Isn’t UGA better than the Capital One Bowl? Why, sure it is
For the Bulldogs, getting over the Alabama game won't be easy. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Athens – Depending on the index, Georgia is ranked No. 5 (USA Today coaches’ poll), No. 6 (Associated Press) or No. 7 (BCS) in the land. Counting the national championship game, the BCS fits 10 teams into five postseason games. Georgia, alas, is not among them.
The Bulldogs are bound for the Capital One Bowl, which is essentially the consolation game for losers of conference championships. (Georgia’s opponent is Nebraska, which lost to Wisconsin 70-31 in the Big Ten title tilt.) With three losses, the Cornhuskers probably belong in the Capital One. Georgia does not.
At worst, Georgia is the nation’s third-best team. It went 11-1 in the regular season and won the SEC Eastern Division, which this time around was no junior circuit. (Florida is ranked No. 3 in the BCS standings, South Carolina No. 10). But the Bulldogs were penalized for falling five yards short in one of the greatest games ever played, dropping from No. 3 to No. 7 and sliding below Florida.
Lest we forget, Georgia beat Florida 17-9 on Oct. 27. But the Gators finished with one loss to the Bulldogs’ two, and by virtue of being ranked in the top four Florida was guaranteed a BCS spot. For the second year running, we see the advantage of NOT playing for the SEC championship: In 2011 Alabama played for the BCS title without risking a loss in the Georgia Dome on the first Saturday in December, and now Florida gets to play in a BCS game ahead of the SEC loser.
This isn’t to say Florida is undeserving: At worst, the Gators are the nation’s fourth-best team. This is to say that the system – stop if you’ve heard this one – stinks. Northern Illinois (No. 16 in the BCS standings) and Louisville (No. 21) will grace BCS games, but Georgia will not. The Bulldogs are the highest-ranked team to be excluded from the Big Five postseason games.
And this sits with the Bulldogs … well, about the way you’d think. “Maybe a little bit robbed,” was quarterback Aaron Murray’s assessment. “We definitely feel like we’re a BCS-caliber team. I think we proved that all season long. I think we proved that in the SEC Championship Game — that we belong with the best.”
Tight end Arthur Lynch, speaking of the epic loss to Alabama: “We’ve proved ourselves worthy to be in that situation. Some people have said it was a de facto national championship game. In my opinion, those were the two best teams in the country.”
Then this: “I’m not unhappy with the Capital One, but the national championship was the only game I wanted to go to. If we were in New Orleans (for the BCS-level Sugar Bowl), that wouldn’t be where I wanted to be.”
Wide receiver Tavarres King, measuring his words: “I don’t really think anything. The system is OK. I really can’t say much more.”
But he did. He said this: “I’d love to see an eight-game playoff. If you go head-to-head with teams in this conference, you might slip up. We certainly deserve a BCS bid.”
The argument can be made that, if you’re not playing for the BCS title, it doesn’t matter where you land. Monetarily that’s not true, and psychically it isn’t, either. The BCS system – which will yield to a four-team playoff come to 2014 – has created a three-tier system: Tier 1 is the championship game; Tier 2 consists of the other four BCS bowls; Tier 3 is everything else.
The BCS allows a conference only two spots in its Big Five. (Unless two teams from the same league are matched in the BCS title game and neither is the conference champion, which could never happen.) But when the bigger leagues grow by the minute and the Big East descends to Sun Belt level, is such a provision fair? Would the New Year be lessened if the Sugar Bowl, say, featured a rematch of Georgia-Florida?
Said Mark Richt, Georgia’s coach: “Is Florida deserving of the (BCS) opportunity? I think they are. I think we are, too.”
For the record, Richt and many Bulldogs lauded the Capital One. “Everyone is exited to go to Disney World,” Murray said. “Everyone wants to use their (bowl-provided) Best Buy gift cards.”
But danger awaits in Orlando. Georgia is clearly the superior team – Nebraska is ranked No. 23 by AP – but Georgia mightn’t have the greater motivation. Asked if he feared his team might believe it’s too good for the Capital One, Richt said: “I don’t think anybody is thinking that. The Capital One is a great bowl. Nebraska is a great program.”
Those are nice words from a famously nice man, but the reality is rather different. Thirty days after losing a national semifinal by four points and five yards, Georgia will face a much lesser opponent in a more austere setting. Spend those Best Buy gift bucks wisely, guys.
