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
Thomas Brown's wife
November 11th, 2012
7:20 am
PO, Thomas Brown.
jonkartdawg
November 11th, 2012
7:22 am
It’s nice to Roll Tide….it is good to say Roll Tuuuuurdddddd..
it’s better to say Go Dawgs!!!! Bama can be beat..here we go Ga dome.
GFJacket
November 11th, 2012
7:22 am
UGA’s biggest problem is how badly it lost to USCe. It also was very unimpressive against UK and gave up a ton of yards and points to UT. This all remains just speculation. Play the games and let the chips fall where they may. The point remains though – - should it win out, UGA will not be given the nod over an undefeated major conference or Notre Dame team.
Thomas Brown
November 11th, 2012
7:22 am
Florida’s season has been OVER since we burst their bubbles. BCS Bowl ? Not after we beat Florida to RUIN their season, and come in here and enjoy reading
TAMPA GATOR.
She was like Buckeye always, and refused to reply to the replies.
Therefore
TAMPA GATOR
has no street cred on this blog.
Esquire
November 11th, 2012
7:23 am
Beating Auburn has really very little to do with anything………………other than a W…….!!
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
7:23 am
Thomas Brown,
Big Chicken, high Noon. Bring it.
Thomas Brown
November 11th, 2012
7:27 am
Yes, it was how we lost. I am not making excuses, but we did not lay down and quit and at least got the meaningless TD with Aaron Murray still playing at 1:55. That’s better than the vols Derek Dooley, not even trying at the end of the half or regulation when he had 42 seconds 2 time-outs he had not wasted and threw a screen pass for minus 3 yards and QUIT.
And, how did we respond ?
Did we show that we still wanted to play vs Marcus Lattimore and USCe ? At the very end, yes. Not until. And, every second since.
Thus Florida faced our BRUNT.
And, every team since.
We were relentless against Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss, and will be against # 3 Alabama.
____________________________________________________________
BEST WIN OVER BCS # 21 WILL NOT SHUT-OUT SEC FROM NC GAME
____________________________________________________________
The Timeless Observer
November 11th, 2012
7:28 am
The dwags’ flimsy house of cards will come crashing down around them in the Dome when Alabama sreamrolls over them. It will be ugly and it will be quick and painful as Richt’s losers show their lack of class and heart.
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
7:29 am
Thomas Brown,
I offered my opinion on the Ohio State scandal as it was playing out. Won’t re-litigate for your behalf.
Thomas Brown
November 11th, 2012
7:29 am
BRING IT ?
Bring what Jerk ?
I asked you for the best win for Ohio State ?
You’ve posted 10 posts since for all to see in public you are wholly unable to come up with a best win for Ohio State 2012, only
4-6 Purdue Ohio State beat in OT
Thomas Brown
November 11th, 2012
7:31 am
I did not ask you about the Ohio State PROBATION.
I asked you who your great wins 2012 are ?
Go ahead, prove you’re a man and want street cred and answer ?
Or, not.
I could care either way. You have no street cred child and you know it. You can street cred by going in public and discussing what you wrote.
We have a good win.
Ohio State DOES NOT.
UGA BOY
November 11th, 2012
7:31 am
Thomas brown voted for Barack Obama. Gooooo dawgs!!!!!
BigJake
November 11th, 2012
7:33 am
Yes, we do have a chance – this may be the year, demonstrating the will to win after the loss in Columbia. Birth in a bowl? I think you meant berth. Jus’ sayin’ GO DAWGS!
GFJacket
November 11th, 2012
7:34 am
Imagine if the situation were reversed – - an undefeated SEC team denied a slot in the BCS title game in favor of a one-loss team from another major conference, or Notre Dame. The uproar would be worse than Auburn 2004. UGA’s best case is its loss was on the road. The automatic Teller machines lost twice at home, then beat Bama on the road. Bama lost at home – - something you should never do if you want to claim to be the best in the land. Bama’s loss did UGA no favors – - it only decreased the importance of the SEC title game.
