Georgia fared pretty well in illogical world of bowl pairings
“The first man gets the oyster, the second man gets the shell.” — Andrew Carnegie
“Nobody remembers who came in second.” — Charles Schulz
The SEC no longer allows the loser of its championship game to plummet to a third-tier bowl and Mark Richt’s Dawgs weren’t exactly forgotten as the team that finished No. 2 in the conference this season.
But it’s one of those typical quirks of the crazy world of college football that the SEC runner-up Dawgs and the No. 6 team in the BCS, Arkansas, both were passed over by the Capitol One Bowl in favor of South Carolina, which finished behind Georgia in the SEC East. Of course, the Gamecocks are ranked higher in the polls than Georgia and their fans are known for buying up all the bowl tickets they can get their hands on.
Another oddity: While getting pasted in the second half of the SEC championship apparently knocked Georgia down a notch in the bowl pairings, the ACC runner-up, Virginia Tech, managed to crack the BCS (also on the basis of its well-traveling fan base) despite suffering a similar loss in its championship game.
And, of course, Alabama, which didn’t even make its conference championship game, gets to play for the BCS national title. Basically, the only way making the SEC championship game helps you is if you win it.
One other bowl note: Georgia ended up with a much more prestigious postseason game than Boise State, the team that got the Dawgs’ season off to such a poor start. The Broncos, who only had one regular season loss, will be in the pre-Christmas Las Vegas Bowl.
I actually was hoping Georgia would end up returning to Dallas, where it’s still 10 to 9, but after getting blown out in the second half Saturday Tampa seemed the inevitable destination. The Cotton always prefers an SEC West team for ticket sales and probably would have gone with Georgia only if the SEC game with LSU had been a nail-biter. Which is fine; the Cotton and Outback are on equal footing and both are traditional New Year’s Day bowls (post-New Year’s this year). Plus, with Arkansas and Kansas State, the Cotton gets to match two Top 10 teams, which makes sense.
Also, in Michigan State, Georgia gets a higher ranked opponent than South Carolina, who will play Nebraska, which ranks a couple of spots behind Georgia in the coaches’ poll. And it seems fitting to match the runners-up in the SEC and Big 10 in a bowl game.
While the Spartans are higher ranked in the human polls, Georgia finished just ahead of Michigan State in the final BCS rankings at No. 16. It’s interesting that the human polls, where emotion and perception rule, all had the Dawgs falling to No. 18 (where even their own coach ranked them in the coaches’ poll) while they finished higher in the BCS thanks to the computer rankings, whose detached crunching of the numbers placed Georgia at No. 12.
Georgia and Michigan State look to be a pretty good match, with both having highly ranked defenses and occasionally prolific offenses.
The weekend might not have ended with sugar falling out of the sky like we dreamed, but this year’s bowl picture is certainly a lot brighter for Georgia than the past couple. I’m pleased. How about you?
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740 comments Add your comment
Neutral
December 5th, 2011
11:51 am
Samuel is a DGD!!!
cassie
December 5th, 2011
11:51 am
Boise, OK State, Stanford, those are weenie teams, all of which would get crushed by LSU or Bama. SEC dominates because they are the best teams, period
Perish the Thought!
December 5th, 2011
11:52 am
If you think that we’ll ever shut up about Honey Badger’s kick return, then you just haven’t been paying attention to the fact that we are still whining about not winning the NC in 2007 despite our pathetic losses to South Carolina and Tennessee.
When will you ever learn?
Dawgman566
December 5th, 2011
11:52 am
I think MSU will be tough. SC is getting it easier with Nebraska.
DIT
December 5th, 2011
11:53 am
Y’all, it’s clear and 80 degrees here in Tampa today. Come on down and enjoy a BullDawg victory in warm weather. While down here go to Shepherd’s in Clearwater for a beautiful sunset!
Go Dawgs!
The Real BCS
December 5th, 2011
11:54 am
In the Real BCS, the only rankings that matter are the first two. The others, we couldn’t care less about.
P_The_Ricker
December 5th, 2011
11:56 am
I’d be pleased if I saw more hutson mason and less aaron murray!
has anyone ever seen murray throw to a 2nd option wr down field? the answer, no.
munsondawg
December 5th, 2011
11:56 am
@Neutral,
I agree with you. I’ve been twice to the Outback Bowl. Had fun. I plan on being there this time.
Honky Talkin
December 5th, 2011
11:57 am
At least the conversation of “IF” Georgia beats LSU is over. Dawg fans are delusional about their mediocre 2nd tier team.
DP
December 5th, 2011
11:57 am
Alabama beat a 1 loss co-champion of the Big 10 Michigan State team 49-7 last year in the Capitol One bowl. Let’s see how Georgia does against a 3 loss Michigan State team this year.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
December 5th, 2011
11:58 am
It is all the Refs and RUSS’ fault.
beebee
December 5th, 2011
11:58 am
Alabama is really better than LSU.
Upsets happen. And it did on Nov. 5. Bama had this team in chains, but somehow freaked out in the end.
