Mark Richt, Georgia 6-15 vs. Ranked Opponents since 2008
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Mark Richt, Georgia 6-15 vs. Ranked Opponents since 2008

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Mark Richt

Mark Richt is 6-15 vs. ranked teams since 2008. Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

Saturday’s 35-7 loss at #6 South Carolina continued a recent trend for the Georgia Bulldogs under head coach Mark Richt. Since 2008, the Bulldogs are 6-15 against teams that were ranked at the time of the game.

This is a stark contrast to what Richt and UGA accomplished from 2001 through 2007. Georgia went 24-13 vs. ranked teams during that time period and went undefeated (5-0) in both 2002 and 2007. After the 2007 season, the Dawgs have become less and less competitive in big games, and the numbers are alarming.

Georgia went 3-3 in 2008, but was embarrassed at home by lower-ranked Alabama, falling behind 31-0 at half. Then in Jacksonville, Florida dominated Georgia 35-0 in the 2nd half and won by 39. The Dawgs also lost to rival Georgia Tech that year.

In 2009, UGA lost three straight against Top 10 ranked teams before narrowly defeating the Yellow Jackets. Georgia went 0-4 in 2010, falling to South Carolina, Arkansas, Auburn, and UCF. The 10-6 loss to the Knights in the Liberty Bowl is one that most UGA fans haven’t forgotten.

Last season saw Richt and the Dawgs drop two of their biggest games to open the season, vs. Boise State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and home vs. South Carolina. Georgia was crushed by LSU in the SEC Championship Game and then blew a fourth quarter lead against Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl.

Richt’s 6-15 record since 2008 gets worse when you factor in the opponent’s ranking at the end of the season. LSU and Vanderbilt finished the season unranked in 2008, as did Auburn and Georgia Tech in 2011. All four of those games were wins for Georgia.

And then in 2010, Mississippi State finished the season ranked at no. 15. They beat Georgia 24-12 earlier in the season as an unranked team.

So taking all of that into account, Richt is 2-16 against teams that finish the season ranked since 2008.

Now before you say that this isn’t fair and his entire record since 2001 should be the focus, we are talking about a trend here. Richt trended upward from 2001-2007 going 24-13, but has been on the decline ever since.

It’s possible that Richt can reverse this trend, but it doesn’t look to happen any time soon. Georgia’s only remaining game this season against a current Top 25 team is Florida. That is, unless the Dawgs get help somehow and find themselves in the SEC Championship Game. Does anyone feel confident we could hang with Alabama or LSU after Saturday’s poor showing?

The 2013 season will be even tougher for Richt and the Dawgs. Georgia opens the season at Clemson, and a more difficult SEC schedule likely awaits (add Alabama or LSU).

Listed below are UGA’s results against ranked teams since 2008. Note that these are AP Poll rankings with the exception of UCF in 2010, which was only ranked by the Coaches Poll prior to the game.

2008 (3-3)

  • #8 Alabama 41, #3 Georgia 30
  • #10 Georgia 24, #22 Vanderbilt 14
  • #9 Georgia 52, #11 LSU 38
  • #5 Florida 49, #8 Georgia 10
  • #18 Ga. Tech 45, #13 Georgia 42
  • #15 Georgia 24, #18 Michigan State 12

2009 (1-3)

  • #9 Oklahoma State 24, #13 Georgia 10
  • #4 LSU 20, #18 Georgia 13
  • #1 Florida 41, Georgia 17
  • Georgia 30, #7 Ga. Tech 24

2010 (0-4)

  • #24 South Carolina 17, #22 Georgia 6
  • #12 Arkansas 31, Georgia 24
  • #2 Auburn 49, Georgia 31
  • #25 UCF 10, Georgia 6

2011 (2-4)

  • #5 Boise State 35, #19 Georgia 21
  • #12 South Carolina 45, Georgia 42
  • #14 Georgia 45, #24 Auburn 7
  • #13 Georgia 31, #25 Ga. Tech 17
  • #1 LSU 42, #12 Georgia 10
  • #12 Michigan State 33, Georgia 30 (OT)

2012 (0-1)

  • #6 South Carolina 35, #5 Georgia 7

Totals (vs. ranked teams at time of game)

  • Overall: 6-15
  • OOC: 3-5
  • vs. SEC: 3-10
  • Regular season: 5-12
  • Postseason: 1-2
  • Past 10: 2-8

Totals (vs. teams that finish ranked)

  • Overall: 2-16
  • OOC: 2-5
  • vs. SEC: 0-10
  • Regular season: 1-14
  • Postseason: 1-2
  • Past 10: 0-10

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