UGA moves to No. 3 in BCS standings, within reach of national-title game
The scores from Eugene, Ore., and Waco, Texas, reverberated loudly across this state, seemingly putting the Georgia Bulldogs two victories away from playing for college football’s national championship.
Saturday night’s losses by previously No. 1 Kansas State (to Baylor) and previously No. 2 Oregon (to Stanford) triggered a celebration among Georgia fans and a shakeup of the Bowl Championship Series pecking order. In the latest BCS standings, released Sunday night, Notre Dame moved to No. 1, Alabama to No. 2 and Georgia to No. 3.
That means, BCS analysts agreed, that if Georgia beats Georgia Tech and Alabama beats Auburn this week, then the winner of the Dec. 1 SEC Championship game between the Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide would play for the national title.
The top two teams in the final BCS standings, to be released Dec. 2, earn berths in the title game, which will be played Jan. 7 in Miami. Georgia has not played for a national championship in the BCS era and last won the title in the 1980 season.
The losses by Kansas State and Oregon came just one week after Alabama’s loss to Texas A&M seemingly left the SEC at serious risk of not putting a team in this season’s BCS title game. Last week, Alabama and Georgia were Nos. 4 and 5 in the standings, behind three undefeated teams. That meant the league with six consecutive national championships could get back to the title game only if two of the three unbeaten teams ahead of Alabama and Georgia lost a game.
And on one chaotic night, two of the three did just that.
“Thank you Baylor, thank you Stanford,” Georgia cornerback Sanders Commings reacted via Twitter.
“We control our own destiny,” UGA linebacker Christian Robinson tweeted.
The turn of events raised the stakes for Georgia’s regular-season finale against Georgia Tech. The rivals will play at noon Saturday in Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs (10-1, 7-1 SEC) would be knocked out of the national-title picture by a loss to the Yellow Jackets (6-5, 5-3 ACC).
On his weekly teleconference with reporters Sunday night, Georgia coach Mark Richt was asked a half-dozen questions about the BCS picture. Each time, he responded by talking about the game against Tech.
Richt wouldn’t even say whether he watched the Oregon-Stanford and/or Kansas State-Baylor games.
“You know what? I was thinking about Tech that night, all night, knowing what a big game it is,” he said.
Alabama is in a similar situation this week, also facing its in-state rival. But while Georgia has clinched the SEC East’s berth for the league title game at the Georgia Dome, Alabama (10-1, 6-1 SEC) must beat Auburn (3-8, 0-7) to represent the Western Divison there.
The SEC, of course, wasn’t the only beneficiary of Kansas State’s 52-24 loss to Baylor and Oregon’s 17-14 overtime loss to Stanford.
Notre Dame (11-0) moved from No. 3 to No. 1 in the BCS standings and can assure itself a spot in the national-title game by winning its regular-season finale at USC.
Brad Edwards, ESPN’s BCS analyst, expressed confidence after Saturday’s results that the SEC Championship game winner would get the other berth, provided Georgia beats Tech and Alabama beats Auburn. Fellow analysts Mark May, Lou Holtz and Kirk Herbstreit agreed.
Of course, there could be complications that again scramble the picture, such as a loss by Notre Dame, Alabama or Georgia this week.
If Notre Dame loses, there would be no unbeaten team left in the national-championship mix, and there surely would be an intense debate about who should play the SEC champion in Miami. In that case, another SEC team — Florida, which is No. 4 in this week’s standings — could be next in line if it wins its regular-season finale against Florida State.
Oregon is No. 5, Kansas State No. 6 and LSU No. 7 in this week’s standings.
The BCS standings include three components that count one-third each: the USA Today poll of current coaches; the Harris Interactive poll of former coaches, administrators and players and current and former media members; and an average of six computer polls. Notre Dame is No. 1 in all three components this week.
Georgia is No. 3 in the USA Today poll (up from No. 4 last week), No. 3 in the Harris poll (up from No. 5) and No. 6 in the computers (same as last week). Alabama is No. 2 in the USA Today and Harris polls and No. 3 in the computers.
The Associated Press poll, which is not part of the BCS formula, also has Notre Dame No. 1, Alabama No. 2 and Georgia No. 3 this week.
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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367 comments Add your comment
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 19th, 2012
8:36 am
If you lose to GT I’m going to be so *****.
I could see it happening, because you know we’re watching film on you right now. We’re not really concerned about this weekend. I’m sure they’re watching it going “how is this team ranked third?”
GA Tech is a Joke
November 19th, 2012
8:43 am
Damn Tech Sucks AGAIN!!!! Richt should really run up the score this yr. No mercy on the little boys from Atlanta.
1969 Graduate
November 19th, 2012
8:48 am
The only thing that matters is beating Georgia Tech. Then we move on.
