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
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
4:59 pm
GTBoob, you said you were watching the Ohio State/Michigan game when your team is on? Some fan you are. Loser.
I watched both, but it was pretty obvious after the fumble that the UGA game was going to be a blowout and im not really a fan of watching blowouts.
IlliniDawg
December 12th, 2012
4:59 pm
Now GTBob you may have actually stumbled on a relatively smart comment. In retrospect, they absolutely should have spiked it and then would have had at least two shots at the end zone.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 12th, 2012
5:00 pm
In 2008 after UF beat Bama for the SEC title Bama went to the Sugar Bowl and the game meant nothing just like the Cap One will mean nothing to UGA. Don’t expect a great effort but the good news is Nebraska should be in the same mood. The only good thing is the team gets some more practice and PERHAPS some young players will get more reps during that timeframe but that isn’t always the case. These kids having been working since summer and two more weeks of practice at this point isn’t Ed Zackery what they have in mind. Eddie Lacey and DJ Fluker are going to the NFL early. Both Bama and UGA are recruiting a former MLB player that is about 28 for safety. His name is Jai Miller and he’s from Selma, Alabama. He signed with Stanford out of HS but went the pro baseball route. He will pay his way and not count against the 85 total. Nick is high on the guy for he’s 6 4 and 220 and runs like the wind. No charge.
Roll Tide
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
5:01 pm
but washington just made a play.
If Washington is that unstoppable then why didn’t he have several blocked field goals this season? Someone from Bama screwed up. Its ok to admit that. There is a reason that blocked field goals rarely happen. Because it takes a complete screw up for it to even be possible.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 12th, 2012
5:02 pm
USCe is the team that got screwed with the schedule having to play UGA,UF,and LSU all in a row. Space those games out and they win the East.
IlliniDawg
December 12th, 2012
5:04 pm
@UgaAlum93: wow, you are really spoiled. Try being an alum in the 70s when we were okay but never a topic of national interest. That all changed with Herschel and the program has been in the limelight ever since – with the exception of a few pitiful Ray Goff years.
Count your blessings dude and don’t act like a spoiled child. There are over 100 NCAA D-1A football programs that would die to trade places with us.
ZAD
December 12th, 2012
5:04 pm
Wonder if all UGA coaches are better than the “Capital One Bowl”?
Roy
December 12th, 2012
5:07 pm
GT scored 3 points against UGA’s starters. 3. While they scored 68 vs. North Carolina, 59 vs. Presbyterian, etc. If UGA wrapped up better vs. Bama then they would have won. Alabama couldn’t handle UGA’s pass rush and even Nick Saban admitted that at halftime. They ran the ball down our throats. We need to recruit quicker linemen because you can’t get any bigger than Jenkins or Geathers. If Geathers comes back (which he should), UGA will again have one of the better defenses in the league. Just because we’re losing the big names, don’t count our defense out next season.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 12th, 2012
5:09 pm
@GT Bob…that someone that screwed up was our TE #89. He gave a good old fashion lookout block that was half azz at best. Bama was lucky to win the game no doubt because we were not sharp at all. Bama’s biggest problem is we don’t have a defensive lineman that can beat his blocker and apply pressure to the QB without us having to send the army. This was seen vs LSU,A&M,and UGA!!!!! The good news the ND QB isn’t near the level of QB as Murray. You can’t expect the DB’s to cover good receivers all day those three games exposed not so much the DB’s but the pass rush. Nick says Dalvin Tomlinson will be a welcome addition for 2013 and would have played in 2012 if not for his knee issue.
info…Dameyune Graig will leave FSU and work for Gus at AU. He is a world champion dirty recruiter much like Trooper Taylor. He learned that in his playing days at the auburn.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
5:10 pm
Meanwhile, if Murray comes back, or even if he doesn’t, our offense is going to be one of the best in the country. Our entire O-line will be back (they made lots of progress this year), Gurley and Marshall will be back (we added more RBs to the stable in recruiting), and we are only losing 2 receivers. If Murray comes back, he’ll break the SEC touchdown record. He already holds all the UGA records. Offensively, UGA will be dominant next year. Look for Gurley to be in the Heisman talk.
DawginLex
December 12th, 2012
5:10 pm
wet willie
That baseball player is Bama’s to lose I am hearing
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
5:10 pm
GT scored 3 points against UGA’s starters. 3. While they scored 68 vs. North Carolina, 59 vs. Presbyterian, etc.
We also had 3 points against BYU and 270 less yards then the UGA game. Is UGA that much worse defensively than BYU is?
Ron Roberts
December 12th, 2012
5:11 pm
Georgia is, at-worst, the 3rd or 4th best team in the country, and yeah, it stings to not be in a BCS game and to instead be going to the Capital One Bowl. That being said, going to an SEC championship game is as similar to going to a BCS bowl as any non-BCS bowl game will ever be – Cotton, Cap One, CFA Bowl included.
