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
Idiot Dawg
December 5th, 2011
3:59 pm
TampaDawg, got any suggestions on where to stay in Tampa?
CHUCK UGA
December 5th, 2011
3:59 pm
Rooster, not that it is a shock considering your background and history of your lowly football program (the one that UGA will beat soundly in September), but you are totally clueless when it comes to UGA defensive players. Totally clueless.
WDE
December 5th, 2011
4:00 pm
@daddo I think your wrong, I think we show better against Bama than LSU for certain and for sure.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 5th, 2011
4:01 pm
Yea Bobo showed once again he gets outcoached by better coaches
Richt too
Skeet
December 5th, 2011
4:10 pm
They need to shave Crowell’s head and make him take the game serious if he wants to walk in Hershel’s shoes…………………or maybe hire Hershel to advise him
LHarding Dawg
December 5th, 2011
4:11 pm
WDE – I agree with you about Alabama. I think we would match up very well with them.
Tide Fan in ATL
December 5th, 2011
4:13 pm
Come on UGA fans…you are VERY lucky to be playing in ANY bowl game in January much less the Outback Bowl! You simply aren’t that good! The only reason you were playing in the SEC Championship is because there aren’t any good teams in the SEC East. And for some of you to claim you are the second best in the SEC is a HUGE joke! You would have had another losing season if you were in the SEC West plus your schedule is as light as Boise State’s which totally owned you in September not to mention you embarrassed the entire SEC. So enjoy your time in Tampa as you will lose there too.
WDE
December 5th, 2011
4:16 pm
Tide Fan in ATL well as long as you guys keep ducking us we won’t know for sure…your not scaring the Bull Dog Nation .
Kiss the Ring
December 5th, 2011
4:16 pm
What makes any UGA fan think they would beat Alabama? Is it their sterling record verses top ten team under Richt? He has beaten top ten teams on 8 occasions in 11 years.
Tide Fan in ATL
December 5th, 2011
4:17 pm
WDE and LHarding…..You are delusional if you think UGA would have any chance at all against Bama! I’m sure you thought you had a chance against LSU too!
ROLL TIDE!
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
4:18 pm
Typical Tide entitlement and arrogance. You’ll get beaten again by LSU and what will history write about Bama and the Year 2011? Nothing, other than you are the team which the BCS decided to sell itself out for.
Tide Fan in ATL
December 5th, 2011
4:20 pm
WDE ….Bama has ducked UGA??? Remember we totally owned you in the 2008 season (your last black out game) when you were ranked #1 at the beginning of the season. Bama is suppose to play you in 2012 but rumor has it the schedule is changing due to the SEC expansion. I think its UGA that’s scared to play Bama and I can’t blame you for that.
LHarding Dawg
December 5th, 2011
4:26 pm
Typical Tide fan, could’nd fine Tuscaloosa if it was on his azz.
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
4:30 pm
Idiot Dawg
December 5th, 2011
3:59 pm
TampaDawg, got any suggestions on where to stay in Tampa?
—————————-
Depends on how close you prefer to stay to the stadium buddy. I would suggest staying about 15-20 minutes away to avoid some of the normal chaos of Dale Mabry. Personally, I stay about 30 minutes away and it’s awesome. For those of you looking for info on the area, email me at SSG_72@rocketmail.com with questions. If you’re looking for a good hotel outside of the 5-10 minute radius, The Crowne Plaza on I-75 and Martin Luther King is really nice. Email me for more suggestions.
Tide Fan in ATL
December 5th, 2011
4:32 pm
LHarding – Maybe you should learn to spell before posting ignorant comments about others.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
December 5th, 2011
4:34 pm
Murray was the most prolific QB in the SEC this year.
Crowell is the Freshman of the year
I guess playing against Pop Warner teams has really warped UGA fan perspective of reality.
Murray can’t beat the GOOD teams.
Crowell Can’t play a whole game against a GOOD team.
The MEDIA sets UGA fans up like Bowling Pins. UGA fan get the Delusional belief that UGA will be GREAT only to have them knocked down to reality of being just OK.
Tide Fan in ATL
December 5th, 2011
4:34 pm
Idiot Dawg – Stay on the Pinellas County side of Tampa Bay. You will be close to the beach and the Dale Mabry exit is only a 15 minute drive across the Howard Franklin bridge.
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
4:34 pm
Tide Fan, I appreciate the passion you have for your team. I really do. But to practically wish for UGA to lose to an out of conference opponent just weak.
LHarding Dawg
December 5th, 2011
4:35 pm
Just the facts man. Are you not missing the Finebaum toilet bowl show for the ignorant.
