Georgia wins SEC East — and looks like threat to Alabama (UPDATED)
It was a night of celebrations for Todd Gurley, Aaron Murray and the Bulldogs. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
(UPDATED: 11 a.m. Sunday)
AUBURN, Ala. – This is the place where few expected Georgia would be after that ugly night in Columbia last month — not only winning games, but winning them impressively, humiliating an opponent on its home field. This is the place where many may have projected the Bulldogs to be before this season began, but certainly not since (because even Buffalo looked like a greater threat in the season opener than Auburn did Saturday night).
This is where Georgia is today: SEC East champions for the second straight season … and, yes, as improbable as it might once have seemed, a legitimate threat to beat Alabama in the Georgia Dome in three weeks.
Doubt it?
Why?
The Bulldogs thoroughly dominated Auburn 38-0. Georgia fans chanted, “SEC, SEC” in the second half. They were easy to hear because because by then most of the Auburrn fans had left.
Maybe body-slamming Auburn no longer is considered a monumental achievement for an Auburn opponent. The Tigers, two years removed from the BCS title, suddenly look two levels removed from Division 1. They’re having their worst season (2-8, 0-7) in 60 years.
But this isn’t a one night aberration. Georgia (9-1) has won four straight since the loss to South Carolina. It has won the last three by a combined score of 92-19.
A touted defense that looked out of sync for much of the season has allowed just one touchdown and four field goals in the last 12 quarters. Aaron Murray, who had three first-half touchdowns against Auburn, doesn’t look anything like the quarterback who had three first-half interceptions against Florida.
The Dogs run the ball. They stop the run. They’re not committing turnovers or dumb penalties.
While Georgia is ascending, Alabama is sputtering (relatively speaking). The Crimson Tide was fortunate to escape Baton Rouge last week with a win, and was upset Saturday by conference newbie Texas A&M — in Tuscaloosa.
“It’s been unbelievable,” said Murray, who celebrated his 22nd birthday. “Most teams might fold [after the loss to South Carolina] and think, ‘They’re going to win all of the rest of their games and our chances of making the SEC are slim.’ But we know anybody can win any week in SEC. South Carolina lost a couple, we beat Florida and now we’re heading back to Atlanta.”
Murray, who has been a different quarterback since Florida week. When he got to the team hotel, he found balloons and chocolate covered strawberries decorated like footballs, sent by his parents. He and teammates immediately scarfed them down.
His parents did not make the trip. His father, Denny, underwent surgery for thyroid cancer last month and recently underwent radiation.
“My dad had some radiation and he can’t be around people right now for three or four days, so he had to stay back,” Murray said. “Sad. First game he’s missed since I was like eight years old. He wanted to be here, I wanted him to be here, but it’s the best thing for him.”
There will be a bigger game upcoming for Murray’s parents to attend. Players and coaches generally limited their comments to the final two regular season games against Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech, not yet looking ahead to Alabama.
But safety Bacarri Rambo acknowledged, “I’m sure some people didn’t think we would [be in this position]. I’m sure a lot of people still doubt us. But we feel we can beat anybody.”
And even the coach Mark Richt said Georgia is no longer focused on winning just the conference title. A berth in the BCS bowl game is possible, although the Dogs would need to win out and get some help from the teams ahead of them in the rankings (losses by two of the following three: Kansas State, Oregon and Notre Dame).
“Atlanta is not the end of the road, we hope,” Richt said.
They did not respond well to an early hole in Columbia. But now for the first time, they are playing with a sense of momentum. They’re playing with an edge.
Assuming no hiccups against Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech, the Dogs nonetheless will be underdogs to Alabama in the Georgia Dome.
But this Tide team suddenly looks beatable. It was fortunate to beat LSU 21-17 win last week. On Saturday, Texas A&M made its first conference game trip into Tuscaloosa and won 29-24. Alabama allowed 418 yards in offense and forced three turnovers. (Auburn fans were grateful because when the Alabama score was flashed on the scoreboard it gave them something to cheer about it. That won’t cheer again until coach Gene Chizik’s firing.)
Two years ago at this time, Auburn was on the way to an undefeated season and Georgia was on the way to the Liberty Bowl (and lost).
Richt was at his absolute bottom in terms of how he was perceived by the fan base — at least until losing to Boise State and South Carolina last season.