Everybody always argues about the rankings. Every year. Maybe UGA is over ranked. Maybe Florida is over ranked. Maybe ND is over ranked. Maybe Alabama, too. Regardless, the rankings are what they are, and we have to play the next team on the schedule.
Maybe we beat some cupcakes. Maybe our schedule is soft. Most any team could say that, or it could be said about them. So what? No team adjusts their schedule as the year goes on. Schedules are set far in advance, before anyone knows what teams will be good that year.
We are ranked highly. We are playing well. We seem to have a hot hand now. Things look to have come together this year for us. We’re in a good position.
If we beat Tech, and beat Alabama, and beat someone in a NC game, we will deserve to be where we are as much as anyone ever has.
However, the only thing that matters right now is beating Georgia Tech.
Go, Dawgs!
ILOVETHISSTUFF!!!
November 19th, 2012
8:49 am
the Jackets suck, UGA is a bunch of goons, Bama’s beatable…blah, blah, blah–man, don’t you guys just LOVE THIS STUFF?!?! You can’t make up these scenarios–thank you God, for the BCS, for college football in general, and all the yearly craziness it brings…go Dogs!!!
MT
November 19th, 2012
9:12 am
@ATL
Even Tech people say that UGA doesn’t play any good out of conference teams.
Yeah and the one were playing Saturday is probably the worst of all.
Alabama Dog
November 19th, 2012
9:15 am
An RTR Hit-Run from ATL: face it, as much as you Bammers like rubbing our noses in it about our underachieving team, the fact is Alabama’s NC last year was BOGUS! No division, or conference title. No right whatsoever to be in the game last season. That said, if Georgia loses to Alabama in the SECCG, do they get a DO OVER too????
MT
November 19th, 2012
9:18 am
Schedules are set far in advance, before anyone knows what teams will be good that year.
Amen. The next time we get ths SEC schedule Auburn and Tennessee may have strong teams,
and the two teams we didn’t play Bama and LSU may have losing records. Saban and Miles could spring for the NFL.Who Knows?
MT
November 19th, 2012
9:27 am
Bialy
You could be another false prophet. Go Dawgs!
Jimmy Crack
November 19th, 2012
9:37 am
Another headline…
Tide Wets Bed, Dawgs Dream of NC!!
PapaK
November 19th, 2012
9:46 am
Dogs have had a great season. After watching the Ala. A&M game, I think Ga can beat Ala. It will be a great game.
LawDawg
November 19th, 2012
9:50 am
I wouldn’t get ahead of myself with the idea of UF playing for a title. They seem like a broken team since losing to UGA and I have a hard time seeing anyway they beat FSU unless the final is something like 13-9.
flo-ri-duh
November 19th, 2012
10:18 am
Muschump is saying “there ain’t gonna be no rematch”! Florida has no “O” UGA does. Bummer vs UGA for the SEC/BCS championship. Would LOVE to see Bummer lose to Auburn. Then what would they do with Chizik? Of course it’s not gonna happen but think what chaos that would be. UGA needs to ignore the media this week and put Tech away decisively. Get your mind right DAWGS!
RMikel58
November 19th, 2012
10:18 am
It isnt like Alabama has been dominating teams like in the past. They played 2 good teams in LSU and Texas A&M and 1-1. What gives Bama hope is that they play as a Unit. No superstars in their lineups just fundamental football.
Against a Pro-Style Offense Bama has issues. Not to take nothing away from Bama because their fundamentally sound with great coaching but they do have flaws. it will be up to Bobo after this weeks game against Tech to put together a package similar to Texas A&M game against Alabama inorder to expose those weaknesses.
They can be beat guys.
Our advantage is that no one gave the Dawgs any hope of going to the SEC Championship but hey here we are.
Georgias Defense is every bit as good as Alabamas Defense but the key is being ready to play like a Unit as they do. They are very well coached and this whole game will come down to Defense.
Alabama is not going to give us nothing and will make us work for every yard we get.
No trickery with those guys ,just straight up football.
Our front 7 will have to be agressive on the line and the secondary will have to watch for big passes but if we put pressure on their QB then they will dump to the RB coming out or over the middle dump pass.
We match up very well with Alabama unlike most people feel we dont , it just will come down to disciplined football , no arm tackling, hard hitting, and momentum.
Not thinking it will have to be your best game but fundamentals and silly penalties.
flo-ri-duh
November 19th, 2012
10:21 am
Upset alert: Auburn over Bama!………… just kidding. Bummer should win by 4 TD’s.
flo-ri-duh
November 19th, 2012
10:23 am
Take care of the BUGS 1st..
Honey Badger Has the Munchies
November 19th, 2012
10:24 am
Just about any team in the SEC can beat anyone in said conference any given Saturday. Like Herm Edwards said, “You play to win the game…..HELLO!” Shows just how hard it is go undeafeated in any conference, ask Oregon and K State. Focus on GT Dawgs, take care of business. GT will love to play the spoiler do not take them lightly.
