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?
Got a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
Find me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
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
740 comments Add your comment
this dawg want hunt!!
December 5th, 2011
1:12 pm
Bayou, the LSU fans i was sitting near would disagree with you. Besides if i’m not mistaken UGA held your powerhouse offense to zero 1st downs in the 1st half, and 234 yards for the game which is less than mighty Bama could do. And Arky. please, they have no defense at all. If not for 2 dropped t.d passes in 1st half, UGA would have put 21 on your overrated defense. UGA still managed 300 yards of offense against your defense. Something mighy bama couldnt do. If if weren’t for special teams, which UGA gave u 2 tds, and an easy fumble recovery at UGA 20, LSU would have been lucky to score 17. Like i said the knowledgable LSU fans that saw how their offense was getting manhandled in 1st half, though UGA was the real deal. We will see you next year, if your Q.B. that got kicked out of UGA can get you back to the dome. Says all you need to know about what lengths LSU and Bama will do to win. Win at all costs will catch up with you soon. LSU is a disgrace to the SEC, and they will take any player to win, even one that gets kicked out of school by another SEC team
Nom Nom Nom Chuck's Taylor, or Norris if he is avaliable
December 5th, 2011
1:12 pm
Wow Voodoo, I bet he removes you soon……ballsy.
JDawg1785
December 5th, 2011
1:13 pm
Funny stuff, Bad Dawg. Now, if only Crowell could boast that he had four touchdowns in one game!
Vince Dooley
December 5th, 2011
1:13 pm
I wish my Dawgs could be relevant again. 1980 seems so long ago.
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
1:13 pm
beanster
Rather than just running a hapless Thomas or Harton into that that brick wall of LSU and exposing our lack of run ability, we could have been handing off to those big FBs and pounding them right back. Figgins and Big Tree would have garnered a good bit more respect. Even if it was only 5-6 yards at a time. Would have allowed the passing game to soften up
ho hum
December 5th, 2011
1:14 pm
I especially liked the Boykin “stop” in the last quarter.
Voodoo Negro
December 5th, 2011
1:14 pm
Like I was saying………..major block in the back on the punt return score……….this crap is so corrupt!
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
1:14 pm
Of course they would have to “catch” the passes thrown but, I digress
Sam
December 5th, 2011
1:14 pm
Crowell=Pulpwood Smith…
Out Back Bowl = Grand pa’s out-house!
Boise and UGA
December 5th, 2011
1:14 pm
neither team beat anyone of importance – so by way of head to head matchup – Boise should be in Tampa, and UGA in Vegas
Georgia Tech 98
December 5th, 2011
1:15 pm
UGA was #2 in the SEC?
What world are you living in that UGA ranks as #2?
LSU, Alabama, Arkansas and South Carolina rank higher that UGA.
Nevertheless, #5 in the SEC still rates higher that #1 in the ACC.
Even I have to admit that ACC football is second rate.
By the way, Mark Richt is a class coach. Too bad I can’t say the same for UGA fans.
DawginLex
December 5th, 2011
1:15 pm
honky talkin
you are welcome
We have 9 starters returning on defense and plenty of young players that played a lot
Our future is bright whether you want to admit it or not.
Gotta get some running backs and some more linemen.
6-7 to 10-3
I expect improvement in 2012
Won’t surprise me to see McGarity mandate a change in OC and get bobo moved back to QB coach and recruiter.
Grantham knows what to do, he just needs more players and an offense with a running game to help keep them off the field.
True Dawg
December 5th, 2011
1:15 pm
stinkin Michst! we always get stuck playing the middle of the road big 10 teams! NEbraska would have been alot better and also Ok state got screwed
JD
December 5th, 2011
1:15 pm
Georgia will never be seen as a top tier team until they start beating good teams which can start in the Outback Bowl this season. Georgia has no wins against any teams currently ranked in the AP top 25 this season. They had no wins vs the teams who finished in the top 25 in 2009. Only 1 in 2008 vs Tech and only 1 in 2007 against Michigan St. in the bowl game. Their combined record vs teams that were good enough to finish the season in the AP top 25 over the past 4 seasons is 2-12 by my quick count and that is nowhere near top tier.
HeeHawDawg
December 5th, 2011
1:17 pm
I was born in Saginaw, Michigan.
I grew up in a house on Saginaw Bay.
My dad was a poor hard working Saginaw fisherman:
Too many times he came home with too little pay.
PressCoverGuy
December 5th, 2011
1:17 pm
Murray gonna lay an egg like he did in last Bowl game.
