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
Buckeye
November 18th, 2012
11:11 am
I hope our Head Coach didn’t chip a fingernail yesterday! He may run to the Big East!
simply hooligan
November 18th, 2012
11:13 am
Not a fan of Urban Crier?
Not So Fast, My Friend!
November 18th, 2012
11:14 am
Pretty much the response I expected, Buckeye: all pubescent vitriol and no substance. There’s a very good reason for that – it’s called not having a leg to stand on. Just like the wannabe knight . . .
ARdawg
November 18th, 2012
11:14 am
Buckeye
He will run some where soon, that is a given.
simply hooligan
November 18th, 2012
11:18 am
He will go as soon as he realizes he has nothing left talent wise…….just the way he left the Gators.
Not So Fast, My Friend!
November 18th, 2012
11:23 am
ARdawg, hooligan, you both are right on the money. That’s Urban’s MO – bail when the cupboard begins to get bare and face the potential of an embarrassing season reflected on his sterling coaching record. The guy has more vanity than Madonna. Look for another health issue to crop up in March.
Buh bye to all that
November 18th, 2012
11:23 am
I’m almost glad that Oregon and Kansas State lost. It puts UGA so close to playing in the BCS championship that it will be that much sweeter when Alabama destroys all of the dwagtards’ hopes and dreams, leaving them utterly devastated and cast aside like garbage, wondering where it all went wrong, and hearing them begin their usual bleating whimpers of “Wait till next year!”
A truly pathetic bunch of wretches.
Alabama 49, UGA 13
Tampa Gator
November 18th, 2012
11:30 am
Here is a senario really to get under the tail of most Dawg fans in the following big upcoming games…..
USC beats Notre Dame
Florida beats FSU
Bama beats Georgia
Bama plays Florida for the National Championship…………
But, relax, Dawg fans…..
USC is not going to beat Notre Dame
Florida probably is not going to beat FSU
…..and Georgia will have a lot of difficulty beating Bama…..but of the three games….Georgia has the best chance of winning their big game.
But I would love to see this senario…..
USC beats Notre Dame
Florida beats FSU
Georgia beats Bama….
…..and Georgia plays Florida again for the National title…….
CrazyUGA
November 18th, 2012
11:35 am
If UGA is put in the NC game, that is a total sham. They got BLASTED by a not so good South Carolina team. You have no business being in the NC title game when you lost that bad–that is not a champion.
Buckeye
November 18th, 2012
11:40 am
11:11 Buckeye an imposter.
Buckeye
Buckeye
November 18th, 2012
11:41 am
all this blabber will cease by this time next week after the bugs sting the dogs
CrazyUGA
November 18th, 2012
11:41 am
At GT still sucks
Buckeye
November 18th, 2012
11:42 am
11:40 Buckeye an imposter
Buckeye
simply hooligan
November 18th, 2012
11:43 am
CrazyUGA…..almost like sharing a NC. That is something a tech troll like you would know about, right?
Not So Fast, My Friend!
November 18th, 2012
11:46 am
Tampa Gator -
. . . and the rest of the country would have a stroke. Two years running with all SEC teams in the NC game would cause their heads to explode like the little green guys in Mars Invades (I’m on some kind of cinema reference kick this morning, it appears). Even if all that happened, I suspect the human pollsters would find a way to prevent it. The SEC’s dominance is just too galling to too many. See Buckeye as an example.
bwell
November 18th, 2012
11:46 am
Did Coach Dooley just get fired!
Dave
November 18th, 2012
11:49 am
Yes, according to Knoxville media, Dooley has been fired and Jim Chaney will coach season finale
Not So Fast, My Friend!
November 18th, 2012
11:52 am
Hooligan, that would not be Tech-nically correct. “Sharing” implies an equal division. There were 3 major polls in place that year (UPI was still around), and two of them selected Colorado as champion. Every time I drive by the NATS on the connector and see that reference to the ‘91 championship, I chuckle. It deserves a Barry Bonds style asterisk.
Buckeye
November 18th, 2012
11:53 am
TN
SEC! SEC! LEAST!
