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
DawgNole
January 1st, 2013
2:29 pm
Wes Durham
January 1st, 2013
2:18 pm
I think Murray will go too. He’s done about all he can at UGA save a national title. And that ain’t gonna happen next year.
_____________________
Has he won an SEC title?
Jeff Schultz
January 1st, 2013
2:29 pm
That’s 4 personal fouls I think.
Jason
January 1st, 2013
2:29 pm
How do you let a QB like Martinez throw blind pass like that?
SOS Dawgs
January 1st, 2013
2:29 pm
SOS. Dawgs cannot stop a third and long. SOS.
UGA89
January 1st, 2013
2:29 pm
Watching this UGA team is hard to watch.
Dawg Patrol
January 1st, 2013
2:29 pm
Neb. heading for a halftime lead.
son's who?
January 1st, 2013
2:29 pm
undisciplined, again
SOS Dawgs
January 1st, 2013
2:30 pm
Georgia WILL lose this game.
Wes Durham
January 1st, 2013
2:30 pm
Flat. Just flat.
GT Fan
January 1st, 2013
2:30 pm
Nebraska is # 17..not #22
45 ACP
January 1st, 2013
2:30 pm
Next years defense has to be better than this one.
GFY
January 1st, 2013
2:30 pm
UGA defense looks horrible………..
Flat Tire doesnt live in Delusionalville Ga.
January 1st, 2013
2:30 pm
Grantham is got to be the best D coordinator out there
I cant wait to see what he does next year with all that talent leaving
Jason
January 1st, 2013
2:30 pm
Georgia is NEVER prepared for these kinda games. WIDE OPEN! Are you kidding me? Our defense is HORRIBLE!
goFalcons
January 1st, 2013
2:30 pm
4:43 on the clock and I know UGA will not go into half with only 23 pts……Championship teams like our Dawgs will respond right away with a score. Go Dawgs
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
Steve…………..i don’t do the Family lunch/brunch at the Dillard House. Dad goes IF Tech is not playing on Jan. 1 or we are not at the game. The LIVE blog is for ALL people. stop crying. It is FOOTBALL and these are the LAST few games we can watch and comment live on.
SOS Dawgs
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
Richt teams always choke the bowl game. No matter who they play. They would lose to Roswell High.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
Somebody said UGA defense was loaded with NFL talent…whaaaaat?
Sad.
seenthisbefore
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
Todd Grantham is the most overrated coach in Div I football…and his defense absolutely sucks today.
Dawgs1965
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
We’ve got to outlast these guys.
Jeff Schultz
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
Georgia defense looks awful. Nebraska comes back with FG and 16 yd TD pass to take 24-23 lead w/4:43 in half.
gethimoffmyteam
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
Hey blamegame, who are u? More importantly, who gives a shyt! Noooooobody!
50 ways to leave your lover
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
Remember, you idiots. uGA was robbed in the SEC championship game.
ROTFLMAO. It beats crying…
George Stein
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
No excuse for a defense with all those players to be getting gashed like this.
DawgNole
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
Huskers want it more. Defense thinking about NFL paychecks. Gotta be better next year; can’t be much worse.
A 5-loss Wisc team scored 70 on these slugs.
Wes Durham
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
I really wonder if this season will prove to be an anomaly for CMR’S late career. Georgia might be awful next year.
The Bear
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
Dogs got their hands full right now. Good Luck Dogs
ugafan13
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
I love UGA defense…they are completly clueless and couldn’t cover my grandma!
Sid
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
it’s obvious the Bama games was a fluke….Richt lovers enjoy this game….this is your future.
clem
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
bowl game foldo time with richts
tmc
January 1st, 2013
2:31 pm
am i the only one, but does Georgia’s defense look completely confused by Nebraska’s offense?
It looks like they have no idea what they are doing or that they even looked at tape or tendency’s for them…
That’s some awesome coaching!
GFY
January 1st, 2013
2:32 pm
UGA defense is making Taylor Martinez look like a pure passer……he is terrible during all other games…..this is sickening…..
Flat Tire doesnt live in Delusionalville Ga.
January 1st, 2013
2:32 pm
We still are undesciplined on being out of position on D and with penalties
GT Fan
January 1st, 2013
2:32 pm
UGA will win…bet on it
Larry
January 1st, 2013
2:32 pm
This is just not good SEC football having to outscore opponents because a talented defense is out of position and lethargic.
Sorry, Jeff, but Grantham is underachieving in my view. How do you think Kirby Smart or Will Muschamp would have performed given this defensive personnel?
christophorm
January 1st, 2013
2:32 pm
UGA the best at letting them hang around like UCF a couple of years ago.
Eric C.
January 1st, 2013
2:32 pm
When your coach says he doesn’t mind penalties that is what happens. Was really hoping they would go for it on 4th and 1 as the defense has been struggling.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 1st, 2013
2:32 pm
The NFL draft can’t get here fast enough for some players on the Georgia defense. Getting gashed again today as bad as Bama gashed them. CMR grow a pair 4th and 1 plus side of the field and you punt.Priceless.
50 ways to leave your lover
January 1st, 2013
2:32 pm
Could we make a package deal for Richt, Bobo, and Grantham? Maybe for Franklin at Vandy.
Think what he could do at Georgia!
SOS Dawgs
January 1st, 2013
2:32 pm
Hey Grantham. Have you been asleep for the last month?
Jason
January 1st, 2013
2:33 pm
It’s gotta be the coaching. Something needs to be done.
What happened to GA's D?
January 1st, 2013
2:33 pm
This defense looks terrible.
01HAWK
January 1st, 2013
2:33 pm
DEFENSE is nonexistent with UGA.. 9 guys who will get drafted and they look AWFUL
Always trying to strip the ball instead of hitting someone.
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
2:33 pm
Grantham is not a good DC…
North Ave. Faithful
January 1st, 2013
2:33 pm
Alright 5150 your starting to get on my nerves too.
Macclenny_dawg
January 1st, 2013
2:34 pm
Why does it take us to get behind before our offense steps on the gas??? It’s Bobo playcalling!!!
clem
January 1st, 2013
2:34 pm
reminds me of an allstar nfl game…
TxDawg
January 1st, 2013
2:34 pm
Usual effort. QB erratic, “NFL” caliber defense can’t tackle or cover, usual personal fouls due to no discipline. See ya next year!
SOS Dawgs
January 1st, 2013
2:34 pm
GT Fan. GA will lose this game. Richt always finds a way to lose.
Rodster
January 1st, 2013
2:34 pm
UGA needs to wake up. They make a team that lost to Wisconsin 70 to 31 look like they could have won the SEC.