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
Breaking News
December 5th, 2011
12:16 pm
This just in …… LSU just scored again!
Mama Crowell
December 5th, 2011
12:19 pm
Isaiah, I told you that dope would ruin you. What’s the matter with you??? As Dr. Phil would say, “What were you thinking?”
Mama Crowell
December 5th, 2011
12:20 pm
Synthetic dope = synthetic performance on the field.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
December 5th, 2011
12:21 pm
Mama C you know Isaiah ain’t never done no thinking.
Mark PRicht
December 5th, 2011
12:22 pm
Crowell hurt my feelings
Mama Crowell
December 5th, 2011
12:22 pm
I know. I shoulda whupped him when he was growing up. Oh, wait, he still hasn’t grown up.
really???
December 5th, 2011
12:23 pm
Honky Talkin -
We get it. Your position is that Georgia is a 2nd Tier team. I’m sorry that UGA hasn’t resorted to buying the services of players like Cam Newton. Like I said, everyone keeps knocking the Dawgs schedule this year. But you can only play the teams on your schedule. Thanks to the SEC’s rotational conference match-ups, the top three in the West were not on Georgia’s slate in 2011. Georgia still had to play South Carolina, still had to play at Tennessee, still had the game with Florida, and still went to Georgia Tech. On top of that, Georgia dropped a home-and-home with Louisville to get an opening week match with Boise State. Did ‘Bama willingly schedule Boise State? No, huh? Every team in the country schedules cupcake games. These games are basically off-weeks for your starters to prepare for big conference games. But as I also said, apparently people wanted UGA to schedule LSU, ‘Bama, and Arky as non-conference contests when it became apparent that those teams weren’t on Georgia’s schedule this season.
Honky Talkin
December 5th, 2011
12:23 pm
Had UGA had a legitimate chance of beating LSU, fans wouldn’t be criticized. Your delusional thinking that you can match up with a top-tier SEC team is why people are making fun of UGA. Your 10 game win streak was against 8 teams without a winning record. You beat Florida…so did 5 other teams. You beat Tenn….so did 6 other teams.
Accept your irrelevence and mediocrity.
JDawg1785
December 5th, 2011
12:24 pm
I guess “demeaner” is a Big Ten word as well.
beanster
December 5th, 2011
12:24 pm
I am surprised that USCe tix would outsell UGA in the minds of the bowls. Especially on New Year’s Weekend in FL. I have a hard time believing they travel better than the Dawgs.
Comway Twitty
December 5th, 2011
12:24 pm
Crowell = this year’s Pulpwood Smith
2012
December 5th, 2011
12:24 pm
Lsu will return almost everyone. Bama will be strong next year too. Don’t be surprised if the same thing happens again with bama and lsu. Ga? Back to a 4 loss season reg season.
1997Alum
December 5th, 2011
12:25 pm
Guys… If you read CMR lips he told Crowell to go sit down. Not a Crowell fan, but just sayin he did not turn his back on Richt.
SLOBBERKNOCKER
December 5th, 2011
12:25 pm
Isabel Crowell, Princess Crowell, however you frame it he’s a girly man, no doubt. Somebod wrote he came to school out of shape. Shouldn’t that tell you something right off the bat? Surely he’s in shape now, the shape of a big giant Va JJ. Looking forward to next year. Crowell is going to be that fastest janitor at Clarke County Public Schools in a couple of years.
AltamahaAlibi
December 5th, 2011
12:26 pm
At least we finished fifth in our conference. That’s good enough for me.
CMR
December 5th, 2011
12:26 pm
Isabel is a fine young man and will bring a lot to our team next year.
Mark PRicht
December 5th, 2011
12:27 pm
Richt is a bigger girly man than IC for taking his crap
Athens Po Po
December 5th, 2011
12:28 pm
I suspect we will be picking up Isable for slinging dope very soon.
robodawg
December 5th, 2011
12:28 pm
I’d love to return to the Cotton. But not in a year when the opponent is Kansas State. Michigan State is just fine with me, certainly better than Purdue or Boston College or Hawaii or a directional school. At least we got a matchup we can look forward to.
Too bad for Boise. Wish they had stayed perfect and gone into one of the BCS bowls, they can hang with a lot of teams and deserve a solid opponent.
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
12:29 pm
Apparently there is nothing to discuss on the Tech blog today except Walmart and fish frys. I’m not surprised
DIT
December 5th, 2011
12:30 pm
“Apparently there is nothing to discuss on the Tech blog today except Walmart and fish frys. I’m not surprised.”
Tech Who??
Red&Black
December 5th, 2011
12:30 pm
GA Tech in the sun bowl. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fred
December 5th, 2011
12:31 pm
The Dawgs finished the year like they started it. Uninspired, undisciplined, and apathetic. At the 12 minute mark in the 3rd quarter they had already quit and were (in their minds) back in Athens chasing their girlfriends……….
Does it really matter WHAT bowl we go to? They’ll play the same, 2 quarters and done.
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
12:31 pm
The BCS has certainly stepped to a new low. Any year the entitlements of Alabama get a mulligan for a NC game something is bad wrong
Joey
December 5th, 2011
12:32 pm
UGA is 2nd tier?
How big are your tiers, Honky? If you have 10 teams per tier, you’re about right . . .
War Dang Dawg
December 5th, 2011
12:32 pm
In the Bizarro BCS World, Alabama, a team that didn’t win its division or conference and lost to LSU, will be crowned national champs if they win the rematch and finish 12-1. LSU, a team that went undefeated, won its division and conference, beat Alabama on the road, and can finish no worse than 13-1, will not be national champs if they lose to Bama by a skinny point in January.
Oklahoma State, a team with an identical record to Alabama and at least as hard a schedule, has no shot at even a split championship. Even though THEY are conference champs and even if they win the Fiesta Bowl in a blowout.
