LIVE: Georgia tries to forget SEC ending, close with win
Aaron Murray high-fives Xzavier Ward before the Capital One Bowl. (Brant Sanderlin)
ORLANDO — When asked the other day if he viewed this season as a missed opportunity to win SEC and BCS championships, Georgia coach Mark Richt said, “Every year is a missed opportunity, I think.” And that’s probably the right thing to say, even if it’s not every season the Bulldogs come within one tipped pass of winning the SEC title and going to the BCS championship game.
When Georgia faces Nebraska today in the Capital One Bowl, the question is whether we’ll witness any hangover from the last game. The Dogs (11-2, coming off a 32-28 loss to Alabama, No. 7 BCS) may be a more talented team than the Cornhuskers (10-3, coming off a 70-31 loss to Wisconsin, No. 16 BCS). But that doesn’t always mean anything in bowl games. Witness Georgia Tech vs. USC. Or witness Georgia’s last two bowl efforts — losses to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl two years ago and Michigan State in the Outback last season.
I ran into this guy in the parking lot. Who's his dentist?
OK, a few quick things about today’s game and then I’ll open the cyber-venting lines:
– The Dogs’ defensive front will have to put up a better effort than it did against Alabama (350 yards rushing). Nebraska ranks ninth in the nation in rushing at 254.5 yards per game but only 81st passing, although quarterback Taylor Martinez has thrown 21 touchdown passes.
– The defensive line will be missing nose tackle John Jenkins, who is academically ineligible, and possibly end Abry Jones (ankle), who is questionable. Kwame Geathers will start for Jenkins.
– Nebraska’s defense ranks first against the pass, but that’s a little misleading. Opponents seldom have had to throw against the Huskers because they’re so weak against the run (97th, 194.8 per game). Also, the Big Ten is not full of wide open offenses. So expect a heavy dose of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall today.
Final thought: I think Georgia wins today. Finishing the year with a win and losing the last two bowl games should be motivation enough. A victory also could leave the Dogs as one of the top five ranked teams in the nation.
But if Georgia players are thinking about the SEC championship or the NFL draft, everything goes out the window, and they’ll lose today.
What are your thoughts? The floor is yours.
– Jeff Schultz
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1,585 comments Add your comment
Dawgs1965
January 1st, 2013
2:19 pm
Whiff again!
Wes Durham
January 1st, 2013
2:20 pm
CMR trying to freeze the kicker?
Jason
January 1st, 2013
2:20 pm
I actually think our defense will be BETTER next season minus the NFL drafted players. Yes, they will.
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
2:20 pm
Who the hell is Cornelius Washington? Never heard of em………………………………he is a Girlfriend Beater
The Monger
January 1st, 2013
2:20 pm
Can we officially, call Aaron Murray…. Aaron “Pick 6″ Murray? I mean come on, seriously what is this like his 6th career pick 6 int, and what is 3rd in bowl games? He is the textbook opposite of “clutch”. The funny thing is fans actually think we could have beat Notre Dame with Murray. Not a Chance. He has failed in both SEC Championship Games, all 3 bowl games, against SC all 3 years, against Boise, against Florida all 3 years. I am including even wins like this year against FLA, because he still had 3 turnovers and only 150 yards. He is just not great or even mediocre in big games, he is terrible. Why does anyone want him back? Oh, because he racks up big yards against the Kentucky’s and Vanderbilt’s of the world….I forgot. Even if we beat Nebraska, it will be because of our defense forcing turnovers and our running game…Not Murray. Now watch some fan come on here and say, yeah but he passed for 300 yards and blah blah 2 touchdowns. Yet they fail to mention the 2 interceptions already (its not even halftime as I type this). And they think he can play like this in a National Championship game and win? Give me a break. Aaron Murray, the guy who WON ONE Big time game in 3 years at UGA (and that was thanks to 6 Gator turnovers). I’m done.
Benjamin
January 1st, 2013
2:20 pm
Is it just me, or does the bulk of Nebraska’s offense seem to consist of Taylor Martinez running around like a lost snagglepuss?
UGA89
January 1st, 2013
2:20 pm
goFalcons… Dawgs look good?? You are joking right?!
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
2:20 pm
Uga will put 40+ but will allow 35….
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
2:21 pm
Who the hell is Cornelius Washington? Never heard of em………………..no he is DOPE smoker
CountryBoy
January 1st, 2013
2:21 pm
Nebraska your QB sucks! He is pathetic!!!
gethimoffmyteam
January 1st, 2013
2:21 pm
@Jason, what’s worse is that he actually plays and that no one can beat him out.
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
2:21 pm
Who the hell is Cornelius Washington? Never heard of em…………No he is just ANOTHER UGa player that breaks rules and laws.
sicemdawg
January 1st, 2013
2:21 pm
If dawgs have all these defensive players that are going to be drafted, We must have the
worst defensive coaches in the history of college football
50 ways to leave your lover
January 1st, 2013
2:22 pm
Why is UGA not motivated for this game Jeff?