Kiss the Ring
December 5th, 2011
4:35 pm
Did a UGA fan actually make fun of bama fans being sidewalk alums?
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
4:37 pm
Tide Fan in ATL
December 5th, 2011
4:34 pm
Idiot Dawg – Stay on the Pinellas County side of Tampa Bay. You will be close to the beach and the Dale Mabry exit is only a 15 minute drive across the Howard Franklin bridge.
—————————-
I would NEVER recommend staying on the Pinellas side for an event at the stadium. Coming down I275 with any buildup on the bridge is a recipe for disaster. Trust me. Stay Tampa side but outside of the normal Dale Mabry area.
WE
December 5th, 2011
4:38 pm
@Tide Fan in ATL
And maybe you should think before you post there Professor! How on earth can you feel good about your team heading to the NC game when they could not even play for the SEC CG? Must make you feel pretty good about backing into the NC game.
Crap, your own coach said a couple years ago that a team that does not win it’s own league championship game should not play the NC, but I guess the short, little man has a change of heart when it affects his own team.
I hope your team, your Tool for a coach and classless fans get the crap beat out of them.
GO LSU!
Kiss the Ring
December 5th, 2011
4:40 pm
Here is the typic argument between a UGA sidewalk alum and UGA sidewalk alum…
“My diddys brothers cousins aunts son played for the bahr!”
“Well my mamas friends uncle played for Erk Russell!”
Shouldn’t you bloggers be talking about the Samford/Ga Southern Rivalry?
DIT
December 5th, 2011
4:41 pm
I agree TampaDawg. Pinellas County has awful traffic 7 days a week. No one taught them how to sycrenize (sp?) the lights.
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
4:41 pm
Come on KoolAidBar, are you really gonna harp on UGA’s schedule when you pull for Tech. We had Tech fans on both blogs stating the weekend of UGA/GT that GT would win, Wake Forest would destroy (their words, not mine) Vandy, FSU would destroy UF, and Clemson would roll USC. The closest thing to that was the FSU game and that wasn’t as much of a blow out as tech fans predicted. They were spouting off that Wake would beat any team in the East. Really? Wake got blasted by a team that lowely UF still beat.
Brian
December 5th, 2011
4:43 pm
I’m perfectly happy with the Outback Bowl and a 10 win season. It should be a close game. Go dawgs!
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
4:43 pm
@Kiss the Ring .. ummm, for a rivalry that boasts more deaths between them and their number one rival, that conversation you posted was at least humane.
DP
December 5th, 2011
4:43 pm
“Crap, your own coach said a couple years ago that a team that does not win it’s own league championship game should not play the NC”
He didn’t say that, as multiple news organizations that have tried to find the bogus quote have reported. But don’t let the facts get in your way.
WE
December 5th, 2011
4:45 pm
Guess again DP. The year was 2003 when he coached LSU…. so back at ya. Don’t let facts get in your way. Heck they even played it on the air. Clueless!
LSU!
December 5th, 2011
4:46 pm
Georgia fans have nothing to be ashamed of. They just ran into a better team with a lot more depth. We blew out Arkansas in almost the exact same way. You guys are young and just need to get better on the offensive line and of course a better kicker. Good luck in your bowl.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
December 5th, 2011
4:46 pm
As Usual it is ………………………..fault.
Come on Man
December 5th, 2011
1:42 pm
The officials did a poor job that night. They missed a ton of very key calls and then the replay guy must have went for Coke and a hotdog.
As Usual………………………..Wait Til Next Year.
ClassicCity
December 5th, 2011
1:53 pm
We’re putting the right pieces together. I had modest hopes for this year (and they were exceeded), I have high hopes for next
@iitssimple: Georgia gets top recruits, but CMR and his prayers don’t motivate them to produce. It’s always “Next Year” and “the Dream Team”. As Florida and Tennessee rebuild, the Dawgs will keep slipping into mediocrity.
LSU!
December 5th, 2011
4:47 pm
I’m excited about playing Bama, and I think we’ll put it off again, only this time I’ll say 24-10. Geaux Tigers!
WE
December 5th, 2011
4:48 pm
BAMMERS ARE A BUNCH OF PUDKNOCKERS!
POUND THEM INTO THE HOLE THEY CAME FROM LSU!
DP
December 5th, 2011
4:48 pm
No WE, the alleged quote from 2003 that has been circulating on message boards is made up, as multiple news organizations who tried to find it have reported.
