After the preliminaries with an FCS and a G6 opponent at home, the Dawgs hit the road to northwest Arkansas to take on a reeling Arkansas team in Fayetteville. After scoring 133 points in 2 games with the starters on the bench by midway through the 2nd quarter, I expect Georgia to have another step up in competition Arkansas also takes a step up in competition after their trip to Salt Lake City to face a Big 12 contender in Utah to a national championship contender in Georgia. Let’s get to the first look.
Series record / last meeting
Georgia leads the series 12-4 and is riding a 3 game winning streak in the series. In Athens in 2021, the Dawgs Kirb-stomp a top 10 Arkansas to the tune of 37-0 in what I believe is the best noon crowd at Sanford I’ve ever seen. The defense smothers the Arkansas offense allowing fewer than 200 yards of total offense while the offense churns out 273 yards on the ground led by James Cook’s 87 yards on 12 attempts. After the game, Kirby gives the raucous crowd 10 points for causing false start penalties and, most importantly, a blocked punt for a TD.
Gambling degenerate facts
According to DraftKings, Georgia opened as a -17.5 point favorite, and that spread has mushroomed to -25.5 as of last night with a point total of 54.5. The Dawgs sit as a -4,500 money line favorite. That’s practically like taking the money line off the board. You can get 17 to 1 odds on Arkansas pulling an upset on Saturday if you so desire.
Interesting statistic: 2.71 (Rushing yards per attempt)
The Razorbacks’ running game has struggled in their first 2 games. Against FCS North Alabama, they needed 49 attempts to gain 148 yards. They ran for only 61 yards on Saturday night at Utah on 28 attempts. Those statistics have to be making Sam Pittman think, “At least, I could put together a team that could run the ball consistently.” Those numbers are downright horrible for a program that has a proud heritage of offensive line play and running backs.
Early outlook
Can Arkansas pull off an upset on Saturday? Sure … if the Dawgs wander into Fayetteville at 11 a.m. and roll the helmets out there and play with no passion. That’s not something we’ve seen in 2 games against poor competition. Can Arkansas take the game into the 2nd half? Sure … if Georgia turns the ball over and gives up multiple short fields as we did on Saturday against WKU except all of that happened with substitutes in the game.
If Georgia plays its SEC opener with focus, this game may be competitive into the 2nd quarter, but the Dawgs will eventually pull away and win this game comfortably against the spread because this Arkansas team couldn’t hold a candle to the last 3 Arkansas team that have faced Georgia. Kirby is probably ready to jam Ryan Silverfield’s words right down his throat on Saturday morning/early afternoon. Right now, I lean to taking the over and laying the points … but I’m not a betting man.
What’s your thought right now for Saturday?
In the spirit of pigs and BBQ, what’s your favorite BBQ pork joint? Mine is Fat Boy’s in Sylvester.
Let us know in the comments below.
Golden Rule Barbecue in Pelham, Al. It’s now Archie’s BBQ and Burgers, but my uncle would take me there as a kid when we’d visit. I learned that you could order pulled pork by asking for such things as “two pounds of inside lean”. The fried peach pies for dessert are probably the reason my doc likes to talk about my A1C nowadays.
I have been to the original Archies in Tuscaloosa. I hope the new location and expansion is as good or better than Golden Rule.
Three Little Pigs in Pine Mountain. Southern Soul at St Simons.
Had them both … loved them especially SS
I’m over predicting what 19 year olds who I don’t know will do on a Saturday afternoon.
Looks like it should be another thrashing, on paper.
We should get a glimpse of whether this team is really on a mission, or has just taken advantage of really poor comp, over the next three weeks.
No reason for any meaningful second half snaps in 2026 before the third quarter in Tuscaloosa.
Will we execute? Has Kirby defied NLI-era parity and built a death star in spite of it all?
TBD…. but I do like what I’ve seen so far.
I’ll be surprised if there’s much adversity this Saturday. This team is much more experienced than last years. Very focused and bought in to team goals.
I hope you are right, scuba. As Derek said, you never can tell with 18-23 year olds.
I do think guys like KJ, Gunner, Greene, Cole, Raylen, Lawson L, Big Baby, etc. have this team as player-led … always a good thing.
I know the inner Munson is strong every Saturday in league play. As it should be. Just stay healthy butcher the hogs quickly move on to OU. On that one my inner Munson is already screaming danger alert.
Norris Barbecue Warrenton Mitchell Rd Warren Co. Best Brunswick Stew and tenderest pork I have ever eaten anywhere Fri 11-7 Sat til sell out right after lunch
As an old middle Ga boy, l gotta go with what l
grew up on. Fincher’s in Macon. Was such a treat when my Daddy would come home and load us up and go to Macon for BBQ. Get me a Cherokee Farms chocolate milk and l was set! Still BBQ is kinda like a couple of things, the worst l ever had was wonderful!
I to grew up in Macon on their barbecue & Brunswick stew.
