Bowl scenarios: It’s anywhere from Sugar Bowl to Chick-fil-A for Dogs
Where is Georgia going to play in a bowl game?
Excellent question, and one that’s impossible to answer at this point. Now if you couch it to ask, where might the Bulldogs go bowling?, we can give that one a go.
Much is going to depend on the outcome of today’s game between Georgia and Georgia Tech, and other rivalry games as well. Suffice it to say, a Bulldogs’ win — which would be their 10th in a row – puts them in a very favorable position. However, a loss to the Jackets followed by another one to LSU makes Georgia a bit of a problem for the bowl bosses.
Regardless, Georgia should end up in one of these five bowl games:
- Allstate Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, Jan. 3: The Bulldogs get here only if they beat LSU in the SEC Championship Game. They would be representing the league as SEC champion, then could hang around six days in New Orleans to catch LSU and/or Alabama play in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 9.
- Capital One Bowl, Orlando, Jan. 2: The Cap One folks have a tough decision — take a 10-2, top-10-ranked Arkansas team or a Georgia team that will be coming off a loss in the SEC championship game. Go ahead and cross off this option if the Dogs lose to Georgia Tech. And even if Georgia beats the Jackets, it still might look like an easy choice for the Razorbacks based on record and ranking. However, economic factors such as travel and attendance make it less obvious. The majority of the fanbase being within easy driving distance could work in UGA’s favor.
- Outback Bowl, Tampa, Jan. 2: This would seem the most likely destination if the Cap One passes on the SEC loser. But you never know what this volatile bowl selection group might do. They could decide to pick South Carolina on the argument the Gamecocks won head-to-head against Georgia, especially if they can beat Clemson. Auburn could enter the picture with a win over Alabama or Florida with a win over FSU.
- AT&T Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Jan. 6: Expect a real tug-of-war between the Cotton Bowl and the Cap One for Arkansas. Dallas is a traditional destination for the former Southwest Conference-dwelling Hogs and their fans will certainly travel well there, especially not having been back since 2007. Then again, Georgia hasn’t played there since beating Texas 10-9 in 1984 and a lot of Bulldog fans have expressed interest in going back.
- Chick-fil-A Bowl, Atlanta, Dec. 31: Lopsided losses to Tech and/or LSU could seriously jeopardize the Bulldogs cachet in the bowl hierarchy. But the SEC now has a “protection system” designed to keep the loser of the SEC title game from slipping too far. By contract, Commissioner Mike Slive can call on any of the non-BCS bowls in the SEC’s alliance and ask them to protect the SEC loser. It’s unlikely Slive would let Georgia slip past the Outback or Cotton. Nevertheless, Chick-fil-A Bowl President Gary Stokan told me himself he would protect Georgia from getting past them.
As you can see, the outcomes of today’s rivalry games will have a profound effect on the bowl scenario as we know it. So you might as well settle in and watch. By Saturday night, the picture should sharpen considerably.
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293 comments Add your comment
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
8:12 am
Looks like LSU 1 and Alabama 2. That’s the way it ought to be, no matter what happens in the Georgia Dome in the SEC Championship Game between LSU and Georgia.
Don’t tell me Alabama didn’t win its division and won’t win its conference. You can’t invoke a rule that doesn’t exist, especially when there’s precedent for sending a team that didn’t win its league to the BCS finale. See Nebraska 2001 and Oklahoma 2003.
Neither played in a conference that owned five straight national titles. Neither played in a division that supplied the top three teams in the BCS rankings entering the last weekend in November. Oh, and neither played defense like Alabama.
How good was that defense in the Iron Bowl? It surrendered two first downs through the first three quarters. It outscored the Auburn offense 7-0 on the day thanks to Dee Milliner’s pick six. Dee who? Exactly. This defense has standouts some poll voters have never heard of.
Now hear this. Don’t tell me Alabama already had its chance against LSU. This is big-boy football, not Little League baseball, where everyone gets an at-bat during the game and a juice box afterward. You earn your spot in the final game by the way you play from the opening game to the final whistle.
