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
i'm from Columbus, GA
January 2nd, 2012
1:48 pm
now let IC pound tha rock.
ARdawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:48 pm
Michdawg
Oh, thats what he’s doing? You mean that “I’m going to smash my face into your fist until you get tired” kind’a thing?
DawgNation2010
January 2nd, 2012
1:48 pm
Why is everyone complaining about he fumble that Murray had. The Spartan player made a good play with his helmet on the ball. Murray did nothing wrong. It was a good play by their D period.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:48 pm
Murray is a woman
January 2nd, 2012
1:47 pm
Commercial time. Care to share with us your long list of accomplishments as a D1 College QB?
ricker
January 2nd, 2012
1:48 pm
Grinch…no, I would not.
san diego steve
January 2nd, 2012
1:49 pm
no blog is complete without the all saints garbage post
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
1:49 pm
“Would you prefer Tevin Washington?”
That was hysterical! Guess I’d better lighten up on Murray because it could be much worse!
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:49 pm
Seems like Grantham has gotten here, it seems Bobo is content with playing conservative on offense and letting the defense bail them out. Howcome he doesn’t call plays with fire in his eyes?
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:49 pm
T.E.A.M.- Gary Busey
Together
Everyone
Achieves
More
Classic.
Snoop Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:50 pm
Dawgnation: If you don’t have it in you to fire Markt Wrecked, or even to rise up and say no to a contract extension, then at least could you please insist that we get an OC to match the quality DC we have???
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:50 pm
All Saints
January 2nd, 2012
1:47 pm
Didn’t tekk recently get slapped by the NCAA……..again.
OkieDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:50 pm
Bobo is going to sit on that big lead.
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
1:50 pm
Bobo needs to open it up
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 2nd, 2012
1:51 pm
All Saints :
you’re so right. let’s all take a tebow and hope your mama unlocks the basement door.
san diego steve
January 2nd, 2012
1:51 pm
good trivia question
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:51 pm
600th up the middle play. 601 is the one!
Snoop Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:51 pm
Let’s dump Mike Bobo.. He was a good QB but is a lousy OC.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:51 pm
Aaron Murray: 9 for 9, including the completion to Aaron Murray.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:51 pm
What’s up with our receivers falling after getting touched?
Murray is a woman
January 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
I didn’t play D1
1eyedJack
January 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
Get Orson in the game.
sonofdawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
Bozo needs to call a down field play
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
I’m afraid one of those flare passes to the said may eventually get picked.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
Big-time third down completion to Mitchell.
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
That was all Mitchel
ARdawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
I’m not really worried with Bobo’s play calling. I’m sure we can pick up another 2 points next half
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
Oops, make that “side”.
Snoop Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
UGA does not owe Mike Bobo a job.
sonofdawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
Hey Mark, where is Charles?
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:53 pm
Murray is a woman
January 2nd, 2012
1:52 pm
Exactly.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:53 pm
Mitchell and Bennett have the best hands on the team. But after that LSU game, I’d say Bennett has better hands. How can Mitchell make a catch with a defender all over him, but can’t make a catch when he’s wide open?
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
1:53 pm
Bobo…. Please watch the game you are calling…
DawgNation2010
January 2nd, 2012
1:53 pm
It is official, Bobo is an idiot.
Ooltewahdawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:53 pm
Gotta have a long gain so the defense will have some room when murray turns it over again
san diego steve
January 2nd, 2012
1:53 pm
there will be a 3rd bulldog in the HOF when Champ retires
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
Smart move Murray. get rid of it
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
First incompletion
Pago Pago DAWG
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
The DAWGS have a great running game, tail back u…sad.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
I don’t get this offense.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
Are the RBs making any blocks on those blitzes?
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
And now a sack.
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
I guess no one on the o-line wants to play at the next level. Not a very good audition.
Delaware Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
Maybe we should try running around the end. We haven’t made much progress between the tackles.
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
OUCH!
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
Once again, Justin Anderson gets beat on the play. Horrible RT
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
Bean just getting whipped
1eyedJack
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
Well, he didn’t fumble.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
Give Michigan State some credit. It can play D.
J.J.M.
January 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
georgia sucks..cant run block for nothing
OkieDawg
January 2nd, 2012
1:55 pm
Right side is unblocked. We have to at least not miss the assignments