Slim
November 19th, 2012
10:33 am
People like u suck always have to have a grow person with a child mind on this page if you don’t like black people then don’t watch the game better yet kill your self wat you mad for because you fat and never could be good as any the players on the Georgia bulldogs team want you get in the face of these young men and say that with your punk ass I hate people like you
RMikel58
November 19th, 2012
10:33 am
Tech is and will always be a Div 2-A football team. They have had a curse on them since they put their basketball team on the field to play a football game and continues to do so even today.
The Football Gods have spoken long before this day and Tech Fans cant stand it!
Their excuse is to use grammar language such as better grades, drunkeness, and trying to convince everyone they are great.
Proofs in the pudding.
Tech will never have 10 seasons of having won 10 games or more, Conference Championships, high Draft Picks, Finalist or mentions of a Heisman Candidate.
All they can do is talk jibberish crap of how good they hope to be when playing us. They should just focus on another sport and eliminate their football program all together to save face and money.
They should just look at the Kentucky program to come to reality that all their good at is basketball and anything else beyond that is hopeless.
Hope i helped all you naysayers with striped yellow backs so that you will stop drinking heavily, taking somas, getting obese from nervousness and seek other ventures that are more worthwhile to save you and your family shame.
Go Dawgs!
Honey Badger Has the Munchies
November 19th, 2012
10:35 am
Slim…who you mad at?
Gooddawg
November 19th, 2012
10:41 am
MURRAY IS THE TOP RATED QB IN AMERICA!!!!!
I REPEAT
MURRAY IS THE TOP RATED QB IN AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!
ALL THE “BIG NAMES” FOR THE HEISMAN ARE WAY WAY DOWN THE LIST.
Orlando Dawg
November 19th, 2012
10:59 am
Larry Munson’s spirit is happily floating thru Athens at this moment! DAwgs! Finish the Drill!!!!!!
SEC's paper tiger is Georgia
November 19th, 2012
11:00 am
Whats funny is the SEC’s at best 5th best team (UGA) thinks it will win the NC…with America’s top rated “stat padder” Murray under center…UGA is a joke, just like its trailer trash fanbase…Bama ain’t Coastal Carolina…
rhbDAWG1r
November 19th, 2012
11:00 am
gtBoB – I think we’ve already got a team in Georgia that makes college football look like a joke.
Big Crimson 75
November 19th, 2012
11:01 am
Can’t say I’m surprised by this past Saturday’s action.
It’s a different ball game when the bulls-eye is pointing at you!!
K-State completely collapsed & the Quack(much like Bama) got beat at home against a solid team.
Now comes the fun part.
For all the Quack fans ridiculing Bama getting in the big game last year, now they want the same exact thing this year. I guess it’s ok for every team except Bama to blame the FG kicker for a loss. It’s ok for everyone except Bama to get in without winning their conference(Fla & Ore).
This is 2007 all over again. The SEC couldn’t have wrapped it any better!!
It’s not the fault of Bama, UGA or Fla 2 of the top 3 teams last week gave it away!!
USC beats ND Saturday & it’s another all SEC BCS title game.
Congrats to the dogs for their fine season this year.
Y’all deserve your ranking.
Everything in the South will be settled Dec 1st.
Roll Tide
Gooddawg
November 19th, 2012
11:02 am
IF UGA IS A JOKE I SOMEHOW DON’T HEAR GT OR THE TIDE LAUGHING.
Barbara Dooley
November 19th, 2012
11:04 am
I’m having a yard sale next weekend. I have lots and lots of orange clothing for sale. Ya’ll drop by and see us.
Nick Satan
November 19th, 2012
11:06 am
Here doggie, here doggie, come on. Come get your whuppin’
High Horse
November 19th, 2012
11:06 am
GT Bob- no offense in sec? What are you smoking? Dawgs are setting records on offense this year. You are a pest.
SEC's paper tiger is Georgia
November 19th, 2012
11:22 am
Dawgs are playing no one this year high horse…only 17% of their opponents currently in bcs top 25…
Slim
November 19th, 2012
11:26 am
UGA loses this weekend because they are thinking about the SEC championship game. Mark my words… And in the SEC champ game they lose again, because CMR is their coach… Same story every year since CMR has been at the helm… can’t get it done and you know it’s true.
lord saban
November 19th, 2012
11:26 am
What does it matter? Dawgs ain’t got a prayer against a focused and angry Alabama football team. Not a chance.