Nobody has come close to beating LSU but Alabama. The Crimson Tide didn’t get it done, but they didn’t trail a single second of that game until the Tigers kicked the winning field goal in overtime.
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
8:29 am
Someone else with a vested interest in the matter thinks they deserve it as well. Within minutes of the Alabama victory, LSU wide receiver Russell Shepard sent Richardson a text. It said, “See you in New Orleans.”
Voyager Dawg
November 27th, 2011
10:02 am
When the Dawgs were in position a couple of years ago, the argument from all of the ESPN guys and everyone else, was they didn’t win their conference championship so they shouldn’t play for the NC. Bama’s not playing for the SECC and it’s amazing that the ESPN guys are now saying that even if LSU were to lose to Georgia, they should still play for the NC. Amazing how things change after just a couple of years. The Dawgs obviously have nothing to lose. I hope they play with reckless abandon and take it to the Tigers. Go Dawgs!
maddawg 913
November 27th, 2011
10:27 am
The argument changes year to year. See Oklahoma 2006, UGA 2007, now Bama 2011. I could care less if they just stayed consistent. Can you or can’t you be considered for a NC without winning your conference??? I don’t think it’s a bias against UGA, why would they single out 1 certain university. I do think it’s all about the almighty dollar. What looks like the most interesting match up. On the flip side had we matched up with USC in 2007 like we should have; what kind of argument could that have brought?? So instead we played HI and USC played IL, much less contriversy in the end….good for the BCS.
If they want all this garbage to stop just go ahead and get a damn playoff system….it’s the only answer!!!
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
10:30 am
UGA fans do not understand that having an all SEC BCS Championship helps all SEC teams. Each SEC team that has a decent team will get the benefit of the doubt when it concerns the polls for many years to come.
If UGA was in the same situation as BAMA then I would want UGA to make it so that the SEC is guaranteed another BCS Championship.
UGA fans only think about themselves and you have the nerve to chant SEC at the game on yesterday.
BCS was made so that the two best teams meet and no one has played LSU like BAMA did, with no question about that.
zbulldawg
November 27th, 2011
11:05 am
UGA has earned the RIGHT to play the No. 1 team in the NATION !!!! I CAN’T IMAGE ANY BOWL BEING ANY BIGGER THAT T-H-I-S !!! HERE KITTY KITTY !! LET’S GET SUM SUGAR !! SICK EM
ray
November 27th, 2011
11:11 am
Forget for a moment about bama not winning the SEC,, my question is this, are there two better teams than LSU and Alabama? No. The BCS Championship game should be LSU/Bama, period. I am not a fan of either but as an outsider looking in,,until there is a playoff, this is the absolute best matchup in the country.
maddawg 913
November 27th, 2011
11:30 am
01 HAWK,
not true at all; I always pull for the SEC. I’m just tired of the inconsistencies. Everyone knows the SEC is by far the best conference. I also think BAMA and LSU are the 2 best teams. I also think the BCS is as corrupt as politics and I hate thinking that and would rather not but it’s too obvious.
phil
November 27th, 2011
11:50 am
After next week, who cares anymore until we go to a playoff system. I stop watching except for our bowl game.
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
12:19 pm
The Cowboys rank No. 2 in the nation in passing offense, No. 3 in the nation in total offense and No. 2 in the nation in scoring offense. The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, rank No. 1 the nation in all four major defensive categories. Oklahoma State’s defense? No. 105 in total defense and No. 67 in scoring defense.
NUFF SAID
jim
November 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
johnson is still right. we still haven’t beaten anybody, but next week is a charm
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
1:10 pm
Poor little PUPPIES……………………………………..You got slighted in 2007 and your feelings were hurt.
TISSUE ANYONE ?
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
1:13 pm
UGA……………………………You have your stage. Let’s see how you do.
But, even if you beat LSU you will not play in the BCS Championship
UGA luck is just not good is it.
SuperB
November 27th, 2011
1:16 pm
1. Sugar 2. Cotton 3. Capital One. With all due respect to Chic-fil-A– I ate there last night in Lynchburg after the UVa- VT game– three trips to the Dome in one season is a bit much.
