Upsets launch Georgia into BCS title picture (UPDATED)
It took a little while but Aaron Murray and Georgia eventually took charge. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
(LAST UPDATED: 12:18 a.m.)
ATHENS – For as much as Mark Richt prefers his Georgia players focus on opponents (Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech) and not acronyms (SEC, BCS) in these final two weeks of the regular season, it was difficult not to notice what was scrolling on the Sanford Stadium video board before Saturday’s game.
First came the screen shot with large bold letters screaming: “BCS STANDINGS.” Then came the screen shot listing the nation’s top ranked teams, from No. 1 Kansas State to No. 5 Georgia.
The topic is impossible to ignore. It’s why, even in games with seemingly foregone conclusions like Saturday’s against Georgia Southern, some will look at the way things started for the Bulldogs on this day and think, “Uh-oh.”
But don’t overthink this.
Did Georgia come out a little flat, a bit sloppy and probably unfocused against an FCS opponent? Clearly. When a team is one of the nation’s top ranked clubs and just before halftime it is clinging to a 10-7 lead over an inferior opponent — which resides in a full neighborhood to the south of college football’s power structure — it’s a problem.
But after what the Bulldogs have overcome in the past few weeks, a letdown should not have come as a surprise. Most importantly, they recovered. Aaron Murray’s touchdown pass to Malcolm Mitchell with four seconds left in the first half keyed a 31-0 string and Georgia went on to bury Georgia Southern, 45-14.
And who could’ve expected this scenario? Hours after the Bulldogs’ win, the BCS’s No. 1 ranked team, Kansas State, was hammered by Baylor 52-24, and No. 2 Oregon lost at home in overtime to Stanford 17-14. This means No. 3 Notre Dame is certain to take over the No. 1 spot when the new BCS rankings come out Sunday night and, more importantly, the door to a potential seventh straight national title has swung back open for the SEC.
Simplifying this from Georgia’s viewpoint: If the Dogs win their next two games over Georgia Tech next week and Alabama in the SEC championship game, they likely will wind up in their first BCS championship game. Entering the week, Alabama ranked fourth in the BCS and Georgia was fifth.
ESPN’s Brad Edwards projects that the top five in the new BCS rankings will be: 1) Notre Dame; 2.) Alabama; 3.) Georgia, 4.) Florida, 5.) Oregon
After Stanford’s win in overtime, several Georgia players celebrated on Twitter, with Murray sending out the message: “Yesssssssssssss!!!!!! The Murray household just went crazyyyyy!!!!!!”
Christian Robinson and the defense got better as game went on against Georgia Southern's option offense. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
Richt has tried his best to steer the talk away from the BCS. Most of the first half of the Georgia Southern game showed us why. As Richt said of the first half, “We were fortunate to come out of there even with the lead.”
No kidding. With Georgia leading 10-7, a personal foul/chop block penalty by an Eagles’ lineman negated a first-and-goal situation from the Dogs’ five-yard-line. That set up a 39-yard field goal attempt that Georgia Southern missed. It set the backdrop for a touchdown drive going in the
BCS standings are shown on Sanford Stadium scoreboard before game.
other direction. Instead of facing a potent halftime deficit of 14-10, Georgia led 17-7.
“I feel like that swung the mood in the stadium and on the sideline,” wide receiver Tavarres King said.
From that point on, it was Aaron Murray-to-anybody. He threw touchdown passes on four straight possessions.
Should Georgia have let an FCS opponent hang around that long? No.
But in the end, poll voters and BCS computers will see the lopsided final score. This certainly isn’t the first time the Dogs have played to the level of their competition. But the objectives Saturday were to win and use the Eagles’ option offense as a scout team for next week’s game against Georgia Tech. In that sense, mission accomplished.
“I don’t know how the BCS does things,” nose guard John Jenkins said. “But if that (45-14) looks good on style points, hey, we’re styling.”
There was no stylin’ early. After an opening touchdown drive, Georgia scored three points on the next possessions (fumbling once) against a Georgia Southern defense that had given up 88 points to your basic non-BCS outfits: UT-Chattanooga, Appalachian State and Howard.
Pick your cliche:
“We were shooting ourselves in the foot,” Murray said.
“Self-inflicted wounds,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said.
Georgia defensive linemen were getting upset by what they perceived as Georgia Southern’s intentional chop blocking. They were penalized only once, knocking down Georgia’s Kwame Geathers, but Jenkins said, “I felt like I was sliced and diced that game.”
But both the defense endured and Murray began shredding the Eagles’ secondary.
Actually, Murray has torn everybody apart lately. Since the fourth quarter of the Florida game, he has completed 62 of 88 for 1,005 yards, 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions. “Is he eating Wheaties or something?” King said.
