Outcome of SEC Championship won’t impact LSU’s BCS opportunities
Welcome to championship week. Raise your hand if you expected Georgia to be in this position back on Sept. 11th. That was the day after the supposedly devastating 45-42 loss to South Carolina. To his credit, Bulldogs’ coach Mark Richt did, as his comments after that game indicate.
Since then the Bulldogs won 10 straight, culminating with Saturday’s 31-17 win over Georgia Tech to conclude the regular season. Now it gets real interesting!
Georgia’s season began with a rather lackluster loss to No. 5 Boise State in the Georgia Dome. Now the Bulldogs head back and will face an even bigger challenge in No. 1-ranked LSU in the SEC Championship Game. No one’s giving them a chance to win. The early lines I’ve seen have the Tigers favored by 11.5 to 13 points. So Las Vegas is expecting a rout.
What I think is most interesting about Saturday’s game is the apparent lack of bearing it will have on LSU’s BCS national championship hopes. Virtually every prediction out there has the Tigers still playing in the title game even if they lost to Georgia and even if that loss was a blowout.
There is even some speculation that LSU could clinch a share of the national title with a win over Georgia on Saturday via The AP vote.
That has brought forth some previously unfathomable reasoning. LSU coach Les Miles was asked this past weekend if he had considered resting some of his players and kind of taking it easy for the SEC championship game. Miles’ response was predictable.
“Just so you know, there is no way this football team goes to Atlanta and doesn’t play its best,” he said.
The truth is, the bigger the stage, the better LSU has played this season. The Tigers’ season began with a game against a top 5 Oregon team in the “Jerry Dome” in Dallas and they’ve had “monumental” contests all year, with trips to West Virginia, Alabama and Arkansas. They seem to do their best where the lights are brightest.
“We’re used to being on the big stage,” Miles said Sunday. “I think our guys translate the glare of the lights to making plays in the game. I think they did that against Oregon in Dalaas and they’ve really done it right on through Alabama at Alabama. So we’re kind of comfortable in domes and we’ll look forward to seeing if we can the exact same thing.”
Expect the Bulldogs to get LSU’s best shot.
So does anybody here have a problem with the SEC championship game being rendered moot with regard to the BCS title? And does anybody believe Georgia has a chance in this game?
Meanwhile, we here at the AJC are treating it as a meaningful game. We have a lot of great coverage plans so be sure to check back regularly for updates as we’ll post everything online as quickly as we have it. And feel free to offer suggestions for stories or particular subjects you’d like to see covered.
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573 comments Add your comment
Steve
November 28th, 2011
9:26 pm
@coarch, u sound like one of my idiot ga tech fans who talk only to hear themselves bcause noone else will listen to them!
Steve
November 28th, 2011
9:27 pm
Friends*
Dawg Man
November 28th, 2011
9:29 pm
When we stomp LSU Saturday, we should be playing Alabama for the National Championship—-we have won 10 straight, we are the best, Murray should win the Heisman. I bet LSU dosent even show up to avoid gettin romped by the Dawgs !!!!!
Ray
November 28th, 2011
9:31 pm
Actually we if Georgia wins both Bama and LSU should drop out and let us have a match against Oklahoma St, Boise, or Houston.
I really think if we rematch Boise right now we win hands down. This is only an opinion though.
Coarch
November 28th, 2011
9:39 pm
If Georgia wins, I think that everyone should get ice cream.
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
9:40 pm
LETS SEE
BAMA …………..2009
AUBARN……….2010
BAMA……………2011
State of ALABAMA rules the SEC………………………….You guys are so funny. UGA is insignificant once again, and I absolutely LOVE IT.
Keep on DREAMING back to 1980, HUSCHELL, HOB NAIL BOOT, SUGAR FALLING FROM THE SKY ETC.
HABDAWG
November 28th, 2011
9:42 pm
Time to scrap the BCS. Bama and LSU are the best by far in my opinion, but to just automatically insert them into the NC game before all of the results are in is insane.
I hope the DAWGS win and both LSU and Bama do get into the NC game. Maybe that will be enough to finally get some sort of playoff in place.