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
1:21 pm
JUST IN………………………………………It will happen. Bank on it…………..PUPPIES # 12
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — For the second consecutive week, it’s unanimous: LSU is ranked No. 1 and Alabama is ranked No. 2 in The Associated Press college football poll.
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
1:36 pm
TAMPA FLORIDA is a UGLY CITY. HAVE FUN !!!!!!!!!
Outback Bowl
January 2, 2012 Tampa, FL, 1:00 pm ABC
Payout: $7 million
Big Ten No. 3 vs. SEC No. 3, 4 or 5
Projection: Nebraska vs. Georgia
tom
November 27th, 2011
1:56 pm
I believe Bama and LSU are the 2 best teams in the country. No one should jump them in the polls just because they either play for or do not win the Conference Championship. It just sucks as a dawg fan to hear all the same people who justified LSU jumping UGA in ‘07 b/c they did not play in the SECCG, to say it shouldn’t matter about ‘bama or LSU. I never understood why in ‘07 UGA was ranked #3 and #’s 1 and 2 both lost how UGA could get jumped by a team that wasn’t even #4. Point being we need a playoff. This year odds are good the SEC could have 3 out of the last 4 teams. I hope UGA beats LSU just so the BCS has to live with a championship game played between a team that didn’t win their division and a team that didn’t win their conference.
BTG MIKE
November 27th, 2011
2:43 pm
HERE’S A CONUNDRUM FOR YA’……….If the SEC IS THE BEST CONFERENCE………..and UGA WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP of that conference……….Where does that leave UGA when the music stops?
Let’s not allow what happens on the field interfere with the POPULAR VOTE.
BTG MIKE
November 27th, 2011
2:52 pm
For your information….a PLAYOFF has already occurred and noone is paying any attention.
1) LSU BEAT ALABAMA
2) LSU BEAT ARKANSAS
3) NOW LSU MUST PLAY AND BEAT UGA TO CLAIM THE GOLD
Sorry, that’s how a playoff works. LSU and UGA put themselves in position to win the SEC by
‘quote from 2007′ “winning their games during the regular season. It doesn’t matter that Alabama is possibly the strongest team in the country, they didn’t win the division, much less the conference. How can they possiblty play for the national championship?” That was a quote by LOU HOLTZ in 2007…..only instead of ALABAMA the word was GEORGIA.
buck strickland
November 27th, 2011
6:54 pm
@BTG MIKE. Agreed. Great post. I’ve been saying this for a few weeks. Also, If UGA wins Saturday, isn’t it impossible for LSU, Bama, AND UGA to play in BCS bowl games? I thought there was a limit of two teams per conference in the BCS?
Uncle Rico
November 27th, 2011
7:09 pm
What about the Sugar – even if we lose to LSU?
Maybe I missed this discussion as I did not read all of the previous 6 pgs…
If we play LSU tough & lose a tight one…maybe 17-13, can we still go to the Sugar?
Are Michigan & Houston a lock?
I can see MI maybe but does anyone out there truly think Hstn is legit? Or at least legit enough to be in a BCS bowl..
They are not Boise or TCU from a couple yrs ago – not even close.
I know it’s a longshot but something the Sugar should think about, especially considering how well UGA fans travel vs Cougar fans.
aladawg
November 27th, 2011
7:18 pm
mlane, so scuk on a persimmon.
aladawg
November 27th, 2011
7:19 pm
Suck a persimmon
Cory
November 27th, 2011
8:27 pm
Yes LSU is a very good team, but they can be beaten. UGA brings a great QB to this game as well as talented recievers. (Marlon Brown, Malcom Mitchell, Chris Conley and Orsen Charles) Our defense as been awesome this year and is number 2 in stopping the run which is LSU’s strong point. Georgia can win this game, and LSU will not blow them off of the map!
STEPHEN A. SMITH DAWG: Stop It !! UG didn't have "rugged" schedule delusional fans.
