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
Send'em Uhauls
January 2nd, 2012
3:44 pm
Just think we are still stuck with Richt. Saban would be beating this team 35 – 0 right now. Pathetic!
ricker
January 2nd, 2012
3:44 pm
This team has no heart, no passion, no pride and no identity…it is lost, and is being coach into that identity crises by a staff that is absolutely clueless, and has been all season long. What in the hell does anybody think will change next year, or the year after, to change any of it. Is UGA simply incapable of looking at history, and learning from it? Well, Richt and company are certainly continuing that proud UGA tradition of folding like a cheap lawn chair when it matters…pathetic.
BingoBanjo
January 2nd, 2012
3:44 pm
Murray, can he commit 4 turnovers?
tmc
January 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
This game is a perfect example of why i don’t like coach Bobo as a good offensive coordinator. Everyone points to how his offense puts up numbers… just like the first half.
But when the game is on the line (in the 2nd half), so far every offensive play call is east-west, short passes to the outside! This has allowed MSU defense to become aggressive and cause 2 critical turnovers and get back into this game.
UGA’s offense in the first half was north-south and the vertical passing game… Mich St couldn’t stop us and we were in total control.
Now, because of the play calling A. Murray makes a couple bad throws, turnovers and Mich State has got all the momentum.
To be clear: if something is working and your offense is control the line of scrimmage and moving the ball down the field… you do not abandon the current play-calling and start running different plays! That is the worst thing you can do as an offensive coordinator… thanks Bobo!
NJ Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
If we could block at all up front and run the dang ball with any consistency the game wouldn’t constantly be in Murray’s hands. I’m sure he’d play better if he wasn’t running for his life on every play.
BobDog
January 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
Our D looks like they’re getting tired.
BingoBanjo
January 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
Don’t blame Bobo…
murray is the TURNOVER MACHINE.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
Suddenly Cousins is making throws. And his guys are making catches.
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
Commings is the one getting beat
phil
January 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
i’m from Columbus, GA
January 2nd, 2012
3:44 pm
man jarvis need to be on the sideline. dont listen to them pie face clowns in athens. they aint gonna have nothin for you if you tear your knee up for good.
******
That’s right! Then the sponges like this guy won’t have you to keep em up.
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
3:46 pm
Not looking good for the team in Red!
(STILL) 3-10 against ranked teams
January 2nd, 2012
3:46 pm
this will be sad if the Dawgs are the only team today to lose to a Big 10 team
Bobo is Not the Problem
January 2nd, 2012
3:46 pm
Our defense is soft as Charmin. Freaking PUNISH somebody.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
3:46 pm
I’m not sure those interceptions were the coordinator’s fault.
phil
January 2nd, 2012
3:46 pm
Our D isn’t nearly as stout as you drunk dawg fans think it is….
paint
January 2nd, 2012
3:46 pm
relax, could easily be 14-2
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
3:46 pm
BOB TAKE NOTE
MSU is opening up their offense. Not just running 2 up the middle. FIRE BOBO
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
3:47 pm
Georgia’s defense is soft? Really?
DawgVoiceofReason
January 2nd, 2012
3:47 pm
The D needs to come up with a turnover.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
3:47 pm
The D that just intercepted a Cousins pass?
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
3:47 pm
Got one back
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Phil, suck on that. Our defense is great.
Tuck fech
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
That is what we needed
sparks
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
There’s the big D play we needed…
UGAKev
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
dang it!!! we didnt get in the end zone…lmao
dawg555
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
YEAAAAHHHH DEFENSE!
paint
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
what a block j jones
BulldogBen
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
BOOM!!
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
I agree MArk, however his over game plan is not well planned
GREAT JOB D
NJ Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Same problem as always. Can’t consistently run, can’t sustain drives. Defense plays lights out but can’t maintain it all game long because they’re on the field the whole game….because of the offense.
Nice pick there though, let’s hope we can muster more than a field goal out of it, lol.
DawgVoiceofReason
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
And there it is!!!
phil
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Didn’t say soft.
Nice pick! Too bad he didn’t go the distance because now we’ll be kicking a FG!
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Shawne Williams with a great break on the ball, as they say.
Oily Rags
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
What do you expect of Bobo? UGA grad. Inbred football instincts.
tony
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Todd Grantham MVP!!!
Jackets 2012
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Nice pick. Near pick 6.
(STILL) 3-10 against ranked teams
January 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Love what Richt said earlier….”we’re knocking on the door of greatness”
….yeah, we’ll be knocking, but will never walk through so long as Richt is the head coach
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Bean cannot block ANYBODY
NJ Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Imagine that….tackled for loss on first down. Sheesh.
Bobo is Not the Problem
January 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Yet another “NFL” reference from Gruden. Love Tirico: “That’s what you said before, Jon.”
In other words, STFU, Jon.
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Are you freaking kidding me!!!! UP THE MIDDLE UP THE MIDDLE
The the heck not a play action on 1st down.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Murray thought MSU had jumped offside and took a knee. I hate that play.
Murray is a woman
January 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
that’s a weak play with that snap and knee BS. very womanly
UGAFan
January 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Thanks again D. We needed that. Now let’s see if the O can somehow get in the end zone from 12 yards out.
phil
January 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
1st down – loss of 2
What a shock.
Bobo is Not the Problem
January 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
How about a freaking PF on that play??? Are you kidding me? He went down, then got bashed.
(STILL) 3-10 against ranked teams
January 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
ha ha ha….good one Phil…..yup, field goal for sure!!
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Just a loss of yardage. Man oh man
UGAFan
January 2nd, 2012
3:50 pm
Surprise Surprise. A run on 1st down for a 3 yard loss, AGAIN
san diego steve
January 2nd, 2012
3:50 pm
both teams have been hitting hard all game. good match up