UGA vs. Michigan State in Outback Bowl; homecoming for Murray, Charles
Georgia and Michigan State, both with 10-3 records and losses in their conference championship games, will meet Jan. 2 in the Outback Bowl in Tampa.
The matchup was set Sunday, one day after Georgia lost 42-10 to No. 1 LSU in the SEC Championship game and Michigan State fell 42-39 to Wisconsin in the inaugural Big Ten title game.
Georgia was among three SEC teams, along with South Carolina and Arkansas, that were in the running for the Capital One, Outback and Cotton bowls.
Orlando’s Capital One Bowl, which had the next choice of SEC teams after LSU and Alabama were tabbed for the BCS national title game, selected South Carolina. The Gamecocks (10-2, 6-2 SEC) finished second to Georgia in the SEC East, but defeated the Bulldogs 45-42 in Athens on Sept. 10.
The Outback and Cotton bowls, equals in the SEC’s bowl pecking order, were next in line to make selections from the league. The Outback preferred the East team (Georgia) and the Cotton the West team (Arkansas).
The Outback, which will kick off at 1 p.m. and be televised on ABC, will be a homecoming for two of Georgia’s top players, quarterback Aaron Murray and tight end Orson Charles, who were teammates at Tampa’s Plant High School.
“Heading home for the Outback Bowl!” Murray said Sunday night via Twitter.
“It’s a great destination for our student-athletes and our fans –- warm weather, wonderful attractions, a first-class stadium -– and we look forward to competing against a great Michigan State team,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said in a statement. “Our fans have been a big part of our success this season, and I’m confident they will support the team with attendance in this bowl game.”
Michigan State is ranked ahead of Georgia in the latest polls, released Sunday. The Spartans are No. 12 in the Associated Press poll and No. 13 in the USA Today coaches’ poll, while the Bulldogs are No. 18 in both.
While Georgia won the SEC East, Michigan State won the Big Ten’s Legends division. Both teams were 7-1 in regular-season league play.
This is the 15th consecutive season that Georgia has reached a bowl. The Outback is a step up in the bowl landscape from the Bulldogs’ destinations the past two seasons, the Independence Bowl in 2009 and the Liberty Bowl last year.
Georgia and Michigan State have met twice previously in football, with Georgia winning both times.
The first meeting was in Jacksonville’s Gator Bowl at the end of the 1988 season. Georgia won that game, Vince Dooley’s last as the Bulldogs’ coach, 34-27.
The other meeting was in the Capital One Bowl at the end of the 2008 season. Georgia won 24-12 in the final college game for quarterback Matthew Stafford and tailback Knowshon Moreno. Stafford threw three touchdown passes in the second half, the last one to Moreno.
“This promises to be a great match-up,” Michigan State athletics director Mark Hollis said in a statement. “The last time these two teams met … the outcome wasn’t decided until the fourth quarter, so we anticipate another competitive game.”
Georgia has played in the Outback Bowl three times previously, winning all three, while this will be Michigan State’s first trip to the Tampa game.
Michigan State seemed on the cusp of a potential game-winning touchdown in Saturday’s Big Ten title game when the Spartans returned a Wisconsin punt inside the 5-yard line with less than two minutes to play. But a running-into-the-punter penalty negated the return and gave Wisconsin a first down, ensuring its victory and a Rose Bowl berth.
Georgia coach Mark Richt and Michigan State coach Coach Mark Dantonio will discuss the Outback matchup in a joint media teleconference Monday. In a news release from the bowl Sunday night, Richt was quoted: “… Playing a top quality opponent like Michigan State will be a challenge we’ll look forward to.”
Both teams rank in the nation’s top five in total defense. Georgia is No. 3, allowing 268.5 yards per game, and Michigan State is No. 5, giving up 272.7 yards per game.
