Camden County. Almost 80? On a respectable 7A program? Good grief.
2. Baldwin

The Braves are on a 93-6 run the last two games, and finally got to play at home, which should add some oomph to things for a couple weeks, the suspense of when they’d get to play at home now out of the way.

3. Jones County

Yeah, the panic outside the team a month ago was silly then, and is sillier now. The journey to the region title seems almost as familiar as last year’s.

4. Perry

The loss to Spalding was pretty stunning, the Panthers unable to get out of their own way a little bit and handle a surprise performance. But it’s a loss could push them farther into the playoffs.

5. Houston County
Taking care of business against Veterans was good, but the Bears still seem to do things with mirrors at times. They have to find another vehicle to ride other than Simeon Askew.

Division II (3A, AA, A, GISA)

1. Peach County
The Trojans’ last region challenge cmae against Crisp County after bombing opponents. Can the Cougars do it again and maybe pull of the upset, or will they get Peach Countyed’?

2. Macon County
The Bulldogs are winning by 38.8 points a game. That’s fixing to decrease starting this week with four straight games against quality competition.

3. John Milledge
The Trojans have won 30 in a row, and haven’t given up more than 20 points since that last loss, on Nov. 30, 2018, in the GISA 3A state title game.

4. Bleckley County

The first 6-0 start in 30 years is the result of an improved defense and impressive consistency.

5. Northeast

Jeremy Wiggins called last week’s comeback win at Washington County one of the best games he’s ever been a part of. And he’s been a part of dozens of big ‘ns.
6. Mary Persons
The Bulldogs were severely humbled by a taking-names Crisp County team that was more dominant against them than Peach County was. Mary Persons can’t afford a letdown, even against Pike County.

7. Washington County

Coughing up a 23-6 fourth-quarter lead leaves a bruise. A quality non-region night at Perry could help ease that pain.
8. Putnam County

Through six games last year, the War Eagles had given up 22 points, 26 fewer points than this year against the same schedule. Not a concern.

9. Dodge County

The week off after the heartbreaking loss to Bleckley County came at the wrong time, and a sluggish start at Jasper County wouldn’t be a surprise. But the final three quarters will be fun.

10. Tattnall

The Trojans are carrying a hammer around in an equipment bag, and they’ve pretty much dropped the hammer five straight times. Now comes region play.