Bowl options not great for SEC Championship game loser
Everybody knows where the winner of the SEC Championship game will play next — the Discover BCS National Championship game Jan. 7 in Miami, of course. But the bowl destination is less clear for the loser of Saturday’s SEC title game between Georgia and Alabama.
Because there are so many highly-ranked SEC teams, and because bowl dealings have been ongoing for quite some time, there is a very good chance the loser of the league championship game gets leap-frogged in the selection process. In addition to No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia, four other SEC teams are in the top 10 of this week’s BCS standings — Florida (4), LSU (7), Texas A&M (9) and South Carolina (10).
Most projections have 11-1 Florida — whose only loss was to Georgia — moving ahead of the Alabama-Georgia loser in the final BCS standings and going to the Nokia Sugar Bowl, a BCS game. Conversely, some projections have a losing Alabama team going to the AT&T Cotton Bowl or a losing Georgia team going to the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
“For either one of these teams, it’s not really a great scenario,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said.
“You play your way into the (SEC) championship game, which means you’re the best team in your division, they’re the best team in their division,” Saban said. “They played their way into the game by a total body of work for the whole season. It doesn’t seem quite right. But it is what it is. I don’t really know what me commenting about it is going to do to change it. But I don’t feel good about it for our football team or their football team, either one.”
SEC spokesman Charles Bloom confirmed to the AJC Monday that “the loser of the SEC Championship Game has protection not to fall below the Chick-fil-A Bowl in the SEC selection order.”
That leaves as possibilities the Capital One Bowl (Orlando), Outback Bowl (Tampa), Cotton (Arlington, Tex.) and Chick-fil-A (Atlanta). Some projections have Texas A&M, led by expected Heisman Trophy finalist Johnny Manziel, heading to the Cap One, which has first pick of SEC teams after the BCS bowls. Georgia played in the Outback just last year, and the Cotton prefers to take SEC Western Division teams.
Chick-fil-A Bowl president Gary Stokan did not return several calls seeking comment Monday.
Georgia coach Mark Richt has not commented on the Bulldogs’ bowl scenarios. But as Saban emphasized more than once, “it is what it is.”
Florida coach Will Muschamp is disappointed his team won’t get a BCS title shot and offered no apologies for likely ending up ahead of the SEC Championship game loser and in the Sugar Bowl.
“Well, I can switch and go to Atlanta,” Muschamp told reporters in Gainesville, Fla., “if (Saban) doesn’t want to go to Atlanta and play the Dogs. Be careful what you ask for, Nick.”
It should be noted, too, that last season Alabama went to — and won — the national championship game after failing to reach the SEC Championship game.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
180 comments Add your comment
Charlie Postelwaite
November 26th, 2012
6:41 pm
The SEC has 6 teams in the top 10. Only two can go to a BCS bowl. That is dttlysquat! The BCS bowls should be filled with the BCS top 10. The ACC, and Big East are jokes.
davidinloganville
November 26th, 2012
6:42 pm
as per the BCS contract the 3rd ranked team in the final poll is guaranteed a BCS bowl, that will be Fla and the Sugar has no choice.
Ptc Dawg
November 26th, 2012
6:43 pm
Uf @ #4 or higher in the final BCS is assured of a BCS Bowl. End of story.
Bama DAWG
November 26th, 2012
6:44 pm
I feel like we have a very good chance to beat Alabama Saturday and have no doubt we are good enough to beat Notre Dame. But if the world ends and we do not win the SEC I would rather NOT play in the Sugar Bowl. They have really gotten bad about taking horrible teams to face the SEC. If Kent St wins this weekend its projected they would get into the Sugar Bowl and you dont earn reapect for beating that team. Same as when we played Hawaii. If you lose to a team like that you are a laughing stock but if you beat them no one cares because you were suposed to. I would much rather play Michigan or Clemson or any real team. Sugar Bowl will be much better when it becomes the Champions Bowl and its always a big 12 team.
just sayin
November 26th, 2012
6:44 pm
It’s a disgrace that Ga Tech is playing for the ACC Championship or any other bowl. IF they played an SEC schedule they wouldn’t win a game.
Tampa Gator
November 26th, 2012
6:47 pm
Anyone thinking (see Athens’ comment) the Gators do not deserve a BCS Bowl birth…..just does not get it. Heck….the Gators have an good arguement to be in the national title game with 4 wins over BCS top 13 teams….. no one else even comes close to that. Not Bama (2), Not Georgia (1), not Notre Dame (2)…….no one. But the fact remains…..the Gators lost to Georgia. Enough said.
