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
trueblueeagle
December 12th, 2012
4:38 pm
well it looks like UGA can only brag about beating tech…it that IF again that gets UGA….IF ONLY WE HAD MADE THAT PLAY AT FIVE YARD LINE …..IF ONLY WE HAD BEAT USC…..IT THAT IF FAULT AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN……IF,IF,IF A BULLDOG HAD WINGS
Kevin
December 12th, 2012
4:38 pm
After getting so close to playing for a national title and falling 5 yards short who cares if we win or lose the Capital One Bowl? Its not like a win means anything anyway.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
4:38 pm
GTBoob, enjoy the Sun Bowl!
Rooty Tooty
December 12th, 2012
4:39 pm
All they had to do was beat little ole Alabama and they couldn’t do it. If u want respect, play with the big boys. UGA was at best, # 3 or 4 in the SEC West.
IlliniDawg
December 12th, 2012
4:40 pm
Good essay MB.
But what I find curious is that neither you nor anyone else has written a story about the impact of Richt’s several player suspensions on the Defense at the beginning of the season. For so long we have heard the haters talk about how “lax” UGA’s discipline is and how out of control their players are. Then CMR brings down the hammer – exactly what everyone has been calling for – and now those same critics are on this blog blasting the team’s slow start, and in particular the USC game when UGA first had all of their starters in the lineup.
You can’t have it both ways. Give CMR credit for his discipline, and recognize that those actions had consequences on the field.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
4:40 pm
Had Alabama been driving down the field on the final drive like UGA was and UGA tipped the ball and won, GT fans and the college football world would have claimed UGA as “lucky”. But since Bama did it, they are the greatest team to ever grace a football field. We all know that would have been the case. Bottom line, UGA played an outstanding football game vs. the standard of college football and were 5 yards away from winning the damn thing. UGA is back to national prominence and with a win in the bowl game will start next season in the top 6.
Nativebird
December 12th, 2012
4:40 pm
Again? Hasn’t this already been discussed debated ad infinitem? Deal with it. This IS the system that got you into the chance to play for the SEc and for the BCS NCG. It was NOT (repeat n o t) a semi-final. Semi-finals are played in a PLAYOFF SYSTEM. The BCS is not a playoff system. Stop whining…no one got robbed….everybody (all FBS schools) are and where subject to the same system. Not defending it…I’ve always supported a playoff…and we are getting one in 2 years. But until then, please remember which system you’re in.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:40 pm
GTBob… Worst game of the season? Love to hear this one.
Giving up blocked field goals for touchdowns. Turning the ball over twice, once on the goal line. Getting a penalty on a fake punt they would have easily gotten a first down on, and downright awful secondary play. It wasn’t exactly a world class performance by Bama. They won’t beat Notre Dame if they play that way.
Bradleyisalwayswrong
December 12th, 2012
4:40 pm
Georgia has to pay for playing a soft schedule. Of its 12 opponents in the regular season, only five of them were good enough to make it to a bowl. Another way to look at it: Georgia played only three tough opponents this year — South Carolina, Florida and Alabama. It lost to two of them. Consider yourselves lucky to make it to the Capital One Bowl.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:41 pm
GTBoob, enjoy the Sun Bowl!
I will. Im excited to play USC and thankful its not a team like Nebraska.
Bill Arp
December 12th, 2012
4:41 pm
Sure would like to have seen..
UGA/Fla State in the Orange
FL/Oklahoma in the Sugar
there’s really only three games worth watching..
Ala/N Dame (well, not really)
K State/Oregon (should be entertaining)
LSU/Clemson (Peach, uh, I mean Chic Fil A always has a good matchup- ACC#2 vs SEC #6- that’s just funny right there, I don’t care who you are!)
Remarkable
December 12th, 2012
4:42 pm
GT Bob You are right. UGA was “penalized for playing such an awful schedule.” If only we had been able to play a team that is recognized for being a football school with a decent record. Instead we had to play Georgia Tech. That’s the game that cost UGA the most. Had UGA played a better team they would have had much more credibility in the sports world.
Georgia Fans Whine Cry About Why They Can't Win A Big Game
December 12th, 2012
4:42 pm
All you Georgia fans need some cheese to go with your whine? Florida beat 4 teams ranked in the top ten. Georgia beat only 1 top ten team.The Gators. As always, the UGA Mutts choked again on the big game @ the dome.Keep crying losers!
Andy
December 12th, 2012
4:43 pm
@Gordon–Florida has a great body of work, except that one day….By the way, despite its loss in the SECCG, UGA still has just as many wins as UF. Anyway, you can have Louisville–one of the least interesting games of all the bowls, sadly–I’m sure it will go much better for UF than the UGA game did. I would have loved to see UF play a decent team from the Big 12 or Pac 12.
