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
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
12:55 pm
Gdawg
November 11th, 2012
9:08 am
Most importantly, LSU getting a gift last year for a rematch against BAMA after losing in the SEC championship game.
_____________________
LSU didn’t lose last year in the SECCG. Far from it–unfortunately for UGA.
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
1:00 pm
DC
November 11th, 2012
9:25 am
I am not one to look for Richt to do uniform changes, but what do you think about this group of kids to bring back the honor of the “Black” jersey’s against Sabin and Tide? Just a thought. I still remember that 08 game in Athens.
___________________
Had to cringe when I saw this suggestion. I suspect I’m not the only one. Glad it’s “just a thought.”
Rick James
November 11th, 2012
1:01 pm
Why does everybody trash Georgia for its schedule but nobody mentions the fact that Alabama did not play any of the top 3 teams from the east? Georgia,Florida,South Carolina..I guess when it Bama it just safe to assume they would have won the games..Also have any Bama fans checked the head to head records between Richt and Saban? I’m sure there will be excuses.
Discount DoubleDawg
November 11th, 2012
1:02 pm
I was hoping it was just a joke… a bad joke
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
1:05 pm
BullDogMike
November 11th, 2012
9:31 am
Would somebody explain to me how Bama’s schedule was tougher than UGA’s. They had LSU, but didn’t they LOSE to Fla? (Who by the way did not score a TD on Ga.) And don’t give me this crap about A&M being better than Carolina was at the time we played them ( when they were at full strength). Just saying…Bama had a schedule no way any harder than what UGA had.
_______________________
Bama didn’t lose to fla this year.
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
1:19 pm
Wet Willie…keep on smiling
November 11th, 2012
10:01 am
Give credit to A&M for playing almost a perfect game.
____________________
Give credit to Wet Willie for showing back up on here.
Reid in EAV
November 11th, 2012
1:36 pm
Oh dear. Copy editor on holiday?
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
1:48 pm
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.
_______________________
Actually, “current facts” are that UGA is again going to the SECCG, and SC again is NOT.
kingdaddy
November 11th, 2012
1:56 pm
Bama didn’t lose to Fla.?
Neither did the Dawgs. Bamas schedule wasn’t all that either. I don’t care what it was ranked. We can only speculate until we play each other…
Under The Bleachers
November 11th, 2012
2:11 pm
Jeff,
You are being silly! UGA will not even be in the game by halftime unless they find a scrambling quarterback. Mett showed the last two games he has a better arm than Murray and LSU has much better athletes than UGA.
Under The Bleachers
November 11th, 2012
2:14 pm
Alabama was only the 6th No.1 team to play 3 Top 15 teams in a row since 1995. The only team to win all three was Miami. That says enough about the schedule for all of you haters.
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
Steve Superior
November 11th, 2012
11:29 am
I used to like Coach Spurrier. His digs at UGA were priceless and I think he is one of the all-time great college coaches. But after reading his comments concerning Clemson and Coach Dabo, after they send condolences for Marcus Lattimore’s injury, I now see spurrier as the old, classless ba$tard that he has turned into
__________________
That’s a pretty accurate characterization. His response to Dabo’s goodwill gesture was pretty slimy. He’s still a gator at heart, which may explain it.
kingdaddy
November 11th, 2012
2:33 pm
I don’t hate Bama at all. I hate most Arrogant Bama fans that never remember their own losses, just everyone elses. They cry about everybody elses schedule, while spinning theirs and the rest of the football world loves it when they lose. It’s the only time they live on the same planet, the rest of us do…
Under The Bleachers
November 11th, 2012
2:38 pm
King daddy,
No disrespect but you just described not all but many UGA just without the championships to go Along with it!
Honey boy
November 11th, 2012
2:49 pm
You’re stil a self righteous snot Thomas Brown… Hahaha… A know it all that likes to hear him self pontificate… Another blowhard!