Kool Aid Drinkers and Sunshine Pumpers
November 18th, 2012
11:53 am
hang down your head Derek Dooley….. hang down your head and cry…
Mama Barbra will make you some pie!
bwell
November 18th, 2012
11:54 am
Dave,
Thanks!
Buckeye
November 18th, 2012
11:54 am
dogs eat twinkies at training table.
“Tub” Jenkins is always FIRST in line and goes back for fifth’s.
bwell
November 18th, 2012
11:55 am
That hire back fired
Buckeye
November 18th, 2012
11:56 am
When “Tub” Jenkins moves laterally a solstice occurs.
Buckeye
November 18th, 2012
11:57 am
Bobo eats HoHos
Dboy
November 18th, 2012
11:57 am
Why all the hate on UGA?? It’s simple if we take care of business we are in! We can let the haters worry about the what ifs and all the different scenarios. UGA will not lose another game this yr so whoever play us don’t matter it’s already written. Uga 2013 NC!
Not So Fast, My Friend!
November 18th, 2012
11:59 am
Buckeye, I think I hear your momma calling you. Time to go in and take your meds.
Buckeye
November 18th, 2012
11:59 am
bucks get free tatoos and ‘dos.
Pryor STILL goes first.
Chuck J
November 18th, 2012
12:00 pm
Well I wonder what uniforms the dawgs will wear in the SEC title game? I hope they get some sexy new uniforms. Maybe the team will get to pick them out before they go to the pool for a team swim.
stephen
November 18th, 2012
12:04 pm
In 1984, National Champion Miami lost 28-3 to UF, the best team money could buy. It is not unprecendented that a team can recover from an early season spanking to win the whole enchilada.
ARdawg
November 18th, 2012
12:07 pm
Buckeyes have never beat an SEC team for a championship and never will. They can’t even beat them in a bowl game without cheating.
Dboy
November 18th, 2012
12:10 pm
UGA lost to a team who was rank #6 in the country on the road. Yea the lost was lopsided. Sc scored 21 of the 35 in the 1st quarter and then leveled out the rest of the game. That was week 6 this is week 13. Teams change and we are not the same team nor is SC. UGA is clicking on all cylinders and right. Ow is the best all around team in the country offense and defense combined. More balanced than anybody. A defense full of All Americans that will get drafted early. A QB who is seasoned and young backs playing ahead of their time and WR who can beat any corners man to man. Tell me what team that stack ls up like that???
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 18th, 2012
12:11 pm
Has there ever been a team to go to the BCS NG that lost as bad as Georgia did to South Carolina?
Anyone want to research that one?
Dboy
November 18th, 2012
12:13 pm
I hate typing on a phone keypad when on a blog. My fingers are to big for the keys! Makes ur statements look crazy after I press enter. Lolol. Plus these smart keys are not so smart
Dboy
November 18th, 2012
12:16 pm
Hit n run@ who cares how bad they lost at this point. U act like its a rule that a team that loses can’t improve over the course of a season. This is sports it happens in every sport. Giants won the Super Bowl last year and suck much of the regular season. GB won the super bowl and barley made the playoffs u idiot. It’s all about when a team gets hot and the timing of it. UGA timing is perfect this year and I know u hate that. Lolol
ARdawg
November 18th, 2012
12:17 pm
Was there ever a team that had to beg it’s way into a conference championship game. Someone do the research on that
7576DAWG
November 18th, 2012
12:23 pm
Let’s say Georgia beat Georgia Tech and losses to Alabama in the SEC Championship game. Because Alabama ends up in the Orange Bowl in the National Championship game , what SEC team would the Sugar Bowl pick. Georgia? L.S.U.? Texas A&M? Florida?
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 18th, 2012
12:25 pm
“WE TURNED THE CORNER!” Yes, thanks to UF coughing up the ball six times and they still had a chance to win.
“WE’RE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS!” Against a team that is 5-6, 2-9, and a team that’s not in the FBS.
WOW! So impressive.
