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
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
2:38 pm
BigTimeTECHFan
December 5th, 2011
2:33 pm
That LSU team tech played was not as good as this years team
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Great comment.
No more Kool-Aid
December 5th, 2011
2:40 pm
The brand of football played by teams like LSU and Alabama (and until recently Florida) is completely different than that played by UGA. These teams do not make multiple, stupid, costly mistakes in almost every big game they play. They do not play down to their competition. They play their own brand of football and usually the other team suffers. As long as UGA continues to play this mistake-prone, shoot yourself in the foot every chance you get, style of football it will never get to the next level.
Outback Bowl Bound
December 5th, 2011
2:43 pm
@No more Kool-Aid.
Have fun in El Paso.
WDE
December 5th, 2011
2:44 pm
@No more Kool-Aid we won 10 games and were our Division champs only one of the teams you mentioned can say that…so what we are doing is working out pretty good.
No more Kool-Aid
December 5th, 2011
2:44 pm
Outback Bowl Bound,
I’m headed to NOLA not Tampa!
LHarding Dawg
December 5th, 2011
2:45 pm
I would have traveled out to the Cotton Bowl but say no to the Outback Bowl. After the Outback took a very inferior Auburn team over Georgia a few years back, I will not grace their bowl. I will not even eat at an the Outback even thought there is one right up the road from where I live.
Good luck Dawgs, and beat Michigan State.
Outback Bowl Bound
December 5th, 2011
2:46 pm
@No more Kool-Aid.
Sure you are…
dawgfacedboy
December 5th, 2011
2:48 pm
Defense played well the whole game. They are responsible for 14 points, maybe 21.
WDE
December 5th, 2011
2:50 pm
@UGA=Pretenders your an LSU fan?? I’m calling BS you might be a bandwagon ex-Roll Tider fan but your not the type of person that real LSU fans would be caught dead with. I met quite a few really good folks from LSU this weekend..you weren’t one of them.
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
2:51 pm
No more Kool-Aid
December 5th, 2011
2:44 pm
Outback Bowl Bound,
I’m headed to NOLA not Tampa!
—————————-
I guess the Tech fans didn’t want to travel to El Paso. After all, they don’t even travel to Atlanta most of the time.
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
2:53 pm
Dr. Morpheus
It’s really not that difficult to do. I love discussing football with just about anyone. However, when the trolls start rattling and spewing off for negative comment, I have no time for that. It generally doesn’t take much time at all to spot who they are or to ignore them
The Dawgs
December 5th, 2011
2:54 pm
They Dawgs played well. LSU was just deeper in their level of talent. Holding LSU to no first downs and only 12 years of total offense is impressive. Georgia had to play a perfect game. And not let lost opportunities become lost. The two TD passes dropped were examples.
Turnovers helped LSU gain their momentum a little faster and then is was over for the Dawgs.
But we have nothing to be ashamed of. We won 10 games and are in a January Bowl in sunny Tampa…..The Outback is a first rate bowl. The Dawgs are young, have a great future and will be back to take it all in the SEC for the next two years.
Go Dawgs! 11-3!
Flo-Ri-Duh
December 5th, 2011
2:58 pm
Quit your bashing of Crowell. He had a badly sprained ankle and should not have played but they put him in and he played injured. Common sense would have been to start Thomas and substitute for him with Malcolme.. If a 300 lb lineman falls ,hits you from behind and sprains your ankle it is not your fault. He could not cut or block and should not have played.but he tried. By the way, Crowello is not “little” as some have described. He weighs around 210 lbs. He is a freshman and should have been behind King and Ealey on the depth chart. Everybody can’t be Herschel.
EX-Contributor
December 5th, 2011
2:58 pm
Take heart Bulldog fans who want something other than mediocrity and are not satisfied with the likes of the Outback bowl at season’s end. Fresno State just fired their coach of 15 years. There’s hope yet.
Red Stick
December 5th, 2011
3:05 pm
RealDawg
December 5th, 2011
2:14 pm
“Keep telling yourself your offense isn’t crap if it makes you feel better.”
Actually we run the ball pretty well. Our passing game stinks as we only have average at best QBs. Miles is winning with special teams, defense and running the ball. Considering how poor our ability to throw is, the LSU coaching staff has done a hell of a job.
I appreciate what Jefferson and Lee have done over their careers but I’m glad they are seniors.
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
The Dawgs
December 5th, 2011
3:07 pm
Honky Talkin
December 5th, 2011
1:56 pm
@Come on Man: Pretty sad when the QB has 30 yards passing and rolls off 35 unanswered points. Where was UGA’s 5th ranked defense?
___________________________________________
The first drive of the second half was 18 yards for an LSU TD thanks to a Murray fumble and the return game gave LSU several short field opportunities. The pick 6 was the final nail.
LSU was the better team but the score wasn’t reflective…should have been more along the lines of 35-21 LSU…..but wasn’t….and that’s ok. Winning 10 games over last years 6-7 finish is a huge improvement. We’re young and will be back.
