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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,585 comments Add your comment
North Ave. Faithful
January 1st, 2013
1:39 pm
Play clock looked like it ran out to me.
Jeff Schultz
January 1st, 2013
1:39 pm
WOw. Murray’s draft stock tumbling.
Mariage Parfait Gueze
January 1st, 2013
1:39 pm
I bet they cheated on that INT as well
01HAWK
January 1st, 2013
1:39 pm
MURRAY has another bone headed play. I am not surprised.
Jason
January 1st, 2013
1:39 pm
Murray is horrible in bowl games! Damn it Murray!
Scrappy
January 1st, 2013
1:39 pm
OK , Murray officially sucks.
blamegame
January 1st, 2013
1:39 pm
very nice NOT
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
1:39 pm
Merry Christmas…
Benjamin
January 1st, 2013
1:39 pm
Aaron Murray, time to can the Preston Wilson impression.
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
1:40 pm
Grantham is a D god mind…………Why again didn’t a NFL team want him and he was #5 on the UGa list?
Wow Richt is mad that is new. Maybe RICHT will get MAD at his players making Personal Fouls.
That is the PMS MURRAY we KNOW and LOVE…….NFL ready? AHHAHAAAHAAAHAHAH…………..SEC record Holder? What does that mean IF you can’t beat a top 25 team?
Jason
January 1st, 2013
1:40 pm
Murray is good for a pick six in every bowl game. He threw one last year too.
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
1:40 pm
QUE………………..Thomas Brown…………………….
seenthisbefore
January 1st, 2013
1:40 pm
Hey Marriage Parfait–”F” off, dumbass…who invited YOU to OUR New Years Day party
SOS Dawgs
January 1st, 2013
1:40 pm
Murry in his usual “I suck in big games” mode. Please go to the NFL>
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 1st, 2013
1:40 pm
Murray might not declare or start next year.
80sDawg
January 1st, 2013
1:40 pm
Not a very good audition for Murray for the scouts
45ACP
January 1st, 2013
1:40 pm
At least we get the ball back…lol..
blamegame
January 1st, 2013
1:41 pm
bad thing is he was not under pressure
secson
January 1st, 2013
1:41 pm
WTF is Murray doing
dawginduluth
January 1st, 2013
1:41 pm
I am going to watch the Gamecocks game. Once again, Richt doesn’t have this team ready to play.
No NC with Richt. Never.
Jason
January 1st, 2013
1:41 pm
5150, I know you hope he doesn’t come back because he’ll torch that pathetic Tech defense AGAIN
Dawg Patrol
January 1st, 2013
1:41 pm
Murray throws to a man who is not even there into a crowd of defenders who are there. That is PURE PANIC FOOTBALL !
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
1:41 pm
I think UNs red jersey’s are confusing Murray…
Benjamin
January 1st, 2013
1:42 pm
Always enjoy keyboard warriors. LOL Jeff, you’ve got some pistachios on your blog today. So much aggression…
Dawgs1965
January 1st, 2013
1:42 pm
Nebraska has found their rhythm. We have not.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 1st, 2013
1:42 pm
CMR
Put Gurley at TB line up in the I Formation and run the damn ball. Leave all of your cute plays in the playbook and take control of the damn game.
LagDawg
January 1st, 2013
1:42 pm
Again, UGA looks like they didn’t prepare for the bowl game. Did anybody tell UGA that this was a running team and that Neb. could complete some passes. This cannot happen next season. They start with Clemson and S.C.. Still too many missed assignments on defense. Too much talent for them to play this way. I think the OL forgot how to block and the coaches still can’t make adjustments. Murray does it again and the Nebraska coaches made the proper adjustments. Being outcoached again. Did UGA equipment guy bring the right shoes. Already 5 players have slipped in the 1st quarter. Please Murray, do the Dawgnation a favor and do not return. Need a better decision maker at the QB spot.
SOS Dawgs
January 1st, 2013
1:42 pm
Gonna be just like the choke in last years bowl game.
GT Fan
January 1st, 2013
1:42 pm
dawgs will answer..Murray will get it together, have alittle faith.
Big Crimson 75
January 1st, 2013
1:43 pm
Booooooo
Mariage Parfait Gueze
January 1st, 2013
1:43 pm
Memo to Aaron Murray…..It only gets tougher in the NFL……Please play your senior year at UGA. It will serve you well.
zzggyy
January 1st, 2013
1:43 pm
The defense is apparently going to allow Nebraska to score at will. We certainly don’t need the offense giving them points as well.
01HAWK
January 1st, 2013
1:43 pm
Some players just have a knack for making big plays……………………..And then you have MURRAY, who’d ratther make them for the other team.
Bobby Walden
January 1st, 2013
1:43 pm
Funny to see Richtus show his red ass on the sideline. Loser QB tosses 2 INTs in 1 qtr. Richtus loses big game. Again. he should be fired on the flight home.
Rick Patel
January 1st, 2013
1:43 pm
UGA will be battered & embarrassed by Nebraska in their B-List bowl game today.
gethimoffmyteam
January 1st, 2013
1:43 pm
I’m so sick of watching this lilttle fucin dwarf ruin my damn team..take your sorry ass to the draft so we can see a real QB next year!
Mariage Parfait Gueze
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
You all suck for hating on Murray so soon. God I hate most UGA fans.
Eric C.
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
Murray coming back for another year?
Jason
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
Do we not take bowl games seriously anymore? We haven’t won one since 2009. The players just like to go on the trips and theme parks apparently.
tmc
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
Couple observations:
1. Why didn’t CMR go for 2 pt conversion on the 1st TD? rather be up 10-0 or 8-0 than 9-0. (9 is limbo…seems like more more in-game mismanagement by CMR)
2. CMR looks really heavy! Seems like he’s put on some serious weight.
3. A. Murray looks very poor (mechanically) so far… not good.
GT Fan
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
Where did Steve go..to restroom?
Jeff Schultz
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
OK. I give up.
GatorBait
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
Murray turning pro——may want to rethink that
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
Dawgs will calm down. They’ll be ok…td…
CigarDawg
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
Did Richt practice these boys at all?
blamegame
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
the answer
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
45 ACP….you know I poke fun. That was bad bad bad…………..Now Chuck Do little says Nebraska was calling TO and RICHT was MAD again it was not called……I think RICHT knows it is his life he is coaching for.
KING with a great PLAY.
Benjamin
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
Habersham Dawg is excited.
80sDawg
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
Redemption pass!!!
secson
January 1st, 2013
1:44 pm
Great catch King!!!!