Let’s look at UGA’s entire schedule and see who they beat…
a 4-7 team from the MAC,
a 5-6 team that just started in the SEC and shouldn’t have been invited,
a 3-8 team from the Sun Belt,
a 7-4 team named Vandy who like UGA is enjoying a weak SEC East,
a 4-7 team in Tennessee who scored 44 and only lost by a TD,
a 2-9 team in Kentucky who almost won minus an idiot coach who went for an onside way way too early when his team clearly had the momentum,
a 10-1 team in Florida that we should all admit is way overrated or starting to falter begining with it’s 6 turnover game against UGA and barely beating Mizzou and UL Lafayette,
a 5-6 team in Ole Miss,
a 2-9 team in Auburn,
a FCS team which shouldn’t count for anything,
a GT team that can’t win.
Ranked Teams
a 9-2 team in South Carolina… oh wait… they beat the snot out of UGA every which way you could,
a 10-1 team in Florida that see above, highly overrated.
Combined winning record of opponents UGA has beaten is 42%. With a multi-year track record of big game flops and bowl fails, UGA has shown nothing that would make you think they’re championship material.
Again, Alabama is excited to see UGA line up in the SECCG and Notre Dame is praying that AJ breaks his leg in the game and Alabama loses because there is no chance against Bama but there is an enormous chance to shock the world and deliver the SEC it’s first real loss in the BCS.
They’re praying for UGA I’m sure, wouldn’t you?
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 18th, 2012
12:26 pm
@757/767 Dawg, it’d be LSU.
UGA would go to the Bitrus Bowl.
ARdawg
November 18th, 2012
12:26 pm
7576
The next highest in the BCS which in this case would be FL if they beat FSU
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 18th, 2012
12:28 pm
Why does a 35-7 loss matter?
it shows you what UGA is when they come up against a real opponent.
I think Kirk Herbstriet said it best, he did the game and said UGA failed to show up. Emphasis… fail.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 18th, 2012
12:29 pm
I can at least say I can’t find a team yet that lost as bad as UGA has an went on to play in the BCS. I’ll keep looking.
Suck it GA Haters
November 18th, 2012
12:34 pm
GA rocks and it pisses so many people off. Love IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not So Fast, My Friend!
November 18th, 2012
12:49 pm
RTR, since you just GOTTA know (and apparently haven’t been introduced to Google or Bing), in 2003 #1 Oklahoma got drilled by Kansas State in the Big 12 title game by a score of 35-7 (sound familiar?). Not only did they receive a bid to the BCS championship game the very next day, they retained their #1 ranking in the subsequent polls.
And, of course, they lost to an SEC team in the title game . . .
ARdawg
November 18th, 2012
12:56 pm
RTR is a nerd troll just here to hate. RTR, have you sent your pleas to Dr. Shalayla yet? Smurf turf Boise is awaiting
Rusty
November 18th, 2012
12:57 pm
There are some bitter, bitter nerds on this blog. Hey Nerds, maybe you should quit whining and do your part to keep UGA out of the game if it bothers you so much. Otherwise, SHUT UP!!
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 18th, 2012
12:58 pm
UGA 3rd is a joke but it is the AP. Oregon would beat UGA and OSU would too. As would LSU, Clemson, South Carolina did, Stanford, FSU, A&M… so…
if you were going off of who would beat who in January: Bama #1, OSU #2, Oregon #3, FSU #4, LSU #5, A&M #6, Clemson #7, South Carolina #8, Stanford #9… and after that it’s all second and third tier top 25.
Cdpridg
November 18th, 2012
12:58 pm
Simply put…The Georgia Way……is about competing for..and winning championships!
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 18th, 2012
1:00 pm
Okay, go back 9 years and you’ll find a team that lost just as bad as UGA did to South Carolina and then that team got destroyed.
wow, great find. Losing that big to the only top 25 team you’d faced all year to that point is indicative of the fact you’re feasting on weak opponents to pad your wins. When in reality, the first time you came up against someone good it was a blow out loss.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 18th, 2012
1:01 pm
LOL@cdpridg
Winning championships in what?