Stop being so jealous that the Tide is so good!
tidog
December 5th, 2011
11:59 am
UGA was beat by a better team plain and simple. LSU came out the 2nd half and proved to all watching and playing that they were who we thought they were, the best team in the land. Don’t boo hoo on Crowell, King, Mitchell, Murray etc. LSU is better.
COACHDAWG2000
December 5th, 2011
11:59 am
ALL YOU PILING ON CROWELL SHOULD: A.GET A LIFE !HE IS AN 18 YEAR OLD KID!
B. HE IS INJURED(CRACKED RIBS,SPRAINED KNEE,INJURED ANKLE). I HOPE ALLOF YOU IDIOTS DON’T RUN OFF ANOTHER TAILBACK. WE DO NEED DEPTH AT TAILBACK BUT CROWELL SHOULD BE A BEAST AGAIN NEXT YEAR. THEN YOU’LL ALL BE BUYING HIS JERSEY AND TALIKING ABOUT HIM BEING THE BEST RB IN THE SEC.
RealDawg
December 5th, 2011
12:00 pm
@Shut Up…based on the last Sagarin strength of schedule, Georgia had the 27th toughest strength of schedule. If your aunt had balls she would be your uncle. We played every team on our schedule just like we do every year. So, it is our fault that FL, AU and TN sucked this year (with like 28 SEC titles between them)? Our “weekest schedule” had us play 3 teams that finished in the final top 10 in the BCS and yes those were all of our losses. There were roughly 80+ D1 teams with an easier schedule.
Joey
December 5th, 2011
12:00 pm
Techies calling UGA “mediocre.”
So what does tha Tech, who got trounced by UGA?
A lot worse than mediocre . . .
Mr Phoenix
December 5th, 2011
12:01 pm
If LSU looses to Alabama, will they grant Les Miles a chance to play them again?
What a screwed up system.
I thought the championship within the conferences would eliminate this confusion.
Alabama had their chance and lost. OKS needs to play LSU for the championship.
tidog
December 5th, 2011
12:02 pm
Thank you COACHDAWG 2000
Richt`s Hammer
December 5th, 2011
12:02 pm
Oh please give me my new 3 year contract before Michigan State puts 50 on us.
Did you see me throw my purse at Isiah. That showed him who was boss dawg…
DIT
December 5th, 2011
12:02 pm
Samuel will be totting(no pun intended) the rock in Tampa. He tasted how to run well during the UF game and wants more. I predict a huge game for him.
I’d like to see more of Mason myself, but have not totally given up on Murray. 32 or 33 TD’s is nothing to sneeze at.
JDawg1785
December 5th, 2011
12:03 pm
Tampa is a great place to spend New Year’s! Hope the Dawgs head down there focused and ready to roll on them Spartans. Go Dawgs!
Honky Talkin
December 5th, 2011
12:04 pm
@Joey: Tech fans keep their expectations realistic. UGA is like Notre Dame…they can’t accept their irrelevance.
really???
December 5th, 2011
12:05 pm
@ Honky Talkin -
You’re right. I now see the error of my ways. UGA sucks so badly that I’m drafting a letter to my congressman as we speak to move that the US Constitution be amended so as to shut down the University of Georgia and any associated universities. Also, in the letter, I’m stating that UGA should vacate all 2011 victories because the schedule was too dang easy. These wins would be allowed if Georgia had retroactively scheduled LSU, Alabama, and ARkansas as non-conference road games the moment Georgia realized none of those teams were on the schedule. I’m also asking that all UGA football players be immediately arrested without charge and held in contempt. Does that make you feel better?
Dalton
December 5th, 2011
12:06 pm
Bama might beat LSU in this game (at a neutral site), but everybody knows that they lost AT HOME to LSU already this year. Tide is lucky to be in the NC game. They are a great, great team. But, they didn’t do what it took to win their division or their conference. Shouldn’t be playing for NC. That’s like saying,”well, the Braves didn’t beat the teams they had to beat to get into the wild card or win the division, but let’s let them play in the World Series anyway.”
Sometimes the great teams lose, too. And Bama lost to LSU AT HOME when it mattered. Sorry.
dawgfacedboy
December 5th, 2011
12:06 pm
UGA got a better bowl because it played a legit schedule. I’ve heard Crowell wont’ be back.
Buckeye
December 5th, 2011
12:07 pm
6-6 Ohio State plays at 1PM on Jan 2.
9-3 dogs play at 1PM on Jan 2.
No one outside the state of Georgia and Mchigan will watch the dogs.
Conclusion: dogs are a second tier program.
dawgfacedboy
December 5th, 2011
12:07 pm
If Bama wins are they going to share the title?? I mean, how can Bama be crowned NC if they split with LSU???
UGA81
December 5th, 2011
12:08 pm
DIT Samuels will be counting rocks during the game? Amazing!