– Tim Tucker
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522 comments Add your comment
kral
December 4th, 2011
8:53 pm
do not care about beauty contest system…but did note VA Tech rated higher than Clem..who beat them bad twice…what the hell is that
EX Div1 college football fan
December 4th, 2011
8:53 pm
Thanks ESPN for help in ruining college football as we know it.Congrats to UGA for winning SEC east,and your bowl game..Sic those yankees….Theres no doubt that LSU IS the #1 team in the country,but to say Bama is #2 is just sad.Yes Bama has a great Defense and Defense does win Championships,but you do have to have an Offense too and Bamas is average at best.The so called #2 team in the country cant even get inside LSU’s 20 yard line AT HOME!!!They score 6 points and try 2, 50 yard field goals and call it missed opportunities.PLEASE…Whats the odds of hitting 50 yard field goals for anybody.That was a shot in the dark not missed opportunities.Now LSU has to beat them again??Bama had their shot and blew it..This is just wrong.Every team LSU has played this year has scored at leat 9 on LSU ,except Ole Miss,Missy ST.,North western St.and ALABAMA!!!!!!ESPN says Hey Bama went to Penn St and beat them ..LOL Wisconsin destroys PennSt.,…….Bama Beat Penn St.,and Arkansas.Who else was even an average team Bama beat????I am a new Ga.Southern fan.At least they prove it on the field and not by ESPN,sports writers (who dont have a clue)and computers who btw get all their info from SPORTS WRITERS!!!Until Div1 football gets some kind of playoff and stops this nonsense its GA.Southern…BOYCOTT THE BCS NC game……ESPN and MONEY has ruined the game I really enjoyed..GO DAWGS …GO Ga.Southern!!!On to the NEXT round…
SpartanFan
December 4th, 2011
8:53 pm
frank,
Don’t worry about MSU being a “boring” school, we’ll be ready to play come gameday.
I think both schools are happy with the matchup, even if we both would have liked to get into a better bowl. I watched most of your game yesterday and I was impressed with your squad. Looking forward to watching this one, it should be pretty good. See yall in a month!
JB
December 4th, 2011
8:53 pm
2013 in the SEC. No Muschamp,No Dooley, No Spurrier,No Nutt,No Mullen…..Chisik,Richt on the bubble and 50/50 on Saban. He’s the real deal and I expect Texas to do what Bama did to get him. Just lay it out so he can’t say no…It’ll take 7.5 mil per and his ego may not be able to say no….and lot’s of talent in Texas… 3 Rings from 3 different schools is the kind of thing he thrives on. I hope Bama doesn’t think he loves them?
TampaGator
December 4th, 2011
8:55 pm
ozzfest…..
I would rather be in Tampa on January 2 than in Atlanta…….and I would think more than 5,000 Georgia fans feel the same way. But the Outback Bowl sells out every year because the Tampa community will by up the tickets…….so if Georgia fans don’t come…..you might be seeing a lot of chomps and Native American chants….and Bulls roaming…..around the Pirate ship. I don’t think you will want that…..do you?
SCarolina DAWGS
December 4th, 2011
8:55 pm
I have had ENOUGH of Crowell. his attitude stinks and 13 games he DOES NOT KNOW how to run a football in college yet and we need to get him back to Columbus and let him cut grass at the town park. See how he likes that since he doesn’ t want to be hit and he is supposed to be OUR TAIL BACK. Get serious BoBo – put his fanny on the road!!!!
ty webb
December 4th, 2011
8:55 pm
not much difference between 10-3 and 6-6? yeah, and jorts are fashionable.
TampaGator
December 4th, 2011
8:56 pm
Plus…..I can almost guarantee you that those frozen Michigan people will buy up all the unused Georgia tickets….and I don’t think you want that either….do you?
Erk Russell's Dog
December 4th, 2011
8:57 pm
Tampa Gator
2012 is a new year start it off with a bang ,whip those Buckeyes show coach Meyer what he gave up and how far Ohio State has fallen.
Tech Guy
December 4th, 2011
8:57 pm
GO SPARTANS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HeeHawDawg
December 4th, 2011
8:57 pm
HEEEEEEEEEEEE HAAAWWWWWWWWW
HeeHeeHeeHawHawHaw
JDawg1785
December 4th, 2011
8:57 pm
Tampa is a great place to spend New Year’s. Way better than Memphis or Shreveport. I’d say things are heading in the right direction.
TampaGator
December 4th, 2011
8:58 pm
If you had played LSU and Bama in the regular season……not 10-2…..but no better than 8-4….and your team would have probably been beaten up like Florida….and then…..more like 6-6. The difference between Florida and Georgia this year was the offense……and Florida is only 2 or 3 players away from getting that fixed.
rabid dawg
December 4th, 2011
8:59 pm
I dont mind outback…but I’d rather play a team we have not played in a while. Anyhow…on the bright side…the bulk of our offensive stars will be back next year. We should roll as long as Richt stays out of the way.
JB
December 4th, 2011
9:00 pm
Dawgs will have about 20,000 on hand….We travel pretty well. I was in Tempe when we opened pre season #1 and Those folks could not believe we brought 28,000 out there and bought 10,000 season tickets just to get in that game. I bought 6. They were only like 140 bucks each. Go Dawgs.
