Liberty Bowl preview: Can Dogs avoid first losing season in 14 years?
Please join the conversation on Jeff Schultz’s live blog during the game.
Previewing Georgia vs. Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl (3:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN):
3 storylines
- 1. Winning season or losing season? Georgia enters the game with a 6-6 record. A victory would keep give the Bulldogs their 14th consecutive winning season, albeit barely. A loss would give the Bulldogs their first losing season since a 5-6 record in 1996, Jim Donnan’s first season as coach.
- 2. A program-building game? Central Florida has made substantial strides in seven seasons under coach George O’Leary, winning two Conference USA championships and becoming nationally ranked for the first time (No. 24 in the latest coaches’ poll). A nationally televised bowl win over an SEC opponent would be a significant next step in the growth of the UCF program.
- 3. Battle of the freshman quarterbacks. UCF’s Jeff Godfrey and UGA’s Aaron Murray are the nation’s top two freshmen quarterbacks in pass efficiency rating. Godfrey, a true freshman, ranks No. 8 overall with a 165.28 rating and Murray, a redshirt freshman, No. 9 with a 162.72 rating. The 5-foot-11, 182-pound Godfrey is a dual-threat quarterback who has passed for 2,042 yards and 13 touchdowns and run for 546 yards and 10 touchdowns. Godfrey has completed 68 percent of his passes, Murray 62 percent of his.
A Georgia win would …
- Extend the Bulldogs’ bowl winning streak to five games.
- Give the Dogs a 6-2 finish to this season after a 1-4 start.
- Be the Dogs’ first victory this season over a ranked opponent.
A Central Florida win would …
- Be UCF’s first-ever victory in a bowl game after losses to Nevada in the 2005 Hawaii Bowl, Mississippi State in the 2007 Liberty Bowl and Rutgers in the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl.
- Set a school record for victories in a season by the Knights, who are 10-3 entering the bowl.
- Be the Knights’ ninth win in 10 games since a 2-2 start this season.
Keep an eye on …
- For Georgia: Murray could break records held by Matthew Stafford, D.J. Shockley and Mike Bobo. Two touchdown passes would break Stafford’s UGA single-season record of 25, set in 2008. One touchdown pass or run would surpass Shockley for most total TDs accounted for in a UGA season, Murray already having matched Shockley’s 28 (24 passing, four running) in 2005. And Murray could clinch the UGA single-season record for pass-efficiency rating, bettering Bobo’s mark of 155.8 in 1997.
- For Central Florida: Bruce Miller was an all-county and all-region player at Woodstock High School, but he had no major-college scholarship offers until UCF discovered him. He has grown into the star of the UCF defense. The senior defensive end is the NCAA leader among active players in career sacks with 34. Two sacks on Friday would tie Miller with former Georgia star David Pollack for third place on the NCAA career sack list (since 2000, when the NCAA began keeping the stat).
The numbers game
- 26-16-3: Georgia’s all-time record in bowl games. (The Bulldogs rank fourth nationally in bowl victories and are tied for fifth in bowl appearances.)
- 1-1: Georgia’s record in the Liberty Bowl, losing to Jim Donnan-quarterbacked N.C. State 14-7 in 1967 and beating Arkansas 20-17 in 1987 on freshman John Kasay’s 39-yard field goal on the game’s final play.
UGA-UCF history
- Previous meeting: Georgia escaped with a 24-23 victory at Sanford Stadium on Sept. 25, 1999, in the only previous football game between UGA and UCF. The Knights missed an extra point after scoring a touchdown with 5:21 to play but threatened to win the game on their final possession by driving to the Georgia 20-yard line. Two penalties and a sack pushed the Knights out of field-goal range, and a Jamie Henderson interception ended the game.
The line
- Georgia is a 6 ½-point favorite.
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213 comments Add your comment
Dawg Tired
December 31st, 2010
6:54 pm
Didn’t quite put up 50 on the mighty knights.
Gatorman
December 31st, 2010
6:54 pm
Some things haven’t change, George O’Leary just got his 4th win against UGA.
Gatorman
December 31st, 2010
6:56 pm
Where are the smackers talking about GTech losing, now how does it feel? Where are you little snipes, that love to run off at the mouth, come on say something intelligent now.
ryan
December 31st, 2010
6:56 pm
I have defended Richt for a long time but no more its time for a change loosing to C USA team is pathetic i don’t care about are recruits we loose but enough is a enough and its time for a change .
sneakuponum
December 31st, 2010
6:57 pm
Dead mutts!!!!!!!!
Sanford Drive
December 31st, 2010
6:58 pm
dawgmatic – too bad the LEGHUMPERS couldn’t beat UCF. That’s embarrassing!
Sanford Drive
December 31st, 2010
6:59 pm
UGA = IRRELEVANT
dawgfan
December 31st, 2010
7:00 pm
BAAAAAAAAWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Vince The Prince
December 31st, 2010
7:00 pm
6 and 7! At least you beat mighty Idaho State
6 and 7!