When asked recently about handling the dramatic turn in fortunes, he said, “You just know it’s a part of the business. You’ve got to keep believing in what you do, keep grinding, keep evaluating what you do, because if you need to make a change, you make a change. Maybe you need to recruit differently or train differently in the offseason or try something different schematically. If you just totally abandon what you believe in and try to be something you’re not, you’re done.”
Georgia isn’t nearly done. A defense that underachieved so much of the season is now stuffing opponents.
Then there is Murray, he of the egged house following the loss to South Carolina and the three-interception first half against Florida. He completed his first 10 passes against Auburn. By halftime he had already thrown for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Tavarres King, just after getting knocked to the ground by Auburn linebacker Cassanova McKinzy, which forced Murray to leave the game for a play. His threw a 56-yard strike to King, setting up Todd Gurley’s six-yard score.
This isn’t the same team we’ve watched for most of the season. It’s a team playing like a legitimate threat to Alabama and any other team in the BCS rankings.
And that’s something few could have seen coming.
By Jeff Schultz
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649 comments Add your comment
alpharetta alice
November 11th, 2012
10:28 am
too bad Johnny Football won’t have the opportunity to thump uga at sanford and son stadium…like the qb’s at NMST, Buffalo, and Coastal Carolina have had…
Gdawg
November 11th, 2012
10:28 am
Hey “Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville”,
Florida has made a lot of opponent’s offenses look bad this year; including LSU and USC East. Bottom line, the Gators has a helluva defense, and their team has taken on the personality of their coach. Florida spanked LSU soundly but I dont see anyone mentioning this great win by the East. Yes the Gators struggled yesterday against a lesser opponent, but I am sure they were looking ahead to annual rival game with FSU. The Gators are legit, thus I give the Dawgs a big time QA win even if it was ugly. Remember, the Dawgs had to overcome 3 or 4 turnovers of their own during this game. Go Dawgs!!!
439the
November 11th, 2012
10:28 am
For the first time all season, UGA looked to be clicking on all cylinders. A win against Alabama in the SECC is not a stretch of the imagination.
GTBob
November 11th, 2012
10:31 am
For the first time all season, UGA looked to be clicking on all cylinders. A win against Alabama in the SECC is not a stretch of the imagination.
You were playing Auburn. If I went to the local park and got a group of flag football players together they would more than likely beat Auburn.
439the
November 11th, 2012
10:33 am
My gut is telling me that UGA (or Alabama) will not play for NC this year. 2 of the remaining 3 unbeatens must lose…don’t see that happening. Disappointing that, like in 2002, a one-loss SEC champ doesn’t play for National Title.
alpharetta alice
November 11th, 2012
10:33 am
GTBob, Auburn is a quality win to these dummies…so was Buffalo and Kentucky…
439the
November 11th, 2012
10:36 am
I’m thinking the early line on the SECG will be about 7.5. Alabama proved they were vulnerable with the loss, at home, yesterday.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 11th, 2012
10:36 am
“I’m sure some people didn’t think we would [be in this position]. I’m sure a lot of people still doubt us. But we feel we can beat anybody.”
Then why did you beat South Carolina? Why didnt you even compete in that game? If we win that Game, we might be looking at a Championship right about now.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 11th, 2012
10:38 am
UGA should be looking at their championship chances right now. But no, there is always that one butt whooping every year that keep us out of it.
GTBob
November 11th, 2012
10:39 am
alpharetta alice, it happens multiple times every season. UGA beats up on a couple of terrible teams and then their fan base starts convincing themselves that they are the best team in the nation. The SEC championship game should be pretty humorous.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 11th, 2012
10:39 am
in my 10:36 post, I meant “didnt beat South Carolina”
Tide Rising
November 11th, 2012
10:40 am
Too funny. Georgia beats up on a hapless AU team while Alabama loses a nailbiter to arguably the hottest team in the country and all of a sudden the dawgs think they can beat Bama. Only Alabama can beat Alabama. Texas A&M won because we had 3 turnovers while Tam had none. lSU played us tight because we had 2 critical turnovers while they had none. Both played largely penalty free also. The only prayer UGA has against us is if we uncharacteristically turn the ball over at least 3 times or more and if UGA can uncharacteristically play with no turnovers and few if any penalties like LSU and Tam. Otherwise you still have no chance.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 11th, 2012
10:42 am
And to those who think we have a chance to beat Bama, dont bet on it. We still havent seen Aaron Murray not crap his pants in big games, we beat Florida in spite of him crapping his pants.
