BCS quirks mean Georgia has more to gain with SEC win
This is the time of year when following the BCS is sort of like watching an accident in the making — you know you don’t want to see it happen, but you can’t quite force yourself to look away.
And this year even the so-called truisms that frequently have been applied to the process don’t seem to be holding up.
I keep reading in the national sports press that LSU and Alabama, currently ranked No. 1 and No. 2 with one more week to go, probably will meet in the BCS championship game no matter what, despite already having played each other. The consensus seems to be that LSU will make it to the game even if they lose to Georgia in the SEC championship because of their record, which includes wins over three teams that were ranked in the top three of the coaches poll at the time they played: Oregon, Alabama and Arkansas.
Meanwhile, Alabama, which didn’t even win its own division in the SEC, appears unlikely to be dislodged by No. 3 Oklahoma State, No. 4 Stanford or No. 5 Virginia Tech, even if Okie State decimates Oklahoma in its finale or the Hokies do the same to Clemson in the ACC championship.
So much for the reasoning used against Georgia in 2007 when the inactive Dogs were jumped in the BCS standings the last week, despite being the hottest team in the country. At the time, the Dogs not winning their own division was chiefly cited by ESPN’s talking heads as the reason.
Likewise, the old saw that if you’re going to lose a big game, it’s best to do it early in the season apparently has been thrown out the window in the case of the 2011 Dogs, who have reeled off 10 straight wins since opening 0-2 against highly ranked opponents, and yet who seem unlikely to crack the BCS Top 10 even if they win the SEC championship. Having just dominated a ranked Georgia Tech, Georgia proceeded to drop one spot in the latest BCS standings!
Guess that also means the SEC champion is no longer a lock for the BCS title game, as has often been proclaimed in recent years.
So LSU basically has nothing much to gain by beating Georgia in the SEC title match other than preserving its unbeaten record. The Dogs, on the other hand, can secure a BCS bowl (the Sugar) with a win.
I’m not suggesting that the Tigers will be looking past Georgia to the BCS, because LSU by all evidence is a team that shows up ready to play every week.
But it’s clear which team has the most to gain with a win in the Georgia Dome.
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297 comments Add your comment
UGA man, class of 71 & 73
November 28th, 2011
1:01 pm
UGA winning the SEC C G is all that I care about this year. Here is why:
In September, UGA fans would have done anything to be in this game and hanging around at # 12 or wherever we are right now. THAT was BEFORE the Boise and SC games too!!!
No, for me ……………….the SEC C G and ALL the prestige that WINNING THE SEC brings, is where I will always hang my hat. Any day and any time the SEC Championship is where we want to be …………… at the very top. THE SEC is KING to college football and it has been for many years.
Yes, a MAJOR BOWL vs U of Houston or some top 10 school like that would be fabulous. Besides, UGA’s FUTURE IS NOW and into 2013 if we take care of bidness.
Gooooooooooooooooooooo Dogs.
Sam
November 28th, 2011
1:04 pm
Reality check: the college presidents for whatever reasons do not want a playoff (at least a large enough number do not). Heck, I do not hear a lot of coaches screaming for a playoff either. You can keep wishing for it and maybe the Easter Bunny or Santa will bring it to you (sorry Jewish fans I do not think Judaism has any equivalents to those two).
Murphy
November 28th, 2011
1:05 pm
If we want to change our perception with ESPN all we need to do is keep the wins comming.I have watched this with the Tebow situation for 5 weeks now in the NFL. Cant say any negatives if you win.
AIRDAWG
November 28th, 2011
1:07 pm
LSU will come to play and i loved it when they beat bama. Got to hope my DAWGS come to play also.
Cuz
November 28th, 2011
1:07 pm
Well we win the Championship we go to the Sugar. We lose we come back to Atlanta for the Chicken Bowl.
Restore UGA
November 28th, 2011
1:07 pm
@Dr. Morpheus
I hope LSU spot us 14 points. I don’t think the UGA defense would then roll over like Arkansas’ did.
Restore UGA
November 28th, 2011
1:13 pm
@Sam,
The college presidents don’t want a play-off because;
1). they love the perks and power throb they get from having the bowls take them golfing, out on lavish diners and travel. They are bought off little bureaucrats with the power to deny the fans what we all want.
2). They don’t want to give up more power to the football program and coaches. They are already terrified of football and the love that fans and students have for the game, players and coaches.
