Atomic Football 2011

Yes, we're back for 2011, and we're excited about another great football season.

I recently did a web search to find some of the many posts from individuals who poke fun at our predictions. Here's a classic from last year:

Atomic Football (People Who Claim To Be Really Smart) Tell Us How Our Football Teams' Seasons Will Play Out.

I suppose what seems most odd about when people take their jabs at Atomic Football, whether on forums or in articles like these, is that no one ever seems to do a post-mortem on their own words. Since the author declined, I've decided to step in and help him out.

Here were my predictions that he so enjoyed ridiculing:

1) Georgia will finish the regular season 6-6 (3-5 in the conference) with a 28-27 win over Georgia Tech.

Actual Results: Georgia finishes the regular season 6-6 (3-5 in the conference) with a 42-34 win over Georgia Tech. Without the late TD with 1:29 left, the final score is 35-34.

2) Georgia Tech will finish the regular season 7-5 (5-3 in the conference). In the author's words, "Not suprisingly, the defense will not improve much. Middle Tennessee State will put up 19 on the Jackets and every other team [regular season after 28 September] will put up even more."

Actual Results: Georgia Tech finishes 6-6 (4-4 in the conference), one conference win off my predictions. MTSU puts up 14 points on the Jackets. For the rest of the regular season, the GT defense allows at least 20 points to their other seven opponents.

3) Georgia State will finish the regular season at 6-5. In the author's words, "In fact, this past weekend's victory over Campbell was just the beginning of the Panthers' own four-game winning streak (all over FCS opponents!)... GSU is predicted to finish its season with (only) a 57-0 loss to the Crimson Tide."

Actual Results: Georgia State finishes 6-5. The win over Campbell is the beginning of a four-game winning streak. The season ends with a 56 point loss to Alabama.

4) Georgia Southern will finish the regular season 8-3 (6-2 in the conference).

Actual Results: Georgia Southern underperforms slightly during the regular season, finishing 7-4 (5-3 in the conference). All four losses are by no more that eight points. The Eagles go on to win their first three playoff games, including a rematch win over Wofford whose 2-point edge over the Eagles during the regular season knocked my predictions off by one game.

Keep 'em coming.