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
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 2nd, 2012
6:07 pm
3 yrs now and UGA still hasnt beat a top 25 team!
Richt hasnt had a big win since 2005!!!!!!!
Chris Phillips
January 2nd, 2012
6:07 pm
Ghost. I was putting my finger on a lack of aggressive play calling. You call it sound strategy. I call it a lack of aggression. Michigan State did not lack it. They scratched and clawed the entire game to a well deserved win. Go ahead and kick your field goal on third down. I would rather be aggressive and try to win the game.
J Bo
January 2nd, 2012
6:07 pm
We recruit the best running backs in the country so why don’t we hire the best running back coach in the country?
azdawg
January 2nd, 2012
6:07 pm
Chris Phillips
January 2nd, 2012
5:49 pm
So, So right. I said im post and agree, GA will never improve enough to advance to the next level as LSU and Bama has w/Bobo as OC. Its totally embarrassing to watch and so predictable its outrageous. MSU outcoached the dawgs coaches. TG should have blitzed more as cousins didn’t do well when forced to throw under pressure. Bozo and CMR embarrassed the SEC and Spurrier is laughing his a$$ off at GA and its coaches. They are failures and to allow this to continue w/o changing staff (OC) will end up w/the same results every season. Effin BS.
Dulusional "Mutt" Fans
January 2nd, 2012
6:07 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! So the “Delusional Fans” still have excuses to why they never beat the good teams, this team is so similar to the Falcons, there are TWO HALVES in the game of Football!!!! The NCAA has blessed UGAG with yet another free ride to the SEC Championship game next year with yet another cupcake schedule…. But will UGAG actually accept the offer?
Bobo's Wife
January 2nd, 2012
6:07 pm
I’ve been stock piling diapers for 3 years knowing this day was coming. O dear.
Rivals Recruit Ranking
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
Enter your comments here
bitter QB
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
ALL YOU TROLL (FOOLS) that blasted me the last couple of day’s for telling the truth about MURRY
—————————–see my middle finger——————worst head coach in football—-and QB
I LOVE THIS
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE. Gotta love those choking Georgia Bulldogs. I am still laughing my butt off and like I say I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Max
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
Oh, look, red panties are falling from the sky!
Buzz 2011
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
Wrong again Bradley, the Dawgs just aren’t very good and it is not all their fault.. The coaching is not there. You should know this by now as you seem to cover their games..
27-10?????????????Yea about like 11 – 1 in 2012.. Your dream team sleeps when it counts. Lack of expertise Mark… Don’t ever throw off on GT special teams again.. See it now???
Hoss Cartwright
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
The next season can be deje vu for Richt. He’s got the David Greene D J Shockley matter again with Murray and LeMay. One can only hope he gets it right this time.
Lilburn Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
We started the season with two losses and finished it with two losses. All four losses came against the only really good teams we played. Having 10 wins in a row don’t add up to much when they’re against teams which are lesser opponents or teams having down years.
Mike "No Guts" Bobo
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
I think instead of working harder and accomplishing my sales goal I’ll just run draws up the middle and see if someone else will carry me across the finish line.
gadawgs
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
chazz..because he turned it over three times in the second freaking half once again against a quality opponent. but I agree that with Mason’s limited playing time you cannot put him in that situation. but coach has made his bed with Murray and he has to live with it.
Mike Bobo
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
The defense just needs to play better and we will be OK.
Dinkdunk
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
Dawgs are the Bell Curve in action. Start slow, finish slow. Nice going.
Primrose
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
HOW BAD MUST
HUTSON MASON
AND CHRISTIAN LEMAY BE
IF RICHT WOULDN’T LET THEM PLAY
EVEN AFTER AARON MURRAY DID HIS USUAL
COMMIT 3 TURNOVERS IN A BIG GAME?
MASON & LEMAY MUST BE TERRIBLE
stendek
January 2nd, 2012
6:09 pm
Hey Chazzi. Since you are apparently new to football I will tell you!!!!!!! Aaron Murray INT gave Spartans hope in a game Dawgs were completely dominating. Second INT gave Michigan State TD! That set stage for another collapse. Did I simplify it enough for you? Damn!
Max
January 2nd, 2012
6:09 pm
Oh, look, hobnail boots are falling from the sky!
VaBeachDawg
January 2nd, 2012
6:09 pm
Everyone…quiet please, I have an award to make. This year’s Co-Energy Vampire of the Year Award goes to Coach Richt and Coach Bobo. Nothing sucks energy out of a team like coaches who are playing not to lose and calling a gutless game. (Tepid applause). Thank you…now, back to your complaints and comments.
BuzzMax
January 2nd, 2012
6:09 pm
Tech played better in their bowl game against a better team than ga did!!! where are all those loud mouth arrogant ga fans now????? Hello???? Anyone out there???? Hello?????
Dostoveyskiy
January 2nd, 2012
6:09 pm
Oh yea! Christian is going to lead us to the promise land. He da greatest. We love you Christian. Throw Murray to the lions!
RedPanties
January 2nd, 2012
6:09 pm
I hope McGarity fires Richt and Bobo
GT Man
January 2nd, 2012
6:09 pm
Dont worry about Murray, against Tech, Groh will make him look like a Heismann winner.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 2nd, 2012
6:09 pm
Rilo the UGA Offensive line whiffed on more blocks today than the pitches the Braves whiffed on in September.Did not matter what running plays Bobo called this O-line could not execute their assignments.Too slow or just too damn stupid or a combination of both.
Impartial Observer
January 2nd, 2012
6:09 pm
Bobo has to go.