BullDawgman49
November 28th, 2011
1:14 pm
Now that everything is cleared up ….. Georgia will suprised alot of people this weekend ,
Here is a Breakdown of the Match ups .
DEF Line : close here slight edge to LSU
Offf Line : Georgia is bigger Edge to Georgia
LB : Georgia Has the two and maybe 3 in coutry here EDge Georgia
SS : LSU slight Edge
DB : Lsu Slight edge
RB : Lsu ’s 4 headed monster fresh legs big advantage but havent played a with good rush defense until now. Georgia with the trouble here of course but maybe we will a 3 headed Monster Malcome
Thomas , Crowell . So this might be a pickem
Special teams : Of course this the kicking game been struggling but Butler had 55 yrd punt Sat.
Blair miiss 55 yrd field had enough leg wide right. Also with the timeout gift he made a 43 yrd.
Coaching : The Mad hatter I think will have some tricks . Richt Also will throw some in there too/
Score Georgia 24 Lsu 21 GO DAWGS !!!!!
Reggie Ball
November 28th, 2011
1:14 pm
Enter your comments here
Auburn Jacket
November 28th, 2011
1:16 pm
LSU-BAMA… Been there, done that. Let’s see something new. LSU-OK State would be a great game.
Restore UGA
November 28th, 2011
1:19 pm
@RiffRaff
Urban Myer and Ohio (always overrated) State will be pre-season #1 because of the Northern, Midwestern and West Coast sports writer BIAS.
Ohio State has been the most overrated team of the Century.
Murphy
November 28th, 2011
1:19 pm
@Bulldawgman49,
I believe LSU has the advantage on D-line and the secondary.I do agree that they have a huge edge in the running back catagory. Our o-line must block or we will be in deep trouble. I also agree that UGA will win but I dont see the score quite that high. UGA:18 LSU: 16
Rationale
November 28th, 2011
1:20 pm
For full disclosure I am a SEC fan.
You know it is kind of funny. UGA kicker misses one field goal in the SC game and we are trash because we did not beat SC. Spurrier even said they got lucky in winning that game. On the other hand, Alabama kicker misses 3 field goals and they are still number 2. Something just does not add up here. If Alabama had beaten LSU, LSU would have fallen further down the ranking than number 2.
It is time for the BCS to go. The BCS is all about favorites. It is not about reality. There should never be a BCS championship game with 2 teams from one conference. Regardless of their ranking. And by the way, who in the top ten of the BCS has a 10 game winning streak? LSU and Houston, that is it. By the old method, before the BCS, UGA would easily be in the top 10. The voters are holding UGA back so that there is supposedly no creditability with the call for LSU and Alabama to not play in the Championship game, if, LSU loses. What would be funny, is for UGA to beat LSU, and then play Alabama in the BCS and beat them too. Now that would be funny. Realistic, I do not know, but funny, as opposed to the reality of the BCS.
MY Dawg
November 28th, 2011
1:21 pm
It’s pretty simple, if Ga had beat either S.C. or Boise, they would be in the top 10 and talking about a shot at the NC game. Instead we have been dismissed because we have 2 losses. The best thing that could happen is a win over LSU to send a shove it message out to ESPN and the SEC haters. I heard it has been given a title now, ” SEC fatigue”. Fans from the other conferences can’t stand the SEC. I would be highly shocked if there is a repeat, no matter what the talking heads say. If there is a repeat it will spell disaster for the BCS. The pulse of college footballs fan base does not want it, therefore it won’t happen. Just saying….Go Dawgs!
Restore UGA
November 28th, 2011
1:22 pm
@BullDawgman49,
I hope we do that RB pitch back to Murray that Alabama did to Auburn this weekend. I think Saban was testing that play for LSU. Our coaches should study the Alabama/Auburn game to see some stuff Alabama has put in to use against LSU or to make LSU worry.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 28th, 2011
1:24 pm
I love how all these hyprocrite fans come on here and say a team shouldnt play for the National Championship if they dont win their conference
LOL
I would just love to see their reaction if their team was in Alabama’s spot right now. They would be foaming at the mouth with 5 million reasons why their team should play.
