Predictions: It’s time for bowls(!), contest (!) and BCS (ugh)
Welcome to the next-to-last BCS bowl season, or as we like to call it: “The mole in the middle of our forehead that the plastic surgeon said he can’t remove for another two years because the deals are in place, conference commissioners have been bagged, athletic directors already have used the free golf clubs, the booze cruise just left port, it’s too late to cancel the caterers, and, dang it, Mike Slive just took the last shrimp!” So we’re stuck.
After 15 years, it’s almost gone. After 17 years, it will be. (How did the BCS get to vote before it was 18?) We’re left with a palatable title game (Alabama-Notre Dame) but a nonsensical way of getting there and zero postseason drama.
BCS road map looks something like this.
Well, except this: (Promotion coming. I feel so dirty.) There’s still time to enter the “Sack Schultz” Bowl Special. We’re giving away $200 in gift cards to Marlow’s, which should buy a lot of wings. Don’t worry that some of the 36 bowls have been played because the contest is heavily weighted toward the BCS games. To enter, just go to ajc.com/go/SackSchultzBowl2012 and pick the winners of the remaining games.
Now, onto the games:
Georgia is in the Capital One Bowl. Not a BCS bowl. Why? Because the Bulldogs effectively were penalized for beating Florida, winning the East and playing for the SEC championship (then losing) while the Gators sat in a La-Z-Boy eating a box of Ding Dongs (not losing). This reaffirms the need for mandatory drug testing — not for players, but for everybody who came up with this system.
Picking bowl winners is tricky. Most of the best players usually have their heads in the NFL. (I think A.J. Green was hiding behind a bush in the Liberty Bowl.) But I don’t expect that to be a problem for Georgia. This is a pretty together group that seems to want to win its final game.
Nebraska? Just gave up 70 points and 539 yards rushing to Wisconsin. Were they eaten by lions or something?
Easy pick: Dogs cover 10.
20 BCS jokes (kinda, sorta)
BOWLING TIME
Nothing says bowl season more than a coach wearing wearing a dumb hat. (via @USC_athletics on Twitter)
Sun (Georgia Tech vs. USC): Monte Kiffin resigned from his son’s coaching staff at USC, yet for some reason still claims Lane in the family tree. Just as well. The Trojans have allowed 39, 62, 17, 38 and 22 points in the past five games. Lane was about to tell his dad he couldn’t drive any more. Trojans win but give me Tech and 10.
Chick-fil-A (LSU vs. Clemson): Add Tech as a round-robin, and this would be the Dan Radakovich Rolling Resume Bowl. Not to put all of this on Dabo Swinney, but the ACC went 0-4 against the SEC in the final week of the season and is 9-16 in bowls against Bigfoot in the BCS era. And here comes another pie in the face: LSU covers 4½.
Outback (South Carolina vs. Michigan): Hard-working, humble, disciplined, classy, widely respected and admired by players and coaches, never makes himself the story . . . you know, the funniest thing is Steve Spurrier probably thinks I’m describing him, not Brady Hoke. Wolverines cover 6.
Rose (Stanford vs. Wisconsin): We bow in the direction of new Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen, who made 106 phone calls to tell each of his Utah State players that he was leaving for another job. It’s sort of like what Bobby Petrino did, only without the phone calls, the human contact, the xeroxed note or the vapor trails. Stanford covers 6½.
To Chip Kelly: Before you leave, I have 3 questions
Hey, which way to the Orange Bowl?
Orange (FSU vs. Northern Illinois): Sit around children: Let me tell you about a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and people cared about the Orange Bowl. Seminoles cover 13.
Sugar (Florida vs. Louisville): Will Muschamp has something he didn’t have in his first bowl game: a cheering section. Gators win, but take Louisville and 14.
Fiesta (Oregon vs Kansas State): Why is Chip Kelly wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jersey? Ducks cover 9.
Cotton (Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma): I’m not sure anybody did a better coaching job this season than Kevin Sumlin, and I’m including Brian Kelly and Bill O’Brien. On a related note, Bob Stoops seldom is in these conversations any more? Aggies cover 4½.
BCS (Alabama vs. Notre Dame): Nick Saban told his Michigan State players he wasn’t going to LSU. But he did. He told Miami, “I guess I have to say it. I’m not going to be the Alabama coach.” But about seven minutes later, he was. Now he’s denying he’s going to the Cleveland Browns. Know why I believe him this time? Bama has more NFL players. Tide covers 9½.