November 27th, 2011
9:06 pm
Only a delusional kool-aid drinker can say UG played tough competition in the “rugged” SEC. There is nothing “rugged” about the SEC East, UF and Tennessee are pathetically putrid, and UG lost to So.Carolina, who was the best team in the division. Further, there was nothing “rugged” about the putrid SEC West teams UG played. Ole Miss, Miss.St. and Auburn all were mediocre opponents this year. Put down the kool-aid jugs, sober up and tell the truth. LSU beat Bama and West Va on the road. LSU beat Oregon, and walloped Arkansas. LSU dominated mediocre teams and played a much more “rugged” schedule than our beloved UG Bulldogs so let’s keep it real and stop being delusional. The Tigers will rightfully be heavy favorites to defeat the Dawgs in the Dome, but kool-aiders rejoice at least Richt has won 10 games and apparently has salvaged his job for another season. Weak schedule or not he has met the 9 to 10 game goal. My prediction is unless UG shocks the World in the SECCG, the Dawgs will finish 10-3 and meet Clemson or Va. Tech in the Chick-Fila, Peach Bowl. If the Dawgs can beat Clemson or the Hokies, then at last they will have a decent signature win for the season. We still don’t know if Richt has what it takes to bring a National title to Georgia and despite this season. I still doubt he has what it takes and it will play itself out. But at least UG is not as bad as putrid UF, GT, Tennessee, and Auburn. LSU and Bama are what is left of the mighty SEC. So.Carolina,UG and Arkansas, take your pick, head the second tier of the SEC. Nuff Said !! Go Dawgs !!
dd
November 27th, 2011
9:26 pm
Yeah, I too expressed interest in going back to the Cotton Bowl until I found out tickets are $125.00 each.
No thanks. You can keep your stadium Jerry Jones.
rizzo black
November 27th, 2011
9:30 pm
here me out we dont know who’s really best unless they play head to head . this ranking goes only off peoples opinion. they need a reall system to seprate assumptions. just cause your ranked in the preseason(before any games are played) doesnt mean your the best.
STEPHEN A. SMITH DAWG: Stop It !! Bama doesn't deserve a 2nd shot at LSU !
November 27th, 2011
9:44 pm
Does Bama deserve a second shot at LSU for all the marbles? The Tide had the Tigers in their back yard for the SEC West title and lost. If LSU beats UG it will be the SEC Champ, and I can’t see how Bama, without any title whatsoever, being worthy of getting a rematch with LSU for the crystal ball and national title. What about the other conference champions? Is the Tide superior to the other conference champs because it lost a close defensive struggle to LSU in the SEC ? I know the other BCS conference championship game are yet to be played. But a lot of people seem to think a LSU-Bama rematch is inevitable no matter what happens in the conference championship games. What about one loss Oklahoma St, one loss Va.Tech, and unbeaten Houston if they win out. Stanford is out there locked out the PAC12CG with conference one loss just like Bama. Computers and politics are ripping off college football for the money ! Some have even said LSU can lose to UG and STILL face Bama for the BCS national title. Something is definately wrong….can we please have a legitmate playoff to determine a legitmate national champion ? College football has been played over 140 years and Division I has had only illegitimate champions there has never been a true playoff to determine a true national champion. What a shame !! C-YA !!
TBrown
November 27th, 2011
9:59 pm
TampaGator – We beat the pants off you this year and your team really stinks this year. It’s about time we have a year like this. We’ll beat LSU and the Gators still stink! Tom
jimmy
November 27th, 2011
11:35 pm
Where’s Tampa Gator? cutting off more jeans to make jorts??? Probably crying over that pitiful performance last night. That team is a joke. Beat it dude.. stay off our blog with your negative comments. How’s that 6-6 feel? Shreveport bound?
Kirby Smart
November 28th, 2011
6:35 am
UGA is a joke.
They do not compare to Alabama.
Kirby Smart
November 28th, 2011
6:37 am
Until UGA hires me…they will remain a second tier team.
Nub
November 28th, 2011
6:41 am
If we beat LSWho they will not be playing for the national championship…. Only 2 schools from the sec can play in BCS games….