Vince The Prince
December 31st, 2010
7:00 pm
Have they fired Richt yet?
GDBurdell
December 31st, 2010
7:01 pm
How ‘Bout Them Dawgs? 6-7 Suck it flea bags!!
sneakuponum
December 31st, 2010
7:02 pm
This is for All of you idiot mutt fans that saw fit to hit the Tech board, your team sucks.
Footballrules
December 31st, 2010
7:03 pm
The difference in this game? All that Conference USA speeeeeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spike
December 31st, 2010
7:03 pm
UGA didn’t beat a single team with a winning record this year. Not. One. Single. Team.
sneakuponum
December 31st, 2010
7:04 pm
Fire Mark Richt now. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!Loosing season. where is sanford drive.
Sanford Drive
December 31st, 2010
7:05 pm
3-5
6-7
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Logan Booker
December 31st, 2010
7:07 pm
Conference USA > SEC
STRETCH
December 31st, 2010
7:09 pm
They deserved to lose. The loss was on the coaching staff as usual. All they do is run, run, run. When is UGA gonna figure out what EVERYBODY else they play knows….that Bobo the Dodo is gonna RUN DRAW PLAYS all game long!
I dont understand how Richt could come from being an OC and running a high powered offense at FSU to being Ray Donnan or Jim Golf????!!!!!!!
UCF
December 31st, 2010
7:10 pm
10-6 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! The mighty Conference USA beats the lowly leghumpers. Great way to end the year.
Logan Booker
December 31st, 2010
7:12 pm
STRETCH, I agree with you that Richt should be fired.
Shamu
December 31st, 2010
7:15 pm
I am now joing the fire Richt bandwagon. This game was embarrassing as a UGA grad and fan. GREAT call coach on the fourth and inches less than ten yards from the goal line in the first quarter. Coaching has passed you by Coach Richt, just like Bobby Bowden. Please get UGA a new coach soon this “coaching” job today was a crock of crap. My two year old could have pointed to better plays in the playbook.
Fastdawg
December 31st, 2010
7:27 pm
Again, that offensive line could not block Betty White & Betty White could do a better job of coaching that what went on today. Just pathetic.
Bulldykes
December 31st, 2010
7:31 pm
We rock…. We rag on tech and cant beat tmighty ucf. At least we didn’t score a touchdown!
darrell starks
December 31st, 2010
7:36 pm
Biggest ? do the state of georgia have the most hype overrated player from georgia, why all top players from georgia sign with the dogs turned out 2 be bust every year.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!
sneakuponum
December 31st, 2010
7:37 pm
What happened?????????????
stendek
December 31st, 2010
7:38 pm
Am not even angry. Totally numb. Georgia Tech at least tried in bowl defeat. My Dawgs mailed this one in against an obviously inferior team! Knew Mark Wretch set groundwork for failure when he chose FG over first down on fourth and millimeters play. Over! Game, set and match. It was obvious Dawg HC had no intention of spoiling UCF season. Congratulations Wretch. You succeeded! Only UGA season in toilet with losing mark! So very unhappy MR is returning. May even bail on Dawg football! I am that unhappy. Truly sad state of affairs after being tried and true Dawg fan for over half a century. Will never be MR fan again! This was beneath contempt. Like Falcons losing to Pee Wee squad. It was that damn disgraceful! STENDEK
Bulldykes
December 31st, 2010
7:38 pm
Say what you want, but O’Leary owns us bulldykes.
How about ourvgreat defense too?
We so should be playing OR in the NC game. Bulldykes unite!
darrell starks
December 31st, 2010
7:40 pm
Georgia player from georgia always turn out 2 be bust, maybe 2percent live up 2 expectation.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!
Tideguy
December 31st, 2010
7:42 pm
Can Dogs avoid first losing season in 14 years? The envelope please……..
NO, NO WAY JOSE, NADA, NO, NO NO, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HARRRRRRRR-D-HARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR, NO, 10-6, NO, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! GO SNIFF YOUR REAR PUPS!
darrell starks
December 31st, 2010
7:43 pm
Coaching player up 2 there potential have been secluded since the vince dooley days.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!
stendek
December 31st, 2010
7:45 pm
What was record again? 6-7? Not interested in anything Mark Wretch has to say. That says it all! STENDEK
stendek
December 31st, 2010
7:46 pm
If Mark Wrtech says team was one or two plays from being 10-3 somebody should drag him into an alley then beat the HELL out of him! STENDEK
darrell starks
December 31st, 2010
7:46 pm
Bulldogs need a coach 2 coach player up 2 there potential.
it’s time 2 call Kirby smart for head coaching job.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!
stendek
December 31st, 2010
7:47 pm
Make that Wretch! Shet by any other name still smells the same. STENDEK
stendek
December 31st, 2010
7:49 pm
Dawgs may be only SEC squad to lose legitimately in bowls! Volunteers were reamed by officials. Dawgs do not have that excuse. They reamed themselves! Ugly mental image. STENDEK
Cobb Dawg
December 31st, 2010
7:50 pm
Dear Mr. McGarity,
Time to pull the trigger. CMR is finally ready to do mission work, which is his calling. Offer SOS a four-year contract and get a stud coach-in-waiting as a coordinator. It’s too late to get Muschamp and that is a shame. But there are several young coaches out there who could learn under SOS and move into the job when he’s ready to retire. And he could keep GA players home. It’s past time.
