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
Ghost of Christmas present
December 4th, 2011
10:39 pm
Dawg fans please be quiet. You have been thrashed twice in the Dome (technically a home game) on national television. Please don’t start predicting total dominance over Michigan State simply because you are a member of the SEC. Pick up the pieces from the SEC Championship Game and get healthy for the Spartans.
Dawg48
December 4th, 2011
10:44 pm
The first game LSU vs Bama was the game of the century!
We can name this rematch the over signing bowl!
Lakedawg
December 4th, 2011
10:45 pm
Spartans should be good even matched opponent for Dawgs who need the mo going into next year with this win.
Couple posters above obviously did not watch SEC championship game. Great game plan by Coach Bobo and Grantham, they cannot make the tackles or catch passes, or throw the ball for Murray. In fact Coach Bobo has several excellent called games in a row, need to lock him up also contract wise.
19 first downs to 11, 36.5 minutes to 23.5minutes, Dawgs controlled stats, but turnovers and special teams are how great teams win. Dawgs are closer than what final score read.
Alpha23
December 4th, 2011
10:50 pm
Georgia fans trust me you don’t want any me!
No one wants any of me and that includes all females.
I repulse most all humans and 99% of wildlife, sheep seem to like me.
Ghost of Christmas present
December 4th, 2011
10:53 pm
I am a sick little man that has no balls.
Anyone seen my balls.
Frank do you have my balls?
Maybe Alpha23 has them, he was playing with them earlier tonight.
truedawg
December 4th, 2011
11:03 pm
BCS are you crazy??!! A sugar bowl without a SEC team? What a Joke, UGA,SC, or Ark would have been the right choice. I don’t get it. But let me get the facts down to you.
1)The SEC has proven the past few years that we play big boy football. Other Conf. are eating dust and playing for scraps. They keep the SEC out of the rest of the BCS because they know they would embaress a big 10 etc whatever champion they want to trot on the field. They know if they don’t play the games they wouldn’t be exposed as the joke they are.
2) They are sweating bullets know because teams are asking for a playoff. But big ten, big pac of wac’s don’t want a playoff. Can you imagine it? after the first round there’d be nothing but SEC teams left!!!!
I say LSU is the champ. period. Bama can be the first losser then UGA< ARK< SC or whatever. there is your real top 5 BCS!!!
Go DAWGS!! beat those spartys GATA!!
sldkfjslk
December 4th, 2011
11:08 pm
I love my fellow Dawg fans. How they love to throw stones. Why don’t we let a 350 pound man fall on your ankle and see how tough you are then.
truedawg
December 4th, 2011
11:10 pm
Alpo 23 get a life. No one cares about you or your comments. This is a Dawg BLAWG. You are one of two things.
1) too stupid to know this is a Dawg Blawg.
2) your team, most likely The joke next to Coke, sucks too much to talk about and you like to see how the better half lives. I am going to bed and will not read this blawg anymore, We all have other things better to do than read the rambling of an idiot.
Remember, no matter how much you hate us, you will never be us! GO DAWGS!!
James K Polk
December 4th, 2011
11:12 pm
Another meaningless joke of a bowl for our meaningless joke of a team against another meaningless joke of a team. It sux being mediocre. I bet our fans love it, though. We won ten and backed into the Outback Bowl…that’s all our fans ask for, which is why we will never be in the big one, much less actually win it. We should have declined the invitation and went to the Chic-fil-A Bowl or the Gator Bowl. Never in the history of sport has one coach done so little with so much talent…and 90% of the fan base love him for it. I just don’t get it. I’ll have to sit here and watch another SEC team win a title with talent comparable to ours for the sixth year in a row and it makes me want to vomit.
RMikel58
December 4th, 2011
11:19 pm
@GA SOUTHERNER……………….. must be one of those occupiers who got arrested downtown Atlanta. Go back to cow tipping young lad, i think youve been snorting too much cow manure.
MSU
December 4th, 2011
11:19 pm
“I intend to make Georgia howl”. – William T. Sherman
Go to hell rednecks MSU is going to roll.