If it helps fans and players and coaches to get past the snub (it did me), then it’s worth pondering. We had our BCS bowl game and we get to play in Orlando now to leave with the taste of victory in our mouths. Those who know college football know this team deserves to finish in the final season top-5, should they beat Nebraska.
walton
December 12th, 2012
5:11 pm
1) Deserves got nothing to do with it
2) Maybe if UGA had beaten more than 1 good team then it would have worked out better for them
3) It is just whining to say they are the 3rd best team in the nation since their schedule was so bad. The better argument is that Florida is better and just played a bad game against UGA.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
5:13 pm
Here is another stat that makes Todd Gurley such a beast. He’s not just feasting on cupcakes. He dominantes vs. SEC competition. He had 762 yards/5.8 yards per carry vs. SEC competition. Best in the SEC. As a freshman.
DawginLex
December 12th, 2012
5:13 pm
USCe didn’t get screwed. They got whipped by Florida.
If Spurrier wants his system in place where the West games don’t count, he still is at home watching the SECCG because Florida or Georgia would have still been in it.
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
5:13 pm
Georgia is, at-worst, the 3rd or 4th best team in the country
Based on what? Is UGA better than South Carolina?
GTBob
December 12th, 2012
5:14 pm
He’s not just feasting on cupcakes. He dominantes vs. SEC competition.
Most of the SEC teams that UGA played would probably be classified as cupcakes.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
5:15 pm
GT is at best the 119th best team in the country.
bham dawg
December 12th, 2012
5:15 pm
@WetWillie… im sure 247 sports really appreciates you copy and pasting THEIR information on the ajc. That’s why they preface this information with this message….Again on the reminder this is premium information for you guys. This is not to be copied/pasted/summarized on other boards/blogs/sites
jackass
IlliniDawg
December 12th, 2012
5:16 pm
I’m fine with us being the 5th, 6th, or 7th best team in the country. But I’d put Texas A&M, LSU, and/or USC ahead of us rather than Oregon, KSU, or Stanford. Too bad we can’t see a top SEC team against any of those three.
bham dawg
December 12th, 2012
5:17 pm
@Roy… best running back in the sec as a freshman
DawginLex
December 12th, 2012
5:17 pm
Good lord GTBob, you get more pathetic each day
A drooling, mindless old man who spends all day on the AJC blogs picking fights you never win and spewing never ending hatred toward the University of Georgia and siding with anyone or any team that has a chance to beat UGA because your own pathetic “Institute” can’t.
You must lead a pathetic existence. Why don’t you get a dog?
Ron Roberts
December 12th, 2012
5:18 pm
Walton,
Florida also played pi$$ poor against ULL.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
5:19 pm
GTBoob, Florida and Alabama are cupcakes? Gurley dominated against both. Rushing for over 120 yards vs. both.
Steve
December 12th, 2012
5:20 pm
Don’t worry Roy, he will have a comment for your comment and an excuse.
Ed
December 12th, 2012
5:22 pm
I don’t understand the point of all of this. We knew going into the championship game that it was BCS title game or bust. Most pundits had Georgia dropping all the way to the Chik Fil A Bowl if they lost to Alabama. So let’s go to the Capital One Bowl and kick Nebraska’s rear end. It could be worse. In ‘98 an undefeated, No. 1 ranked Kansas State team was upset by Texas A&M in the Big XII game and fell all the way to the Alamo Bowl. It happens. Get over it and go play football.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 12th, 2012
5:22 pm
@Roy…you seem to be playing well today. It’s a little early for UGA as NC for 2013 but go for it sport. Next year you get LSU and you will not beat them nor Florida. Don’t let me rain on your parade though.
1980…
CSB
December 12th, 2012
5:22 pm
Hey Heres the deal…..dont attend this tiddly wink bowl games of teams that should NOT be in a bowl period…sadly to say, UGA is my; team I wont go to the capital one bowl…boring….UGA should be in the sUGAr bowl..at the least…for playnig a championship conf game you are penalized extreme for a loss when you beat the others and conferences dont even have a champship game…BCS come on 2014!
DawginLex
December 12th, 2012
5:23 pm
Until Florida gets a QB they won’t beat Georgia
Roy
December 12th, 2012
5:23 pm
UGA put more points on Bama (28) than Bama had given up the first four weeks of the season. One point shy of their season high. Bama has a great defense yet UGA moved the ball up and down the field with ease. Gurley rushed for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns bullying his way through Bama’s defense. Murray lit them up for 267 passing yards and a touchdown. He was on his way to his 2nd until it got tipped.
IlliniDawg
December 12th, 2012
5:23 pm
Ironic that we are wringing our hands over a couple of places in the top-ten standings. Millions of fans of lesser programs would gladly trade places with us. We’re like the kid who gets a new iPad for Christmas but pouts because he wanted the HD version with more memory.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 12th, 2012
5:23 pm
Gurley dominated Bama….Eddie Lacey is dominate and Gurley is very good then again you’re good old Georgiee.