JB
January 2nd, 2012
6:10 pm
The FG attempt on 3rd down in OT will go down as bad as the 4th and one on the 3 last year against UCF. The man will take us nowhere.
Boom Boom
January 2nd, 2012
6:10 pm
UGA is 0-4 against ranked teams. Congratulations on patting yourselves on the backs for beating paper tigers all year long.
UGA cannot ever say to Alabama fans to “Get a Kicker”…you have problems of your own. What is real funny is our offensive coordinator is better than UGA’s and our job is VACANT.
The last one got a Head Coaching Job. What will Bobo get? A raise and additional prayer service with Mark Richt?
Chocolate Candy
January 2nd, 2012
6:10 pm
Two losses at the beginning and end-alpha & omega of failure. But worse, losing to a nincompoop Big 10 team in a BOWL GAME! Naughty Naughty bad little dawgs.
bigeasydawg
January 2nd, 2012
6:10 pm
Murray knows that as long as he in not injured, he will be in the game. After 3 turnovers, today’s game was the perfect chance to give Mason some playing time but Richt showed that he is not going to play him no matter what. Mason is gone and I don’t blame him one bit. He has not been given a fair chance.
ReelDawg
January 2nd, 2012
6:10 pm
Ga had a lot of injuries and bad breaks in 2011. Next year, Ga will be a lot better and should win the east again and play better in the sec title game.
NYC Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
6:10 pm
Three problems:
!.) We were looking past an excellent MSU team. All this talk of “knocking on the door of greatness” was completely premature and inappropriate
2.) Bobo must go. We need a top caliber offensive coordinator. I agree w VaBeachDawg and SC Dawg, who wrote well-reasoned posts about our obvious and self-imposed limitations due to the OC. I too can sit in front of the TV, call all the plays, and predict their poor outcomes. 3 runs up the middle and a punt or a missed field goal. I’ve never seen a team run on 2nd and 8 as predictably (and poorly) as these recent GA teams.
3.) We lack the killer instinct (which LSU has in abundance.) When we attack we are pretty good…when we get a lead, we go ultra-conservative, despite lacking the personnel to execute a conservative strategy….which leads back to point 2.
I LOVE THIS
January 2nd, 2012
6:10 pm
All of the SEC teams beat the big 10 teams today except for……………………………………………… You guessed it! the Georgia Bulldogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
Max
January 2nd, 2012
6:10 pm
Oh, look, stupid, mangy bulldogs are falling from the sky!
Or is that Crowell?
GA BullSh#**t!!!!!!
January 2nd, 2012
6:11 pm
So, who was the marquee win this year?
Fl at 7-5?
Yuck!
Stale & predictable offense …
The defense has play makers, but when they are gone next year the defense will look bad as well.
Rilo
January 2nd, 2012
6:11 pm
It’s like watching a train wreck every time Bobo calls plays.
Proud-Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
6:11 pm
We are a mediocre program. The sooner people accept this the better off they will be. It sucks, but let’s be realistic, UGA is the epitome of underachievers. We should be apologizing to the rest of the SEC, not making excuses.
chazzo
January 2nd, 2012
6:11 pm
Losing sucks. But, MSU was a solid opponent and the Dawgs played hard. I, too, was totally pissed with the playcalling at the end of the game. But this overall was a hard played game. Our players deserve kudos for playing hard. Let’s have another great offseason.
Coaches: GET YOUR HEADS AROUND SPECIAL TEAMS, AND DEVELOP CLOCK MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND 2 MINUTE GAME PLANS FOR O AND D!
GO DAWGS!!! RIP ‘EM ALL A NEW ONE IN 2012!!!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 2nd, 2012
6:11 pm
chazzo
Hey man how did your favorite two coach’s perform today
I bet every major school will be wanting to sign Richt and Bobo to multi-year contracts ASAP
We had better sign them quickly right
01HAWK
January 2nd, 2012
6:11 pm
DARQUEZE DENNARD……………………TWIGGS COUNTY………….MICH ST……………..2 PICKS TODAY.
I guess you can not get them all.
DAWG with two bags back over head
January 2nd, 2012
6:12 pm
Hang this one on Murray and Walsh. Murray chokes in every big game. Two bad interceptions and a fumble, besides not being on the same page with the receivers. Every position is competitive EXCEPT quarterback. Murray must have pictures of Richt.
Snoop Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
6:12 pm
Why can’t people see through Richt?
dawgs01
January 2nd, 2012
6:12 pm
UGA gave the BIG10 a win. Once again we completely dominating team then halftime comes and the other coaches make adjustments i gues we go in there and smoke crack. MSU could not do anything in the first half our players have got to learn to play four quarters we are a young team and young teams do stupid things and it does not help when your coaches are not very good.
J Bo
January 2nd, 2012
6:12 pm
Remember that 4th and 1 in the first half we couldn’t make. Could someone tell me again why big John Jenkins is wearing #6 again.
House Divided
January 2nd, 2012
6:12 pm
I think Tech sucks. She thinks Tech blows. Frickin’ Nerds….go comment on your own crappy season.
bitter QB
January 2nd, 2012
6:12 pm
truth be known—-jim donnan told adams to leave the football field and not to bother him while he was coaching—————–adams fired donnan—————–richt is a a$$ licker
so evan at 6-7—–he will always coach as long as michael –fat—a$$ adams is school president
Snake Doc
January 2nd, 2012
6:12 pm
How’s that orange member taste now boneheads?
Impartial Observer
January 2nd, 2012
6:13 pm
Crowell has as much chance of suiting up for Georgia next year as Herschel.
Boom Boom
January 2nd, 2012
6:13 pm
The drama on this board is better than the REAL HOUSWIVES OF ATLANTA.