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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,667 comments Add your comment
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 2nd, 2012
1:17 pm
44 degrees, air quality 29 here Mark.
san diego steve
January 2nd, 2012
1:17 pm
I hope that was a stinger and nothing serious
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:18 pm
Had it been a lateral, it would have been even more risky. Because a fumbled lateral is a live ball.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:18 pm
Malcome!
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:18 pm
Saw another angle of the hit. may have been his right shoulder that took a stinger.
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:18 pm
Boo’s running hard!!
Justafan
January 2nd, 2012
1:19 pm
he’s ok
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:19 pm
What’s up with these side passes?
Tater Tot
January 2nd, 2012
1:19 pm
Is the game on the internet? I am here in Dallas Tx and would like to watch it.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:19 pm
Georgia sets new record for flanker screens in first four minutes of Florida-based bowl game.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:19 pm
Oh geez, Malcome left the field with a potential injury
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:20 pm
Richard Samuel in the game. Loses a yard.
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:20 pm
Bobo is determined to keep this a close game!
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:20 pm
Spartans jumped offside.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:21 pm
O-line playing really well so far
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:21 pm
Nice play. Great blocking by the OL.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:22 pm
Interference on King in the EZ.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:22 pm
Underthrown ball but definitely pass interference.
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:22 pm
Nice back climb!
OkieDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:22 pm
good pass blocking!!! and interference!
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:22 pm
I love how our offense LOVES to take shots down the field! Keep that up. We are an explosive offense, and have the horses to do it!
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:23 pm
Wow, Smith playing RB before Croewell
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:23 pm
Branden Smith with the tote.
dawg555
January 2nd, 2012
1:23 pm
Nice run
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:23 pm
About to be 9-0
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:23 pm
How bad is IC in the dog house?
Dawgs1965
January 2nd, 2012
1:23 pm
Let’s go, Dawgs. Punch this in.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:23 pm
Boo Malcome gets hit with a boom.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
Or not lol
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
You could see that play coming a mile away. Whatever happened to the toss sweep?
J.J.M.
January 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
run blocking sucks
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
Fourth and one. Shades of Liberty Bowl.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
GO FOR IT MARK!
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
Go for it!
GatorDude
January 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
the stadium appears to be half empty…. be sure and comment on that Mark !!
dawg555
January 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
crap
J.J.M.
January 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
number 72 cant even stay on his feet…that was a perfect play call
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
I think Georgia is rethinking.
i'm from Columbus, GA
January 2nd, 2012
1:25 pm
if he put IC in the game we would be winning big time.
OkieDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:25 pm
If 4 TBs are going to play, we’ve seen 3 in Samuel, Malcome and Smith. Next one in better be Crowell…or somethings up.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:25 pm
Go for it here and let your team know you have confidence in them. Trust me, that helps your teams’ confidence to go out and play. We can get a couple inches.
Justafan
January 2nd, 2012
1:25 pm
Crowell has been in
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:26 pm
The stadium is not half-empty. But it’s not full, either.
dawg555
January 2nd, 2012
1:26 pm
Yeah…..what is the deal with Crowell? Thought he would have been rotated in by now
GatorDude
January 2nd, 2012
1:26 pm
By the way… enjoy the bloomin !!
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:26 pm
Going.
GatorDude
January 2nd, 2012
1:27 pm
From the views shown on the TV.. the upper deck is empty !
i'm from Columbus, GA
January 2nd, 2012
1:27 pm
put IC in. he the fusher.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:27 pm
My question is, how the hell did they stop big Orson (6′3, 241) from getting a few inches? LOL
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:27 pm
A for daring. F for play call.