By Mark Bradley
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614 comments Add your comment
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 13th, 2012
3:25 pm
@GT Bobby…Do you see that admin looking to hire another coach after the 2013 season or will the buyout be too large.
kingdaddy
December 13th, 2012
3:25 pm
Willie
3:21 is too true…
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 13th, 2012
3:31 pm
kingdaddy
Im trashing the delusional fanbase; so get used to it
You want to talk about whinning fans its fans that come on here and blame the refs or bama was lucky or we were 4 yds short
Im tired of the delusional next year talk; the we have everyone coming back on offense garbage
Give me a break
no Im a dawg fan and will always be one but I refuse to embarrass myself by coming on this blog spouting delusional garbage that isnt going to happen
keep living the dream and wear your Knocking on The Door To Greatness T-shirt with pride this coming year
Donald
December 13th, 2012
3:40 pm
Um Flagboy — re-read your post; your AD admitted he was uncomfortable with buying out of games, but……
Yes it was a mutual decision; Georgia agreed to pay Oregon $250,000 and Oregon agreed to say it was a mutual agreement:)
It appears that Georgia used the excuse that it was too much travel to go to Oregon; I guess the fact that Oregon is on the West Coast was unkown to your AD Damon Evans when he scheduled the game. Here is what CBS Sports said about the cancellation:
“Oregon agreed when Georgia asked to cancel a two-game series with the Ducks in 2015-16. Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said in 2010 there was “mutual agreement” to cancel the series, but that’s another technicality. Georgia wanted out and Oregon allowed it to happen, even allowed Georgia to save face by calling the decision “mutual.” “
ARdawg
December 13th, 2012
3:41 pm
GTBob
” UGA will always be the better team when they play GT. Whether they win or lose.”
No Bobby, now if I let you end it with that, that would mean our entire discourse today would have been for naught. When, that’s “when” GT beats UGA that is a clear indicator that GT is the better team. Unfortunately for you Bob, that’s just once every 13 years or so
It’s proven on the field of play Bobby. Wins and losses on the field of play. The fantasies in the minds of the balding, aging overweight fans and their opinions mean nothing. It’s determined on the field. Wins and losses Bob. If that is the point you were trying to make with the “such and such plays a soft schedule and lost to such or such so that means all of the teams they beat, are better than them. Do you see just how silly you look Bob?
UGA Fan
December 13th, 2012
3:41 pm
“Coward of Bulldawg County
December 13th, 2012
12:36 pm
so why is the loser punished so harshly?
____________________
just win the damn game…”
Where was YOUR team in Game #13?
GTBob
December 13th, 2012
3:48 pm
@GT Bobby…Do you see that admin looking to hire another coach after the 2013 season or will the buyout be too large.
It depends on our record next year.
6-6 or worse: Hes probably gone
7-5: He is in trouble
8-4 or better: He is probably safe
Beating UGA or winning the ACC would keep him around also, regardless of the record.
GTBob
December 13th, 2012
3:51 pm
When, that’s “when” GT beats UGA that is a clear indicator that GT is the better team.
Really its not. UGA will always have the better team. Every once in a while GT will play above their heads or UGA will have a bad game and GT will get a rare win. It is the perfect example of our entire discussion. GT winning doesn’t make them better than UGA it means they got a stroke of luck for once.
againstcorruption
December 13th, 2012
3:55 pm
If Georgia had the one time out back that was used at a bad time, on defense, they would and should be playing for the national championship.
ARdawg
December 13th, 2012
4:07 pm
GTBob
Personally, having played the sport years ago made me a firm believer that players/teams made their own luck. Playing the game to win against better teams often resulted in in making you the better team. Sometimes such as the recent Georgia/Bama game we would like to believe we’re better than Bama but, we’re not. This time
Coward of Bulldawg County
December 13th, 2012
4:09 pm
Sometimes such as the recent Georgia/Bama game we would like to believe we’re better than Bama but, we’re not. This time
++++++++++++
how about not anytime soon…
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 13th, 2012
4:16 pm
The only difference in Bama and UGA is the discipline of the teams. UGA thinks they’re the better team and talk like the better team but when shat hit s the fan and things don’t go there way they mope. The Bama team is focused and don’t get lost in the ups and downs of the game and they know they will win in the end and the believe that more than anything. It does always workout that way but they still go to work everyday believing that is the case. Even thoug A&M and Johnny Football played a great game and got most all the breaks Bama cameback and had 1st and goal from the 6/7 to win. JMO but I don’t think Mark can teach that at UGA. He is lucky that the HS football is so good and the number of players to select and wish to play is UGA is so high. I understand he is a great person but that fact is his record vs very good football teams show a red flag.