Rare footage of Nick Saban at The Improv
•
Time to settle up
“You can eat your betting money but don’t bet your eating money.” — Proverb.
Previous chapter (forgettable): 5-5 straight up, 3-7 against the line.
Bottom dollars (better): 115-40 straight up, 88-65-2 against the line.
Lilly Pick of Week: Lilly is continuing her boycott of the BCS system and declined to pick a bowl game. However, she did chew up a Western Kentucky media guide.
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180 comments Add your comment
dawgfan
December 27th, 2012
4:22 pm
Florida is really missing that annual off week before the Georgia game that they used to get and it shows.
the truth
December 27th, 2012
4:29 pm
“while the Gators sat in a Lazy Boy eating a box of Ding Dongs”
Substitute Tide for Gators and you get the BCS national champion selection last year.
Flat Tire and Still Refusing to Drink delusional Kool-aid
December 27th, 2012
4:30 pm
ARdawg
I dont think we will lose to Clemson but I wont be surprised either; my point is playing two good teams in a row doesnt bode well for our coaching staff
FL will most likely be improved and again LSU is returning a good team that I will be surprised if we win
George
December 27th, 2012
4:30 pm
Let’s see. Bama holds on every offensive play ? We don’t play anybody ? Saban is headed to the NFL for the last 5 years ? We would have lost if we had played Florida? On an on and on ? We did what we had to do in the Dawgs back yard. Quit whining. IMO all 4 BCS bowl games should have had SEC team in the game. Now that would have been fun to watch. I am pulling for all SEC. Roll Tide.
flea
December 27th, 2012
4:38 pm
Will Muschamp, aka Coach Boom, aka Coach E-ball, is now 0 for 6 in Jacksonville. Long may he live as the coach of that cesspool. Can Foley go ahead and extend his contract?
DIT
December 27th, 2012
4:47 pm
It gets so tiresome listening to some of my fellow Dawgs whine about Florida being in the Sugar Bowl. Take a trip down memory lane for a moment. Remember the Sugar Bowl against Hawaii??? We did not go to our conference CG. Please get over it! Florida deserves to go. Some of you listen to Saban too much. Do you think he really cared if UGA went to a BCS Bowl game?
To heck with it already. If we would have pulled it out against Bama this conversation would not be taking place.
LET IT GO!!
Irishmark
December 27th, 2012
4:47 pm
I can’t wait to see all the SEC whiners after Notre Dame beats Bama!
greenmachine
December 27th, 2012
4:52 pm
ND rolls the tide right in the Atlantic.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 27th, 2012
4:58 pm
Best of luck to all of your favorite teams in your Bowl game. Perhaps it would be a perfect time to stop making excuses about who is on 1st base and why. This ND game is starting to worry me a bunch and I just hope we can beat them so we don’t have to listen to all the yankee media crow for months.
I see our boy MC has another bash Nick Saban article going as usual …LOL.
@Tampon Gator…I see your boy Will is running off players because they don’t fit the mold of what he wants but that is fine since that is Florida. If Nick does this then he is evil. Hypocrite.
Brother Mark Richt has a little trouble with his math it appears on numbers but again that is fine since that is the Preacher Man and not Nick Saban. Let me get this corrrect, Mark and UGA is short number due to arrest,drugs,guns,and just poor choice of players so he can sign 35 or more and that is just fine because the numbers are there and at 85! Everyone else is a cheat for doing just that but Sunny Man Richie is just gettting his roster back up to speed….or allowing Clarke County Jail to cull players for him. Really folks.
Memo to all….you should have whipped Bama in 2012 because in 2013 we’re going to kick some serious azz! If you think this ride is coming to it’s end then you will be in for a big surprise.
Ed
December 27th, 2012
5:16 pm
Wow, that takes me back to the days when SNL was kind of funny, and the writing wasn’t too half bad, and they had a talented cast. Seems like a long time ago.
Joey
December 27th, 2012
5:18 pm
Irishmark and Greenmachine, welcome, but we won’t see you much longer – Bama ain’t from the Big 10! Big 10! (that’s for you Buckeye).
Wet Willie, good luck to your boys in the Big Game. My Bulldogs will get there one day . . .