I suggest 8 super conferences and a 16 team playoff. The field should be made up of the 8 conf. winners and either their runnerups or 8 at large bids. This would give us 4 rounds of playoffs and all would still be complete by the 1st week in Jan.
Mobile Dawg
November 28th, 2011
9:42 pm
Hey look 01HAWK got power back to his trailer again.
Coarch
November 28th, 2011
9:43 pm
Georgia could have easily won the Boise State game, if Boise State hadn’t scored so many points. That’s the only thing that messed it up, really. They should have won the South Carolina game too. I think so. Don’t you? If you add up all the wouldas, couldas and shouldas, then Georgia looks pretty good!
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
9:44 pm
UGA…………………………POT CALLING THE KETTLE BALCK.
You had your chance……………………………..Sounds familiar ?
BOISE STATE……………………………….You should have played LOUISVILLE instead.
South Carolina………………………………You blew this one also.
What do you expect out of UGA……………………Preseason # 1 in 2008 and then blew a tire along the way.
You had your chance………………………………………SHUTUP ALREADY
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
9:45 pm
Sticks and stones may break my bones but hobnail boots will never hurt me.
Mobile Dawg
November 28th, 2011
9:47 pm
Then why come on here just to insult the Dawgs, a true “blue blooded” crimson tider would never lower himself to comment on the enemy, he would be to arrogant. Remember, you do all your talking on the football field.
Ray
November 28th, 2011
9:49 pm
@01
If UGA had their chance what of Alabama didn’t even go to the SECCG
IF LSU loses again you don’t win your conference, but yet can still get in WTF?
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
9:50 pm
Mobile Dawg …………………………………….Why don’t you leave ALABAMA and worry about your DAWGS headed to TAMPA.
I hear the weather is nice this time of year.
Coarch
November 28th, 2011
9:50 pm
I’ve got a great college football joke…
Georgia!
Ha! I kill myself!
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
9:51 pm
Ray ………………………………WHY……………………….Because we are THE CRIMSON TIDE.
Just sayin'
November 28th, 2011
9:52 pm
Say Georgia does upset LSU then they still let LSU play in the BCS Champiosnhip Game that will just prove what a pathetic joke the BCS is. If the national champion isn’t even the champion of their conference then the BCS must be scrapped. The BCS would lose all respect.
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
9:52 pm
OK STATE lost to a bad IOWA STATE Team………………………………..No way for them to jump over BAMA.
ESPN, CBS…………………………………….They all LOVE US !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mobile Dawg
November 28th, 2011
9:53 pm
Matter of fact it is 01, I lived there from 99 to 06. When I decided to move over this way I was looking forward to getting away from the arrogant folks that invaded the fair state of Florida from the North. When I got here I had to question the wisdom of my decision. Thank God I had married an Auburn girl and knew not all Alabamians acted like you.
TRUTH
November 28th, 2011
9:54 pm
Only conference champions deserve to play in the BCS Championship Game. If not the BCS is a rigged and crooked piece of trash!!!!!
Coarch
November 28th, 2011
9:56 pm
‘Bama is in a state of illiterate rednecks that can’t even defend their own house having got their arses whipped by LSU. LSU WHIPPED the Tide in Bryant-Denny!!!!! That is a fact. Choke on it all you below 85 IQ’d dingies!
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
9:56 pm
UGA is so pathetic to think that you will play in the BCS game even if you beat LSU. Will not happen.
LSU, BAMA, AUBARN, and FLORIDA have played in the BCS and you have not played in a BCS or a Nat. Championship game since 1980.
Get over yourselves. I was hoping CMR would stay and I got my wish. This just assures me that you will not get there……………………….EVER !!!!!!!!!
Coarch
November 28th, 2011
9:58 pm
Enjoy it while it lasts Dawg fans. It’ll all be over in few days.
But there’s always next year, eh?
Sir Bear Bryant
November 28th, 2011
10:00 pm
I cannot believe that college football has denigrated to the point where they would consider making teams that did not even win their conference championship the national champions. This is very sad and I am embarrassed for the sport.
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
10:00 pm
You guys really amuse me. You post in the thousands on this blog and all it does is makes you upset.