Roy
December 12th, 2012
5:24 pm
@ Wet willie, when is the last time Florida beat. UGA? That’s right. 2010. Run along.
Techster
December 12th, 2012
5:25 pm
Oh man, the whining by dog fans just never ends. Fun to watch them cry. The dogs should be ranked somewhere between U of So.Car. and Kentucky. The Gamecocks are a better team than the dogs as they stomped Ga. in Columbia; so the puppies should definitely be ranked lower than the chickens. Also, the dogs struggled against Kentucky so they should be ranked only slightly above Ky.
bham dawg
December 12th, 2012
5:25 pm
Willie you and bob should hang out then your Willie might actually get wet.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 12th, 2012
5:25 pm
Roy…you do understand Gurley failed to block Moseley on that last pass play?
dawgs82'
December 12th, 2012
5:26 pm
Saw this issue coming a mile away (after FL game). Move on.
Southeastern Losers
December 12th, 2012
5:26 pm
Boo hoo, beat South Carolina next time chumps
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 12th, 2012
5:26 pm
UGA the best college football program in American …..from March until August!
You boys need to run down and dust that one trophy you have!
Steve
December 12th, 2012
5:27 pm
Wet Willie who said UGA was going to win the 2013 NC??? Not possible with the defense they will have. I am thinking 10-2 or 9-3. (Comment from GTBob in 3, 2, 1….)
Ron Roberts
December 12th, 2012
5:27 pm
GT Bob, South Carolina lost to LSU and Florida. Georgia beat Florida and lost to SC. SC can say they had a massive “off-day’ against UF (44-11) and so can Georgia. Cancels each other out, in my book. UGA’s second loss came at a championship game – not scheduled.
I’m over all the “cupcake schedule” talk; outside of the SEC, find me a team that KNOWS, with confidence, they could sweep Tennessee, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Kansas State couldn’t hang with Baylor. Oregon lost to Stanford – a match-up I consider similar to UGA/SC, but I don’t see anybody questioning Oregon’s lofty ranking. Playing an SEC schedule and coming away with one or zero losses is a feat worthy of recognition.
Deacon Blues
December 12th, 2012
5:27 pm
1. Bama
2. UGA
3. Gators
4. Irish
5. LSU
6. Oregon
7. Stanford
8. Aggies
9. Gamecocks
10. K State
Roy
December 12th, 2012
5:28 pm
Wet willie, he didn’t “fail” to block him. He was blocked from getting to Murray which is why he was successful in tipping the ball. A defenders mindset is to get to the QB. He couldn’t do it so he tipped the ball. Gurley should have took his legs out from under him or at least make Mosley’s hands go down. He’ll get em next time. Remember, he’s a freshman.
Techster
December 12th, 2012
5:28 pm
Hey, hey? Where’s my post? Is a dog fan the filter today?
Southeastern Losers
December 12th, 2012
5:28 pm
One would also think with a coach that earns 5 million a year and has a top five recruiting class every yr, that out of 10 years, one of those years the team would have made it to the national championship game…BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
bham dawg
December 12th, 2012
5:28 pm
Gurley failed to block Moseley? if he didn’t block him he would have sacked murray. he tipped the pass because he was blocked and all defenders are taught to get their hands up once they realize they aren’t going to get to the qb. You and bob have a lot in common Willie.
'94 UGA Alumni
December 12th, 2012
5:31 pm
It is what is and all we can do is beat the living $%^& out of Nebraska. I will be routing for FL too and hope that beat the crap out of Louisville. Hopefully we are moving towards an 8 team playoff which will make us all happy.
IlliniDawg
December 12th, 2012
5:32 pm
Let’s face it, the SEC is the toughest conference and any winning record in either division is an achievement. We attract the top talent in the country. Eight of our teams are in the top 16 2013 recruiting rankings, and only Kentucky is not in the top 40. Unfortunately, we beat up on each other all season long, and a few really good teams suffer for it. This year it was LSU and USC. Next year it could be UGA.
playmeortrademe
December 12th, 2012
5:32 pm
MB: “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.”
MB, I know you’ve seen scores of more games in your life than mine, but this was NOT one of the greatest games ever played. Yes, the stakes were high and it ended up close and exciting, but Alabama dominated that game from the second quarter on with their running game. Great games should be the result two evenly matched highly talented teams playing sound football. Not the case here Alabama had the better players and coaches and should have won easily. Georgia is fortunate Alabama’s mistakes enabled Georgia to get out to that 21-10 lead. Alabama clearly had the superior offensive and defensive lines, better depth, and they made the right adjustments…..Now, Alabama/Florida in 2008, THAT was a great game…..and I cheer for Georgia