Dawg48
December 4th, 2011
11:20 pm
Polk
Don’t vomit on your shoes!
southjaxbeachdawg
December 4th, 2011
11:21 pm
This JUST FLAT OUT SUCKS!!! Again UGA gets jobbed. Why in the Hell would ANYBODY be excited about this game! It seems like year in and year out UGA ALWAYS get stuck with either Capital One or Outback!!!! I would rather have played in the Chick Fil A Bowl on New Years Eve Night! It is the ONLY GAME on at the time! Again this just flat out SUCKS!
jaxdawgfan
December 4th, 2011
11:22 pm
After our previous bowl invitations in the last 2 years, I think we Dawg fans need to be grateful to be in Tampa and that we should hope we win there. If we do, there is a good chance that we’ll do better next year which will result in an even better bowl. I think, whether some of us want to admit it or not, we all understand why we aren’t getting more respect. That, too, will come if we perform well.
ViningsMike
December 4th, 2011
11:23 pm
I will be at the Outback Bowl! Just made my reservations in Clearwater Beach at the Hyatt.
Go Dawgs!
RMikel58
December 4th, 2011
11:32 pm
Georgia does deserve a bowl. After all Mark Richt just climbed out of the toilet bowl this year. Of all the places Georgia needs help at, RB should be top priority. Special Teams coach is a necessity as well.
Donmt be suprised if Isiah Crowell decides to transfer to a smaller school where competition is a little bit less competitive.
After being injured i think Isiah is rethinking his options and maybe playing at this level is detrimental to his health.
Of all the areas we’ve had problems with, the RB is the biggests problem. Dont know if its conditioning, the RB’s Coach, a reality check or just that we really have that bad an offensive line. Im not sure how Georgia will fare against Michigan State but i’d be on that phone talking to recruits and getting things done before its too late and the good ones are already signed.
This year could offset last years recruiting if Georgia ranks down below #20. I myself could recruit better than alot of the staffers at UGA.
Georgia is very limited in the area of coverage they recruit players and im not sure that Mark Richt or the University want to spend the money to travel to get players like LSU and Alabama do. Yeah i know Richt said he gets most of his players out of this state.
Is that just a cop out for limited recruiting or that Georgia doesnt want to spend the extra money to travel?
Ronaldus Hyattus
December 4th, 2011
11:34 pm
At least GA Southerner graduated from college, unlike 98 percent of GA “fans”. Why root for a kolledge iffin you didn’t be gwine thar?
NOBODYYOUKNOW
December 4th, 2011
11:55 pm
I just hope they do without the fumbles and interceptions. I just can’t understand some fans.GA lost to some very tough teams they were picked to lose to. And beat teams they were picked to beat. LSU reminds me of the Green Bay Packers. Give CMR one more season. This is a young team. They should be much better next season.
Dr. Morpheus
December 5th, 2011
12:13 am
This is a good match up for Georgia. The Dawgs will encounter a solid MSU team, with a strong D and capable QB. We’ll need to treat it like an SEC game. A good win will increase our national buzz and be a good bridge to the 2012 season.
Had enough
December 5th, 2011
12:20 am
No offence to the Spartans but the bcs is lame in these bowl match up’s.
The Truth
December 5th, 2011
12:23 am
Florida is not turning anything around. Their Golden Era is over. They will be back to being a perinneal 8-4 or 7-5 team. Too much competition from Miami, FSU, UCF, USF and outside the state. Unrealistic expectations from their fans.
The Truth
December 5th, 2011
12:28 am
UGA did not get jobbed. No real difference between Capital One Bowl, Outback Bowl, Gator Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Chick-fil-A. Only difference is location. Prestige is the same. Honestly, all the Bowls now suck. Michigan State is a decent opponenet. Seriously, they got jobbed with Michigan going to the Sugar Bowl. Any time the SEC goes against the Big 10 it’s a good match up.
The Truth
December 5th, 2011
12:33 am
James K Polk why don’t you become and LSU, Bama, Auburn or Florida fan? Clearly, you are not one of us.
7576DAWG
December 5th, 2011
12:42 am
Russel Hall
The Sugar bowl Chose Michigan because their fan’s support them in out of town games. I have no idea why Virginia Tech was chosen ahead of about 6 other teams. The Cotton Bowl wanted Arkansas because they use to play in the old Southwest Conference and had some serious rivalry with some of the Texas team’s not to mention they recruit a lot of the same high school player’s. It made a lot more since than Arkansas going to Florida.