Bg
November 11th, 2012
10:42 am
GO DAWGS!
Tide Rising
November 11th, 2012
10:42 am
Championship teams may lose a game just like we lost a tight game by about 2 yards yesterday. But championship teams do not get BLOWN OUT by 3 or 4 tds like the dawgs did only a month ago.
Scooby
November 11th, 2012
10:43 am
Patched, I see you’re still broke down on I95. Come into the present please. You leg humpers love living in the past when the present is painful. Fact is we have beaten you three years in a row and have lost only one SEC East game in two seasons. Those are current facts. You can have opinions but not your owen facts. Take that to the bank.
Come on Man!
alpharetta alice
November 11th, 2012
10:44 am
Tide Rising, georgia never plays an SEC-type schedule, so their fans have no idea what you are talking about…
son's who?
November 11th, 2012
10:45 am
UGA could win out and play in the Sugar Bowl. GT could win out and play in the Orange Bowl. I think that would be a heckuva good place to be for EITHER team.
439the
November 11th, 2012
10:46 am
I understand the struggle so many are going through…it’s tough to be a hater…logic must be ignored or circuitously prescribed…unfortunately for the haters:
UGA won the SEC East
UGA is going to play for another SEC championship
UGA is 9-1
UGA is one of the top 5 ranked teams in the nation
Steve Superior
November 11th, 2012
10:48 am
Dang, I hate beating UGA three years in a row and STILL collapsing down the stretch and not even winning the SEC East. It stinks!
atlfalconsfan0125
November 11th, 2012
10:49 am
UGA should be 10-0 with that Cake schedule they had. We blew out NC chances when we didnt even compete vs South Carolina. South Carolina blew us out, what makes yall think we even compete vs Bama?
GTBob
November 11th, 2012
10:49 am
439the, that is great and everything but with your schedule, that is exactly what was expected of UGA. There were only two possible losses on the schedule and you got completely blown out in one of them. Its like praising Boise St for all of those years in a row where they only lost 1-2 games. Nobody really cares because there wasn’t much of a chance of anything different happening.
alpharetta alice
November 11th, 2012
10:51 am
Nobody really cares because there wasn’t much of a chance of anything different happening.
______________
well said GT, well said…
Steve Superior
November 11th, 2012
10:51 am
I wish I was coaching in the ACC Coastal. You don’t have to play defense there. I might even get a title one day.
Gorilla Biscuit
November 11th, 2012
10:51 am
alpharetta alice, you ignorant slut, Georgia plays an SEC-type schedule every year.
Scooby
November 11th, 2012
10:51 am
439the,
I can’t dispute your facts but here is one more for you.
UGA has not played any of the top three teams in the West (Bama, LSU or Ark) in the regular season in a while. Carolina and Fla has.
I give you credit for winning the games on your schedule but you should have.
alpharetta alice
November 11th, 2012
10:53 am
when, gorilla, when????
Steve Superior
November 11th, 2012
10:53 am
Well said, GTBob. There is nothing wrong with meeting or exceeding expectations. It’s too bad my USCe teams can’t seem to do so.
Contractor
November 11th, 2012
10:55 am
Horrible loss today against A&M, but I will say Johnny Manziel is everything they say he is. Texas A&M didn’t beat Alabama, Johnny Manziel did. I was at the game and just shocked at his movement and footwork that eluded potential tacklers, an he simply won the game by staying away from pressure. They will be a force to be reckoned with unfortunately.
Georgia still doesn’t stand a chance against Alabama in my eyes. Aaron Murray is too turnover prone in big games, and Mike Bobo will call a vanilla game. Nick Saban won’t allow for another loss this year and will prepare unlike any other to fight back towards the top. I can’t wait to come back to Atlanta and visit old my old Bulldog friends and watch the game.
Discount DoubleDawg
November 11th, 2012
10:57 am
If nobody cares, what does that say about you obsessing over it?
bob- glad to see you are done licking your wounds from last week…
Steve Superior
November 11th, 2012
10:57 am
One player, all by himself, beat Bama? Wow, that means Bama must be REALLY overated!
439the
November 11th, 2012
11:00 am
This forum’s potential for conversation is difficult. I’m sure the conversation would be more enjoyable or lively at a bar. We could talk strength of schedule, expectations, history, but that’s almost impossible here with the bombast and hyperbole. It’s cool though. Fan rivalry is one part of what makes college football so enjoyable. Go Dawgs!
