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
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
2:03 pm
Why do we continue to line up in the “I”
MSU defense is very good. Don’t play into their strenght
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:04 pm
Nobody open. Coverage sack.
san diego steve
January 2nd, 2012
2:04 pm
Anyone know if Grimes will play against the Giants?
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
2:04 pm
Bean getting whipped again
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:04 pm
Murray tends to hold onto the ball too long. Idiot.
huffsleeper
January 2nd, 2012
2:04 pm
get rid of the ball murray
Bill Clinton
January 2nd, 2012
2:04 pm
Ok Monica, blow my head off!…….
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
2:04 pm
Well. I take that back. Bean couldn’t help that one.
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
THIS OFFENSE SUX!
i'm from Columbus, GA
January 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
that #2 makin us look like punks. maybe IC needs to be chippin that man.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
Michigan State has 43 yards of total offense.
gmandog
January 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
At 9:00 in the second quarter, I am predicting the Spartans will win by a touchdown. The play calling is dismall. Five times up the middle and two yards gained. Spartans will start blitzing and shut down the passing game. With no running game Richt loses another big game.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
Both defenses are outstanding.
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
Is is me or does this game look like last years bowl game. Awful on the offense
Hairy Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
Well, at least we aren’t sharp today.
80sDawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
I guess we don’t call holds this game
ricker
January 2nd, 2012
2:05 pm
This GA offense just sucks…and no, Grinch, I wouldn’t rather have the Bad News Bears…so don’t ask…
short memories
January 2nd, 2012
2:06 pm
Bobo has been scouted and is being schooled by the defense
G
January 2nd, 2012
2:06 pm
UGA offensive line getting absolutely dominated!! Pathetic
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:06 pm
Rambo with the breakup.
UGA will lose
January 2nd, 2012
2:07 pm
Anyone know if Grimes will play against the Giants?
——
It doesn’t matter. Just like UGA today the Falcons will lose next week. Overrated coaching and overrated QB’s always lose big games.
Sid
January 2nd, 2012
2:07 pm
you all know that the Preacher is not gonna make any changes.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:07 pm
Spartan fans wanted interference. I didn’t think so.
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:07 pm
Our defense is great. I don’t care what anybody says. Rambo is the best safety in the country.
huffsleeper
January 2nd, 2012
2:07 pm
how long can the defense hold out. Hopefully longer than they did against LSU
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
2:07 pm
Open it up!!!!
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:08 pm
Michigan State isn’t scoring 42 points, huffsleeper.
Columbus_dawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:08 pm
How can Rambo be the best safety in the country when he gets burned so often?
ricker
January 2nd, 2012
2:08 pm
Hey MichDawg…thanks for that keen insight…we could hardly go another minute without knowing what you think of us…
G
January 2nd, 2012
2:08 pm
Anybody having trouble getting the game live thru GTV?
bill
January 2nd, 2012
2:09 pm
Does this mean we won’t be playing in next year’s NCG? Geez Louise, is there any wonder why this team gets criticized…show a pulse guys!
Rilo
January 2nd, 2012
2:09 pm
3rd and 3 and we run 20+ pass routes. If any of you think Bobo is the answer you are wrong.
i'm from Columbus, GA
January 2nd, 2012
2:09 pm
Rambo might be a nickleback at LSU or Bama. he aint all that.
cousin vicker
January 2nd, 2012
2:09 pm
Derek Dooley, whom I thought was a solid hire at UT, appears to be in over his head. I’m basing this not only on record, but how he is dealing with recruits. He probably needed some more seasoning at lower level schools.
Ooltewahdawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:09 pm
Does Bobo know what a toss sweep is?
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
2:10 pm
Since we can’t block…. try a delayed screen
Joe Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
2:10 pm
Spartan band just had a mass seizure…
Refs stink
January 2nd, 2012
2:10 pm
ANOTHER pass int on GA not called. Sorry, but when the DB grabs (B smith play) the WR or in this past case (B Rambo) hits WR before, even it’s JUST before the ball arrives, it’s still pass int.
And MSU if STUPID for not changing the play call on their 1st snap to a quick snap run up the middle when GA’s defense wasn’t even on the field yet. Refs blew play ready, yet MSU waits for GA D to get in place. Stupid
Paul in NH
January 2nd, 2012
2:10 pm
Wow – who would have thought that UGA-MSU would have less scoring than ALA-LSU?
Jimmy Crack
January 2nd, 2012
2:10 pm
Throw it to Orson, Aaron. Or our favorite missing person, #15.
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
2:10 pm
Columbus Dawg, the only play I saw Rambo get beat on this year was in the UF game on that 4th down play
Rilo
January 2nd, 2012
2:10 pm
Screen play….running backs in the flats…..either of these would have been called by now….but not with Bobo.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
We seriously need to do something more than 3 and out. The D needs the break and eventually we may lose the kicking field position.
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
Not a bad call
Alphare
January 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
dawgs are horrible.
Mark Bradley
January 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
Crowell catches pass. Crowell limps off.
The Grinch
January 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
Crowell “limped” off.
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
Bean again. Geez
Average Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:11 pm
Justin Anderson needs to go. I’m glad it’s his last game. GOOD RIDDANCE
DIT
January 2nd, 2012
2:12 pm
OG GOOD GRIEF!