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
evansdawg
December 12th, 2012
4:03 pm
Make no mistake about it. The two best teams in the country played in the SEC Championship game. The only team in the country that could’ve beaten Bama that night was UGA. The only team that could beat UGA that night was Bama. Anyone else would’ve folded under a game that physical and full of emotion. The country will see the separation when ND can’t score on Bama in the NC game. That game is NOT going to be close at all.
Bimbo16
December 12th, 2012
4:03 pm
If Florida is better than UGA then UGA is better than Alabama because smaller margin of loss.
Tcunningham
December 12th, 2012
4:03 pm
Enter your comments here
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2012
4:04 pm
MB – The scary thought to me is what happens if someone gets injured? Suppose a Lattimore-type injury happens to a guy like Jarvis Jones in a bowl game that means NOTHING. Think about that.
One of the biggest problems with the system (and it will remain so for a long, long time), is that anything but the championship (or playoff) means absolutely nothing. Sure, it plays a role in next season’s pre-season rankings, but if you win, you’ll move up anyway. Ultimately, it is like a backyard game – just playing for fun (and tons of $$$). Ultimately the game has the same significance as the Pro Bowl, but the players aren’t being paid. If I’m a player with an NFL future, I don’t even try – why risk your future on a meaningless game?
Slinkie
December 12th, 2012
4:07 pm
When UGAg beats somebody significant, they might earn some respect. Historically, they choke in the big games. In 2012, nine of the teams they beat had a losing record. Not a real impressive resume.
ARdawg
December 12th, 2012
4:07 pm
We are just another 2 loss SEC team that had a chance for the big game and lost that chance. ca serra
We’re a good team that was 4 yards short in a game of inches.
Mark Bradley, thank you my man for some fresh content. The online sports department has been “lasking” of late
ARdawg
December 12th, 2012
4:08 pm
“lacking too”
Andy
December 12th, 2012
4:08 pm
@Gordon–so you are suggesting that Florida is now better than UGA because UGA barely lost a game that Florida was unworthy to even play in and despite the fact that UGA was decidedly the better team on that wonderful day in October when Florida could not hold onto the ball? Sorry pal, but you can’t go back and decide the SEC East Champion based on W-L record AFTER the championship game–it just doesn’t work like that.
beebee
December 12th, 2012
4:10 pm
another soon-to-be 12-page blog schlog all about the whining Georgia Bulldogs!
Tell you what: You go to El Paso, and Highly under-ranked, atrociously under-regarded Yellow Jackets will go play
Nebraska in Orlando instead. It would be fitting, after all, since the LAST team from Georgia to win a National Championship played that team in that city!
But if not, please SHUT UP and just go down there and show us what you THINK you got!
bee
P.S. I hope my good friend GTBob is around for this one. Are you, Bob?
2003 Heartbreak
December 12th, 2012
4:10 pm
The answer is…”yes” the Dawgs are more deserving to go to a BCS bowl, BUT we (UGA) need to learn to take aggression out on these “lesser” teams to prove a point. The Sugar Bowl against Hawaii is about the only example that I can think of in recent memory. The truth is the Dawgs are on a two game bowl losing streak against two “lesser” teams and have been embarrassed both times. (ie UCF and Michigan State). Can’t score a touchdown against UCF and can’t kick a field goal against the Spartans. The Dawgs need to look at the Capital One Bowl as a springboard in recruiting and starting 2013 ranked decently and on a roll.
Tcunningham
December 12th, 2012
4:11 pm
Can we get past this talk on what seems like a daily basis. We played our hearts. Came up short. Take advantage of the practice time in December for the bowl game as well as next year. I will be hard pressed to think that Jarvis jones will not show up to play and the same for tk and Aaron Murray. Beat them and then let’s start focusing Clemson. on a side note if you are a Georgia fan whether you want to or not U better pull for Alabama to wax Norte dame or our effort looks Not as good. If you can pull for notre dame in this game more power to U but find someone else to pull for next year besides ga.
dmr
December 12th, 2012
4:11 pm
A lot will be made of the upcoming game against Nebraska. So is the world of sports. In reality, this game is an award to seniors and juniors soon to depart and a chance to see what the youth of this team may be capable of going forward. The BCS cheapens any game other than the National Championship. So the outcome of this game, even as a Georgia fan, is not nearly as important to me as kids gaining experience and everyone coming away healthy.