Woofy One
November 11th, 2012
7:35 am
If UGA had thisseason and if they had beaten Alabama for the SEC then the playoffs would let them control their destiny for an NC run.
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
7:36 am
Thomas Brown,
All 9 of them.
Tell me, y0our best loss?
AAAAA Athens Bail Bonds R Us
November 11th, 2012
7:37 am
Any more dawgs arrested today?
GFJacket
November 11th, 2012
7:42 am
The UGA case would have been better if aTm had struggled in its first year in the SEC. A lot of UGA fans denigrated aTm as a typical Size-Integer team that was unworthy of the SEC. The fact that aTM played so well in its first SEC season indicates that the SEC may not be as dominating as some have claimed – - in spite of its doimination of the BCS NC game.
Tomás Broun
November 11th, 2012
7:44 am
UGA has as much chance of winning the BCS championship as the US has of surviving another four years of the moron in the White House.
In other words, none whatsoever. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
DawgFan
November 11th, 2012
7:48 am
Great game. But there is danger looming on North Ave. Get your heads on for the next two, then deal with bama…
RGP
November 11th, 2012
7:49 am
ND barely beat Pitt last week and they should have crushed BC this week. Oregon has the most potent offense and crushed Cal and others. If they run the table Oregon should be in BCS title game.
papadawg
November 11th, 2012
7:54 am
WOW! All of a sudden the wannabe fans have come out of hiding and are jumping on the DAWGWAGON again. Welcome back until they lose again. GO DAWGS!
Mark Richt blew it
November 11th, 2012
7:55 am
35 – 7 has that deep burn in the gut…….
rescue dog
November 11th, 2012
7:55 am
what does it matter? who won the sugar bowl last year? if it ain’t the crystal, no one cares…and uga won’t be lifting crystal..
GwinnettDad
November 11th, 2012
7:56 am
Until UGA actually defeats Alabama and their coach, no rhetoric, no promises, no other comments are required.
Mark Richt blew it
November 11th, 2012
8:00 am
get ready for the Crapital one Bowl Dawg fans…..
John L. Smith
November 11th, 2012
8:04 am
SMILE you wont be in Miami……
yarddawg
November 11th, 2012
8:07 am
yeah whatever, and this is why we play the game on the field, not on the paper! hehehe
Buzz2011
November 11th, 2012
8:08 am
The SEC will not win the NC this year. There run is done!
Tech Sucks
November 11th, 2012
8:08 am
Word. GO DAWGS. Notre Dame sucks. USC is going to kill them. We have to take care of business and we will have a shot.
Bubba
November 11th, 2012
8:10 am
Alabama is the most overrated team of all time. their qb sucks,but he looks good though
yarddawg
November 11th, 2012
8:10 am
Can we auburn again next week?
Ed
November 11th, 2012
8:13 am
UGA, you’re kidding yourselves. . .Tech could beat you and Bama will do anything to you that they want. Your bowl game will be another dissapointmnet. However, Richt has won just enought for him and his other underachivers to just get by. . .
yarddawg
November 11th, 2012
8:15 am
Ed started the word educated lmao
Neutral
November 11th, 2012
8:18 am
Oregon and ND will lose…..guaranteed. ND has no offense and Oregon has no defense. ND will definitely lose at USC and 1or 2 teams will knock-off Oregon in the last few weeks…..possibly USC in a rematch. We will beat Bama and then face KS in the NC game. Stay tuned because it will happen!!! Go Dawgs!!!!
AU Liberal in ATL
November 11th, 2012
8:18 am
I despise Georgia fans. They’re dispicable. But bama fans are more dispicable, so Go Dogs!
Dogs punch their SEC ticket to the Dome – Atlanta Journal Constitution | Dogs Blog Tips
November 11th, 2012
8:18 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
where is Yellow Fuzz now?