I think team’s like Boise State will never get the respect they want until they schedule and beat at least 2 very good team’s late in the year. Playing and beating a good team like Georgia the first game wasn’t very impressive but if they had scheduled us in November and had won then that would have been impressive. Georgia isn’t close to the team they where in September.
jewell gaither
December 5th, 2011
12:59 am
sparty will hose the dogs back into their doghouse
L.A. BULLDAWG
December 5th, 2011
1:08 am
THIS TEAM IS LOADED WITH FRESHMEN AND SOPHMORES! ASSUMING ORSON CARLES, JOHN JENKINS, AND JARVIS JONES, FORGO THE NFL DRAFT, AND COME BACK, UGA SHOULD BE A PRESEASON TOP 5 TEAM!!!!
bigeasydawg
December 5th, 2011
1:55 am
As long as Bozo the clown remains as offensive coordinator, don’t think the Dawgs will compete for the MNC no matter how much talent is there. Running 170 lb running backs up the middle or draw plays on 2nd down and 10 will not get the job done.
We goin get beat
December 5th, 2011
3:02 am
Great if can’t beat LSU so better why not lose big to Michigan state now…..Another Murray sightin Cromwell broadin and a BoBo sightin and Richt famous we were out done by a 49-24 beatin by a Big1Ten School at almost filled stadium…..we goin get beat it be only victory for Big1Ten conference in Bowl game
GT is a 4th rate high school team
December 5th, 2011
3:24 am
@We goin get beat, no doubt you are a fan of the North Ave Trading School.
Mama don"t let your babies grow up to be DAWGS
December 5th, 2011
4:47 am
MSU is going to give u another A** whooping little dawgies
heeldawg
December 5th, 2011
4:47 am
@ Ga Southerner: Get real. Georgia would beat your second-rate team by 40–and will do exactly that next fall. Strap it on, bucko. It will be an ugly, painful afternoon next season for the little boys from the ‘Boro. You guys are just our tune-up for Tech, nothing more.
Better be able to back it up if you run your mouth. And you can’t.
Old Dog
December 5th, 2011
6:32 am
” Give CMR one more season”
OK. But not five (or ten).
Morning Reads for Monday, December 5th — Peach Pundit
December 5th, 2011
6:33 am
[...] few that I like… – Georgia will play Michigan State in the Outback Bowl. – Tech won a ticket to the Sun Bowl to take on Utah. – Coke is axing the white holiday cans [...]
barneyfife
December 5th, 2011
6:35 am
It’s as good as the Dawgs could hope for, given their lackluster season. Face it, while a win is a win, they were not even a 10-2 team this year. Some of the wins were pretty ugly. As an alumnus, it never ceases to amaze me how the blind homers and Richt apologists settle for this year after year. Oh well, mediocrity rules in Athens! I gave up my season tickets 4 years ago and haven’t regretted it.
Flo's Filet
December 5th, 2011
6:46 am
Have ya been to the Outback lately? Grab ya a Flo’s Filet while you are there.
I believe it’s around $42.10.
01HAWK
December 5th, 2011
6:50 am
MSU …………………………………“I intend to make Georgia howl”. – William T. Sherman
Go to hell rednecks MSU is going to roll.
I guess like you rolled when BAMA ate you and spit you out last year. That was the worst beating I have seen for some time. SABAN was putting his 3rd and 4th stringers in the game and that is no lie.
MICHIGAN STATE looked like a high school team…………………………..BIG and SLOW.
SEC plays BIG BOY FOOTBALL…………………………..WELCOME TO THE SOUTH.
BAMA players were talking about how they thought it was going to be more of a game.
We put a hit out on 2 of your QB’s. MARK INGRAM had a field day against his home state team.
What a terrible, terrible team you had last year. I hope you will at least keep it close.
BAMA 49
MICH ST. 7
TampaGator
December 5th, 2011
7:03 am
The Truth…..
Florida has never lost a recruit they wanted to either UCF or USF….. never will. Nothing has changed concerning recruiting for FLorida…..and they will continue to sign one of the top classes in the country….every year. There is truth, and then there are those who fabricate the truth.
TampaGator
December 5th, 2011
7:05 am
Vinnings Mike…..