MLS
December 13th, 2012
4:19 pm
They dont even deserve that bowl. The only people that think they are are Ga. fans. Everyone is not as hung up on them as the Atlanta Constapation Urinal is!!! Go Bama!!! Go Clemson!!! Go Gators!!! Go anyone except Ga!!!!
ARdawg
December 13th, 2012
4:34 pm
Coward
How about you are a mindless troll and Nerd fan
Ray Tardinski
December 13th, 2012
4:40 pm
“Wait until next year”, the Georgia Mantra for 30 plus years….
kingdaddy
December 13th, 2012
4:52 pm
Flats
many more fans see the truth than make excuses. According to you, if you aren’t trashing UGA, then then you must drink koolaide and be delusional, lol. No middle of the road for you sport. It’s one extreme or the other. When we beat UN., and rake in a great recruiting haul and end up ranked in the top 3-4 in the country, stayoff the bandwagon. Until then, you’re no different than any other troll. They claim to be fans too. Look up fan in the dictionary. BTW, who was it that shot John Lennon? I think he was a fan too…
After further review
December 13th, 2012
4:53 pm
Let’s review:
Before the BCS:
Rose Bowl was PAC 10 (now PAC 12) champion vs. Big 10 (now B1G) champion
Sugar Bowl was the SEC champion vs. best they could get
Orange Bowl was the ACC champion vs. best they could get
Fiesta Bowl was Big 12 champion vs. best they could get.
National Champs: whomever the polls said after the bowl games were played
With the BCS, the arrangements are the same, but with some additions:
The same basic tie-ins to conference champions exist, unless a conference champion is number 1 or number 2 in the BCS standings, in which case they go to the BCS Championship game. When that happens the BCS bowls that lose the conference champion to the national championship game get to pick who replaces the conference champ in their bowl game. In addition to the champions of the five conference mentioned in the pre-BCS section, the conference champion from the Big East is automatically in (which explains why Louisville and FSU are in a BCS game), as is Notre Dame, if they are ranked high enough. The BCS bowls will generally try to honor the pre-BCS tie-ins they have with conferences. but they cannot take more than two from any one conference. Champions of non-qualifying conferences can be picked for the national championship game, if ranked 1 or 2 in the final BCS poll, or if they finish in the top 16 and above at least one chamion form an AQ conference (NIU did exactly that).
It isn’t a perfect system, and it won’t be even when it goes to the four-team, and 1 system, as there will almost always be somebody who can make a strong case they got left out. The one improvement over the prior system is that you always get 1 vs.2 on the field in the national championship game, whereas that didn’t always happen under the old system. In that system, if #1 squeaked by #20 in the Rose Bowl (where they were playing because that’s where their conference champ had to play), while #2 slaughtered # 5 in the Cotton Bowl, who’s the national champ?
As I mentioned earlier in the thread, the two per conference rule allows a team such as Florida to move ahead of a team that edged them out to play in the conference championship game by virtue of having the same record and the tiebreaker. It not only got Florida into the Sugar Bowl this year (and if you’re really honest with yourself, Florida did play a tougher schedule than UGA this year) , it got Alabama into the national championship game last year. The fact that Alabama won convincingly last year is probably indiciative that they belonged there. If Florida wins the Sugar Bowl convincingly (and I suspect they will), then the same logic applies. This would be especially true if Georgia struggles with or loses to Nebraska. If, on the other hand, Georgia soundly thumps Nebraska and Florida falls to Louisville, then Bulldog fans have a legitamate gripe about being passed over by the Sugar Bowl.
mike punk slive
December 13th, 2012
4:57 pm
ga gator
Georgia can’t beat Alabama or LSU as evidenced by their showing the last 2 years in SEC Championship game
Geaux Tigers….Bi@@ch
Diogenes
December 13th, 2012
5:08 pm
Nothing whines like a bulldog! We are so good, we could beat most NFL teams, who cares that we are 1-11 against ranked teams, we just ran out of time, were 5 yards short, or they cheated. Grow up! Quit whining, strutting or bobble-heading when you actually do something and act like men. Georgia fans are the biggest crybabies I have ever seen.
Techster
December 13th, 2012
5:09 pm
Oh man! It will be so much fun if the dogs get whipped by the cornshuckers. Can you imagine the crying we’ll hear then?
Diogenes
December 13th, 2012
5:12 pm
Oh yeah, I almost forgot another classic bulldog whine: “The refs hate us and have cheated us in all those loses against ranked teams.”
Diogenes
December 13th, 2012
5:17 pm
Oh yeah, I almost forgot another classic bulldog whine: “The refs hate us and have cheated us in all those loses against ranked teams.” Whine, whines whine, whimper, whimper.