TampaGator
December 4th, 2011
9:01 pm
Erk…..
Unless Brantley stops being a “girl”….the Gators have very little chance against Ohio State……absolutely no offense with him at QB…….Ohio State will make him wet in his pants just like FSU did, I am sure. I just hope…..win or lose…..Muschamp decides to play his future and plays Brissett or Driskell….or both…..and sits Brantley on his butt for the rest of his horrible Gator career.
Cuz
December 4th, 2011
9:01 pm
I love the Steak bowl. TampaGator, I am staying with you.
SE GA Dawg Fan
December 4th, 2011
9:01 pm
How in the world did South Carolina end up ranked higher that UGA? Georgia would have been better off to not have played in the SEC Championship game. SC would have lost, and UGA would be ranked higher. Weird system going on in college FB….
Buckhead Bulldog
December 4th, 2011
9:02 pm
Chip – The Dogs are ranked 16th and Michigan State is ranked 17th in the overall BCS Stsndings.
Cuz
December 4th, 2011
9:02 pm
TG, you know I am pulling for you guys against tatooU. Just like last time.
JB
December 4th, 2011
9:03 pm
Tampa….I think you guys are another year away. I just don’t see a QB,RB,FB,TE or WR’s on campus yet to make it all work. It’ll come if the bricks don’t get thrown in Muschamps windows next year.
ty webb
December 4th, 2011
9:03 pm
You need 2 or 3 on your offensive line alone…Not mention your QB, running backs, and wr’s. Your ship is sinking. It’s going to be worse next year.
Brucerugby79
December 4th, 2011
9:03 pm
the Sugar bowl is the joke Va Tech after they just got creamed ????
TampaGator
December 4th, 2011
9:03 pm
I am like a lot of Dawg fans…..I am sick and tired of the SEC vs. Big Ten in the Orlando and Tampa bowls. They need to rotate conferences in these bowl match ups. They get boring.
Deepdiver
December 4th, 2011
9:03 pm
This sucks. Georgia would easily beat a Big Ten school almost any day of the week. We would be much better served in a playoff system. Than we might get at least Stanford or Oklahoma State. It’s the publics fault for still watching and buying tickets. That’s why we have a stupid BCS instead of playoff system.
Supes
December 4th, 2011
9:05 pm
Too bad we didn’t get into the Capital One or Cotton Bowl…feels like we got the shaft b/c we lost to a very good LSU team in the SECCG saturday night…so Arky and SC somehow “jump us” and get the better bowl games.
While it’s an improvement over the last 2 years…it’s still a bit of a letdown.
Not crazy about the matchup…nothing exciting about matching up against a Michigan State team…been there and done that. Nebraska would have been an exciting matchup to see…
DawgInaTruck
December 4th, 2011
9:05 pm
Well I must confess I wanted the Cotton Bowl (I know-that was a longshot) because it has been so long since we have played there. However, I have friends and family in Tarpon Springs, FL so we’ll fly down the Thursday prior to the game, celebrate New Year’s and take in the game Monday without having to pay for a hotel stay. Kind of hard to complain about a few days like that in late December/early January.
On an even more positive note, we return a ton of kids and will add several red-shirts from this year. Mark it down boys and girls, we are gonna be scary good for a few years.
Cuz
December 4th, 2011
9:05 pm
We beat State the last time, we will beat them again.
I think we beat them last time. (rubs bald head).
Supes
December 4th, 2011
9:05 pm
I am like a lot of Dawg fans…..I am sick and tired of the SEC vs. Big Ten in the Orlando and Tampa bowls. They need to rotate conferences in these bowl match ups. They get boring.
***************************
Well I’ll be…a good point from a FLA fan for once…
Cuz
December 4th, 2011
9:06 pm
No reason to watch the Sugar this year. I am guessing Arkansas went to the Cotton.
JB
December 4th, 2011
9:07 pm
News getting worse for Tech…Looks like Vad Lee, their hot shot red shirted QB is home sick and is going to leave. Puts Washington back at the helm next year and he is not D1 material.
Cuz
December 4th, 2011
9:08 pm
Supes, TampaGator is one guy that you can count on for an honest opinion.
DawgInaTruck
December 4th, 2011
9:08 pm
Cuz, hows your daughter?