DawgByte
December 31st, 2010
7:51 pm
Can you believe that guys like Justin Houston, Trinton Sturdivant, Brandon Boykin, Cordy Glenn and others are actually thinking about entering the draft??? Are you kidding me!!! These clowns are on a 6-7 team and they think they have to the stuff to play in the NFL. Put down the pipe fellas and get in the real world. Houston is the most overrated defensive player since Brandon Miller and ‘Mudcat’ Elmore.
Forget what Mel Kiper tells you… I’m telling you to get your arse in the weight room, study a ton of film and pretend to be a SEC caliber football player first! What a bunch of pansies!!!
showing your butts
December 31st, 2010
7:54 pm
HAHAHAHA, SHOT YOUR WADS WAY TOO SOON LIKE YOU DOGTARDS DO TIME AFTER TIME, BEATING YOUR CHEST LIKE IT WAS 30 YEARS AGO….
BIGGEST GOOFS IN THIS SEASON, CONGRATS, IT WAS HARD TO BEAT OUT GT, TN, CLEMSON BUT YOU MANAGED SOMEHOW TO PULL IT OFF…
JUST STILL CANNOT BELEIVE, CENTRAL FLORIDA SERIOUSLY? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
5 stars equals 7 losses and 11 arrest
December 31st, 2010
7:55 pm
WINNERS IN 2010 HANDS DOWN THE BIGGEST LOSERS OF ALL TIME
5 stars equals 7 losses and 11 arrest
December 31st, 2010
7:59 pm
I mean if you had any sense at all to keep your mouths shut on the other blogs before the bowl game but you just couldn’t do it, how does it feel to be the biggest BUFFOONS in the nation? I mean it takes alot of incompetence to beat out the other 6 and 7 teams for the title of the Biggest Buffoons, but you did it, CONGRATS DOGTARDS
Corninmypooh
December 31st, 2010
8:00 pm
I was willing to give Richt the benefit and allow him to cash in his credits, but after todays performance I’m now convinced Mark Richt can not turn this ship around. We don’t have the talent on this team going into 2011 to expect cataclysmic shift in the program. As fans we are deluding ourselves if we think Bacarri Rambo is suddenly going to learn how to tackle in 2011. We are deluding ourselves if we think this defensive line is going to become a major force next year. We are deluding ourselves if we think we’re not going to have more off field screw-ups under this current staff. We deluding ourselves if we think the offensive play calling is going to become less predictable.
This season was an utter failure… not since Ray Goff have I seen a team this poorly coached.
Neutered Dawg
December 31st, 2010
8:02 pm
Please end the misery…fire the whole staff. What an embarrassment…no way to look at other fans in the eye anymore.
Corninmypooh
December 31st, 2010
8:03 pm
5 stars equals 7 losses and 11 arrests -
I just have one thing to say to you………………………………….
(((42-34)))
ROTFLMAO!
dawg til the end
December 31st, 2010
8:11 pm
it is time for a change. richt has done great things for uga and i thank him for it but we need to clean house. by the way techies we still own you!
Dogs Smell
December 31st, 2010
8:11 pm
stendek ,
why is UCF an inferior team? I guess all the teams that beat Ga this year were inferior? The reality is the past couple of years are beginning to show your true colors. A not really very relevant program in the SEC. All Georgia is right now is a potential upset team. Next year Tennessee will be Much better, Florida should be about the same as this year (better than Uga) and South Carolina will compete. Once again putting the classless dogs 3rd in the East.
dawg til the end
December 31st, 2010
8:12 pm
hey dog smell…. 9 OUT OF 10 THAT IS NOT CHANGING!
dawg til the end
December 31st, 2010
8:15 pm
WE STILL OWN TECH!
Dogs Smell
December 31st, 2010
8:15 pm
Look for 2011 to be another repeat of 2010. Only in 2011 Ga wont beat Tennessee. 5-7.
Dogs Smell
December 31st, 2010
8:17 pm
dawg til the end – Im not a Techie, but it would take a dog fan to assume that. Obviously dawg, you have never been to athens on a weekday.
Embarrasing
December 31st, 2010
8:19 pm
Dawgtiltheend…are you proud that you are 9-1 against Tech? You should bve 10-0 and event that wouldn’t be a great accomplishment.
I’m not knocking Tech, I’m simply saying that a state run school with the ability to recruit like you do, you should NEVER lost to Tech. That’s what is wrong with your underachieving school…you set your bar too low.