Steve
December 12th, 2012
4:43 pm
People have you not learned yet to just ignore GTBob? He thrives off of commenting on your comments and loves more than anything a new UGA blog. That’s all he’s got and that is his life. He is an idiot when it comes to college football. Just ignore the little boy.
elistoned
December 12th, 2012
4:44 pm
Does it really matter !! Let the seniors and the starters party, Play the team for next year; let them get game experience. Is that not the most important aspect in this game ? Play Welch and Lemay; run Boo and Samuels’ ; try out new recievers and defensive backs . Take this slap in the face and turn it to our advantage. If we win, it wont change any thing, gaining game experience is worth the loss to get us prepared fot 2013.. Take the money and run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:44 pm
Had UGA played a better team they would have had much more credibility in the sports world.
This is true. You should write the UGA AD and ask him to drop the series with GT. We would all be better off.
Theron Sapp
December 12th, 2012
4:44 pm
Great piece, Mr. Bradley. You and Alphare @ 4:20 raise an interesting point. The SEC has achieved world domination, except for this strange little glitch: The runner-up in the finest conference in the land annually is treated worse than if they had refused the championship game in the first place. The SEC needs to rework a couple of bowl contracts (i.e., Sugar) to protect the runner-up.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
4:44 pm
Georgia Tech should be removed from Georgia’s schedule and replaced with Clemson. Not kidding. I really think that should happen.
IlliniDawg
December 12th, 2012
4:44 pm
GTBob: so you are giving the defense no credit for causing those turnovers, the blocked field goal, even the botched fake punt?
Tcunningham
December 12th, 2012
4:45 pm
Gt bob. Look up jealousy in the dictionary .. It is the synonym for ga tech football fans.. Merry Xmas and if tech needs some money to defray how much they are going to lose going to El Paso? Well good luck. I donot usually get in these peeing contest but i do not even know why u are on this board…oops I do…because nobody on the hives wants to talk football.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:46 pm
People have you not learned yet to just ignore GTBob?
Some people choose not to just ignore those who disagree with them.
Georgia Fans Whine Cry About Why They Can't Win A Big Game
December 12th, 2012
4:46 pm
Georgia fans need some cheese to go with your whine? Gators beat 4 top ten teams, Georgia beat only1, The Gators Only 2 teams from the SEC can play in a BCS Bowl.. Keep crying losers!
Roy
December 12th, 2012
4:46 pm
Georgia Tech is sorry as hell. Even the fans know it. They thrive on UGA blogs because they don’t really have anything else to root for. A 6-7 bowl team? That’s a damn shame.
Coward of Bulldawg County
December 12th, 2012
4:48 pm
C’mon Bradley…enough already with the whining!…all Georgia had to do was win the damn game, but they didn’t….lets move on…
WaaaahhhWaaaahhh Dawg
December 12th, 2012
4:49 pm
@ bham dawg- You are correct. If the ball had fallen incomplete there would have been time for at least one more play. I was actually commenting on the season as a whole, and freaking Bradley saying the Dawgs were punished for falling five yards short is just pandering to the Dawg base. You were penalized for losing the game. The schedule set up nicely for you guys and you blew it. i know the SEC sets up the schedule but just admit it. the stars wont align for you guys like it did this year for a while. the Georgia program just doesnt get that much respect nationally either. Your “D” this year was really good- Murray is awesome and hopefully he will come back next year for you guys but your going to have to fill a lot of holes in that “D”.. Anyway just some good old fashioned SEC trash talk, better luck next year. Go Gators!
Roy
December 12th, 2012
4:49 pm
How many players does Tech have that will be drafted this year? Anybody?
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:49 pm
The runner-up in the finest conference in the land annually is treated worse than if they had refused the championship game in the first place.
This happens in every conference. If Stanford had lost the Pac 12 championship then they would be in a worse bowl game than Oregon who they beat. As long as College Football makes all of its decisions based on an archaic subjective ranking system, there is no solution to that.
bham dawg
December 12th, 2012
4:49 pm
GTBob… the blocked field goal had absolutely nothing to do with cornelius washington absolutely standing his man up and pushing him into the backfield. Had nothing to do with a great scoop and score from ogletree. had nothing to do with a great play uga made. right?
Their secondary has been their weakness all year. LSU exploited it, TXAM, even ole miss.
Oh no bama got a penalty? It was one of 3 in the whole game for bama.