The Dogs continued attacking to the final minutes, even after putting in the second-string defense. The last touchdown pass came by Parker Welch with 3:13 left. The thought occurred that they were trying to impress voters and computers. But Richt and Bobo both denied that.
“We had three runs called but they kept bringing both safeties on blitzes,” Bobo said. “On third down I was like, ‘OK, we’ve got to throw it. We have to protect our backs, too.’”
Richt never has been a pour-it-on coach. If anything, he has been accused of being just the opposite. So nobody is going to complain. And by next week people will only remember the score.
By Jeff Schultz
Recent ramblings from the digital jukebox
• Short takes: Murray wakes up the offense
• Live: Georgia hopes for easy day against Georgia Southern
• Weekend Predictions: Dogs, Jackets, Falcons and the lust triangles
• Falcons’ flaws aren’t worse than any other NFL team
• College hoop kings provide rare thrills for Atlanta
• Falcons’ startling admission: Ray Edwards was a blunder
• Will SEC get team to BCS championship (answer below) (with video)
• Short takes: Murray, Georgia defense and angry Auburn fans
• Georgia wins SEC East, and looks like threat to Alabama
• Richt is coaching through pain (because he fell off a swing … honest)
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495 comments Add your comment
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 18th, 2012
1:06 pm
Derek Dooley is out.
BTW, if any of you uga trolls want to come hang out on an Alabama thread and tell us how great UGA is and championships and most balanced and we gonna win and dumb stuff like that, feel free…
http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2012/11/losses_by_no_1_kansas_state_an.html
Suck it GA Haters
November 18th, 2012
1:13 pm
Yep it pisses em off bigtime!!!! DAWGS WILL BE #3 VERY SHORTLY WHEN POLLS ARE RELEASED…….
Justin
November 18th, 2012
1:16 pm
Today’s updated poll doesn’t matter. UGA still not gonna beat Bama. Get ready for the walk of shame leaving the GA Dome. We’ll try not to rub it in too much. BWAHAHAHA!!
Birmingham BOB
November 18th, 2012
1:19 pm
thats what you said about Texas A&M. bama SUCKED bigtime in that game… you bama loudmouths havent learned yet….
Gonna be fun when Auburn whips your azz
The Ricker
November 18th, 2012
1:20 pm
Poor Justin cant even afford a ticket to the SEC champ game….
ARdawg
November 18th, 2012
1:21 pm
This week the Dawgs will be spanking Coach fish fry and his gangly thugs. Next week we look forward to Bama
royal flush
November 18th, 2012
1:22 pm
@ the ricker,
Now that is funny.
Paul's Johnson
November 18th, 2012
1:23 pm
I’m skeeeeered of the Dawgs. They gonna whip my team of nerds.
Cdpridg
November 18th, 2012
1:36 pm
Dawgs keep on smiling…rest of ya…keep on crying and whining…bammers whining and crying…you boys must know what lies ahead..
Bad Dawg
November 18th, 2012
2:00 pm
Notre Dame is #1 in the latest coaches poll. Bama is #2, UGA #3…
#1
November 18th, 2012
2:18 pm
#1 in scheduling that is…. ughhh-gah please don’t go crazy with the fact that a weak schedule and an undeserved preseason ranking every year means that GA is going to be national champion. If there was a trophy for underachieving in BIG games, then sure go ahead and start 2 statues now for both Right and Murray.
7576DAWG
November 18th, 2012
2:22 pm
Alabama #2 and Georgia # 3 in AP , also.
Not So Fast, My Friend!
November 18th, 2012
2:24 pm
The AP writers think a 10-1 Georgia team is better than an undefeated powerhouse like Ohio State. Our friendly troll “Buckeye” has to be turning several shades of purple about now. And UGA got a first place vote on the coach’s poll.
We’ll see how it plays out, but who would have thought this would be the Top 3 a few weeks ago? It’s why I love college football more than any other sport – anything can happen. And usually does.
simply hooligan
November 18th, 2012
2:32 pm
By the way, Buckeye, didn’t your beloved Ohio St back out of a home and away deal with the Dawgs? Just sayin,.
Vampire Bill
November 18th, 2012
2:51 pm
Any chance Auburn beats Bama in the Iron bowl? Just askin……
demdawgs
November 18th, 2012
3:14 pm
FIRE MARK RICHT
CrazyUGA
November 18th, 2012
3:16 pm
There is no legit reason UGA can be in the NC. They were DESTROYED by USCe. Annihilated. You cannot have a NC team who gets beat that bad, and with UGA’s weak schedule.