Honey boy
November 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
Thanks for he props DawgNote!!! Gotta love these idiots that spew that garbage… The more they talk the more thy believe themselves as relevant…
Red Stick
November 11th, 2012
3:25 pm
Tide Rising, tough loss yesterday. It’s difficult to navigate unscathed through the SEC schedule this time of the season. 6 SEC teams in the top 12 of the AP poll that came out today says it all. You guys still have a shot at going to Miami.
LSU just played 5 Top 25 teams in a row which no other school in the nation has done thus far this season. If we can win out and win our bowl game then we will finish in the Top 5. I’ll be happy with that considering all of the injuries and attrition we’ve had this season.
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
Contractor
November 11th, 2012
4:17 pm
A lot of cheat thumping going on by Georgia fans, but it was all doom and gloom after the butt whooping in Columbia. Alabama lost yesterday, all teams eventually lose, but Alabama will not lose to Georgia. The SEC Championship will be just like last year’s. come out hot, then your gameplan I spoiled and get completely dominated. Aaron Murray will turn the ball over atleast twice. Alabama 35 Georgia 17. We’ll know in a few weeks. In the meantime, better watch out for Georgia Southern. Tough team. And I’m being 100% serious.
Shirley
November 11th, 2012
4:46 pm
Enter your comments here
Shirley
November 11th, 2012
4:50 pm
For those who are talking trash about UGA not beating Bama, just remember all the trash talk about not beating FL. All you people with crystal balls don’t know any more than I do what will happen. I will be positive and pull for my favorite team, the Georgia Bulldogs!
Vance
November 11th, 2012
5:06 pm
I was one of the doubters after the SC loss, because it was so complete in every area of the game. I am thrilled at the turnaround, beating Florida two years in a row, and now securing the SEC East Championship. I was also hoping to play an undefeated Alabama team with the hopes that a victory for UGA would put them in the BCS title game. We can only wait and see if “justice” will prevail and not punish a SEC team for competing for the title, because they play in the toughest conference of all with only one loss. Go Dawgs!
ARdawg
November 11th, 2012
6:49 pm
Tide Rising is very representitive of Bama fans everywhere. Wahhh we only lost by 5 points! Fact: you were man handled and smacked in the mouth from the opening kick off. Wahhh we were beaten by one man Johnny Football! Fact: you were beaten everywhere, offensively, defensively and ST Wahhhh Wahhhh Wahhh You were beaten by a mid tier and improving SEC team. Reality check, when Bama plays a good team which they haven’t done much of, they struggle and lose. Welcome back to earth Tide Rising and humbly accept the trash talk you’ve so flagrantly dished out for two years now. Your team is just above average in the SEC. How does it feel to know Saban isn’t God?
ARdawg
November 11th, 2012
6:52 pm
Vance
The Dawgs are playing very well now. Much like the 07 year. I look forward to the SECCG
Scooby
November 11th, 2012
6:58 pm
DogNole,
“Actually, “current facts” are that UGA is again going to the SECCG, and SC again is NOT.”
You’re right, no argument from me on that. Another fact for you, the only SEC East team to beat us the last two seasons was Fla (this year). So have at BAMA and hope they don’t believe as we do ‘Eat Mor Dawg’.
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
8:12 pm
Honey boy
November 11th, 2012
2:49 pm
You’re stil a self righteous snot Thomas Brown… Hahaha… A know it all that likes to hear him self pontificate… Another blowhard!
Honey boy
November 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
Thanks for he props DawgNote!!! Gotta love these idiots that spew that garbage… The more they talk the more thy believe themselves as relevant…
___________________
TB’s a cut below the rest of the idiots. A demented coward who has a special place in hell waiting for him.
You might want to brace yourself–he’ll likely be back on here about 2:30 a.m. with a bucketload of venom–primarily composed of lies, distortions, boasts, potshots, and other wild-eyed ramblings.