You are not a power house in the SEC, and you just can not get over it.
I would not tell anyone I married an AUBARN GIRL.
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
10:02 pm
Coarch ……………………….You must be a TENN or VANDY FAN
Mobile Dawg
November 28th, 2011
10:04 pm
Nothing to get over HAWK, to me it’s just a football game. After it’s over my Auburn lady and I will mosey on back to Mobile, run our business, raise our kids, grandkids, play a round of golf, lay back on Ono, while you pretend to be a “graduate” of Alabama. No real “graduate” of Alabama’s going to waste his time on a pretender like UGA’s blog, so finish your blogging before your generator runs out of gas and shuts you down for the night, you self inflated jerk.
Professor Laughs Alot
November 28th, 2011
10:06 pm
01HAWK it doesn’t take much for you to amuse yourself. No one here respects you but you keep posting your drivle over and over. Maybe you should get a job or a brain or both.
Woody
November 28th, 2011
10:08 pm
01HAWK you must be an OBAMA fan.
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
10:12 pm
I come on this blog just to have fun after a good days work. I do not take it personal like you guys do. Shame on you for taking it seriously. More important things in life.
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
10:15 pm
Woody………………………..I actually like PALIN.
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
10:15 pm
WOODY……………………………….Why ?………………………..Because she can see RUSSIA from her front yard. LOL
Mobile Dawg
November 28th, 2011
10:17 pm
Then leave the “mean spirited” verbage at work. You can pick and needle in a humorous way, I experience enough of the condescending attitude of Bama fans daily. I don’t come on here to listen to more Finebaum.
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
10:24 pm
Even OK STATE Coach would not put OK STATE ahead of BAMA. See comments below:
Diplomacy played out at Oklahoma State on Monday where Cowboys coach Mike Gundy addressed the current BCS standings. He was specifically asked about Alabama.
“Alabama lost to what would be the No. 1 team in the country and Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State,” Gundy said. “In our situation, if I was doing it fair, I don’t know how I could put us in front of them right now.”
01HAWK
November 28th, 2011
10:32 pm
Mobile Dawg …………………………………..Listen…………………………Do you guys really care ? Is your skin that soft. You should have fun also with it. It is talking about 18-22 year kids that are in college.
Do not take it personal. It is just a game………………….By the way………………………Go look at the video of Kristi Malzahn as she puts her foot in her mouth on the latest video that is being talked about on the internet.
GUS must be leaving soon.
Idiot Dawg
November 28th, 2011
10:36 pm
Just not interested in seeing another LSU / Bama game. Once per year is enough. It really was a boring game. I mostly watched the SC / Ark game. I want to see LSU beat up on OK St. That would be worth watching. Not that old tired game again. Georgia could help that argument along by beating LSU. Heck, who knows?
Mobile Dawg
November 28th, 2011
10:38 pm
Statistically speaking most intelligent, realistic UGA folks realize we don’t have the same resume (this year in particular) as Alabama or LSU. We are just happy to be where we are. It does stick in the craw of “some” Georgia people that the same argument used in 2007 to keep us out of the MNC is being cast aside. I realize that every year is different, different circumstances. In 07 the teams we lost to, the way we lost to Tennessee, eliminated us early. LSU lost both games in OT that year, and won the SEC Championship. Different years, different scenarios.
All that said, LSU will probably take care of business in Atlanta, and Bama will probably be the #2 team, and I will enjoy the rematch and would lean toward Alabama winning that.
Mobile Dawg
November 28th, 2011
10:41 pm
Malzahn really lowered the price of his stock by sticking around AU for another year. I haven’t seen the video, yet.
Jfrong
November 28th, 2011
10:54 pm
@Go Dawgs! i posted earlier how they would get around the only 2 teams per conference rule. I don’t know if anyone else posted this as well. But I wondered the same thing and then i did some research and found out that there can be three if the top 2 teams are in the national championship, but did not win their conference and the team that did win the conference will go to their respective BCS bowl… I think the way i just explained that didn’t make sense, but they did leave a loophole in the system for something like this.
