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
JDawg1785
January 2nd, 2012
12:49 pm
Enjoy that steak, Mark! Go Dawgs!
ShaNaNa
January 2nd, 2012
12:50 pm
Heard Crowell already got hurt, running into the Gatorade dispenser….
i'm from Columbus, GA
January 2nd, 2012
12:50 pm
go dawgs! see, i told you we was dumb.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 2nd, 2012
12:50 pm
@Truth
Mediocre team Utah (etc,etc,etc)=Tech loss
ShaNaNa
January 2nd, 2012
12:51 pm
Hope A Murray rebounds from his last Bowl, can’t take another performance like that.
OkieDawg
January 2nd, 2012
12:51 pm
Herbie picks MSU. Kiffin gives kudos to Jarvis.
afan
January 2nd, 2012
12:52 pm
ty webb, anytime something is said about UGA its always GT…Do you really believe other teams fans love UGA..DA!
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
12:53 pm
We’re still 14 minutes from kickoff.
BG
January 2nd, 2012
12:53 pm
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!
i'm from Columbus, GA
January 2nd, 2012
12:53 pm
hey, rent-a-dawg jones is from here in Columbus. So is the bestes rb in the history of Georgia, IC.
ShaNaNa
January 2nd, 2012
12:54 pm
Punt got blocked in warm ups, and kicker missed on every field goal try outside of 35 yards…not too good.
OkieDawg
January 2nd, 2012
12:55 pm
Any Richard Samuel sights? How’s he running?
ShaNaNa
January 2nd, 2012
12:55 pm
Is Murray wearing gloves in the Bowl game again, it was 70 in Central Florida last year, and he’s wearing gloves, heard he’s busting them out for Tampa and
Murray’s excited about his magical gloves….
ShaNaNa
January 2nd, 2012
12:56 pm
Hope we practiced the 4th & 1 quarterback sneak this year, we missed on both last year…
OkieDawg
January 2nd, 2012
12:57 pm
ShaNa, he was wearing gloves against CF in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis…Really
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
12:59 pm
Why are there Tech fans on here after the whipping Utah gave them the other day?
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:00 pm
FACE IT YECH! You will never beat Georgia again. The only reason you beat us in 08 is because we were under a horrible DC and forgot how to tackle. We were up 24-12 at halftime and gave you the game in the 2nd half. Feel good about that one because you won’t get another one anytime soon. Your team SUCKS! We may go 0-11 to start next season but at least we have ONE guaranteed win, and that’s TECH! GO DAWGS!
The truth hurts
January 2nd, 2012
1:02 pm
@Erk Russell’s Dog
I’m a UGA fan not Tech. I’m just not a blind homer. For the last 4 years UGA has proven they cannot beat good teams. I don’t think today will be any different.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:04 pm
Georgia should play four tailbacks, according to Richt.
UGA will lose
January 2nd, 2012
1:04 pm
UGA doesnt’ beat good teams. Today won’t be any different.
Mtn Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:06 pm
More empty seats than I predicted
san diego steve
January 2nd, 2012
1:06 pm
The Bucs looked horrible yesterday. They should pay Gruden whatever it takes to come back while he is in town for the game.
Bojack
January 2nd, 2012
1:06 pm
average joe..the name says it all—we’ll see what you got to say when game is over.
Mtn Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:08 pm
She’s hot
lanier
January 2nd, 2012
1:08 pm
Bradley how did you sneak on the field for the coin toss
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:09 pm
I couldn’t get a read on the crowd expectations. I do know Tampa television was still running adds for tickets last night.
OkieDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:09 pm
Wow…Jenn Brown the sideline reporter looking good!
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:10 pm
This is a funny market, I should note. The Bucs didn’t sell out their September game against the Falcons, and that was coming off a 10-6 season.
For you Techies...............
January 2nd, 2012
1:11 pm
that have tuned in – THIS IS A REAL BOWL GAME with REAL TEAMS playing REAL FOOTBALL enjoy and feel free to comment
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:12 pm
Ken Malcome runs so hard.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:13 pm
I think we should have handed it off to Malcome in that situation. 3rd and 3. Malcome gets it.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:13 pm
One first down. Then a punt. Didn’t much like the third-down call.
Pretty nice punt, though.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:13 pm
The receivers look like they can’t keep their feet
dawg555
January 2nd, 2012
1:13 pm
So what’s the deal with Crowell….is he still hurt or is it something else?
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:14 pm
Safety.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:14 pm
Boo yah
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:14 pm
Have you ever seen a COMPLETED PASS yield a SAFETY?
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 2nd, 2012
1:14 pm
SAFETY!
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:15 pm
Great play, hate to see Boykin hurt.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:15 pm
I’m reasonably certain I have not.
dawg555
January 2nd, 2012
1:15 pm
Great hit by Boykin!
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 2nd, 2012
1:15 pm
HNY, Mark.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:15 pm
Boykin went in head first. would hate to see him have to leave the game so early.
i'm from Columbus, GA
January 2nd, 2012
1:16 pm
yay!!! that was an easy 3 points.go dawgs.!
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:16 pm
Hopefully it’s just a little pain that scared him a little bit. He’ll be fine.
OkieDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:16 pm
Very dangerous play call. Had to have been a lateral.
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:16 pm
NIce
dawg555
January 2nd, 2012
1:16 pm
Heck….I can’t even remember the last time we had a safety
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:16 pm
This defense is going to be sick next season. I can’t wait.
Justafan
January 2nd, 2012
1:16 pm
thats it for boykins for today…costly 2 points