Live from the Outback: UGA should win this bloomin’ bowl
The press box food preparation table, shown after hungry scribes descended. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Tampa – The nice thing about covering the Outback Bowl is the sponsor. It’s the only bowl that serves steak and a bloomin’ onion as a pregame meal. I mention this so you’ll know not to expect much in the way of back-and-forth from this correspondent over the next half-hour.
As for the game … well, here’s what you need to know about Michigan State. The Spartans are 7-14 in bowls. They haven’t won won since Dec. 31, 2001. They’re 0-4 under Mark Dantonio. Even Nick Saban was 0-3 in bowls as MSU’s coach.
The Spartans are 0-3 in bowls against teams from Georgia. (Lost to the Bulldogs in Vince Dooley’s final game and in the Capital One in 2008, lost to Georgia Tech in the old Hall of Fame Bowl in Birmingham in 1985. Georgia fans will remember that as the game in which John Dewberry, who transferred from UGA and became Tech’s quarterback, did not partake — he’d been suspended for missing curfew in Birmingham, which isn’t easy to do.)
It’s possible Michigan State could win today, but recent history shows it’s not smart to bet against the SEC in a bowl against the Big Ten. (Example: The Spartans lost to Alabama 49-7 in the Capital One last January. Though Michigan State did beat Florida in the Citrus on the first day of this century.)
Enough. Georgia should win. I make it 27-17, but I’m often wrong. Sometimes even bloomin’ wrong, which reminds me …
Discuss among yourselves. I’ll be back in a few. And happy bloomin’ New Year.
By Mark Bradley
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3,667 comments Add your comment
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
2:18 pm
Buzzzzzzz
January 2nd, 2012
2:14 pm
Two words: Reggie Ball
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:18 pm
When your explosive like that, teams become scared of ya. They’re already scared of our defense. Need to make explosive plays like that on offense to scare teams on offense.
huffsleeper
January 2nd, 2012
2:18 pm
Beautiful move by king. Glad to see the rollout
Ooltewahdawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:18 pm
If only that would work every time!
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
2:18 pm
Buzzzzzzz
January 2nd, 2012
2:14 pm
Two words: Stephon Marbury
Geesh
January 2nd, 2012
2:18 pm
It’s about time. I was beginning to fall asleep.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
2:19 pm
Buzzzzzzz
January 2nd, 2012
2:14 pm
Can you remember that?
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:19 pm
Ogletree almost intercepts. Made a great break.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:20 pm
Ray, horrible Big Ten team? MSU isn’t horrible bud. Look them up.
cousin vicker
January 2nd, 2012
2:20 pm
Mark,
Why in the world would you go for two there? If you miss it it is a one possesion game. And the way our defense is playing a two-score lead is huge.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
2:20 pm
Go Spartans
January 2nd, 2012
2:18 pm
How many seats were in El Paso?
GTfan
January 2nd, 2012
2:20 pm
Buzzzzz…don’t make us look bad with stupid remarks..don’t lower yourself. Coach Richt is a very fine person and coach.let it go man!
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:20 pm
Michigan State still sitting on two first downs and something like 50 total yards.
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
2:20 pm
INT would have been nice. Big 3rd down play
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:21 pm
T. King: 146 receiving yds.
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 2nd, 2012
2:21 pm
UGA can break it wide open here. Spartan O is well, sparse.
Go Spartans
January 2nd, 2012
2:21 pm
@ The Grinch, two words: Terreal Bierria
Joe Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:21 pm
CMR looks like he put away his share of turkey over the holidays.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:21 pm
Still only two first downs.
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
2:22 pm
That was a nice call. If not for one player it would have been a big play for them
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:22 pm
Great tackling by Commings. Holding his ankles until help arrives. I like.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:22 pm
This is the worst defensive half for Georgia since November.
buzzDawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:23 pm
Dawg D still looking great! Offense is waking up!
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:23 pm
What a play.
NJ Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:23 pm
Crowell hurt……again. Why am I not surprised? TD was nice, definitely woke me up as well. Either both team’s defense is just that good or the offenses are just that bad, lol.
Dawgs D is definitely playing lights out so far, let’s hope they can keep it up for 4 quarters cuz it’s not looking like they’ll be shorting out the scoreboard anytime soon. Would be nice to get a few yards on 1st and 2nd down every now and again so they don’t have to get it all on third down every drive.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:23 pm
BOYKIN!
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:23 pm
GONE!!!!!!
san diego steve
January 2nd, 2012
2:23 pm
hahaha wow
dawg555
January 2nd, 2012
2:23 pm
BEAUTIFUL
NJ Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:23 pm
Boykin!!!! Beast mode.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:23 pm
Boykin’s fifth TD on returns.
Longest TD return in Outback annals.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
Did you see that last MSU player just give up on the kickoff? Honest to God, he just gave up.
UGA winning means....
January 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
MSU is not good. UGA has not, and will not beat a good team this season.
Baby Ruth
January 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
As a GT fan, I wish we could cover and tackle the way UGA does.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
That might do it. I doubt MSU can score more than twice on our defense.
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
BB w/ a beauty.
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
That was sweeeeeeet
Dawgz4Life
January 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
YES!!!
Hawkmaster
January 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
Hell yeah again. Boykin one of greatest Dawgs of all time.
buzzDawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
Boykin – yoohoo! We’ll miss him next year.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
UGA winning means….
January 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
Wow, very prophetic considering this is our last game of the season.
GTfan
January 2nd, 2012
2:25 pm
Special Teams..very important!
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:25 pm
Wow. Before the game, people was talking up how great MSU was and how UGA would yet again lose to a good team, now they’re no good? HATERS are so funny.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:25 pm
For a second I thought Boykin was going to give back that safety. Then he scores again.
phil
January 2nd, 2012
2:25 pm
What a return!! Yes sir!
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
2:25 pm
Don’t y’all love the trolls on here coming on here saying that MSU is not good? They are a very good team and this game is far from over!
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:26 pm
Who’s going to the NFL next year?
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 2nd, 2012
2:26 pm
Hawkmaster
agreed.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:26 pm
Trolls and haters= Jealous GT fans.
DAWGGONE
January 2nd, 2012
2:26 pm
Boykin looks like he is a Cam want-to-be with the Superman move. Thought UGLY hated Cam and old “dirty” Nick but now imitate them.