CrazyUGA
November 18th, 2012
3:18 pm
UGA can’t pull the “tough SEC” card. Destroyed by USCe. Beat a FL team that shot itself in the foot (and not that great). Didn’t play a single tough West team.
439the
November 18th, 2012
3:33 pm
Hahahahahahaha….haters trying to apply logic to the college football rankings and BCS system…do you even watch football CrazyUGA?
Also, Alabama fans…shutup…come back and talk when you qualify for the SEC championship game. You’re not even in the game yet…
wally
November 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
I know i do not know a lot about college football, however i am fearful that we are over rated. I am fearful that Aaron Murray will once again blow it again in the Big Game. Please Please make my predictions wrong. There is a radio announcer in Clemson SC that hates the Dogs. A National Championship will shut him up. This one is to you Walt, Blow your horn some where else
MontanaDawg
November 18th, 2012
3:48 pm
GO DAWGS!! Holy cow, does college football ever need a playoff system…and something more than what we will get in 2014. We’ll see how good these Dawgs really are between now and December 1st. Have we developed into a good team or a great team? Another NC game against ND? How sweet that would be…
MontanaDawg
November 18th, 2012
3:52 pm
And will someone please get the scheduling gods to add another conference opponent from now on? Strength of schedule is critical and we’ve played (3) patsies this year: Buffalo, FL Atlantic, and now Ga Southern. That’s too many.
chase
November 18th, 2012
3:58 pm
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
love the revisionist history…..keep back pedaling faster than Deion Sanders
CrazyUGA
November 18th, 2012
4:25 pm
439the
Yes, I do watch football. Do you? Did you see UGA get its brains beat in by USCe? Did you see how bad all of their other opponents are? Did you notice the non conference sked? A joke.
CrazyUGA
November 18th, 2012
4:27 pm
439the
And why is that being a “hater?” Because I apply logic? You sound like a smart one…
BigJim
November 18th, 2012
4:52 pm
Big wins like yesterday against DIV II GA Southern really get you noticed by…the Capital One Bowl–Georgia’s ‘home away from home.’
BigJim
November 18th, 2012
4:54 pm
Don’t hold your breath against Bama in the GA Dome. Mark Richt is 3-15 against ranked teams, since 2009. Not exactly a confidence booster. Most experts are predicting Georgia will be back at its favorite bowl again this year: yep…the Capital One Bowl! Yeah baby!!!!! Great for season ticket holders huh?
BigJim
November 18th, 2012
4:57 pm
Let’s just hope Georgia’s Capital One opponent isn’t as tough as Central Florida…who kicked Georgia’s butt in the Liberty Bowl (another great bowl, huh?)!!
UGA BOY
November 18th, 2012
5:08 pm
How many nerds does it take to fill up Bobby Dodd stadium?….No one knows. It’s never been done!
UGA BOY
November 18th, 2012
5:10 pm
UGA BCS CHAMPS / ATLANTA FALCONS SUPER BOWL CHAMPS / TECK NERDS LOOSERS
The real deal
November 18th, 2012
5:23 pm
Montana Dawg your an idiot!!! Playing Georgia Southern or Buffalo did not hurt your chances on not moving up in the rankings…. Give me a break. Who won the national Championship Last year? Alabama. They played Georgia Southern. When Florida won the 1996 national Championship who did they play that year??? Your right again Georgia Southern… etc etc etc…. don’t worry Alabama will take care of you in a couple of weeks!
JB at home
November 18th, 2012
6:09 pm
For all the Tech elitist out there. Tech game on page 7 C….Dawgs #3 in Nation. Just in case you didn’t notice. And yes, we will give up 21 or so to you next Saturday, but the clock will save you from Dawgs going in triple digits.
Pitbull
November 18th, 2012
6:11 pm
When everyone else doubted, the Georgia players and coaches never doubted and gave everything they had to the program.
When all the haters poured it on, the Georgia players and coaches stayed focused on winning the next game.
Georgia is 20 – 5 so far over the past two years and while that is certainly no record, it is a heck of a lot better than most teams, especially those who have to play in the SEC.
BTW, I read that Georgia now has 20 10 – win seasons in its histroy and Coach Mark Richt has won 8 or 9 of those during his almost 12 years.
He has also averaged graduating 25 players a year during his tenure.
And finally, he is 1 of only 7 coaches in the history of college football to win 106 games in his first 11 years.
We are blessed to have him and he seems to be getting even stronger as a head coach.
College Football Fan
November 18th, 2012
6:16 pm
BigJim, are you the Alabama red neck that poisoned the trees or are all of you Crimson Turd folks just all alike?