Especially Tech fans. They would have their slide rule’s out showing all their formula’s as to why Tech should have to play and the list goes on
IDIOTS
Texas Dawg
November 28th, 2011
1:25 pm
The 07 dawgs being left out of the title game because they did not win the SEC but yet we were one of the best teams in the country at that time…………………………HOW IN HADEZ does ALabama get the shot when they didn’t even win the west…………………BCS is crapola………need a playoff like d2
DelServDawg
November 28th, 2011
1:28 pm
I have been a Bulldog supporter since the late 1960s. I am a UGA alumnus twice (’75, ‘94) and a season ticket holder since 1981. Even in the early years of my support, I was in favor of a play-off championship series and hoped to see one developed over time. Now as I approach my 60th birth date, I fear I will never see a Division I (FBS) play-off in my lifetime. All of this bull about the BCS, which I think is a total failure, would not only be unnecessary with a play-off system, but completely irrelevant. I have always, and still, believe that the national championship should be decided by the young men and coaches on the field and not through the opinions of sports journalists (with apologies to you Bill, I know that you and your colleagues are working with what you’ve been handed). After all, if they were right all of the time there would be no need to even play the games. They could just vote based on their team observations at the beginning of the season and award the national championship. There are a lot of smart folks out there and you can’t make me believe that a play-off system isn’t possible. After all, practically every other organized sport out there has one. No, it doesn’t happen because of big money, just as with anything else. It’s absurd that Division I (FBS) doesn’t have a play-off. It’s just not fair to all those fine young men and coaches who play the game, or to those of us who love to watch them.
Murphy
November 28th, 2011
1:28 pm
Flat tire,
I agree with your last post.Amen!!!!
Murphy
November 28th, 2011
1:30 pm
Looks like another BCS Championship for the SEC!!! Really this is what is bothering the nay sayers in college football.SEC total domination of college football.
Texas Dawg
November 28th, 2011
1:31 pm
@ Flat Tire on I-95………………………..we were in Alabama spot in 07………….and we didn’t get the same shot that ALAbama is getting at the NC……… and that my sir is not being a Hypocrite……..it’s reality………….
Les Miles stated that year “Don’t win your conference shouldn’t be allowed to play for the NC” If the Dawgs win and Les Miles still thinks LSU derserves to play in the NC then he is the hypocrite!
Restore UGA
November 28th, 2011
1:33 pm
Chip, write an article about what you think Larry Munson would say about this upcoming game.
You know he would be sweating bullets.
Murphy
November 28th, 2011
1:33 pm
Im a true Dawg fan and SEC fan.How unbelievable is it that one state could have the last 3 college football national champions and the last 3 Heisman winners.That is awesome.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 28th, 2011
1:37 pm
Texas Dawg
Please re-read what I said and pull your underwear out of your rear
MiamiDawg
November 28th, 2011
1:40 pm
First beat LSU then talk.
Biggest problem with GA football is that we talk but haven’t backed it up. If we had showed up for Boise, how could you not be ready for that game, and hadn’t given SC the game we would be in the conversation. But all we can do not is talk garbage from a slight half a decade ago.
Time to put up or shut up.
aw
November 28th, 2011
1:41 pm
Ok, The 4th best team in the SEC is playing for the SEC title. UGA is the luckiest team in the SEC!!!
Your signature win was over a 8 win Ga Tech team. Your signature SEC win was over a 7-5 Auburn. Otherwise the only teams with winning records that UGA has beaten are: Ga Tech, Auburn and Coastal Carolina!!!! and they are playing for the SEC title. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
War Dang Dawg
November 28th, 2011
1:43 pm
I disagree, but that’s because I’ve always seen the national title – whether under the old bowl system or the current BCS system – as more or less a phony title. Mythical in other words. Great for bragging rights, but not much more than a popularity contest.
But an SEC title is the real deal. We need one more for our 13th, which will put us in second place behind only Bama. Not too bad. If I were LSU, I’d be very motivated to be crowned the champs of such a great and competitive conference. Going to the title game without being crowned champion of your own conference would have a hollow feel to it if I were a LSU alum or fan. But maybe that’s just me.
Snoop Dawg
November 28th, 2011
1:49 pm
Attention, koolaid drinkers!
Flash!!!
UGA should be playing in the NC. Why aren’t they? Mark Richt, that’s why.
It’s simple. He hasn’t won a big game since the Alabama smackdown in Blackout. He’s been found out to be the CEO he claimed he is, not a head football coach.