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
3:08 pm
Red Stick, how do you feel about the QB(s) set to replace Jefferson/Lee? We obviously know a little about Mettenberger, so long as he stays off the sauce and keeps his hands to himself, he can play, but what else is in the tank for the future at LSU?
Rooster
December 5th, 2011
3:10 pm
You will not have 9 starters back on defense Dawg in Lex. Some will enter the draft. Keep dreamin’.
Boca Baby
December 5th, 2011
3:11 pm
Isaiah Crowell is a punk and if he does not get on board and get his act together UGA needs to send him packing just like Ealey and King.
...Mark Richt...
December 5th, 2011
3:11 pm
@ The Dawgs at 3:07 -
Have you not read the comments here, my friend? Georgia sucks. We won’t be back next year. In fact, we’re gonna lose every conference game next year by about 25 points. I’m already polishing my resume in the hopes that the Florida State job comes open.
[/sarcasm]
Rooster
December 5th, 2011
3:12 pm
WDE, Division champs of a weak, weak, weak division.
Boca Baby
December 5th, 2011
3:14 pm
Cheer up SEC East! Alabama and LSU can no longer over recruit so they will be coming back down to earth.
Rooster
December 5th, 2011
3:14 pm
How many turnovers, fumbles, interceptions has Murray had this year? It has to be a big number.
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
3:17 pm
Rooster
December 5th, 2011
3:10 pm
You will not have 9 starters back on defense Dawg in Lex. Some will enter the draft. Keep dreamin’.
—————————-
Name them then Mel Kiper Jr. wannabe!!! Jarvis won’t, Brandon Smith won’t, Ogletree CAN’T, Christian Robinson won’t, Bacarri Rambo won’t, Sanders Commings won’t. Abry Jones? Nope. Who will it be Rooster? Since suddenly you have all knowledge (sarcasm alert!!!) in the world.
Rooster
December 5th, 2011
3:17 pm
Lets see, UGA will be losing Anderson, Glenn, Jones, White, Figgins, Charles (draft), Troupe, King (draft) and probably Brown (draft) on offense correct?
WDE
December 5th, 2011
3:17 pm
@Flo-Ri-Duh I agree he was limited in what he could do, he still has a chance to be a DGD he just needs to grow up both mentally and physically. This off season he has to work and keep his head on straight he has the tools..
Honky Talkin
December 5th, 2011
3:18 pm
Nice to see all the warm-fuzzies coming from the GA fans after going 0-3 against currently ranked teams. 1 win over a SEC team with a winning record…that’s something to be proud of.
JDawg1785
December 5th, 2011
3:19 pm
I’m with you, Flo-Ri-Duh. I’d like to see any of the armchair RBs on this blog have a 300-lb. lineman fall on their ankle and then run the rock against the best team in the country three weeks later. Give it to Crowell for trying. The guy needs some work in the weight room, but we’ll all be singing his praises by the time he leaves UGA.
Rooster
December 5th, 2011
3:20 pm
UGA wil be losing Tyson, Boykin (draft), Williams (draft), Jones (draft), Washington (draft) and maybe even John Jenkins on defense correct? Rambo and Robinson are not good enough to enter the draft.
Honky Talkin
December 5th, 2011
3:22 pm
Give me El Paso. It ain’t that bad.
Red Stick
December 5th, 2011
3:22 pm
TampaDawg,
Mettenberger definitely has the best arm of the 3. I think he’s going to be a really good one if he can keep his head on straight.
We also have Steven Rivers, Philip’s younger brother. He’s being redshirted. He’s 6′6 from Alabama and is a project but has alot of potential.
We have also just gotten in the mix for Gunner Kiel. He’s from Indiana and is the top QB in the country. He reopened his recruitment after decommiting from Indiana. He was on hand on an unofficial visit for the Arkansas game. He liked it so much he came back last week with his parents for an unofficial visit. He will be a mid-year grad so he has to make up his mind soon to enroll in a school in January. He’s rumored to be deciding between Notre Dame and LSU.
I was really impressed with the Mason kid the other night. He looks like a real talent.
Geaux Tigers
2011 SEC Champions
Vince Dooley
December 5th, 2011
3:23 pm
SEC East Champs but 5th SEC team in the BCS. Must be the weak schedule and only beating 1 SEC team with a winning record.
WDE
December 5th, 2011
3:24 pm
@Rooster really sorry but we beat the defending National Champs worse than either Bama or LSU did frankly there rooster I think Bama was lucky to not be on our schedule I know Ark should…how do you know a team will beat another until they play…LSU is and I have always said it a legit no.1 I’m not sold Bama is a world beater. If we had Bama or Ark say the week we played UF we would have given them all they could handle.
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
3:24 pm
East weak and West is strong? Pay attention nimrods, that may very well be the case this year. However, it was just a couple of years ago the pendulum swung the other way and it was the dominant East and it stayed that way for a number of years. Ebb and flow. There are some kool-aid drinking GT homers posing as others that believe LSU and/or Bama will win everything championship for the next 100 years. You’re fools
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
3:29 pm
Rooster, you’re obviously guessing at best. Of course they lose Boykin, he’s a senior and so is Tyson so way to go out on a limb there. But to say they will lose Shawn Williams and Abry Jones is at best guessing. It’s not like every Junior starter is bolting for the draft. Get real.