As I’ve pointed out to him–it’s fallen on deaf ears, of course–I’m far from the only one on here who abhors his sick meanderings. Yours are among the many posts that validate my claim. He’s a blog bully who’s way out of his league, and he’s been banned on most AJC blog. He’ll screw up somewhere down the line and get himself cut off from this one, too.
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
8:21 pm
Scooby
November 11th, 2012
6:58 pm
DogNole,
“Actually, “current facts” are that UGA is again going to the SECCG, and SC again is NOT.”
You’re right, no argument from me on that. Another fact for you, the only SEC East team to beat us the last two seasons was Fla (this year). So have at BAMA and hope they don’t believe as we do ‘Eat Mor Dawg’.
____________________
You’ve owned us the past three years, but we’ve won the games we had to have to win the East these past two seasons–and y’all haven’t. It’s that simple. Your wins have sharpened the rivalry between the two teams; that’s about the only thing positive I can say about them. See you next year in Athens.
ARdawg
November 11th, 2012
9:23 pm
Scooby
Back to your hole. Your chickens mid season meltdown has occurred as usual. Never will SC win the SEC. Forget it. You won 1 in the ACC in a hundred years. It’ll take at least 200 more before another comes your way
Laughing out Loud
November 11th, 2012
9:44 pm
It’s a great time to be a Dawg fan! Go Dawgs……Great Head Coach, Great Coordinators, Bobo and Grantham, Quarterback, Running Backs and team…The Dawg Nation is proud of you all and believe you can “win out” including handing Bama it’s second loss.
Scooby
November 11th, 2012
9:59 pm
DawgNole,
You’re an honorable Dawg Fan, you unlike many of your compardres you shot straight in your last post. I respect that and we will see you in Athens next year. BTW, good luck with the Tide.
Daddo
November 11th, 2012
10:01 pm
I told u clay eaters last night that Georgia wouldn’t jump Alabama. It is called class, tradition and the eye test. And no team beat 35-0 by the South Carolina first team will ever play for the national championship. Listen to Daddo. Daddo knows college football.
Eric Riley
November 11th, 2012
11:11 pm
Alabama can definately be beaten. Alabama got beaten up by LSU and were really lucky to get out there with a win. Texas A&M did the nation a favor by letting the world know that they can lose. Georgia wins the SEC Title game, NO Doubt!!!!! GO DAWGS!!!!
Enter your comments here
Just Saying
November 12th, 2012
6:53 am
not saying much if they could, can’t beat SC in Columbia could they?
Morning Reads For Monday November 12, 2012 — Peach Pundit
November 12th, 2012
7:00 am
[...] shook up the college football National Championship picture. Gig’Em Aggies! – The Dawgs punched their ticket to the SEC Championship game. – Georgia Tech suddenly finds itself back in the hunt for the Coastal [...]
Football Guy
November 12th, 2012
9:34 am
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
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Wet Willie...keep on smiling
November 12th, 2012
9:38 am
LOL…You know your program is pretty good shape when the fans of other teams take pride in the fact that Bama can lose a game. JMO but the bar has been set so high for the Bama program that there is no way the kids can play and even just enjoy a win against anybody…yes just anybody. It will interesting to see how the season actually plays for Bama and UGA just might be in the drivers seat for the SEC game if Bama can beat auburn. You never know how a bunch of kids will react to missing out on their main goal just in 2008 when UF beat Bama in the dome. At that point it would have been better to skip the bowl game since it meant nothing to the playes even though that was a great bowl and trip. Bama is a tired and injuried football team. UGA has lost some folks as well that has hurt them big. Both Nick and Kirby shet the bed on the game plan vs A&M attempting that build a fence and hope the sun got in the eyes of Johnny B Good. Until we started sending folks after him we looked like Ned in the 1st grade reader. Bama is 57-7 since 2008 and that’s not bad and have been ranked #1 at some point in all 5 years which is strong even by the UGA standard…just saying.I sent a note to Mal that he best make an attempt to change the schedule spot for A&M since playing these guys after the yearly battle of LSU is not a great idea. We need 8 teams instead of 4 otherwise the SEC isn’t going to get a spot due to we will beat each other out of those slots.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 12th, 2012
9:57 am
Florida is gonna get beat by FSU. Probably 17-14 type game.