Their offense went for over 500 yds and over 350 on the ground. (Terrible performance)
It was an incredible game played by both teams
Get a life. Get some KNowledge. You just got owned nerd
IlliniDawg
December 12th, 2012
4:50 pm
@Roy: Great idea! Playing the Technerds is a lose-lose proposition for us. If we win, it’s discredited because, heck, you beat Tech, no big deal, you were supposed to win. And if we lose, well then we are the sorriest team on the planet in the national media’s eyes, and to make matters worse we have to listen to re****s like GTBob. Would love to drop Kentucky and Vandy for the same reason. Too bad we can’t swap those two for Clemson and FSU in the SEC.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:50 pm
How many players does Tech have that will be drafted this year? Anybody?
Its looking like 2.
gdawg
December 12th, 2012
4:51 pm
GT BOB, yawn, yawn, yawn.
you sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:52 pm
GTBob: so you are giving the defense no credit for causing those turnovers, the blocked field goal, even the botched fake punt?
According to UGA fans, every mistake their opponents have made this season were because UGA forced them. Even a penalty on a fake punt. Thats how highly they think of themselves. It makes you wonder why UGA didn’t block more field goals this season though if it was so easy against Alabama.
Tcunningham
December 12th, 2012
4:52 pm
2…2 few to compete in even the acc
Steve
December 12th, 2012
4:53 pm
Bham dawg, like I said, ignore him. He is a moron.
Remarkable
December 12th, 2012
4:53 pm
UGA will have 2 players taken in the top ten in the NFL draft.
UgaAlum93
December 12th, 2012
4:53 pm
Mark…UGA & Mark Richt are 3-16 against ranked teams, since 2009! That’s pretty PATHETIC! And included in that, is the Alabama loss. Georgia simply cannot beat ranked teams! You think Georgia and Richt deserve a BCS Bowl when all they can beat are the gimme teams, like Buffalo (barely), Georgia Southern (DIV II), and the like? Give me a break!
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:54 pm
bham dawg, has any team made a mistake against UGA all season or did UGA just overwhelm every team on every play? Is it possible to make mistakes when playing UGA?
IlliniDawg
December 12th, 2012
4:54 pm
gdawg:
GT BOB, yawn, yawn, yawn.
you sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher
—————–
Don’t insult Charlie Brown’s teacher like that! She’s far more interesting.
bham dawg
December 12th, 2012
4:54 pm
@Waaaaaaaaaaaa…. Still don’t understand how we blew it. We didn’t blow anything we lost a damn game. We were in position to win and play for a title but we just came up short. If we had come out flat with no emotion and got ran out of the building vs alabama i would say we blew it. but they played their hearts out came back 4 different times to take the lead and lost at the very end. we didn’t blow anything. if you want to know who blew it just ask your wife where she went for those 15 minutes during the 3 quarter in jacksonville.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
4:55 pm
GTBoob, who are the 2? And what did they do against UGA?
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:55 pm
UGA will have 2 players taken in the top ten in the NFL draft.
UGA is an underachieving minor league NFL team. Something to be proud of. Maybe soon you will get some players who can accomplish something when they are in college.
bham dawg
December 12th, 2012
4:56 pm
gtbob… how is getting a kicked blocked a mistake? the snap was good, the hold was good, the kick was good, but washington just made a play. you are an idiot
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:57 pm
GTBoob, who are the 2? And what did they do against UGA?
Currently Uzzi and Sweeting are projected to be drafted. Im not sure what they did against UGA, after the Godhigh fumble I was mostly watching the Ohio State/Michigan game.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
4:57 pm
GTBoob, did Alabama’s player tip that pass or did Murray give the game away? Can’t have your cake and eat it too. Teams force mistakes. Teams don’t give the ball away. The opponent makes them by forcing them into mistakes. Learn football.
IlliniDawg
December 12th, 2012
4:57 pm
I think GTBob has pen** envy or something. He seems so ultra insecure and needing to tear down others who have achieved more than him.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
4:57 pm
GTBoob, you said you were watching the Ohio State/Michigan game when your team is on? Some fan you are. Loser.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:58 pm
GTBoob, did Alabama’s player tip that pass or did Murray give the game away?
Murray gave the game away. Actually I would say that UGA’s coaches gave the game away for forcing Murray to hurry a play when he didn’t need to.
UgaAlum93
December 12th, 2012
4:58 pm
If you continue losing to the ranked teams you play, every single solitary year–even with perennial top 10 recruiting classes–then you should expect to be playing in 2nd tier bowls, if any bowl at all. And you don’t deserve ANY BCS Bowl going 3-16 against ranked opponents, since 2009! You simply do not!
Only In Moultrie
December 12th, 2012
4:59 pm
It’s impossible to rank the teams in the conference until everyone plays each other or their is a playoff within the SEC. Alabama and Georgia each had the weakest schedules in their division which allowed for an easier path to the title game. Maybe they’re the best, and maybe their not. We will never know until we have a true playoff system.