And instead of playing in the Sugar Bowl or some other traditional major bowl, we now have a “BCS Championship Game” that isn’t affiliated with any of the major bowls, placing those other bowls in a second-tier status.
And this “system” is better than what we had before?
Joey
December 5th, 2011
12:32 pm
Ga Tech is 4th tier.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
December 5th, 2011
12:33 pm
ARdawg then you are too dumb to read if that is what you think. Most of the Tech already discused the blog and not it is full of UGA trolls.
1997Alum
December 5th, 2011
12:34 pm
Herby said using the “eyeball test” Crowell was the best runnig back in the country this year… We should never use statistics or who really earned it.
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
12:35 pm
Stillthebar
The Tech blog can’t be, all your trolls are here
Isabel Crowell
December 5th, 2011
12:35 pm
My boo boo really hurts. Ya’ll got any medical dope I can have?
DIT
December 5th, 2011
12:35 pm
@Still@theKool-aidBAR
Are you heading to the Sun Bowl?
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
12:35 pm
Of course, how much discussion can one make over the Sunbowl *snicker*
some sense
December 5th, 2011
12:36 pm
CMR and CMB can’t run their offense w/out a reliable tailback, and Georgia hasn’t had one for three years.
Dawgsgone
December 5th, 2011
12:36 pm
I love the Dawgs and will always support them no matter what but can anyone explain why after 2 of 3 losses this year are directly related to special teams play we will go into 2012 without a special teams coach?? Give LSU credit they are a great team and really handled us in the second half but the Dawgs gave them all they could handle in the first half.
beanster
December 5th, 2011
12:37 pm
HT– Did you watch the 1st half? I did. UGA wasted 2 easy TDs and could have easily been 24-0 instead of 10-7.
LSU did not have one first down in the 1st half. Say whatever you want but that is anything but mediocre and IMO opinion makes them relevant when that was performed against one of the more dominant college football teams in recent memory.
The best talent on the team is very young and we got outmanned in the 2nd half and plainly whipped. No Dawg fan denies that. If we had a running game it may have been a different story but we don’t so the score got lopsided. But if you watched the game, talent for talent, UGA was right there with LSU and only when we began to defeat ourselves and their depth overwhelmed us were we beaten.
That’s what I am happy about today as a Dawg fan. Not sure who you root for, but there are few teams out there who have as much potential as UGA does for 2012. Should be another exciting season. It’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog.
Obb Sir Vation
December 5th, 2011
12:37 pm
Todd Grantham is a physco and should be locked up.
Honky Talkin
December 5th, 2011
12:37 pm
@Joey. UGA is not in the same conversation as LSU and Alabama. Tech fans are realistic on their expectations.
Arkansas and South Carolina will get better, and UGA will remain a dissapointment. UGA is the 5th SEC team in the BCS.
robodawg
December 5th, 2011
12:38 pm
A true Dawg fan will not make fun of or belittle a player. Fine if you want to criticize someone’s play or someone’s decisions, but if you’re just poking fun or making jokes about their mama, then you’re an embarrassment (or maybe a fan of another team in disguise).
When Crowell comes back faster, stronger and wiser next season, ripping off 15 and 20 yard runs, I’ll be cheering as loud as the rest of the Dawg nation.
Obb Sir Vation
December 5th, 2011
12:39 pm
Grantham – bloody lip. Erk Russell – bloody head. I wouldn’t want the DC job at UGAG
Still@theKool-aidBAR
December 5th, 2011
12:39 pm
ARdawg more than the SEC championship game. How many ways can you blame the Refs, Bobo, and Crowell?
DIT
December 5th, 2011
12:39 pm
“Tech fans are realistic on their expectations.”
Now that’s a good one. I suppose that shows when they say that they will beat UGA every year. Get a clue dude.
really???
December 5th, 2011
12:40 pm
Honky Talkin -
Georgia consistently recruits well (not mentioning how those recruits turn out, just that they recruit well), Georgia always draws good crowds to bowl games, Georgia merchandise always sells well, over the last decade, more often than not, Georgia has been ranked to start the season and to end the season. But you’re right, they are mediocre at best and completely irrelevant. I hear they’re so irrelevant that the ACC is considering inviting them to join the conference.
Trolls are idiots
December 5th, 2011
12:40 pm
Rumors of ‘Failing out of school’ are absurd. Do you mean probation?UGA’s probation policy says…’Students will be subject to dismissal from the University for academic reasons after two successive terms on probation.’ Impossible for a first semester student.
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
12:41 pm
beanster
In the 2nd half actually, in the 2nd qtr, LSU figured out we had no run game and they quit trying to defend it thus the increased pressure on Murray and the double coverage on the receivers. Paid big for them
Still@theKool-aidBAR
December 5th, 2011
12:41 pm
DIT…………no……….Spend my money on Christmas.
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
12:42 pm
Stillthebar
Perhaps you should direct those comments to someone whom they would apply?
WindyCity
December 5th, 2011
12:43 pm
Here we go again, I knew somebody on this blog would start talking about UGA and next year. UGA FANS, your nickname is “NextYear” and will always be “NextYear”. Some UGA fans think next year will abe their year, next year!!!!!!!!!…………….
Next year, we(uga) are gonna be good!!!!!!!!…………NEXT YEAR
DIT
December 5th, 2011
12:43 pm
Sad for the “teek” trolls on here because they had to wait 10 games to come out in droves to make fun of a UGA loss. Enjoy it while you can because we all know what happens to “teek” during bowl games. The Big “L”. Remind me, what is Moobs record in bowl games at “teek”?
Isabel Crowell
December 5th, 2011
12:43 pm
Ouchy, ouchy. Mama, my boo boo hurts really bad