SuperB
December 5th, 2011
4:54 pm
It’s easy to finish higher in the polls when you DO NOT play in the conference title tilt and lose– see Georgia and Michigan State. Why would anyone risk a better bowl by playing in a game like that– see Alabama or Michigan.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
December 5th, 2011
4:55 pm
Bama playing for a MNC without having to risk a loss or injuries by playing a Championship Game is a JOKE.
TideDoesn'tRoll
December 5th, 2011
4:57 pm
Tide, Remember 2007 when UGA came to Alabama and kicked you around and won in OT 26-23. If you can only speak of 2008 then go back one year. Yeah and Saban was coach then too. You will get kicked around by LSU this time, and I will be laughing while I watch it. I bet they beat you by 20.
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
4:57 pm
I don’t have any reccollection of Saban making that statement and nobody has produced one when I asked them about it. Les Miles made that statement a number of times in 2007 after Arkansas beat them in the last game and was parroted by the entire ESP)N crew. I remember that one. I don’t remember Saban making it, ever.
TampaDawg
December 5th, 2011
4:57 pm
@KoolAidBar
@iitssimple: Georgia gets top recruits, but CMR and his prayers don’t motivate them to produce. It’s always “Next Year” and “the Dream Team”. As Florida and Tennessee rebuild, the Dawgs will keep slipping into mediocrity.
Ummm, isn’t that what you do when you bring in a freshman class? I think for the amount of freshman they had making an impact it was really good year. Let this class get 2 or 3 years in and see what happens. People knocking UGA for not producing an SEC title with the “Dream Team” keep forgetting that the “Dream Team” were ALL true freshman this year.
zbulldawg
December 5th, 2011
5:04 pm
I think it’s a great match up !! The last time they played it was a great game !! I’m so proud of UGA this year ! They turned the corner from last year ! If they would just get the what if’s done with this coaching staff, It would help so much in recruiting ! PLEASE fans let’s not hurt recruiting with alot of negative talk ! It’s time for us to PULL together and help anyway we can ! SICK EM
TideDoesn'tRoll
December 5th, 2011
5:04 pm
DP, Les Miles said that as well in 2007, when UGA was ranked #2 and was sittiing at home during the SEC Championship with a 10-2 record after losses earlier in the year to Tennessee and SC. You beat Tennessee and jumped into the BCS against Ohio State and all the while Les Miles was saying if you do not play for your conference championship you shouldn’t play in the title game. UGA would have wiped the floor that year with LSU and Ohio State. And due to the politics of the Rose Bowl, the real 2 best teams in the nation, USC and Georgia ended up not playing, but played Illinois and Hawaii in their bowls. UGA finished #2 in the nation that year.
DP
December 5th, 2011
5:04 pm
As I posted previously, the alleged Saban quote that has been circulating was made up:
http://blog.newsok.com/jennicarlson/2011/11/29/saban-quote-making-the-rounds-its-a-fake/
ARdawg
December 5th, 2011
5:04 pm
StilltheBar
You’re a bit of an enigma. I have no problem with you being a homjer Tech fan in fact I applaud you for it. But some days you come across as a rational chap and other days as the worse troll on the board. Which is it?
Joey
December 5th, 2011
5:05 pm
Y’all take care of business, LSU!
Y’all deserve the hype.
Bama doesn’t.
Kiss the Ring
December 5th, 2011
5:05 pm
Will UGA ever go undefeated in the modern era? I mean they played the easiest schedule known to man and they still lost twice.
daddo
December 5th, 2011
5:05 pm
HAHAHAHA….that Georgia loss by Alabama was the preface to our domination. U come in with Stafford, Greene and No Show and beat Saban with SHULA players only after going into overtime. We are playing for our second national championship in three years. Tell me, when did Georgia last play for a national championship? Were u even ALIVE?
U r the Pittsburg of the South…get a once in a lifetime back and win it all, then go back to being second tier.
What’s it like to have your best record in years with the Conference in a down year, and you are the FIFTH BEST team in our conference.
Daddo knows football.
Listen to Daddo.
DP
December 5th, 2011
5:06 pm
“UGA would have wiped the floor that year with LSU and Ohio State.”
Right, even though LSU beat Tennessee in the SEC championship game and Georgia lost to Tennessee by 3 touchdowns.
Kiss the Ring
December 5th, 2011
5:06 pm
Will bama be wearing new suits from TTown Warehouse for the game? Julio loved his custom suits. Wore a different one for each road game.
Kiss the Ring
December 5th, 2011
5:06 pm
UGA being able to beat bama is hilarious. Stay classy UGA!
Kiss the Ring
December 5th, 2011
5:07 pm
Which schedule does UGA fans feel is the weakest? UGA 2011, UGA 2012 or UGA 1980?