Diogenes
December 13th, 2012
5:18 pm
Tech steer, that will be great. I hope it happens. Pups will be whimpering then!
Techster
December 13th, 2012
5:19 pm
In the event they lose to the cornshuckers, dog fans are probably thinking up their excuses now. I sure hope we hear some new excuses next time.
kingdaddy
December 13th, 2012
5:40 pm
What’s up Nerdsters?
We can’t wait to hear the Tech fans (both of you) after USC destroys the bugs. I can hear it now,”well they beat us by 40 points, but we had 500 yards rushing, lol, we showed them…”
DawgByte
December 13th, 2012
6:01 pm
MB – I agree with you, UGA is better than the Capital One Bowl this year. I saw a recent Bowl Team Power Ranking and UGA came in at #3, which is right where it should be.
No sense in crying over spilled milk. We’ve got Nebraska, so it’s time to take them to the wood shed and put 75 points on their arses. GATA Dawgs!
Tndawg
December 13th, 2012
6:03 pm
I love that Gordon guy and Gt boob. They both have good arguments don’t they? But one smal little bitty fact: their teams got BEAT, BEAT, BEAT by GEORGIA! Cry over this and that but your teams were suckers. We are yo daddy! Shut up and go to your own blog! BEAT BY GEORGIA!
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
6:08 pm
Donald
December 13th, 2012
3:40 pm
Um Flagboy — re-read your post; your AD admitted he was uncomfortable with buying out of games, but……
Yes it was a mutual decision; Georgia agreed to pay Oregon $250,000 and Oregon agreed to say it was a mutual agreement:)
It appears that Georgia used the excuse that it was too much travel to go to Oregon; I guess the fact that Oregon is on the West Coast was unkown to your AD Damon Evans when he scheduled the game. Here is what CBS Sports said about the cancellation:
“Oregon agreed when Georgia asked to cancel a two-game series with the Ducks in 2015-16. Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said in 2010 there was “mutual agreement” to cancel the series, but that’s another technicality. Georgia wanted out and Oregon allowed it to happen, even allowed Georgia to save face by calling the decision “mutual.” “
_______________________
No surprise here. UGA’s never championed strong OOC scheduling, choosing instead to hide behind the ol’ “everybody else does it” excuse. And fact of the matter is, just about everybody else does do it, but that doesn’t make the chicken-sh*t aspect of it any more acceptable.
Just gotta hope FBS teams come to their senses someday and realize that scheduling creampuffs hurts them in the long run. The games are boring, and seldom competitive; thousands of seats are empty; there’s no major network TV–if there’s any TV at all; if you win, it’s “so what”; if you lose, your program is forever stained; it hurts your ranking at the end of the season, when the scrutiny of your schedule intensifies; AND you have to pay them a million bucks to come to your place and bend over.
And all that’s a good thing? BS. They’re cowards–every one of them.
RGB
December 13th, 2012
6:49 pm
If a meteor had struck Eddie Lacy and AJ McCarron and Nick Saban simultaneously just prior to the game, Georgia would be in the championship game.
RGB
December 13th, 2012
7:04 pm
“It’s a game that will probably haunt me the rest of my life, honestly,” he said.”
–Aaron Murray
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 13th, 2012
7:14 pm
@GT Bob…at the end of 2013 Tech money folks need to send Paul packing and hire Mike Leach. You can’t allow the program to fall much lower. With as many good HS players in the state GT should be able to get off the mat and back into the game. If Mike can attrack enough talent to TT then he should be able to do well in the state of Georgia. Get rid of the russel southern uniform BS. I am sure Paul is a good person but these HS kids don’t want any part of the Bone anymore so give them the spread and get back into the race. Bama just finished paying off Mike Shula in 2012 for his 3 million we owed him so it can be done.
Rooster Chief
December 13th, 2012
7:40 pm
Quit whining. You jumped all over Spurrier last year when he complained that the Gamecocks beat everyone in the SEC-East INCLUDING Georgia, and Georgia still went to Atlanta for the championship game. Here’s the deal. Georgia lost. There is nothing wrong with the Capital One Bowl nor Georgia’s finish of the season. Get over it.
MZmiller
December 13th, 2012
7:51 pm
Mark Bradley:
You know what’s funny? Georgia revisionist history. You bitch and moan about UF, but totally ignore LSU.
I won’t: Both UGA and LSU have 2 losses. Both lost to Bama. LSU beats USC, GA gets humiliated by USC. Squashed. GA was losing by 35 points with 2 minutes left in the game.
GA QB threw for 109 yards in the loss.