His incompetence resulted in UGA losing its first two very important games even though our talent was several multiples of either Boise or S Carolina.
Since then, he has excelled on the back of Grantham with the easiest schedule in a century.
Why do all these idiots keep whining about where we are?
They all are clamoring to give Richt a contract extension now.
UGA is destined to such tragedy…
Get used to it…
The beat goes on…
I hope that the Dawgs put the wood to LSU, but even if they do their outstanding opportunity was squandereds by da Preacha Man and Bobo.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 28th, 2011
1:49 pm
Miami Dawg
I agree its about time for an upset under this coaching staff. Richt hasnt upset anyone now in what 6,7,8 years
Georgia D
November 28th, 2011
1:50 pm
might not be what Dawgs fans think it is. It was pointed out on ESPN (those Dawg lovers) that the best offense UGA had beaten this year was New Mexico State (!!!!). They must be talking rankings. Either way, with the PATSY SCHEDULE the Dawgs have played this year, it’s hard to know just how good they might be. My guess is not what Dawgs fans think. (Gee have Dawgs fans EVER over-estimated their team ?!?!??) If UGA can hang with them, I think it’ll come down to which QB makes the least mistakes. If it were Lee vs Murray, I’d go with LSU to win. If Jefferson is their guy, AND IF UGA can hang with them physically and speed-wise, I’d give UGA a shot.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 28th, 2011
1:52 pm
Snoop Dawg
Yes thats the problem I have with Richt. Go to Vegas and bet on Richt to lose 2 games each year you will win big
Charlie Hayes
November 28th, 2011
1:59 pm
With LSU going to the Nat Champ Game as a given they can play loose, fast and easy going. While UGA will be up tight and worried about making a mistake on every play. LSU has the benefit if you ask me….They can just play hard and fast and not worry about the outcome.
The UGA D will need to stop LSU on every drive for the first 3 to 4 in order for UGA to win the game. The UGA O will need time to work out all the kinks to put a scoring drive together. LSU will be faster, have a better run fit and will have better coverage than any other team we have faced this year. It is known that Murray has problems under pressure. Thus, Bobo needs to get slip screens, bubble screens, HB screens and TE screens on the play chart to ease Murray into some big throws and reduce the pressure that LSU will bring. John Chavis is very familiar with UGA’s O and we will need to run a lot of plays with foreign schemes to throw him off. Example: Boykin and Smith lined up in the backfield at the same time and run them both out into separate flats then throw to the TE in the seam where the LB’s vacated. That was a good foreign scheme.
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH
November 28th, 2011
2:06 pm
“But it’s clear which team has the most to gain with a win in the Georgia Dome.”
Yeah, LSU.
The best UGA can hope for is a trip to either the Outback or Peach Bowl.
TampaDawg
November 28th, 2011
2:11 pm
If CMR wins the national championship, Snoop would be on here talking about how he didn’t win the game by enough points. It really doesn’t matter what Mark Richt does, Snoopy Dawg will always want him fired. Get over it Snoopy, it ain’t gonna happen. Don’t like it? Too bad.
Jason
November 28th, 2011
2:12 pm
Unfortunately the commentators seem to be enamored with Saban and Miles. I think this is the biggest difference in the perceived bias on their part. I sometimes think that Mark is not accepted because of his quiet demeanor and frankly the lack of effort on the part of our SID in getting the message out about Mark and the program.
NC Mtn Dawg
November 28th, 2011
2:16 pm
I disagree w/ Charlie about LSU being loose, while UGA will be uptight. They have EVERYTHING to lose. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I agree with Georgia D that we have a better chance against Jefferson at QB. What I fear is us getting a 2 touchdown lead w/ Jefferson at QB, leading Miles to put Lee in to lead a comeback and win it at the end.
chilidawg
November 28th, 2011
2:23 pm
Altamaha, Mark May HATES the dawgs. Might have something to do with UGA keeping Pitt out of the national championship in ‘80 or ‘81, whenever it was. He has always poo-pooed the dawgs.
TampaDawg
November 28th, 2011
2:24 pm
@NC Mtn Dawg .. it has the chance of happening though. I saw the 14 points go up for Arkansas and that lead disappeared QUICK! But then again, Arkansas has no real mentionable defense (as if I expected one from a Bobby Petrino team).