Super good. Believe an astronaut took some to space for a meal.
That would be Sonny Carter. He grew up in Macon and took Fincher’s BBQ with him on a shuttle mission in 1989. Sadly, Sonny died in a plane crash in 1991.
Growing up, my neighbor that lived across the street worked at Fincher’s and would bring my family containers full of BBQ pulled pork and brunswick stew all of the time. Needless to say, I had a very happy childhood!
Jims Smokin Que, just south of Blairsville on hwy 19. Kind of out in the middle of nowhere. Brisket sandwich that puts me in a meat coma. Best BBQ of anyone, “You Can Smell Our Butts For Miles.”
Dawgs win 56-0 Kirby is on a mission this year. He heard all the “Georgia is dead” comments he could tolerate for all the off season. I truly believe this team is hunting this year and they have better quality depth than anyone realizes.
Sconyers in Augusta. I love a side of the road BBQ shack as much as anyone, but sometimes it is pleasant to have BBQ in a comfortable restaurant. You will either love the hash or hate it. There is no in-between.
Everything is better in Metter….if you’re man enough…..
I believe I’ve been to Papa Buck’s and been to Jomax a couple of times. Two good spots down the street from each other.
Franklin’s in Austin for brisket but there is no pork this side of the Mississippi 😫
I have had some pork in Texas, but it isn’t as good as we have.
Yeah, there’s plenty of pork out here but none as good as home. Delta Blues in Houston has some really good BBQ, including pork belly, that is awesome. Their pulled pork is good, but not the best I’ve had.
There was an old (1920’s) drive in here in Houston called Mr. Pig but it closed several years back.
Pork is is so dryed out here and not flavorful. They can’t figure out baby back ribs and sauce. Brunswick stew? They never heard of it. Damn I’m hungry for some now!
Years ago I was working in Granby, TX and had a craving for BBQ. I went to a local place and when I looked at the menu and saw there was no pork, I made the mistake of asking if they had any pulled pork. I was quickly told that I was in Texas and if I wanted BBQ to have the brisket!!! For my local place, I really recommend Choo Choo BBQ on Three Notch Road in Ringgold.
I could be wrong but I don’t see how Arkansas can do much on offense. The stats on the running game are abysmal and their qb isn’t in the top 100 of any passer rating list I could find. If we are focused, I believe we can keep rolling as in games 1 and 2.
As far as barbecue goes I’m with my fellow Dawgs who said Fincher’s in Macon. It’s what I grew up on and I worked for them for many years. My two children’s first “real food” was Fincher’s Brunswick stew at the Houston Avenue location. On a side note, Myron Mixon has said that if he could have only one barbecue meal it would be Fincher’s. I do think that barbecue is like your mama’s meatloaf though…what you grew up on is what you like. Salt Lick in Driftwood, Texas is my second choice. Sorry for the long post, I can talk barbecue all day.
Myron Mixon is one of my wife’s cousins, and quite the character. I think it’s funny that he’s a celebrity selling $5K smokers.
I joke with my wife that she’s Big Pig Jig Mafia. Back when we were dating 30+ years ago, we went down to Vienna to meet the family. Myron took me out to the smokehouse on the family property to grab whatever meat he had been smoking for lunch. The building was filled with pork butts, sausages, briskets, bacon, you name it. It is to this day the most amazing thing I have ever smelled.
Didn’t think I would see a shout out to Norris BBQ on here. My son and I had the pleasure of dining in the kitchen with the owner on a Friday night about a decade ago. May favorites in the Georgia Piedmont are Straw’s in Sparta, Heavy’s in Crawfordville and Holcomb’s in White Plains. G Brand BBQ in Crawford and Zeb’s in Ila are worth a stop too.
When you are not in Georgia, you have to take what you can get. And the best you can get in Brussels is Holy Smoke. It is more Texas style.
But I have to give the dude credit he bought and shipped an authentic smoker from Texas.
They also have a good assortment of Bourbons that you can’t find anywhere else.
They have #13’s favorite celebratory Bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle.
If you are ever in europe’s capital city, give it a shot. Closest you gonna get in europe.
Tout est bon dans le cochon!
Ps – close 2nd is the sunday market at Place Flagey – go to the Portuguese stall and they smoke baby pigs like you are supposed to. They invented bbq not the spaniards.
Uga football vs arkie, TCB, get the Fuck outa’ town, enjoy another sec “W”, do some film review, get some rehab, sleep in your own bed, get ready for next saturday…GO DAWGS!!
Inner Munson alert. I believe we win but not cover. 11 AM kick, first road game, don’t expect the Arky crowd will be much, so atmosphere inside stadium maybe dead. Everyone was certain Oklahoma was going to dog walk Michigan too. Perfect Kirby game, win and have reasons to be aggressive on the bullhorn next week chewing on everyone.