" The Golden Throat "Verne Lundquist
December 27th, 2012
6:03 pm
Georgia Tech wins but give me USC and 19.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 27th, 2012
6:13 pm
Lane Kiffin is a jive azz punk and Pat Haden has this guy on the clock no doubt. PJ and the Jackets waited around for USC to arrive for the dinner and then Paul sent his troops home. Respect is not only what Kiffin is missing but for the most part this entire country is short as well
Mitt Romey is a liar because he he said it was 47% when the truth is it’s 52%! Slackers.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 27th, 2012
6:28 pm
Most of the bowl games are such crazy match ups picking them is nuts. So glad I stopped betting about 10 years ago.
With Cincy having an interim coach for the game I think I’m going DUKE tonight. I think I will go with UCLA what the hell.
gator7
December 27th, 2012
7:15 pm
that is good to hear wetwillie that al will be even better next yr. We want to play the best in the seccg next yr.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 27th, 2012
8:24 pm
DUKE getting SCREW by the Refs bad……………..
TampaGator
December 27th, 2012
8:39 pm
Wet Willie….
there you go again!!! And you aren’t even Ronald Reagan. Muschamp is not running off players. Pop Saunders liked smoking weed over. being the starting FS at Florida next year…and Muschamp would have loved to have Pop back next year and gave him several opportunities to make the right choices….and he chose not to do so. Muschamp did not run him off. Saunders ran himself off the Florida roster by the choices HE made….not Muschamp. Patchan has been hurt his entire career at Florida…..chose not to work out while he was hurt….dropped a lot of weight again….and had no future at Florida on the OL because of the players coming in and transferring in (Moore and Garcia)…who are a lot better. Pathcan chose to transfer (either to OSU to be with Meyer or to Boston College to be with Addazio….both of whom recruited him to Florida. He would have been 4th string OT next year….and he will be 2nd string at OSU and 1st string at Boston College. He wants to play, and he was not going to play next year at Florida…..and Muschamp was honest with him….and he decided to transfer. But you can come on here and post anything you want…..but just know I will call you out if you post something about Muschamp or the Gators that is JUST NOT ACCURATE.
David C
December 27th, 2012
8:56 pm
I love how all the Georgia Fans are hoping Bama will lose.Got news for you Bama wins by 2 TD’s
31 – 17. Bama has more Depth, Better QB and RB. And Yes a Better Coach… Get over the Loss. SEC wins 7th in a row.
Beast from the East
December 27th, 2012
9:25 pm
I think Bama wins but I also think it will be closer than many think. ND’s defense is for real…especially the front 7. It will be a war in the trenches. Bama wins because their offense is better. Can’t see ND scoring more than about 14-17 points unless Bama turns it over multiple times. That won’t be enough, as Bama will likely score 20+.
DawgNole
December 27th, 2012
9:51 pm
TampaGator
December 27th, 2012
12:58 pm
Now…..I am reading….as usual…..Georgia lost to Bama because of the refs…..
____________________
Just like we heard from you after UGA-fla this year–blaming your loss on bad calls. That showed your gator underbelly, and it was not a pretty picture.
TampaGator
December 27th, 2012
10:08 pm
Dawgnole….
I have said since that win that Georgia won that game square……..but the call on Easley was a bad call. A DT can tackle or obstruct a RB in the backfield at any time. That is the rule….bad call then. Bad call now. Georgia scored the decisive TD after that call….and that decisive TD pass would not have happened as it was a 3rd down play. But that is not the reason Florida lost, and I never said it was. Florida lost the game because they turned the ball over 6 times and the last one going in to score a TD with a chance to go for 2 afterword to tie the game. Georgia outplayed the Gators and deserved to win that game. The refs never cause a team to lose a game…..bad play does. And the Gators played poorly on offense that day….and Georgia’s defense had a lot to do with that….and the refs very little.
Predictions: It’s time for bowls(!), contest (!) and BCS (ugh) – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Sports News Cast
December 27th, 2012
10:44 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
We (did) Run The East
December 28th, 2012
6:00 am
Schultz, you stinking UGA homer. Just can’t get over SC destroying UGA. SC is UGA’s new Florida- the team you can never beat, the team you try to degrade with your picks. UGA is 3rd best team in EAST. What a joke. Hope Dawgs lose big, could not happen to a more entitled bunch of whiners. See you loser UGA fans in Athens next year as we throw a Golden Sombrero on CMR and thuga.