Desert Fox
December 5th, 2011
12:08 pm
Havn’t recovered yet from the LSU beatdown to get excited about another rematch with Mich St. What do we have to look forward except more of Mike Bobo and what controversy at UGA will precede the game?
I bet there would be more excitement generated by GA Boise St rematch. Boise got shafted in the
bow(e)ls. Not to belittle Mich St, they’re a good team and will challenge a mentally challenged Bobo’s up the middle w/a 5′ 6″, 160lb bulldozer. Of course I’m exaggerating, yet, that potential still exists w/GA’s woes at the RB position.
Will root for the dawgs to win no matter where or who they play, and Bobo’s playcalling. GA’s seniors deserve to go out winners. They’re a good group.
PMC
December 5th, 2011
12:08 pm
I just hope at some point the horrible worthless bowl system is completely obliterated.
The Bowls are corrupt worthless relics, ALL OF THEM.
robodawg
December 5th, 2011
12:08 pm
Hello people. Bill got it right. UGA finished No. 2 in the conference, that means runner-up for the conference title. It doesn’t mean we’re the second-best team, which I would have to give to Bama.
ozzfest
December 5th, 2011
12:08 pm
I WOULD HAVE SPENT $2000 AND PAID TO SEE THE DOGS PLAY NEBRASKA, AS WE HAVE NOT PLAYED THEM IN MY LIFETIME.
I WILL NOT SPEND $1 TO TRAVEL TO SEE SPARTY.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT….AND THEY SUCK.
PMC
December 5th, 2011
12:09 pm
If Crowell isn’t back, I’m not sure anyone would care.
Maybe the next back will actually pay attention and be able to pick up a Blitz.
Another talented player, going nowhere. The guy is not motivated in the least, he can go kick rocks.
DawgsFan
December 5th, 2011
12:11 pm
Georgia #1 HS RB from Stephensontalking about UGA. Davis said. “It’s a good school. If they called, I would listen to what they had to say.” Please call today…….. Crowell hit the bricks and take your attitude with you.
Buckeye
December 5th, 2011
12:11 pm
Isiah, No longer the Annointed One II, is getting a bum wrap. Never mind the suspension for purportedly ( look it up dogs, that’s a Big 10 word) failing a drug test. If his ankle is sprained, his ankle is sprained. No excuse, however for his (lack of) sideline demeaner vs. the perennial SEC! SEC! power Kentucky.
munsondawg
December 5th, 2011
12:11 pm
@Buckeye,
Dawgs are 10-3. Not 9-3.
Honky Talkin
December 5th, 2011
12:11 pm
@really?? You won’t have to ask for the players to be arrested. CMR can’t even control Crowell, much less the thugs he’s recruiting.
UGA81
December 5th, 2011
12:11 pm
ozzfest , Amen, the dogs should hang 50+ on MS.
Joe Friday
December 5th, 2011
12:12 pm
Just the Facts:
UGA won 10 games in 2011
UGA won the Eastern Division and did in fact play in the SEC Championship Game
UGA beat UT, Gators, Auburn and Tech
Good year, keep it going in 2012
Hey Dawgs Fans...
December 5th, 2011
12:12 pm
at least we wore our regular jerseys cause if wouldve wore something else, the fans wouldve blamed the jerseys for losin…..
DP
December 5th, 2011
12:13 pm
LSU-Georgia highlights. Take a look at Rambo’s (lack of) effort on the TD run by Blue that starts at 3:07.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjT39LXAzrM
Joey
December 5th, 2011
12:13 pm
Miss State. UT. Vandy. UK. UF. What do these football teams have in common?
They all had down seasons in 2011, yet gave UGA a tougher game than Ga Tech.
Jeff
December 5th, 2011
12:13 pm
Who cares where teams are “ranked”. They picked sc because they beat ga and they are a good seller. You can say you’re the second place team but everyone knows you’re more like 5th. It took sc having to play Ark for you to get in. At least your qb gets to sleep in his own bed. That should bode well. lol
Joe Friday
December 5th, 2011
12:13 pm
Soon to be Fact;
Ohio State will be on Probation Mr. Buckeye
Honky Talkin
December 5th, 2011
12:14 pm
What’s the excuse going to be when UGA loses to Mich. St? Bobo’s play calling? CMR lack of discipline? Crowell’s attitude?
Georgia is a mediocre 2nd tier team. Get used to it Dawgnation.
Joe Friday
December 5th, 2011
12:14 pm
DP;
Why don’t you put on a helmet and take care of Mr. Rambo for us. So you know how to look into players hearts now?
Joe Friday
December 5th, 2011
12:15 pm
Honky Talkin:
What team do you follow? Don’t tell me LSU.
Red&Black
December 5th, 2011
12:15 pm
If GA wants to toughen up their schedule, GA TECH would be the first team the Dawgs dropped.
AltamahaDawg
December 5th, 2011
12:16 pm
I’ve never seen a coach get as much praise for having back-to-back best team in the country finishing 3rd in his division, as Saban.
Dalton
December 5th, 2011
12:16 pm
@Joe…very well said! GO DAWGS!