Proud-Dawg
November 28th, 2011
7:54 am
UGA SOS #42
Bama SOS #39
Don’t tell Bama fans this. They beat up Georgia Southern, Kentucky State of Arkansas, Jacksonville College of Hawaii, and Coe College. 1 good win over Arkansas, who is the obvious choice for the most overrated team in CF. Shhhhh, they might get mad at you
Toccoa
November 28th, 2011
8:14 am
If LSU looses to GA and then plays in the NC, which would be a JOKE, and beats BAMA AGAIN, then I guess GA is the NChampion. Green Bay was 10-6 last year, barely made the playoffs and won the SB. That’s the way it’s supposed to work but the BCS powers that be don’t care. It’s all about the almighty DOLLAR. It is like politics in respect to what the people want. The majority of the nation didn’t want nation health care but that didn’t matter to the POWERS that be. It’s the same with the BCS. The majority of fans want a playoff, other then LSU and Bama fans, but it doesn’t matter. Les Miles whined his way into the NC in ‘07 after losing his last game of the regular season. If some can do that why would they want a playoff.
RxDawg
November 28th, 2011
9:01 am
I’ve never uderstood why the Peach bowl is looked down on. It always has great matchups. I’ve also never understood why those bozo’s at Chic Fil A dropped the “Peach” from the Peach bowl. That doesn’t help it’s prestigue.
RxDawg
November 28th, 2011
9:14 am
Prestige*
TampaDawg
November 28th, 2011
9:46 am
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
1:36 pm
TAMPA FLORIDA is a UGLY CITY. HAVE FUN !!!!!
————————————-
Oooook hot shot. I am not sure what you are comparing it to, but I have a feeling this has more to do with a team’s bowl selection versus the actual city. If it’s an ugly city, I would hate to have the NFL try to explain the amount of Super Bowls that have been here or the fact that Tampa is ALWAYS in the running for another one.
TampaDawg
November 28th, 2011
10:08 am
I love it .. here is a list, in order or when we had to listen to it, of the crap that was uttered by trolls, fair weather dawg fans, and people pretending to be dawg fans but were really trolls:
1. “CMR should be fired” .. not gonna happen, especially now
2. “Georgia will go 7-6 this year if they are lucky” .. in a GT fan’s dreams
3. “Can’t beat MSU again, can’t beat UT in Knoxville with Tyler Bray at QB” .. done
4. “Can’t beat the Gators” .. Whatever
5. “Aaron Murray can’t beat a team with a winning record” .. Florida when we played them had one, so did Auburn, so did Georgia Tech
6. “Aaron Murray can’t beat a ranked team” .. see the last two teams in number 3
7. Georgia has a weak schedule this year .. the unbiased S.O.S. rankings say otherwise but, who cares, they keep winning and no one breathes a word about Houston being in the top 10
8. “CPJ’s triple option will run over Grantham’s defense” .. they got their yards, but the location of the W is what counts
9. “Can’t beat LSU” … so here we are now. We shall see. LSU is a great team, but to give what will be a healthy Dawgs team no shot at winning that game is just wishful thinking. Any team with a great defense will always be in any game against any team.
10. “Your bowl game/city will suck” .. grasping at straws now trolls.
GATOR HATER.
November 28th, 2011
12:32 pm
The only bowl the Florida Gators will be going to is the TOILET BOWL. THEY STICK.
pcola-dog
November 28th, 2011
2:30 pm
Why in the name of god would a UGA loss in the SECCG game make ga less attractive to the capital one when an LSU loss will not diminish their’s or BAMA’s selection to the NCG for crying out loud. Loses only seen to matter when they are convenient to whom ever is making the arguement at the time.
Complete Farce
Old Dog
November 28th, 2011
6:13 pm
i don’t care what bowl UGA plays in as long as it is not the “Toilet Bowl” like last year. Which we lost, for all y’all Richt supporters. He had temporarily forgot how to coach.
ole yeller
December 1st, 2011
10:21 am
REMEMBER……….You Can’t Spell S U G A R with UGA. That should counts for something…..