The fact that you are basically penalized for playing in the SEC Championship game is like having the Falcons losing their last regular season game and then being replaced in the playoffs by New Orleans because on the surface we subjectively view them as a better team. Florida is deserving of a BCS Bowl, due to having only one loss. Problem is their one loss comes to a team that was ranked #9 when they were ranked #2. You get the point.
Just hope Georgia finds depth on “D” for next season, that all the kids come out with no injuries, and that RICHARD SAMUEL IV gets some deserved playing time as the player I call “MR. TEAMMATE”.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:12 pm
Sorry but after going 2-2 against teams with winning records, 1-2 against ranked teams, and getting blown out by South Carolina, UGA should feel fortunate to even make the Capitol One bowl. Did they do anything at all this year aside from beating Florida in one of the worst football games ever played? Sorry, but no one really cares that they came close to beating Alabama. So did LSU and Texas A&M actually beat them. Barely losing to someone isn’t an achievement.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:15 pm
on a side note if you are a Georgia fan whether you want to or not U better pull for Alabama to wax Norte dame or our effort looks Not as good.
Alabama beating Notre Dame isn’t going to change anyone’s opinion of UGA. SEC fans really need to stop living in this mythical world where other teams success makes them look better.
Lindsey
December 12th, 2012
4:16 pm
What is the distance from Orlando to Miami? For the Bulldogs it is 5 yards
So proud of the Dawgs this year, it was a great season!!
Gordon
December 12th, 2012
4:16 pm
@Andy,
The purpose of the SEC Championship game is to determine the SEC Champion. Somehow you believe UGA’s appearance in the game outweighs the entire body of work of the regular season. Last year, Alabama played for and won the national championship without even appearing in the game. How was that possible? Because of their body of work over the entire season. The loser of the SEC Championship game is just that and nothing more. There isn’t a trophy for winning the SEC East.
I applaud UGA and the season they had, and especially the incredible game they played against Alabama. But a great effort doesn’t cancel out Florida’s entire body of work, which was obviously better than UGA’s.
j
December 12th, 2012
4:16 pm
LOL! While I admit UGA played way better than I thought against Bama, they were still 1-3 against real teams. They were not better than Carolina in the east, just had an easier schedule.
DawginLex
December 12th, 2012
4:16 pm
All we heard for years from the gators is how we backed into ATL by losing to them.
This year we didn’t back in
We deserved to be there and played Bama toe to toe and lost.
Can’t complain about the system until it gets changed
I just hope we show up ready to play in Orlando.
Not many Georgia football teams have won 12 games
Joey
December 12th, 2012
4:17 pm
All great points Mark.
But everybody knew what was at stake in that (SECCG) game. And everybody knew where the loser was gonna get.
The best commentary UGA can make on the situation, is to kick Nebraska’s butt.
JD
December 12th, 2012
4:18 pm
They aren’t in the bowl on Jan 7, so who cares? What difference does it make? If the loser of the SEC championship game doesn’t want to drop in the polls, don’t play the game. Texas A&M beat Alabama, should they be ranked higher? Florida beat S.C. and S.C. beat UGA, who is better? Florida lost one game, that’s why they are ranked higher than UGA who lost two.
SPURRIER IS IN UGA'S HEAD
December 12th, 2012
4:19 pm
FL played and beat how many top 10 teams? GA played and beat how many top 10 teams? If GA had played LSU, Texas A&M, or Bama in regular season you wouldn’t even be writing this article.
GoaskBK
December 12th, 2012
4:20 pm
What was UGA’s second best win (after UF)? Vandy?
Realistically, Vandy was Florida’s 5th best win, after LSU, A&M, SC, and FSU.