Jordan
December 4th, 2011
9:08 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/12/04/dawgs-vs-spartans-in-outback-bowl/
TampaGator
December 4th, 2011
9:11 pm
JB…..
The QB – Brissett or Driskell….both are very talented and just need to get the system down.
The RB – Matt Jones…..6′2 and 220 out of this area. A very good one. Hopefully, Mike Davis will stick with the Gators and not go with the Vols. And the Gators still have Gilleslee and Brown.
The FB – Man…where have you been……his name is Hunter Joyer…..no doubt the best freshman FB in the country.
The TE – Jordan Reed is going to be very good. And Colin Thompson, the #1 TE in the country and 6′5 and 255, is on his way…..plus the #1 TE out of Florida….and maybe the kid out of Georgia on Monday….but I think he goes to Bama.
The WR – Debose really got better this year….former 5 star with unbelieveable speed. The Gators do need another WR to make all this work…..and they are in the hunt for a bunch of good ones. And I have not given up on Quinton Dunbar yet….only a freshmen this year and play very well against FSU.
The biggest problem is depth on the OL……and the Gators have two hurt freshmen back next year….hopefully Patchan can play uninjured for the first time next year….and Dunkler and Humphries and others (Young maybe) are on their way.
TRUTH AT UGAG
December 4th, 2011
9:11 pm
42-10
Cuz
December 4th, 2011
9:11 pm
She seems better today. We spent 24 hours in the hospital getting transfusions Friday through Saturday. Blood work again on Monday.
Thanks DiaT
SkyDawg
December 4th, 2011
9:11 pm
DawginaTruck is a tool.
EX Div1 college football fan
December 4th, 2011
9:12 pm
Amen Deepdiver..Watch or go to all the Bowl games except the NC game…BOYCOTT BCS NC game..Okla St got shafted…10 team playoff system,PROVE bammerr is #2…GO DAWGS!!!
JB
December 4th, 2011
9:13 pm
Gonna be interesting in Athens the next week or two. Grantham is a hot commodity and wants two years added to his current year left ….with a raise….And Damon gave him that 3 year deal. McGarity doesn’t like multi year deals for assit. Coach’s. I’m hoping McGarity was going to force Bobo to recruiting Cord and Qb coach and make Mark take back over the offense….and now I’m afraid we might have a new DC next year….which would save Bobo from the ax as Mark would not want that much change….we’ll see.
JDawg1785
December 4th, 2011
9:13 pm
I don’t think Slow-hio State will be able to keep up with guys like Demps and Rainey, TampaGator. Florida seems to be a stronger team on D as well. Floyd should have a good game. I’d say Gators by 7 or so.
Cuz
December 4th, 2011
9:13 pm
TampaGator knows his team. Looks better for you guys next year which parenthetically, does not look as good for us.
Mr. Football
December 4th, 2011
9:14 pm
LSU 42 GEORGIA 10 – Final score
SkyDawg
December 4th, 2011
9:14 pm
Like DawginaTruck I wanted the Cotton but it’s good to be ‘disappointed’ with a New Year’s Day (Jan 2 this year) bowl. Consider how far we’ve come. We’re gonna get live the next few years.
kral
December 4th, 2011
9:16 pm
weird stats…do not mean anything..we got blasted…fd GA-19-11 TOTYDS GA-296-237, 3rd eff.-GA33%-11%, TOP-GA-36.36-23.24…just strange…stats do not mean anything..got beat..was tough 2nd half..congrats LSU..go DAWGS
LSU
December 4th, 2011
9:16 pm
LSU had the hobnail boot Saturday night.
Cuz
December 4th, 2011
9:16 pm
I, like many others, are just ignoring or laughing at you Tech haters. What bowl are you going to?
Hahahahahahhaha!
JB
December 4th, 2011
9:17 pm
Tampa…………….all good stuff….but I think you guys proved the theory this year that a roster full of 4& 5 star guys don’t equal wins, which you guys had. It takes Chemistry and depth and certain type skill players all coming together at once. Still think you guys are a year away….And I know you will not like this, but it the coaching dept, ya’ll have slide a notch or two.
richmondDawg
December 4th, 2011
9:17 pm
@Tampa, Mike Davis just decommitted from the Gators…You guys aren’t having a good year with the transfers and such either, probably looking at about 2 years to get that thing turned around
SkyDawg
December 4th, 2011
9:18 pm
Hey DawginaTruck,
Thot we were getting the tribes together for the Outback. You going to hang with Daulton in Tarpon Springs? I’m jeaolus.