M
December 28th, 2012
6:45 am
If not for bias and officials-Georgia would be playing ND, in Miami. They had their agenda all that week and made dang sure it happened. I HATE sec, ncaa, and their bias CRAP!!! Sports is dirtier than politics. Except anything UGA- take your crap and SHOVE IT!!!!!
Flamboyant Sun Bowl
December 28th, 2012
7:01 am
Georgia Tech wins, but give me the USC Song Girls and 69 !
Mike Dubose
December 28th, 2012
7:13 am
DP, doesnt matter we beat you, 2 years in a row baby!
Why do they call that place the Gator Bowl?
TampaGator
December 28th, 2012
7:32 am
Wille…..
I guess “M” at 6;45am is showing is Dawg “underbelly” and painting a “ugly picture” of why Georgia lost to Bama………and I repeat…..Georgia did not lose to Bama because of the refs…..but because they could not execute a game winning play at the end of the game (tipped pass and poor game judgement by a WR)…..just like the Gators vs. the Dawgs (end zone fumble when the Gator TE did not protect the ball from being knocked out).
TampaGator
December 28th, 2012
7:35 am
Dubose……
The Dawgs have a long way to go to reach the recent Gator streak vs. your Dawgs…..a lot further than the Gators have to even up the series. But congrats on the last two years. Dawg fans certainly have the bragging rights….at least until next October….when I truly believe you current two game streak comes to an abrupt end.
TampaGator
December 28th, 2012
7:39 am
Flamboyant….
I am sure there is a lot more to those USC song girls than just want you want from them. And it sounds like USC and those song girls really do not want to be in El Paso….which is a good thing for Tech and gives them a very good shot in that game….along with Barkley not playing. I would expect that USC is there just to go through the motions……and Tech has something to prove and I am sure they want to end the season by getting back to a .500 record. USC’s defense is probably going to have a hard time with the Tech offense.
Buckeye
December 28th, 2012
7:52 am
I predict “Tub” Jenks will eat breakfast at Waffle House, twice, then onto the Varsity for lunch, ordering the entire menu- twice, then head home to order Dominoes and Pizza Hut – thin, regular and thick-crust, then head to the dogs Study Table and take a nap.
Whiskey Breath
December 28th, 2012
8:05 am
Ga, I have a funny feeling about your bowl game. Because you haven’t won one in a long time,
you will play to the level of your competition. The team that played Alabama, will not show up.
The game is a trap game because it is a letdown. Your problem is, I am usually right.
Whiskey Breath
December 28th, 2012
8:14 am
Tech, you are the most under deserving team in the history of the ACC. You really prove what a inferior league is. You have no shame,
Georgia
December 28th, 2012
8:19 am
Coach Mark should make a new rule: only cheerleaders are allowed to call time out. The refs will never see it and timeout will never be called. Then UGA has a chance to win this must see bowl. Good Luck, Mark. May the Swatch be with you.
Buckeye
December 28th, 2012
8:21 am
“Tub” Jenks:
Dessert anyone?
Flat Tire and Still Refusing to Drink delusional Kool-aid
December 28th, 2012
8:48 am
You people who want to blame the refs; give me a break. How about taking a look over at the sidelines before blaming the refs
when you blow an 11 point lead that you had late in the 3rd qtr I really dont think its the refs fault
Whiskey Breath
December 28th, 2012
8:56 am
Dubose, you have to go away dude. I can still remember him humping his secretary. He is our
Bobby Petrino, Why must you torcher us with that super redneck?
Old Dog Class of 80
December 28th, 2012
8:56 am
Just one question, Jeff, what was your prediction last year of Georgia against Michigan State?
Flat Tire and Still Refusing to Drink delusional Kool-aid
December 28th, 2012
9:02 am
Old Dog Class of 80
Losing to this sorry Nebraska team this year will be almost as bad as the UCF loss
I just dont see us losing it but then again I never thought we would lose to UCF much less not even be able to score a TD
stanh
December 28th, 2012
9:09 am
Games are won on the line of scrimmage…..Tide Rolls…..Welcome to SEC football Notre Dame!!!!!!!
Whiskey Breath
December 28th, 2012
9:16 am
I have a new years resolution. Every time Ga people try to bash Nick Saban or Bama,
I think I will bring up the blackout or the SEC championship game. Don’t you think that is fair?