The 11 am kick reduces the home field advantage in my opinion. It’s fair to think we don’t cover 25+. I’m not convinced Utah is a world beater, and they dog-walked them.
Living in Middle Georgia, I love Fincher’s too, but my favorite is from The White Diamond in Bonaire, GA. I’ve never even tried anything else on the menu as it’s always the BBQ sandwich and their excellent homemade french fries. In Texas, where BBQ is brisket and not pulled pork, I’d recommend Huchins’ BBQ in Frisco or McKinney. It’s pricey, but worth even cent.
My wife and I started trying hit as many of the Texas Monthly Top 50 as we could. So far we’ve been to 12, including the #1, and none of them are even close to the brisket at Hutchins. My daughter lives in Frisco and we hit Hutchins every visit.
I have to agree on White Diamond; I’m from Warner Robins, and whenever I visit, I make a point to drive down there and order at least two pounds of the pulled pork to take back to my home in NE Alabama. Of course, I’m one of the very few UGA fans in the Huntsville area; the Bammers couldn’t force me to pick either Bama or AwBarn. GO DAWGS! Sic ‘Em! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! Still a rabid DAWGS Fan; in Kirby we trust 🙂
White Diamond is really good! They would probably be my next choice! Still , Fincher’s on Houston Ave. long time ago was the place. Car hops would meet you onthe turn in. Sometimes we’d go in but sometimes eat in the car. Daddy always got some skins! Great memories!!
Welp, last year’s first conference road game was against Butt Chug Nation and it was really crazy they were even in that game. The push off TD on Ellis R4 and the bounce off the head luck ball TD shows you exactly how poverty programs getting lucky can tax the superior squad. Then we go to overtime, break out the plunger and unclog the inbred Urnge comode that they are. SOOOOOO – significant improvement win by 4 in regulation? but really I’m looking for starting scoring streak can we come out and score on multiple drives to start? Sacks? let’s get more than we give. TOs? win that battle. What would make HiAltDawg typing in 3rd person smile? BUMphries with Hines-esque crackback and Busy Bee Frazier trucking a fool. Keep it physical, disciplined and composed and let the bloody drills in practice become bloodless battles between the lines until the whistle blows.
#GoDawgs
p.s. ly’s game after an early drop I said “Humphries? more like BUMphries (in a tone only Lance Kiffin would approve of) and after his super catch my friend’s bride said I had to call him that and air out my ignorance and shame the rest of his career and fess up face to face if I met the young gentleman. Brown Likker may have been involved but I accept my fate.
I want them Dawgs to boatrace the hogs. In honor of their coach running his dicksucker about our driving habits, I want Kirby and Bobo to “keep their foot on the gas”. Fuck that guy!
It would be funny in the post-game presser if Kirby used the phrase “kept our foot on the gas” in his opening comments if we boat-race them.
I don’t know that my scumbag self wouldn’t celebrate that for decades.
It’s even worse: now, I’m gonna take a shot every time Coach says it! It’s only Tuesday and alkerhaul poisoning is on the horizon.
We SHOULD win this game going away, but it IS a road game in the SEC plus Arkansas was embarrassed last week and will want to show the home crowd that they’re not as bad as everyone is saying (kinda like Oklahoma State and Michigan did last week). Luckily, I don’t think Arkansas is as good as either of those teams, so let’s say it’ll be 45-17 as I don’t think they’ll play as bad as they did vs Utah.
Arkansas on paper looks like a steaming pile. Even so, 25.5 is a big number, especially on the road. This game for me is a great barometer for how things proceed. Barbeque. I grew on Wallace Barbeque when I lived on the west side and appreciated the Old Hickory House when I moved eastwards. Getting harder to find old time barbeque places in metro ATL.
Still like Sprayberrys and Fresh Air for pork sandwiches and stew when I can get it. I live in Atlanta though so it’s infrequent.
I hate to say it, but I need to see how we do against Alabama and Ole Miss before I believe this may be a special season, but will be enjoying the ride as always nonetheless.
the main play I recall from the 2021 game was the short yardage TD run where Jalen Carter, as the FB, bulldozed THREE Arkansas defenders. Poor Sam Pittman never knew what hit them.
If you’re ever up LaFayette way check out Wardlaw’s Lucky Eye Q. I grew up believing BBQ only came from a pig and the occasional chicken. It wasn’t till I tried Robert’s brisket that I could see what the fuss was about. In all my trips up and down I 75 I have never driven the stretch between the exits that take you to Jackson. Fresh Air is always worth the diversion. Sprayberry’s is also on my list. Biggun’s in Talking Rock also does a fine pork plate or sandwich.
I’ll give Arkansas credit for good pork BBQ. My in-laws used to live just north of Fayetteville and we’d get BBQ when we’d visit. Also had good pork BBQ in Fort Smith when I was up there a few months back. Basically, look for the smoke, the crowd, and the lack of decorations (just like any good BBQ joint) and you most likely won’t be disappointed.