Tide Rising
November 11th, 2012
11:03 am
Steve Superior,
One player didn’t beat Bama alone. Our 3 turnovers didn’t help us out. The only way we can lose a game is if we have 3 turnovers or more while the other team has none. That’s how Tam won and that’s how LSU almost beat us. All things being equal its hard to imagine anyone beating us unless we have a really bad game turnover wise and they play flawlessly as Tam and LSU did in regards to turnovers and penalties. I can’t see Aaron Murray playing that type of game like Mett and Manziel did given his history of poor performances in big games. Even against UF he was saved by the fact that UF turned the ball over 6 times.
Tide Rising
November 11th, 2012
11:05 am
All I got to say is go USC trojans, go Oregon State, and anyone else who will play ND and Oregon in the next couple of weeks.
TideDown
November 11th, 2012
11:05 am
harvey updyke got so mad after that choke against A&M, he poisoned his own trees!
Steve Superior
November 11th, 2012
11:06 am
Folks, if I could pick the outcomes of games yet to be played with absolute certainty, I would not be posting on a Sports blog this morning. I would be offshore enjoying the Sailboat I purchased with my gambling earnings.
I'm a Georgia fan. It's a license to be stupid.
November 11th, 2012
11:06 am
Go Dawgs! We are the best team in America. 35-7 was a misprint. Dang ESPN.
439the
November 11th, 2012
11:06 am
Scooby,
You are correct, but we can only play the teams on our schedule. It doesn’t diminish our season. In your mind, strength of schedule may matter, but it terms of Ws and Ls and championships it doesn’t matter. But I totally get the schedule-bashing…it’s another part of the greatness of college football. Bash away.
Tarryuga
November 11th, 2012
11:07 am
hit a single, YOU are CORRECT!! Thank you, you beat me to it.
THANK YOU VETERANS, GOD BLESS!!
Steve Superior
November 11th, 2012
11:08 am
Tide Rising, I was responding to Contractor’s post.
Tide Rising
November 11th, 2012
11:09 am
Tidedown,
And in a few weeks they’ll be egging Aaron Murrays house again missy.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 11th, 2012
11:11 am
Scooby
I live in the present; here is the present; it took you 100 years to beat UGA 3 times in a row; how many numerous times has UGA done that to SC
Your program is a laughable joke; do you seriously think SC is just going to continue beating UGA year after year now;
Again
SC 1 conference championship in 100 yrs
5 bowl victories in 100 yrs
GTBob
November 11th, 2012
11:11 am
bob- glad to see you are done licking your wounds from last week…
Licking my wounds from what?
Tide Rising
November 11th, 2012
11:11 am
Steve Superior,
I know. I’m just saying that its not all about one player though Manziel did play the game of his life. The kid couldn’t throw a bad pass no matter how much pressure was on him. Still a team game no matter how great Johnny football performed.
Steve Superior
November 11th, 2012
11:13 am
So, I guess Texas AM is now the best team in the SEC West? I’m old and confused (and really, really bitter), who are we playing in the SECCG now?
Oh wait, we aren’t playing the SECCG cause we beat UGA and still didn’t win the division.
(throws visor)
I'm a Georgia fan. It's a license to be stupid.
November 11th, 2012
11:13 am
You tell ‘em patched. We are great. Remember 1980? What about that time we came back and beat Colorado? We were smokin’ back then and now!
ND Irish
November 11th, 2012
11:14 am
Has everyone already forgot what happened in the last SEC championship? All of a sudden, the general consensus is that UGA is the best team in the SEC after beating winless Auburn.
Tide Rising
November 11th, 2012
11:15 am
Steve Superior,
Nope. Tam is just one of 3 damn good football teams in the weste and based on head to head and record the 3rd best team. Miss. state aint bad either. They just have the misfortune of playing the other 3.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 11th, 2012
11:15 am
Scooby
Guess what; next dont bother coming on this blog talking about who SC plays; SC doesnt play LSU or Bama next year
UGA plays LSU next year
Cdpridg
November 11th, 2012
11:16 am
We got Spurrier crying..we got gator fans crying..tech fans..auburn fans..lsu fans…even have bammer fans now feeling blue. Dawg fans?? Dawg fans keep on smiling…Dawgs just keep on winning and winning and winning! What Dawgs up to #4 now…lol face it folks..Dawgs superiority…the rest of you are trying to keep up