Charlie Hayes
November 28th, 2011
2:24 pm
@ NC Mtn Dawg-
What does LSU have to lose? They are already a given in the NCG. Would you rather have a SEC Champ Trophy or the Crystal Ball? The only thing LSU has to lose is a perfect season mark. UGA has a lot more to lose in this game. A loss puts UGA in the Capitol One or Chick-F-Lay Bowl. A win puts us in the Sugar Bowl. A lot more riding on the line for UGA than LSU. This is why I said LSU can relax, play physical, fast and not worry about the outcome.
clint_atl
November 28th, 2011
2:33 pm
Dawg fans. For the past 3 weeks people have been talking about us and what happened in 2007. As much as I would have to agree I just don’t see the comparisons. In 2007, Ohio State was undefeated and therefore was going to play for the NC. The decision had to be made as to who would play against them. I understand that we were 4th going into that week and LSU was 7th and they jumped us. But for one second if we remove our UGA glasses and look from an outsiders perspective we may come to the same result. You had a 10-2 UGA team to compare to a 11-2 LSU team that was also a conference champ. If you could only pick one team from the SEC, then with LSU being conference champ and also having a better record 11-2 I think they would be the obvious choice. If the same scenario played out in the Big 12 or Big 10 we as SEC fans would be saying why isn’t the conference champ playing for the NC.
This year if LSU wins the conference championship they will be playing for the NC. The question now becomes who is the 2nd team to play. I agree in that I’m not a fan of a rematch but if not Bama then who. I could see Ok St, but definitely not Stanford or Va Tech. Stanford got manhandled by Oregon who was manhandled by LSU. No way for Stanford. Va tech got beat down by Clemson who just last week was beat down by USC. I don’t think Stanford or Va Tech are on the same level as LSU or Bama. Ok St maybe another story and if they beat Oklahoma then I say let them play LSU.
tony
November 28th, 2011
2:36 pm
The BCS is a Fraud!
Yep, the BCS cheated the dawgs in 07. I believe they will have a low tv rating if LSU and AL play for the NC. If 2 teams(TX/OK) from the Big 12 played for the NC I don’t think I would watch it.
War Dang Dawg
November 28th, 2011
2:37 pm
“Would you rather have a SEC Champ Trophy or the Crystal Ball?”
If I could only have one, I’d pick the SEC Champ Trophy. I’ll take a real title over a mythical title any day.
TampaDawg
November 28th, 2011
2:45 pm
@clint_atl
I hear ya, but keep in mind the team that played LSU when LSU won their first BCS title was Oklahoma. By all means, check out how they got in the title game.
KeepDreaming
November 28th, 2011
2:46 pm
The BCS is seriously LAME!
Dawg48
November 28th, 2011
2:48 pm
I love to to come on here and get depressed!
Wow. What a bunch of lackluster bulldog fans! Or at least two.
Restore UGA
November 28th, 2011
2:51 pm
Holy Mollee!
Les Miles is a good coach, and I am worried – but excited – for my dogs this weekend, but the man has a serious speech disability. Check out this interview from Sunday…
http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2011/11/transcript_of_les_miles_sunday.html
Restore UGA
November 28th, 2011
2:54 pm
followup to my posting of the Les Miles interview…. “Don’t judge a book by its cover!” People have different talents. I do horrible in job interviews, but I am a really good programmer and have always been an asset to my employers. I just think differently, so I do have compassion for old Les… just the same, that was a very hard transcript to read.
Restore UGA
November 28th, 2011
2:57 pm
@Dawg48,
“I love to to come on here and get depressed!
Wow. What a bunch of lackluster bulldog fans! Or at least two.:
It is our tradition. Larry Munson did it. Bill Dooley was the King of poor mouthing our team and talking up the other team… even if they were 50 point underdog “sisters of the poor”.
It is just our way. Play down expectations, and celebrate like we have killed Goliath if we pull of the victory!
UGA Alumnus
November 28th, 2011
2:59 pm
How ’bout them Dawgs!
boots
November 28th, 2011
3:05 pm
Bama had their shot and LOST. It is a terrible system that sets up a rematch of a game that just occured a couple of months ago. If OK State wins v. OK, it deserves to go over Bama. As a fan of the SEC, I want another SEC NC team, but we cannot twist logic and the system to get that done. Dawgs beat LSU and LSU still plays for and wins the NC.