Don’t you guys still owe me a blackout jersey?
ARdawg
December 28th, 2012
9:20 am
Whiskey Breath
You have manboobs
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
December 28th, 2012
9:26 am
The reason the Dawgs are not playing in a BCS Bowl is that they played a weak schedule, were embarrassed by the Gamecocks on national t.v. and the Gators beat themselves with a late 4th quarter goal line fumble. Let’s face it, the Dawgs are a would’a, could’a, should’a program with the SEC Elite being LSU, Bama and Gators (all have won multiple national championships in this century).
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 28th, 2012
9:28 am
@Tampon Gator…sport you were running your big mouth on the MC article about why it was fine for Mikey Richie to sign 40 this year blaming Saban for his MO. It’s fine your Will to fire his folks and Richie has many players fired for poor grades,dope, and other social issues but Nick can’t do that. Nick’s 1st year he placed about 5 guys on Medical scholly to allow them to finish one more year where in fact he should have just sent their azz packing! All were Shula boys and never contributed a dayum thing in their 4/5 years. Charlie Kirshman was signed by Mike to try and get Tebow since they played at the same HS and Charlie never played a down yet he was the only person that made a statement that he could continue to play thru his injury. You keep running that mouth about Nick and Bama but we’ll be here when you get back to the SECCG. Hypocrites. Roll Tide. You UGA fans better be sending cards and letters asking Murray to return otherwise you’re done in 2013. By the way tell #11 that Dial is a SR so that should help.
Columbus Dawg
December 28th, 2012
9:42 am
That’s right, Bama dips, sat on couch with others and looked at DVR on several of Bama’s SEC games this season, not just SEC Championship game. Bama’s OL HOLDS on nearly EVERY down and gets away with it. That P.O.S. Slive should not only be run out of Birmingham, buit should be horse whipped.
TechDan
December 28th, 2012
10:07 am
I’m a Tech fan (obviously) and I agree that UGA got robbed by the selection committee. For what its worth, I think UGA would paste Notre Dame, just like Alabama is about to.
I just hope that USC decides not to show up in El Paso.
Adobe (Car Made of Clay) Sun Bowl Selection Comm.
December 28th, 2012
10:45 am
We just looked at CPJ’s bowl record and it appears we made a serious selection error. Enjoy the gift bags and good luck anyway.
Buckeye – good luck in your bowl game. You had an undefeated season in the toughest conference in the country and you run a clean program. You guys deserve this shot at the title.
Sorry, wrong again, we should really pay more attention.
Notre Dame Fans – Talk all the trash you want here. You won’t find any whiners on this site if you win. Try the Tuscaloosa Times site at http://www.treekillingteabaggers.com.
Where have you all been. Oh yeah, you’re the biggest bandwagon program in college football, besides maybe Alabama. I live outside of Georgia now and see Alabama gear daily. During the Shula years – never. Bandwagon. Same with your program. I love my huge Notre Dame fan friends, who use Notre Dame as their “other” team, in addition to their alma matter, when their alma matter sucks. I have never stopped wearing my UGA gear so, when you lose, just put it back in your closet and get out your Yankees jacket and start talking about how diehard you’ve always been for them.
Adobe (Car Made of Clay) Sun Bowl Selection Comm.
December 28th, 2012
10:48 am
To Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg’s Comment “and the Gators beat themselves with a late 4th quarter goal line fumble. ”
That was a forced fumble (a defensive play). Have your husband explain football to you sometime.
I loved watching Jordan Reed cry on the sideline.
ARdawg
December 28th, 2012
10:57 am
TechDan
I read where USC’s Barkley isn’t making the trip, shoulder injury. They are starting a Fr QB. There looks to be a light at the end of the tunnel for you guys. Not that I was ever impressed with Barkley as a good QB but, he was the main cog that drove that team
Pitbull
December 28th, 2012
11:21 am
Flat Tire is just another Tech guy more concerned about what UGA is doing than what his own school is doing.
That is the very definition of a Tech fan.
El Paso is the new Boise.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 28th, 2012
11:23 am
If GT can get a couple of stops by the defense in each half then they can win the game since USC is weak on the defensive line and they play nobody that runs the bone. The best part for GT is USC DOESN’T want to be at this game!!!!! This is a big deal because I think Paul and Tech really want to be there and intend to play well. Best of luck to the Jackets.