You are going to like the relatively new Hyatt……gorgeous hotel and 10 feet from the beach walk…..
Say Whut
December 5th, 2011
7:16 am
It should have been Georgia or Arkansas vs. Michigan State in the Sugar Bowl. Virginia Tech, which struggled to beat Duke and UNC– and which played four cupcakes in non-ACC games— lost by 4 TD;s to a reeling Clemson team that got blown out by NC State and USC late in the year. What in the heck are they doing in any BCS game?
Being relegated to the Outback Bowl sucks– for both teams. Arkansas should have been in the Sugar if not Georgia.
What did South Carolina win? Georgia, Arkansas and Michigan State all got screwed!
South GA Dawg
December 5th, 2011
7:28 am
UGA offense and special teams lost to LSU, UGA defense kicked their arse. They scored alot of points because the special teams and offense gave the ball inside of the 20 on 5 occations. What the He-l do you expect? Our running game never showed up to the game so their defense played pass the whole second half. IF UGA HAD A RuNNING BACK ????????
Jeff
December 5th, 2011
7:33 am
HOPEFULLY Crowell will be off the team before we heard to Tampa…..this guy makes Calab King and Ealey look like something great….what a total loser. More cancer on the team….get rid of him NOW
TheTruthHurts
December 5th, 2011
7:45 am
Beggars can’t be choosers, but it fits because Richt is an Outback Bowl kind of coach. Seems like a lot of UGA fans are satisfied with mediocrity. I just can’t see LSU or Bama fans being excited about a nothing bowl. I guess that’s why their programs are light years ahead of UGA’s and probably will continue to be as long as Richt hangs around.
bubba4dawgs
December 5th, 2011
7:47 am
With a “D” like Michigan State has, it might be difficult to match up with no running back. UGA has become one dimensional with lousy play calling. That doesn’t spell a victory very well! UGA needs a stable of running backs to compliment Todd Grantham’s defense. By the way, what a heckuva job Todd has done this year with the defense! He certainly deserves a lot of praise and recognition which I hope is coming his way! Keep giving him more hosses for depth. Put Bobo and Crowell on the same bus.
For goodness, come to play in Tampa and finish the season on a high note and then pick up some good recruits. Murray and Charles, welcome home!! Eat some down home grits at Mama’s house and be ready for a good game!! It’s a good time to “display your talents”!! GO DAWGS!!
Dogs Smell
December 5th, 2011
7:49 am
Here comes another A$$ kicking on Ga !
Dogs Smell
December 5th, 2011
7:55 am
Lakedawg , you’re an idiot ! your dogs got spanked ! All of you looking and already bragging about next year is the reason your fans are hated. Next year Next year is all you ever have. Remember next year the rest of the east will be better as well. MSU is going to spank you just as LSU did.
Born and raised by GaSouthern
December 5th, 2011
8:07 am
Okay GaSoutherner – I was born and raised at/by the original GSU – but let’s talk real here. Let’s remember all of the UGA/GSU games. We are talking two different footballs here. We wouldn’t even have football if it weren’t for Erk Russell – who came from UGA. There’s room in this state for 2 teams. And by the way, I have a 6 year investment in UGA as well.
WDE
December 5th, 2011
8:19 am
Dogs Smell I’m, willing to bet you that we hate you worse than you hate us , you hate us cause we beat you…pure and simple Dog envy.now your dismissed.
WDE
December 5th, 2011
8:20 am
Great match up Mich St is a tough bunch we will have to play 2 halves of good football to beat them…or anyone else. But is should be a good game.
GAathlete
December 5th, 2011
8:28 am
GSU people on here saying we “losers?” i don’t think BAMA was pumped up to play them this yr and im pretty sure they just tried to get through that game w/o injuries. This boy on here bragging about how may yards/points they put up against BAMA even tho they lost? not offended just laughing at his ignorance. AJC doesen’t even have a page for GAsouthern to post on do they
Hairy Dawgs
December 5th, 2011
8:33 am
So let me get this straight…. Ga played LSU for the SEC Championship… yet if GA had won LSU would still be ranked 1st or 2nd in the BCS and playing for the NC though they would have lost to the #14 ranked team. However GA lost to the #1 team and drops 4 places in the poll…
Can anybody make sense out of this