And – UF was a blocked punt away from GOING TO OVERTIME against LA-Lafayette. They certainly could have lost the game….they could have won it too.
It’s a shame the facts have to get in the way of a good story…
Good luck and best wishes to ALL the SEC schools in their respective bowls.
Alphare
December 12th, 2012
4:20 pm
So even if the 4-team playoff system is in place today, UGA still cannot be part of it.
That being said, should SEC abandon SECCG?
WaaaahhhWaaaahhh Dawg
December 12th, 2012
4:21 pm
had yr chance dawggies and you blew it- easy schedule and you blew it, needed 6 turnovers from FL to win that game- if murray had spiked the ball and stopped the clock you would have had at least two more plays-
http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/12/01/georgia-aaron-murray-spike-alabama/1739943/
murray is looking over to the sideline doing the spike the ball motion with his arm- coaches say “no we know what plays to run go ahead”… the coaches blew it- blame righteous richt and bobo. you had your chance and you blew it dawggies. stop blaming FL. and stop whining! you’ll have another chance in 2042- besides orlando is nice this time of year..ha ha
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:24 pm
If almost beating Alabama counts as a positive for UGA then shouldn’t almost losing to Kentucky and Tennessee count as a negative?
GB's Hamburgers
December 12th, 2012
4:24 pm
I’m a UGA fan but truth is it’s an under achieving team. So, with their record against good teams and bowl performances to bolster this conclusion, let’s not embarrass the SEC in an even more high profile bowl.
bham dawg
December 12th, 2012
4:24 pm
@Mark Bradley… Why would you play in the bowl game? Ask Jarvis Jones what that last game of his georgia career means to him. He loves his team and he loves UGA. You are dumb if you don’t think this game means something to the seniors and players going pro.
SlowBall
December 12th, 2012
4:25 pm
Why is anyone complaining about a bowl system that’s screwed up from the outset? In a true 8 team playoff scenario, Georgia would be playing a first round game against probably a 2, 3 or 4 seed and the name and location of the bowl wouldn’t matter one bit.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:25 pm
It makes no difference who or when was on the schedule, it’s wins and losses Bobby, wins and losses
Then you accept that Florida and Northern Illinois were better teams than UGA was?
Dawgswhinenpiss
December 12th, 2012
4:26 pm
Is this all you dawgs ever do?
Whine Whine Whine
Whine Whine Whine
Whine Whine Whine
Whine Whine Whine
Whine Whine Whine
Lay under the porch and Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine
Sniff each others butts and Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine
Hump each others legs and Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine Whine
GADad
December 12th, 2012
4:26 pm
Keep in mind, if that tipped pass fell incomplete, there was NO guarantee Georgia would have scored on the next 1 or 2 plays. Bulldogs played a great game but to say a tipped pass kept them from playing for the NC is something of a stretch.
Bobby Ross
December 12th, 2012
4:28 pm
I remember a certain Georgia school winning the whole thing on that field in Orlando almost 23 years ago…….
Alphare
December 12th, 2012
4:28 pm
The 4-yard short theory really catches my nerve:
1. If the Bama player had his 2 hands 2-inch closer during UGA’s last drive, he would have an interception instead of being overturned. 2 inches are a whole lot of shorter than 4 yards.
2. During Bama’s last drive, they were 3-yard short of a first down compared to UGA’s 4-yard shortage. Otherwise, they would automatically kill the remaining seconds.
And the if-not-tipped theory. So the UGA player would definitely catch the ball? He was tightly cover by a BAMA player, by the way, if you didn’t notice.
sarfdawg
December 12th, 2012
4:30 pm
GTBob, 42-10. I know you’ll have some excuse or clever remark that will make you feel better or try to seem smarter, but 42-10 is where it begins and ends for you.