Defense wins Titles
November 18th, 2012
7:11 pm
Ga. Southern is better than Ga. Tech. Eagles beat gnats easily if they play this week. Dawgs too much to lose. Dawgs need to pound the pretenders. Coach Richt congratulations. All the Persecution you have withstood, shut up for now. Persecutors will be back, not for years, but they will return. Part of Christian Walk. Coach you and your staff have power to recruit strong next few years. Get the best players wearing The “G”. To be the best we must beat the best. Go Dawgs. Just 3 Big Wins. One at a time. Our Team, Our Time, No Regrets!
The real deal
November 18th, 2012
7:44 pm
Big Jim=Big time LOSER!! How did your school do this year? PSU
Terry
November 18th, 2012
9:28 pm
Can You Believe It? After our loss to South Carolina, an tired old website re-emerged with new energy:
Fire Mark Richt.
I responded to the ridiculous website by predicting what in fact Georgia is in the process of accomplishing. The only thing I didn’t see coming was a chance to play for the BCS national championship.
3 minutes ago
Terry Ray Herbert Last time I looked, Georgia had a 5-1 record and was ranked #12 in the nation. If you can’t remember that for the first time in history, UGA scored over forty points in five straight games, you’re like the high school jock who can only remember his last date. Other teams that have suffered similar embarrassments as ours this year: Oklahoma, Florida State, Texas, West Virginia, USC, Clemson to name a few. Heck, this is college football. It is the unpredictability from Saturday to Saturday that makes it the supreme sports attraction. This unpredictability also allows that UGA could still run the table, win the SEC championship and end up in a BCS bowl. Your website will most likely look silly in a few months. Maybe you, a fair weather Georgia fan are the one who needs to be replaced by a true fan.
Terry
November 18th, 2012
10:06 pm
Bama,
As you boast, you are undoubtedly hoping that none of the Georgia fans, let alone, the Georgia coaches and players watch your games against LSU and Texas A & M. Your defense is not nearly as stout as it was a year ago. Two games in a row Bama gave up over 400 yards of offense. Your offense was shut down in those two games. Many of your great defensive players went on to the NFL. This year, Georgia is stocked with a half dozen NFL First Rounders. Your weakness is your secondary, and Aaron Murray will exploit it BIG TIME! He beat out Mettenberger at Georgia, and he never looked like an SEC quarterback until playing against your underwhelming Tide defense. Your name means nothing when your bullies are taken down by the new kid on the block, no less. Texas A & M.! Brace yourselves!
College Football Scores: SEC Week 12 | SEC Football
November 19th, 2012
4:46 am
[...] out a little flat, a bit sloppy and probably unfocused against an FCS opponent? Clearly,” wrote Jeff Schultz of the AJC. “But after what the Bulldogs have overcome in the past few weeks, a letdown should not have come [...]
Bergamot
November 19th, 2012
7:49 am
Never before in the history of the BCS has such an undisciplined gang of illiterates, thugs, dopeheads, woman-beaters, public urinators, drunks, jailbirds, and low-life morons come so close to backing into the title game. Fortunately for the integrity of the game, Alabama will send these pretenders and their low-rent fantards running back to their mobile home parks and welfare existence.
Weee
November 19th, 2012
10:01 am
Mark my words, Georgia somehow loses to Georgia Tech, then beats Bama in the SEC game. So SEC representation in the BCS Championship. Take it to the bank.
SEC Headlines 11/18/2012 – Arkansas – Razorbacks News
November 19th, 2012
10:17 am
[...] New BSC Standings out tonight. ESPN’s Brad Edwards projected Top 5. #1 Notre Dame, #2 Alabama, #3 Georgia, #4 Florida, #5 [...]
SPURRIER IS IN GA'S HEAD
November 19th, 2012
10:29 am
dawgs lose to bama. notre dame loses to usc. gators upset fsu. gators vs bama for natl title.
not a likely scenario, but a reality.
other unlikely, but possible scenario. all above the same, except ga upsets bama, and plays a rematch against gators in natl title game. Talk about a sellout of mammoth proportions!!
gators might even bring SPURRIER down on the sidelines to instill a little FEAR in thos puppies
Ybor City
November 19th, 2012
11:30 am
ABAC-North will get it’s butts handed to them against Bama. The SEC Zebras will have no bias to help them along. Plus, Bama’s boosters have matched Rodney Garner’s recruit’s payroll.
Option Expert
November 19th, 2012
2:22 pm
UGA is a joke. They started whining about the chop blocking well in advance to cover for the lack of effort from a lazy, spoiled, secondary that has no heart. Georgia Southern was well on their way to disgracing the Bulldogs at home until the refs came to their aid. If Alabama were to play them at home they would take a chainsaw to those hedges and the bulldogs would not be able to do anything about it.