Georgia needs to get ready for Tech since they have found a QB who can throw a forward pass to his own team. That game will be fun. Shut down the TO and make them throw. Watch Murray have an absolute field day against GT D.
Georgia 49-28
The only way to shut these people up on both sides of the Richt argument is real simple.
Win the SEC
The rest is a beauty contest until the playoff comes in.
If we win the SEC and don’t get in the BCS title game, we have no one to blame but ourselves. Same for Bama.
I guarantee you UGA and Bama would curb stomp Notre Dame and Kansas State. Oregon is worthy of being in the game if they win out.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 12th, 2012
9:58 am
Somebody needs to tell Scooby and Coach Whinybag that an SEC schedule is more than 1 game
Fair n Balanced
November 12th, 2012
10:16 am
13 pages plus of posts. Lots of comments.
Gmandawg
November 12th, 2012
12:38 pm
Yes Jeff, I doubt it. Saban is a much better coach than Richt. In fact, there are 4 other coaches in the SEC that are better than Richt. The Auburn game is the first game this season where all the components of the team showed up to play. You can never count on Richt to motivate the team to play a complete, dominating game. So which component do you think won’t show up – defense, offense, special teams? You can bet that Saban will have all his components ready and it will be a blow out just like last year with LSU.
SEC Headlines 11/11/2012 – South Carolina – Gamecock News
November 12th, 2012
2:13 pm
[...] 7. Jeff Schultz: “While Georgia is ascending, Alabama is sputtering (relatively speaking).” [...]
SEC Headlines 11/11/2012 – Arkansas – Razorbacks News
November 12th, 2012
2:21 pm
[...] 7. Jeff Schultz: “While Georgia is ascending, Alabama is sputtering (relatively speaking).” [...]
DawgNole
November 12th, 2012
4:40 pm
Daddo
November 11th, 2012
10:01 pm
I told u clay eaters last night that Georgia wouldn’t jump Alabama. It is called class, tradition and the eye test. And no team beat 35-0 by the South Carolina first team will ever play for the national championship. Listen to Daddo. Daddo knows college football.
________________
As was pointed out many times on another blog, Daddo knows nothing.
DawgNole
November 12th, 2012
4:51 pm
Scooby
November 11th, 2012
9:59 pm
DawgNole,
You’re an honorable Dawg Fan, you unlike many of your compardres you shot straight in your last post. I respect that and we will see you in Athens next year. BTW, good luck with the Tide.
____________________
Thanks–although Thomas Brown probably wouldn’t agree with you. We’ll need that good luck with the Tide, but at least they don’t look invincible anymore. I expect y’all will have your hands full at Clemson this year, too.
bugs
November 12th, 2012
5:05 pm
Jdog needs to learn how to spell before he starts writing about our Ga. coach!!!
Matt
November 13th, 2012
12:19 pm
No way an undefeated ND doesn’t make it in. They have the national name (even though they haven’t been relevant in over 20 years). I repeat: There is no way an undefeated Notre Dame doesn’t make it in.
Dawgdude
November 13th, 2012
8:03 pm
Can we go to to NC?..maybe maybe not unless those Oregano, Kst and Notredam lose all them games in two weeks…it could happen, we need luck right now. Go Dawgs.
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November 14th, 2012
12:22 am
[...] • Georgia wins SEC East, and looks like hazard to Alabama [...]
Big Dawg
November 16th, 2012
11:44 pm
Let’s spank GT, can’t stand Paul Johnson & his crappy attitude, take Em to the woodshed Dawgs, woof woof woof!
Murrayfan24
November 17th, 2012
8:22 am
GO DAWGS! GO MARK RICHT!