November 11th, 2012
8:19 am
New Top 10
Oregon
Kansas st
Notre Dame
Georgia
Texas A &M
Alabama
Florida st
Clemson
LSU
Florida
South Carolina
Sandlapper
November 11th, 2012
8:20 am
Ga fans are the most amazing of the lot. Go back a month and its egg the QB’s yard and yell for MR’s head on a dawg platter. Go back 2 months and its more of the same against lesser opponents. The reason you beat fla is because it was a penalty and turnover fest. Whomever fell on the next ball or committed the next untimely foul was going to win or lose. This week its “we’ll win out and play for the BCS.” BLUF, you don’t have the D to win the big one. Alabama laid an egg last night. They won’t lay another one, especially in Atl.
mambo
November 11th, 2012
8:20 am
The turn around has been fantastic, but we have to beat Tech. Then, we beat Alabama. Remember, first Tech, then Alabama.
rescue dog
November 11th, 2012
8:22 am
as of this morning, today, georgia is the fifth best team in the sec…behind in no certain order, LSU, Bama, SC, TAMU…
Game Changer
November 11th, 2012
8:22 am
@ALL
We must win out and beat Alabama in the SECCG or nothing has really changed. Another year in which we do not beat a team highly ranked in must win games.
tell me again
November 11th, 2012
8:24 am
Bama was still recovering from the LSU game – that game was a slug fest – A&M caught them on a good week – plus, they do have a good team. That’s the way it is in teh SEC – sometimes you lose the game the week before you play it – it’s a rough league and these kids often cannot recover in just a few days to play their best. It happens to all of us. that’s why fans need to step back every now and then and think about why things happen. The best teams doesn’t always win ~ that’s reality. I am more concerned with enjoying the next two games and then I will ponder the SEC CG. In any case ~ we are seeing our team having a good year – it’s fun. As for all of you idiots who seem to not have any teams worth rooting for and gave decided to camp pout here and attempt to rain on our parade – HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!! SEC EAST CHAMPS, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2ND YEAR IN A ROW!!!! WHERE IS South Carolina? Where are the mighty Gators????? BRUJHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Say what you want – all of us had our chance to sew up the East and get it done and GEORGIA is the ONLY ONE that got it done! Woo Hoo!!!!
Typical
November 11th, 2012
8:28 am
All these comments after beating Auburn? It may have clinched the SEC East but Auburn is a terrible team. Everyone celebrating and berating fans for being angry after the SC loss need a reality check. UGA has a long way to go in winning a NC and still hasn’t beat anyone of major consequence (UF is clearly not the team we thought they were a few weeks ago). I like the passion on the field but we’ve seen that before enroute to disasterous games in the GA Dome.
nbrdrdnk
November 11th, 2012
8:29 am
Quick, quick! Extend Richt’s contract before he decides to leave!
tell me again
November 11th, 2012
8:30 am
I need to get some Java – my spelling is suffering from lack of caffeine.
rescue dog
November 11th, 2012
8:32 am
who did georgia beat this year? Florida? uga played them after they had already played TAMU, LSU and SC…Florida was a beat up squad and only lost because they gave the game away…Bama will slap that stupid grin off of your disneydawg faces…35-7 shouldn’t show up on a champions resume…signals a lack of work ethic…ask Herbie and Brent…
sunny purdue
November 11th, 2012
8:33 am
Congrats to the dawgs on becoming co- champs with the GATORS!!!
Tampa Dawg
November 11th, 2012
8:33 am
Regardless of Alabama’s record – I dont think it would be plausible to jump 2 or 3 undefeated teams even after beating a notionally undefeated alabama. It would have made the case exponentially easier – BUT – we still need help from USC vs Notre Dame, Texas vs. K-State, and/or Stanford and Oregon State vs Oregon (none of these are well beyond the realm of possibility). Dawgs need to win out, and then let the chips fall where they may. Even if it doesn’t shake out – say Oregon goes to Miami vs K-State……..a Sugar Bowl game vs Norte Dame would be pretty damn fun.
tell me again
November 11th, 2012
8:34 am
Let’s remember….the next two games are for NATIONAL rankings and have nothing to do with the SEC. I know we all want to see how we do in the ultimate game but let’s not forsake enjoying each and every game in the meantime
Life is short ~ take nothing for granted ~ enjoy every minute ~ every game! go you hairy Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RUSS! RUSS! RUSS! RUSS! DGD!