Other Voices

Mitch Clarke is executive editor of The Gainsville Times. And, his publisher is obviously NOT an Auburn fan! His column appears Sundays in The Times. Read previous columns at gainesvilletimes.com. I am unabashedly a Georgia Bulldog. I bleed red and black. I believe that if you lead a good life, when you die you go to Vince Dooley's house.

So it won't surprise you that I can't wait for Saturday's game. It is the start of Georgia's most anticipated season since a kid named Herschel was just learning his way around campus. Saturday, for the first time, I'll watch the game in Sanford Stadium with the Bulldogs as the nation's top-ranked team.

Several preseason polls have made Georgia No. 1. My brain tells me it's going to be difficult to stay there. Only twice since 1950 has a team started and finished the year at No. 1, and Georgia's got that brutal road trip late in the season when we travel to Baton Rouge, La., Jacksonville, Lexington, Kent., and Auburn.

But my heart tells me it could happen. Win when we're supposed to win, avoid the injury bug and get a break or two in the big games, and who knows what could happen? In fact, it might just happen like this:

Georgia vs. Georgia Southern: I know some Southern fans who have had this game circled on the calendar since Appalachian State beat Michigan last season. Sorry, Eagles. You ain't Appy State. More importantly, we ain't Michigan. 38-14.

Georgia vs. Central Michigan: The Chippewas surrender at halftime to avoid further embarrassment. 42-3.

Georgia at South Carolina: A gamecock ain't nothing but a chicken. Of course they have a different barnyard animal coaching them, and by the fourth quarter, Stevie will be going for a new Olympic record in the visor toss. 24-19.

Georgia at Arizona State: They don't tailgate much in Tempe because, (a) it's really, really hot and cactus doesn't provide much shade, and (b) their president likes tailgaters less than Michael Adams does. You can only tailgate for 3 1/2 hours before kickoff, and only beer and wine are allowed. When I told my friend, Tim, that we couldn't have bourbon at our tailgate, he replied, "Wanna bet?" Dawgs win the party and the game, 38- 21.

Georgia vs. Alabama: Alabama fans thought they'd found the Bear reincarnated when they hired Nick Saban. Forbes magazine just named him the most powerful coach in all of sports. But powerful and successful aren't synonymous. Bammer's about to be 0-fer against Richt and Co. 28-24.

Georgia vs. Tennessee: Mark Richt is 0-2 against the Vols with David Cutcliffe as their offensive coordinator. He's 4-1 when Cutcliffe isn't there. Guess who isn't there? It's time for payback 'tween the hedges, and Phil Fulmer consoles himself with a truckload of Krispy Kremes. 35-17.

Georgia vs. Vanderbilt: There goes Knowshon! There goes Knowshon! 41- 14.

Georgia at LSU: LSU fans start drinking on Tuesday night before the game on Saturday. As a result, they're a real joy to be around. Last time we were in Baton Rouge, a bunch of drunken Cajuns threw cups and bottles at us after they beat us. This year, we're throwing them back. 21-17.

Georgia vs. Florida: Urban Meyer doesn't like to lose. He cried on national TV after the Gators lost to LSU last year. And after Georgia had the audacity to celebrate a touchdown last year, he vowed to get revenge. Might have tried to do that before we scored five more touchdowns. But whatever. Dawgs win again, though we keep it close because we hate to see a grown man cry. Later, Gator. 26-21.

Georgia at Kentucky: The only reason to make this trip is the Kentucky bourbon. 49-20.

Georgia at Auburn: In 2006, we wore white to beat the War Eagle Tiger Plainsmen by 22. Last year, we brought out the black jerseys and won by 25. Do I hear 30 this year? Shoot, we could wear chartreuse and it wouldn't matter. 51-21.

Georgia vs. Georgia Tech: This is a rivalry? The Georgia Institute of whatever it-is has beaten the Dawgs only 12 times in my lifetime, and it hasn't won since the Clinton administration. Frankly, Hillary has a better shot at winning this fall than Tech does. 35-14.

Georgia vs. LSU (SEC Championship Game): Last time we played LSU in the SEC title game, we scored two touchdowns before LSU's players got off the team bus, and we hit their star quarterback so hard he had to have a Georgia linebacker surgically removed from his chest. 35-10.

Georgia vs. Ohio State (BCS Championship Game): Dawgs make it three straight SEC routs over Ohio State. The Supreme Court then bans the Buckeyes from further trips to the title game, ruling their appearances there constitute cruel and unusual punishment. 42-17.

Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?