Better than UF? hell georgia isn’t better than LSU OR SC
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 13th, 2012
8:25 pm
kingdaddy
you are a sick moron with a post like that; you need serious help
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 13th, 2012
8:32 pm
kingdaddy
and as for nebraska if we lose to them that will be almost as bad as the UCF loss Nebraska is terrible;
and as for the recruiting bandwaggon;
UGA has brought in more top 10 recruiting class than any school in the FBS since 1998 and guess what we still lose 2 or more ballgames every season
keep dreaming troll and wear that Knocking on The Door To Greatness t-shirt with pride
and again seek help for that last comment what a sick individual you are
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
8:52 pm
MZmiller
December 13th, 2012
7:51 pm
Mark Bradley:
You know what’s funny? Georgia revisionist history. You bitch and moan about UF, but totally ignore LSU.
I won’t: Both UGA and LSU have 2 losses. Both lost to Bama. LSU beats USC, GA gets humiliated by USC. Squashed. GA was losing by 35 points with 2 minutes left in the game.
GA QB threw for 109 yards in the loss.
Better than UF? hell georgia isn’t better than LSU OR SC
______________________
You forgot to mention how LSU fared against fla–a team that UGA shut down without allowing a TD. You wanna tell the blog how LSU did against fla? Need a little help remembering? Just let me know.
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
9:01 pm
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 13th, 2012
8:32 pm
UGA has brought in more top 10 recruiting class than any school in the FBS since 1998 and guess what we still lose 2 or more ballgames every season
_____________________
” . . . we still lose 2 or more ballgames every season”?
EVERY season? What was UGA’s record at the end of the 2002 season?
Hello?
kingdaddy
December 13th, 2012
9:10 pm
Flats
my last comment was to the Nerdsters, pay attention…
why don’t you define sick, I thought I described you pretty good. You think we are all idiot koolaid drinkers while you are doing the Doggies a favor trashing them nonstop. Put your big-boy panties on and tune down the rightous indignation, it doesn’t suit you…you sir, are the one with problems. You claim to be a fan but you hate everything about this team. You side with the trolls and Dawg-haters while laughing at UGA every chance you get. Am I sick? Yeap, I’m sick of your belly-aching…
32-28
December 13th, 2012
9:10 pm
Somebody please remind Georgia fans and Mr. Bradley that UGA did lose to South Carolina and Alabama and in one game they looked like Georgia State.
32-28
December 13th, 2012
9:14 pm
Dawgnole going back 10 years to make a point.
Too many NFL caliber players not to have won at least one BCS title or even played in a BCS title game.
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 13th, 2012
9:19 pm
kingdaddy
Im not belly aching
The program is what it is; its the delusional fanbase that I enjoy giving a good dose of reality
as for your comment it was uncalled for
The Beaver
December 13th, 2012
9:21 pm
The same scenario in 2007 as this year but the Humpers memory is shorter than their schlong. UGA got beat by Tn and SC, then Tn lost to LSU in the SECCG and UGA went to the Sugar against Hawaii. Remember that boys?
gy6
December 13th, 2012
9:23 pm
shut up. those are the rules. UG is not special, no matter what the third grade truck driver fans may think. get overvit.
kingdaddy
December 13th, 2012
9:25 pm
DawgNole
some people can dish it out, but they can’t take it very well. Don’t know if Flats is a Lennon fan or a Mark David Chapman fan? Oh well, we know he’s not a Dawg fan anymore. (If he ever was) I hate trashing Flats, but he needs to make up his mind, he’s a fan , or not. Hope he gets his panties out of a wad…
kingdaddy
December 13th, 2012
9:31 pm
Flats,
I will try to never say anything uncalled for again…
BTW, what was it I said you objected to? I thought I’ve been rather nice today. Whatever it was I said, I guess I’m sorry. We good now??
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 13th, 2012
9:32 pm
kingdaddy
Just because I live in the world of reality doesnt make me a non fan
Sorry to disrupt your kool-aid parade but UGA is and will continue to Knock On the Door to 2 Loss Seasons and continue to back its way into an SEC championship game
Sorry that you cannot handle reality; I guess thats what happens when you become a full time employee at Disney World
Robert
December 13th, 2012
9:33 pm
…get a grip…everyone is working hard and giving their best…anyone here coached a team…its work and you do all you can do!
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 13th, 2012
9:40 pm
At almost $5 million a year; I sure hope the coaching staff is working a little hard
Robert
December 13th, 2012
9:42 pm
yes…I bet they are working hard
Robert
December 13th, 2012
9:50 pm
Flats…ever coached a team? Be Honest Please