WDE
December 5th, 2011
3:30 pm
Vince Dooley come on tell me 4 teams with a better win/loss record in the SEC ? We are talking SEC rankings when it comes to the SEC division champs BCS has nothing to do with in this year or any other year…since we went to the division format, them’s the rules sorry its not working out for you….it’s not one of those ever changing ” you have to be a conference champ ..no wait not if your name is Bama” rules the BCS has and changes to fit the viewing audience …thanks for playing.
JDawg1785
December 5th, 2011
3:31 pm
Red Stick, Kiel would be an outstanding fit at LSU. He wouldn’t be the first QB from Indiana to end up in Baton Rouge either.
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
3:31 pm
@Red Stick, Yeah I saw that with Rivers. Kid is STRONG. UGA is in the mix for Kiel also but a lot of people aren’t really sold on him. Not sure myself if UGA needs to make a move but if you can, great. UGA has Murray for two more years, Mason for 3 more, LeMay for 4, a committment from Batau (sp), and an early committ from Brice Ramsey for next year’s class. Now, if we could load up on RBs in that same fashion.
Dawg 39
December 5th, 2011
3:33 pm
The SEC & Big Ten are putting their 2012 preseason conference rankings on the line with the bowl games; particularly the Dawgs against MSU & USCe against Nebraska.
I hope the SEC teams are up to the bowl game challenges, especially the Dawgs.
Savant
December 5th, 2011
3:36 pm
I’m with Dr. Morpheus, Murray played great, 2 interceptions & Murray’s fumble didn’t happen, punt return coverage was outstanding, just ignore the slight imprerfections. Hopefully, ignoring the deficiencies will improve the team.
1969 Graduate
December 5th, 2011
3:40 pm
Crowell is a freshman. Let’s cut him some slack for that.
Will he make it to the next level?
He came to camp out of shape (is that not his fault?). He violated the terms of his contract with his team, and smoked dope (is that not his fault?). He mouthed off, and got a penalty for doing so in the LSU game (is that not his fault?).
He looks to be a primadonna with an attitude problem (is that not his fault?).
Has he been going to class, studying, passing the course work? We’ll find out, but sounds like maybe not (is that not his fault?).
Has he earned the respect of the other members of his team? From watching the sidelines, and from what we’ve read, it looks like maybe not (is that not his fault?).
If he’s not been removed from school, and if he keeps his nose clean, maybe a year in the weight room, and a year of maturing will make a huge difference. Maybe.
Freshman slack cutting aside, he’s got a ways to go.
Aside from someone like Hershel, LSU seems to have demonstrated that we need a stable of several “first team” running backs. Will Crowell be in that group? That depends if such a group shows up in our recruiting, etc. as well as if No. 1 makes it to the next level (which would be sophomore).
About the only thing I can think of that isn’t Crowell’s fault is Bobo’s play calling, and the BCS. Has anyone ever seen a bigger Charlie Foxtrot of a post season bowl schedule?
thestogs
December 5th, 2011
3:42 pm
Too bad the bowls didn’t match Georgia and Texas A&M — two teams capable of playing 30 minutes of inspired football — then switching to “Leave It To Beaver” highlights in the second half.
Gay Dawg
December 5th, 2011
3:46 pm
I will be in Key West and then South Beach prior to the bowl game. Looks like I will already be packed for Florida weather! Go Dawgs!
Todd
December 5th, 2011
3:48 pm
Bill, what’s your take on the no-call(s) on the block in the back on Mathieu’s punt return TD? I’d say it was a fairly big turning point in the game. Not that Georgia would’ve hung on with the way they played in the second half, but still a big no-call.
JDawg1785
December 5th, 2011
3:51 pm
Did any of y’all catch Chris Lowe’s Weekend Review on the ESPN SEC Blog? He didn’t say anything bad about the Georgia team or its coaches, but he had some words for the folks with torches at CMR’s door.
daddo
December 5th, 2011
3:52 pm
Boo hoo, boo hoo. Alabama would KILL Georgia this year. U wouldn’t score on the best defense in the nation. Hey Georgia, u want to know the secret to winning national championships? You PLAY for them. Enjoy the Bloomin’ Onion Bowl. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…..
CHUCK UGA
December 5th, 2011
3:54 pm
Still@theKool-aidBAR = a formula for below average intelligence. Keep in mind your IP address CAN be traced.
bugsquacher
December 5th, 2011
3:56 pm
MAKE A STATEMENT DAWGS….. SHOW THEM WHAT NEXT YEAR WILL BRING!
CHUCK UGA
December 5th, 2011
3:57 pm
daddo, enjoy your limit of 25 signees. Going to put a crimp in Saban’s long term plans. You will find out he isn’ the coach you think he is. LSU will beat Bama badly in the BCS title game. Won’t come down to a field goal this time, and no Bama home field advantage. You blew it.
DP
December 5th, 2011
3:57 pm
“I think Bama was lucky to not be on our schedule”
Delusional Dawg of the Day goes to WDE! Congratulations!