Jason
December 12th, 2012
4:30 pm
Ignore Gordon. He’s just trolling. Who else can look at a head to head loss and still think the loser has a better team? Stop giving him the satisfaction.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
4:30 pm
Georgia Tech fans have no room to talk on this board. Beat us, and then talk. Until then, shut the hell up. 42-10 says it all and so does 12-1 record since Richt has been here. UGA deserves to be in the Sugar Bowl. We were basically penalized for playing in the SEC title game.
bham dawg
December 12th, 2012
4:31 pm
@Waaaaaaaaaa…explain how we blew it? we were in position to win the biggest game of the year and the alabama defender made a great play and tipped the ball. If the ball isn’t tipped and it falls incomplete we still have time to run another play maybe two. It would have been the same as spiking the ball but by running a play you don’t give the defense time to adjust personell. Sometimes you have to give credit to the other team. What was your team doing on Dec. 1? Getting blown out and ending with a losing record once again. Remind me what bowl y’all are playing in?
Joey
December 12th, 2012
4:31 pm
Enter your comments here
Tcunningham
December 12th, 2012
4:31 pm
Gtbob .why in the h do. U care what they say about ga. U need to take ur team and get in the southern conference,,,oops sorry u already tried that with middle tenn.. I meant the NAIA conference . U had your chance to stay in the sec and chose not to. Now u gonna let Charlie strong come in and consistently compete for the acc championship. Let me know when that 3 game package for ur home games that will include ga goes on sell.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:31 pm
GTBob, 42-10.
That was quite an accomplishment. I guess BYU and MTSU should be in BCS bowls also.
Just Asking?
December 12th, 2012
4:32 pm
What I find absolutely astounding is that even with the four team play off format UGA would NOT be included in it because they lost their conference playoff, but Florida would when they didn’t even play in it? Does that seem fair? And remember Florida and South Carolina fans, you may be on the other end of this situation in the future.
Sal Jacket
December 12th, 2012
4:32 pm
Actually it began with a win for Tech and it will end with a win for Tech, before Jesus comes
Keep on hating sarfdawg. 4 National Titles > 1 UGA = always comes up short
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:33 pm
@Waaaaaaaaaa…explain how we blew it?
Alabama played probably their worst game of the season and you didn’t take advantage of it. That means you blew it.
Andy
December 12th, 2012
4:33 pm
It won’t matter as next year UGA won’t even make it to ATL. A lot of stars had to align for Aub, TN, UF and SC to all suck in the same season and the odds of it happening again next year are slim. Not to mention UGA is going to lose a lot of key players next year.
Ron Burgundy
December 12th, 2012
4:35 pm
The third best team in the country doesn’t lose to ANYONE by 28 points. Case closed.
sarfdawg
December 12th, 2012
4:35 pm
@John at 3:46 PM…
“UGA is only in the Bama game because of a lucky fake punt and a botched call on the pass interference just prior to the blocked field goal. UGA is lucky, not great.”
Alabama benefitted from a horrible PI call in the endzone that gave them points, and they also benefitted by two botched roughing-the-quarterback calls (one that penalized Georgia and one that didn’t penalize Alabama). You can pick and choose all you want, and I can do the same. That’s a wash.
Does any of that trash ultimately matter? For the record, I’ve never tried to justify Georgia’s being good on losing close. I just said Georgia beat Florida, and unless I’m wrong that’s the first tiebreaker on anything: head to head record.
Homer Rice
December 12th, 2012
4:35 pm
Tcunningham, who cares about UGA?? If it weren’t for Hershal, that program would be looking NAIA right now! Tech has wayyyyyyyyyyy more tradition, more national titles, etc… Keep on living in la la St. Richt land and enjoy 0 championships. You guys suck.
bham dawg
December 12th, 2012
4:35 pm
GTBob… Worst game of the season? Love to hear this one.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:36 pm
UGA deserves to be in the Sugar Bowl. We were basically penalized for playing in the SEC title game.
Look at it this way. The only reason that you got into the SEC championship was because of the weak schedule you played. So you weren’t really penalized for playing in the game, you were penalized for playing such an awful schedule.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
4:37 pm
Alabama’s worst game of the season was their 35-0 win over Western Kentucky. They gave up 6 sacks and looked bad doing it.