Furthermore, I think that LSU will be bringing an incredible team to the Georgia dome. If tey were to play the UGA that we saw for the first game of the season and a select few other games this season then they would absolutely crush UGA. The team that has come from some of those bad games is an excellent Georgia football team. LSU can’t let UGA get up 14 points like they let arkansas. UGA has a much better defense than ark. People talk about how deep LSU is at the RB spot, but look at UGA as well a 2 weeks rest Crowell, Thomas who has come into his own lately, and rumor has it that Samuel will be back as well and we saw what he can do to even the biggest and strongest players. Also 8 of the last 7 touchdowns all from different people. UGA has one of the deepest offenses in the country, and ill come out and say it now. Malcolm Mitchell looks better than AJ Green did as a junior.
Dr. Morpheus
November 28th, 2011
11:05 pm
Les Miles is a great guy and a great coach says no less than Jarvis Jones. You gotta love the ignorant LSU fans who wanted to fire him just a short while back and are now stopping by our blog to demonstrate their foolishness…
UGA didn't play anybody.................
November 28th, 2011
11:07 pm
oh wait……………… they played and beat the same 6 SEC teams that LSU played……………..well damn.
Jfrong
November 28th, 2011
11:08 pm
Btw i didnt mention earlier that i have extreme confidence in the Georgia Bulldogs always have and always will. I have money riding on UGA for this game. I have not and will not ever think of anything but a win with them!!! Go Dawgs.
Jim
November 28th, 2011
11:08 pm
Alabama beats LSU in the NC game they would be 1-1 against each other so they sould be co-champs. No matter what the Bosies and Houstons will never make the NC game because the powers to be are scared they could win. I believe Baylor could beat LSU. Since Georgia went down in the standings after beating GT then when Georgia beats LSU both LSU and Alabama should drop and OK St and Standford should move into the 1-2 slots. Georgia should go to the sugar bowl win or lose to LSU. If the winner of the SEC goes to the Sugar Bowl then even if Georgia loses to LSU they and LSU is in the NC game then the winner of the East division should go to the Sugar bowl.
sports
November 28th, 2011
11:10 pm
THis must really thrill you Towers…slighting Georgia again.
Jfrong
November 28th, 2011
11:10 pm
I have also seen some Georgia Tech (i assume they are atleast.) talking about the intelligence of UGA football team. May i point out that as of 2009 UGA Football Graduation Rate= 57% Georgia Tech= 49%
Urban Liar
November 28th, 2011
11:16 pm
TEBOW IS BETTER THAN SCAM NEWTON
Old Blind Dawg
November 28th, 2011
11:21 pm
LSU will likely beat UGA and if they get matched up with Bama I hope they kick Bama all over the field. I want to see Saban looking like a deer in the headlights while Les chews on some AstroTurf as the clock winds down.
Harold
November 28th, 2011
11:38 pm
Why is it that all of these Alabama rednecks get off about how great they are? How many years did Alabama spend in mediocrity until Dick Saban came along? And they ask the idiot players why they deserve to play in the NC game? Their answers were that they had worked hard to get to that point. WTF???? Like the other 115 teams in college football didn’t work hard? Bunch of idiots at Alabama think that because they are Alabama they “deserve” something. How can you not even win your division and still play for NC? Is Alabama a great team? Of course, but you had your chance, now shut up and get over it. If UGA wins, no they don’t deserve to play for NC…shouldn’t even be in consideration, but neither does LSU or Alabama. Hell, why not let South Carolina play for it. They worked hard too. How about Auburn. They lost to 5 fairly high ranked teams. Oh, and by the way, if you want to look at it from a different perspective, UGA beat Auburn worse than Clemson, Alabama, LSU or Arkansas. Scored as many as LSU, but didn’t give up as many, for what it’s worth.
freshmandawg
November 28th, 2011
11:45 pm
lsu doesnt really care about this game, they are more worried about the national championship game, so i don’t know why people are gonna be surprised when UGA wins
Auburn Jacket
November 28th, 2011
11:55 pm
The BCS Championship game should be played by 2 conference champions. Period. How can you play for the title of best in the country when you aren’t the best in your conference. Bama is not even the best in their division…