2 interceptions, 0 td’s.
Choke.
Sam
December 5th, 2011
1:18 pm
UGA has no brand…Coach Richt is to good for the sorry dawgs.
GulfShoresDawg
December 5th, 2011
1:18 pm
Been to the Cap 1 bowl and very glad we got the Outback this year…right near Clearwater/St. Pete Beaches! I love it!! Go Dawgs! And congrats to LSU…SEC rules! all the whiners get a life this is college football not a family member w/cancer…let’s put it in perspective, this is entertainment, now enjoy the process and the game…someone will always lose, it’s a 50-50 deal…just sayin….
DawginLex
December 5th, 2011
1:18 pm
yeah presscoveridiot, that was Murray’s fault that we dropped 2 TD’s and had no running game
Voodoo Negro
December 5th, 2011
1:18 pm
JD……..You do really have that much faith in the ranking system……..you kook?
Bayou Bengal
December 5th, 2011
1:19 pm
Hey this dog want hunt, what was the final score? HAHAHA. UGA always been second rate and that’s not changing. When did you win your National Cahmpionship? The Carter Administration? Losers. It’s always coulda woulda shoulda and see you next year with UGA. HAHAHAHA
Coach Vince "Coke Head" Dooley
December 5th, 2011
1:20 pm
Things were a lot easier for me when I was coaching. I could always suspend players after to bowl game when they were not longer academically eligible. I could make arrangement for players to be provided vehicles, drugs, money and even bonded out of jail without anyone asking questions.
Jan Kemp, coke and the ladies almost destroyed me.
Dawg Pound
December 5th, 2011
1:20 pm
GA could go 14-0 and some people would still Bi#$% about something. Dont like GA football or the way they play? Go somewhere else or find a different hobby..We dont need you.
Sam
December 5th, 2011
1:20 pm
Lex, who you gone blame..Bobo and the coaches..
Voodoo Negro
December 5th, 2011
1:21 pm
Oklahoma was preseason #1………JD………how’d that work out PAL?
Dr. Morpheus
December 5th, 2011
1:21 pm
Does anyone care what the haters post? I just ignore them so they don’t get any satisfaction from being reprimanded. Georgia has a chance to beat a ranked opponent and end their season on a positive note. I look for the Dawgs to rebound from a bizarre game in which nothing worked their way and create positive karma for 2012. Real Dawgs are on the bus.
Dr. Phil
December 5th, 2011
1:22 pm
It is next to impossible for players admitted to Georgia in remedial programs to flunk out in one semester. Crowell is more likely to get his feelings hurt over Richt’s flirtation with replacement running backs and just leave, waiting for some other program to come calling, which might be Jacksonville State or some two-year school. Or, Crowell might cut his hair and enlist in the Marine Corps, but the Marine Corps is pretty strict on failed drug tests.
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
1:23 pm
Dr Morpheus
No I just ignore them. I don’t feed the trolls
Raiderbeater
December 5th, 2011
1:23 pm
Hey bengal….we destroyed Miss St…..what schedule you looking at?
dawgfan
December 5th, 2011
1:23 pm
Tech fans, please take your big fat mouths to a blog that discusses Utah Utes football or the Sun Bowl. We could absolutely care less what you think about UGA football. Your schtick is tired and played out. We get it. You think we’re overrated. YAWN. We just played the #1 team in the country and lost. When was the last time your pile of crap football program played the #1 team in the country? Once again, Tech fans like to act tough and run their mouths about how UGA didn’t do this and can’t do that, as if their pile of horse crap program could do any better. I seem to remember the Joke By Coke MAKING RINGS because they were playing 7-5 LSU in the Dome and then proceeding to get their azzes kicked up and down the field by them, but we’re supposed to feel bad about losing to them when they are undefeated? Could you Tech fans be any more unbelievably stupid than you already are? I seriously doubt it.
The only thing that’s a bigger joke than Georgia Tech football is its fans.
Thanks.
Little Kirby Not So Smart
December 5th, 2011
1:24 pm
When is UGA going to give me a call?
I’ve got to get out of Alabama.
I’m tried of doing all of the work and Saban taking all of the credit.
OutHouse Bowl
December 5th, 2011
1:24 pm
Two mid tier programs….. UGA vs Mich. State
Woof Woof
December 5th, 2011
1:26 pm
@Outhouse,
It’s gonna be fun too! Money says you will be watching it.
DawginLex
December 5th, 2011
1:26 pm
Sam
You need to type in sentences that folks can understand.