Another No BCS Bowl For UGA
January 1st, 2013
2:22 pm
Nothing new for CMR.
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
2:22 pm
Run the dang ball…
SEC bias
January 1st, 2013
2:22 pm
IF the Huskers’ D was better on 3rd down they could be pitching a shutout ……
Dawgs lucky that Neb was forced to kick a FG there …. if QB stops and takes his time on 2nd down it’s a Husker TD … WR was WIDE OPEN!
son's who?
January 1st, 2013
2:23 pm
5150, lay off the kids and at least blog like you have some maturity.
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
2:23 pm
Marshall with a goo play…
goFalcons
January 1st, 2013
2:23 pm
Great 19 yard gain! They can’t stop us!!!!
gethimoffmyteam
January 1st, 2013
2:23 pm
Make a damn move and get to the house! Ur one on one.
blamegame
January 1st, 2013
2:23 pm
Hey gethimoff we don’t care about your preferences, we know what your real message is.
go to craiglist mfm. cheers
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
2:24 pm
Run the ball dummies…
Wes Durham
January 1st, 2013
2:24 pm
Modern football. A safety applauds himself for making a tackle after a 15 yard gain.
GoDOGS#7
January 1st, 2013
2:24 pm
Hey! Where is Moist telling us what horrible UGA fans we are?
Dawg Patrol
January 1st, 2013
2:24 pm
Murray looking bad on short passes.
tmc
January 1st, 2013
2:24 pm
another off balance wrong foot pass…
goFalcons
January 1st, 2013
2:24 pm
Sec bias————You can call it luck if it makes you feel better but everybody is laughing at how sad of a comment that is
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
2:25 pm
son’s who?………………cry……………….
CountryBoy
January 1st, 2013
2:25 pm
Nebraska doesn’tbelong in a bowl game. They get slaughtered every year! Such a joke of a program.
Jason
January 1st, 2013
2:25 pm
GO FOR IT! Show some balls!
UGA89
January 1st, 2013
2:25 pm
Why Why why didn’t he run 9 yards!!!!!!!
Steve
January 1st, 2013
2:25 pm
5150 don’t you find your life pretty sad knowing you have to go play on a UGA blog and bash UGA players for entertainment? Surely you have at least one friend right?
The Monger
January 1st, 2013
2:26 pm
The only fair thing is if Aaron Murray unfortunately returns for his Senior year, there needs to be an open competition at QB. It’s just not fair to the fans or the team, to trot out a loser, game after game, season after season, while giving nobody else a chance to play quaterback for the University of Georgia. Perhaps, if Richt had played a winner like Hutson Mason, Georgia could be winning the big games against Alabama and LSU. We will never know unfortunately, because Richt is oppossed to winning big games, that’s why we “get” to see the Loser Aaron Murray every game. Fire Richt. Bench Murray. Bench Grantham, until he learns that giving up 300 plus rushing yards a game with 9 NFL players on your defense is unnacceptable at the college level.
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
2:26 pm
Poor kick…
50 ways to leave your lover
January 1st, 2013
2:26 pm
why do we always seem to run it up the middle on second down after a first down incompletion, Jeff?
Is that stupid or what?
son's who?
January 1st, 2013
2:26 pm
attack a kid ………. punk
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
2:26 pm
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
2:24 pm
Run the ball dummies…
========================
Bobo is all about the AIR DAWGS…………….
gethimoffmyteam
January 1st, 2013
2:26 pm
This coaching staff gotta go, take murray, take that fat ass UGA with u..why in the world would u punt that ball..christian coach gotta go..we need a Football Coach. Not a Priest.
UGA89
January 1st, 2013
2:27 pm
I thought UGA was the only team that pounds their chest and celebrates after every play but apparently Nebraska does too.
Wes Durham
January 1st, 2013
2:27 pm
Jeff, would you still call that a pooch punt if it was the Nebraska punter?
gethimoffmyteam
January 1st, 2013
2:27 pm
Way to gain ten yards on the punt Moron!
The Monger
January 1st, 2013
2:27 pm
Aaron “Pick 6″ Murray at it again.
Jason
January 1st, 2013
2:27 pm
#22 for Nebraska is thrashing our defense in the run game. Rex Burkhead I believe.
Dawgdad68
January 1st, 2013
2:28 pm
Where is Malcolm Mitchell?
UGA89
January 1st, 2013
2:28 pm
I have said all month our D won’t show up.
goFalcons
January 1st, 2013
2:28 pm
Say what you want about UGA but they are playing hard and good
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
2:28 pm
I say make Grantham the DL coach and bring back Van Gorder…for DC…
gethimoffmyteam
January 1st, 2013
2:28 pm
Lol..I think this game has made me a Tech fan..At least u know what u get with them..jeez
J.J.M.
January 1st, 2013
2:28 pm
recruit some corners