DawgDad
November 26th, 2012
6:49 pm
Just beat Alabama and punch your own ticket. This should be a heck of a game, if the O-line can keep Murray relatively clean.
Tampa Gator
November 26th, 2012
6:49 pm
I was listening to a talk show and a national ESPN talking head stated that….if Notre Dame….played Georgia’s schedule….they would be 12-0, not 11-1. Very funny. I am sure Notre Dame would just kill the Gators and SC on their way to that 12-0 record. Very funny.
DawgDad
November 26th, 2012
6:55 pm
So what happens if Alabama or UGA win by a field goal late or in overtime? The loser gets leapfrogged by Florida, sitting home sipping Gatorade? Hmmmm. Sometimes the polls outhink themselves, which is to say there isn’t much thinking involved at all.
If I were the Notre Dame coach I’d seriously consider sequestering the team so they DON’T see this game. They play a tough schedule but I’m not convinced they’re ready for the SEC to hit them.
NoGaGator
November 26th, 2012
6:56 pm
What a hypocritical POS little Nicky is!! This is the guy who backed into the Title Game last year because his team didn’t make it to Atlanta. He was able to watch LSU beat UGA and then get his fee pass. UF won’t even get the chance he got last year.
Only little Nicky – trying to have it both ways.
Rick James
November 26th, 2012
6:59 pm
@GIVE ME A BREAK
Chip, write an article about Ogletree being a punk.
——————————————————————
Is he a punk because he nearly ripped that miget running back in half Saturday?
heeldawg
November 26th, 2012
7:04 pm
Tampa Gator speaks the truth. Also, he illustrates (via the Kent State scenario) why limiting the number of BCS slots to the top conferences–and giving one to the likes of the MAC, for example, if the team is ranked in the top 15–is a joke. Georgia Tech versus Kent State would be the worst-attended and lowest-rated BCS bowl game ever. I mean, Kent State lost to Kentucky!
The SEC should get at least four BCS slots–picking from among Bama, LSU, Florida, Georgia, USCe and Texas A&M. That type of competition is why Ohio State would be no better than 9-3 (if they played in the SEC West or East, just based on divisional play)–and possibly worse, depending upon interdivisional crossover games. They have no defense. Any of the above six teams would wax them, with extreme prejudice.
(Oddly enough, at this point, come to think of it, the Golden Flashes might be the best team in Ohio).
I Put It To You Greg!!!!
November 26th, 2012
7:04 pm
I am so tired of listening to blowhards in the media and blogosphere talk about how Georgia had an easy SEC schedule and only played two ranked teams and should get jumped even if they beat Alabama.
If Georgia BEATS Alabama… who deserves a shot more than they do?
BOTH the teams Georgia played were current TOP 10 teams (#4 Florida and #10 South Carolina) and they did go 1-1. But they also STILL have a game against #2 Alabama… the top team in the West which is the side they are accused of skipping.
Let’s compare that to the other zero and one loss teams:
#1 Notre Dame has played ONE top 10 team (#8 Stanford)
#2 Alabama has also played only 2 top 10 teams and were also 1-1 (#7 LSU and #9 Texas A&M). And they completely avoiding the top 3 teams in the SEC East… so why is nobody bringing that up? Georgia’s loss was on the road to a long time rival. Alabama lost at HOME to an SEC newbie.
#4 Florida did play 4 top 10 teams (#3 Georgia, #7 LSU, #9 Texas A&M and #10 So Carolina) and everyone LOVES them… but they didn’t play Alabama either AND they LOST to GEORGIA!
#5 Oregon played ONE top 10 team (#8 Stanford) and they LOST.
#6 Kansas State played ZERO top 10 teams.
Don’t see much there to push Georgia out of the championship game… how about the rest of the top 10?
#7 LSU? They played 4 top 10 teams (#2 Alabama, #4 Florida, #9 Texas A&M and #10 So Carolina)… but they lost to Alabama and Florida… two top 10 teams that GEORGIA BEAT (if the Dawgs beat Alabama).
#8 Stanford played two top 10 teams (#1 Notre Dame and #5 Oregon) and were also 1-1. But they play UCLA who are NOT top 10 in the PAC 12 Championship game… two losses (one against UN-ranked Washington) and a championship game vs an opponent nowhere near the caliber of Alabama… hmmm not Superman leaping tall buildings kind of stuff there.