I’m not blaming anyone
We lost to a better team. A team that had more depth, especially on the lines of scrimmage and had a running game where we had none.
We played with them the 1st half and blew opportunities to score.
The 2nd half, the lack of depth and the lack of a running game made us one dimensional
Stevie wonder could see it coming and Joe Montana would not have made a difference. No running game = disaster
I just said that I would not be surprised if McGarity, who is about championships, decides to mandate a change in OC but keep Bobo on the staff.
Just an opinion
Why don’t you grow up and try and have an actual conversation instead of spewing venom??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Scraping Teeth!
December 5th, 2011
1:26 pm
To bad both teams in the NC game can not lose. This is what cheating gets you, a NC game. Both teams have oversigned for years and not played by the rules. That will change starting this season, 25 max. LSU 24 BAMA 10
UGA will beat MSU and will land KM, no worries.
UGA will own the EAST for the next several season and the haters will have heart attacks.
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
1:26 pm
The GT Sunbowl blog is exhausted after 5 pages. 3 of those were some Tech trolls dressed up like UGA fans
dawgfan
December 5th, 2011
1:27 pm
please ignore anything i post since i am a complete moron
Dawg Food
December 5th, 2011
1:27 pm
woof woof,
Good one!!! A lot of these Dawg hating moron posters will be watching that game.
AltamahaDawg
December 5th, 2011
1:27 pm
McGarity is going to mandate that Richt demotes one of his staff? You really believe that? Especially one that did an pretty admirable job on the way to complete turnaround season.
O-my
December 5th, 2011
1:28 pm
If I don’t like dawgs I’m a GT fan….how stupid you are!
Honky Talkin
December 5th, 2011
1:28 pm
@Dawgpound: GA CAN”T go 14-0 so you have nothing to worry about.
DawginLex
December 5th, 2011
1:29 pm
altamaha
I see a glaring weakness in our OC as compared to our DC.
It is an opinion.
won’t be surprised either way: Status Quo or change
WDE
December 5th, 2011
1:29 pm
@OutHouse Bowl either team would pound your team into mush…
Reggie Ball
December 5th, 2011
1:29 pm
is this blog still reserved for grown men that live in their parent’s basement and dream about their first date and first job?
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
1:30 pm
BTW for you Murray bashers earlier, he can only pass it, he can’t throw and catch it down field. Murray played well, not the best for Murray but well. Losing that game was a concerted effort of the whole team, coaches included. The picks were a bit concerning but the fumble was trying to make chicken salad out of chicken s.h.i.t
Scraping Teeth!
December 5th, 2011
1:30 pm
Did Tech make a bowel this year? Please keep CPJ at TECH!!!!!!
BTW, Muskrat has a bailing problem down there. Nobody wants to play for the guy.
Barbara, your son is not the coach you thought he was. Sorry
duronimo
December 5th, 2011
1:30 pm
MIchigan State has a good football team. Let me see. Georgia doesn’t beat good football teams ….. Georgia usually plays only 1/2 of a game. Wonder who will win? By the way Christianity and football are mutually exclusive. WHen RIcht’s players (like Bowden’s) break the rules, or don’t playh hard Richt wants them to know that he still loves them. Christianity says that an individual is more important than a football game. Do you think Saban or Miles would coddle players, placing their individual growth ahead of what’s best for the team? Do ever see one of their teams play 1/2 a football game repeatedly?
really???
December 5th, 2011
1:31 pm
Georgia defeated teams that were ranked. It isn’t Georgia’s fault that those teams couldn’t hold on to their ranking. In fact, that’s darn subjective to begin with, since ranking are based not on how a team plays, but how popular a team is. College football is the only sport to crown a champion based on a popularity contest rather than actuall gameplay. If NASCAR used the college football system Dale Earnhardt Jr. would be the champ every year. If baseball used the college football system, The Red Sox or Yankees would be champs every year. Kinda dumb, huh?
PeterMoylan
December 5th, 2011
1:32 pm
I’ve had enough of the Blob 10 vs SEC match-ups. 49-7, 52-14, and 37-24. That’s how competitive the games were last season. Give us some Big 12 vs. SEC or Pac 12 vs. SEC. The Chick-Fil-A bowl is more exciting than any of the “better” New Years bowl games. Hell, the Independence bowl was more entertaining.
PressCoverGuy
December 5th, 2011
1:33 pm
Ignore Pollyanna poster who don’t want to accept reality to make the team better.
Murray just threw 2 interceptions, and coughed up a fumble, the team lost by 38.
It was atrocious.
Changes need to be made.