Bob Saccomanno
November 19th, 2012
11:27 am
go Dawgs.. 1 game at a time. Teckies will be ready. We need to play 4 qtrs of beatdown football THIS SATURDAY !!! I love seeing Conley step it up and OL is looking better
lord saban
November 19th, 2012
11:30 am
Gooddawg,
Trust me. We’re laughing at you.
lord saban
November 19th, 2012
11:41 am
Rmike,
Bama has problems against pro style offenses? What planet do u live on sir? Tam is the only offense to have any success against us and they are a spread hurry up offense. We chew up and spit out pro style offenses left and right. Lsu runs pro style and has scored 26 points in 3 games against us. Uga runs the exact type of offense that we usually just destroy. You cannot run the ball on our D and Murray has a long history of failure against big time defenses.
7576DAWG
November 19th, 2012
11:42 am
A team like Notre Dame matches up good with Alabama or Georgia because they like to play run control Football or smash mouth football. The reason Alabama had such a hard time with Texas A&M was because of the spread attack on offense and mobile Quarterback from Texas A&M. Last year Alabama should have beaten L.S.U. the first time they played but missed 2 or 3 field goals but in the rematch was clearly the better team. If Oklahoma State had not blown it and lost they would have played Alabama instead of L.S.U. and given Alabama all they could handle, Oklahoma State may have even won the game because Alabama and for that matter
most SEC power teams do not match up good with mobile option Quarterback’s. That is why Florida dominated when Tebow was at Florida.
Alabama Dog
November 19th, 2012
11:53 am
Dawgs: dispatch the insects with EXTREME PREJUDICE!!!!!!
ARdawg
November 19th, 2012
11:55 am
Tech finds themselves in the ACC game. Good for you bugs but, you do know you have to play that game to win it. Donna Shalala’s pen won’t give you a victory
shankit
November 19th, 2012
12:00 pm
SEC winner vs. winner of Florida/Florida State.
book it.
shankit
November 19th, 2012
12:02 pm
Florida could be in the drivers seat,
if they beat Florida State, and Notre
Dame loses. Dawgs and Bama are
at disadvantage having to play each other.
shankit
November 19th, 2012
12:08 pm
7567DAWG – You have hit the nail on the head about mobile quarterback matchups.
Example – Georgia vs. South Carolina. Georgia should match up pretty well against
A. J. McCarron, who is not that mobile. And A. J. can’t be sleeping well at night
thinking about Jarvis Jones (kinda like Murray and Clowney). Jarvis can go ahead
and cut the corner without having to worry about A. J. sliding outside him, like
SC’s quarterback did all night.
Eric C.
November 19th, 2012
12:12 pm
How many times have we heard this before from GT fans?
“…mark my words.”
The Bear
November 19th, 2012
12:19 pm
Good conversation on here for the most part. Bama has trouble with the spread (See Utah) but against A&M Bama made the adjustments just too late and that coupled with turnovers led to defeat. Now to the games at hand GT is not going to lay down for UGA neither is Auburn for Bama. Both teams need to take care of business. Throw the records out the window on these games. Nice bounce back for the Dogs they seem to be firing on all cylinders right now.
Roll Tide
Hate GT
November 19th, 2012
12:21 pm
Bergamot (stop smoking so much crack – crackhead)
You are an A$$ hole so take you crack smoking butt and go back to what ever $hit hole you leaked from!!!!!!!!
No body is perfect especially your dumb A$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will take our boys (and yes what they did) and stack them up agianst your team!!!!!!!!
If you cannot say something nice on this blog/or something interresting for debate then stay the F#@K off this blog
Hate GT and Tide too
November 19th, 2012
12:24 pm
all you Tide fans keep talking your $hit!!!!!!!!!!
See you at the dome!
Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hate GT and Tide too
November 19th, 2012
12:28 pm
SEC’s paper tiger is Georgia
Hey Crack smoker! go home and stick your head up your A$$ and smoke some more!
Yours truly the Trailer trash fans from UGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hate GT and Tide too
November 19th, 2012
12:29 pm
Big Crimson 75
I undersatnd where you are coming from.
Good luck vs Auburn
See you at the dome
Hate GT and Tide too
November 19th, 2012
12:40 pm
GTBob
I told you to quick smoking crack and stay off this blog
Oh! I forgot GTBob you are really a dawg fan at heart but cannot amit it!
It is OK!!! to be a Dawg fan: cannot blame you at all
UGA24-7
November 19th, 2012
12:55 pm
MEANWHILE TECH IS ACTING LIKE THEY WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP……
CHDawg
November 19th, 2012
1:01 pm
@RTR hit/run, “we are watching film on you right now.”
“we?” Sure you are. The only Dog films you are watching are Scooby-Doo reruns.
Texas Dawg
November 19th, 2012
1:07 pm
Murry is the key to the game against Bama……….he has had one qtr against a quality team…4th against Fla…..if Fla doesn’t turn the ball over 6 or 7 times we loose that ball game
Murry has to play ALL 4 QTRS against Bama for us to win………………………Murry scares the stuff out of me in really big games……….HE MUST STEP UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!