#9 Texas A&M and #10 So Carolina? One beat Alabama, one beat Georgia. Hear you loud and clear. But why punish Georgia… and not Alabama for these losses? Plus each has lost twice… and both lost to Florida… who GOT BEAT BY GEORGIA!
Georgia is the ONLY team in the top 5 to have a WIN vs. a top 5 team (#4 Florida).
Also… Georgia IS playing #2 Alabama this week so that will be THREE top 10 teams they have played… equaling the 3 played by 2 loss teams Texas A&M and So Carolina and more than EVERYONE else in the top 10 outside of Florida and LSU (and we’ve already covered that).
A win over Alabama would also give them 2 WINS over top 10 teams which NOBODY else outside of Florida (who Georgia BEAT) and LSU (wins vs #9 and #10 ranked teams as opposed to #4 Florida and an at worst #6 ranking for Bama) can match.
So I say again… IF Georgia loses to Bama, they’ll drop all the way to 10th and deservedly so and hello Capital One bowl against some Big 10 team… but IF they BEAT Bama… who is MORE worthy to play in the BCS title game than they are?
Seriously…
Rick James
November 26th, 2012
7:07 pm
@Tampa Dawg
If Kent State ends up in the Sugar I hope the SEC representative will beat them 8 touchdown and maybe that will end that stupid mess. I would rather all the schools get together and buy out Kent State out and match up a team who deserves to go to a BCS game. If Kent State go’s it will really cheapen the Sugar Bowl.
—————————————————————————————————————————-
That is not as insulting as Georgia Tech going to a bowl game..Any bowl game! Do you realize that if this awful teams beats Florida St they will play in the Orange Bowl? Wouldnt be nice if the Orange Bowl committe could say no to Tech and take the loser of the SEC championship game? Then Tech could get their tails kicked by Kent St in some bowl game in Idaho.
BearDawg
November 26th, 2012
7:12 pm
Enter your comments here
Rick James
November 26th, 2012
7:13 pm
The Orange Bowl should seek to end to its ACC/Big East affiliation..Its a joke!
Athens
November 26th, 2012
7:13 pm
Dawgdad
My point exactly. UGA did not have LSU or Fl St on their schedule. We won the east and beat UF and all others but one.Capitol One is not good enough if it ends up being close for either Dags or Tide who will be a war this weekend. 2 seconds and the Gators are an after thought…
Bobby
November 26th, 2012
7:15 pm
Unless you have a QB like Manziel or a very balanced offense with a ton of weapons, you’re not going to beat Alabama. You can’t squeak by Kentucky and TN and get blown out by South Carolina and think you can beat Alabama.
BearDawg
November 26th, 2012
7:17 pm
Two Points:
1. Tampa Gator – You are the most sensible Florida fan I have ever heard.
2. I Put It To You Greg!!!! – Best breakdown of argument I have read.
Athens
November 26th, 2012
7:21 pm
@BearDawg
Tampa gator is generally pretty good – I agree. He is a little “gatorized”, however, as he should be…
BC bobcat
November 26th, 2012
7:27 pm
Dawgs win Orange Beach Al. is Dawg Country
GatorPhil
November 26th, 2012
7:28 pm
“Gatrs to the Sugar?? What a joke. The loser of the SEC Championship should be going there – Alabama. The Gators were 2 seconds (literally) from being beaten at home by a directioanl school from LA. Too bad the computers can’t comprehend that….Pitiful !”
hey Athens- get your facts straight;
1. it was two seconds away from being forced into overtime-not losing
2. OT wasn’t needed- bottom line is the Gators won
3. UF had victories over LSU, S Car, Tx A&M and FSU- 4 wins over teams in the BCS top 13
4. UF was 4-1 against top 13 while Bama and UGA were both 1-1
5. Using your assinine logic, UGA shouldn’t even get A chick-fil-a bowl after barely beating the sorriest SEC in years by only 5 points-kentucky…and getting blown out by 4 touchdowns to a team UF beat by 44-11!
*UGA beat UF and was properly rewarded by earning their trip to the SEC championship game. Enjoy it and good luck to you, espeially if UGA beats Bama, but quit bad-mouthing the Gators. Afterall, it is the only win UGA can truly hang their hat on! Florida is 11-1 against the hardest schedule in the country- a nice improvement from last season’s 7-6.
GB's Hamburgers
November 26th, 2012
7:29 pm
I can see why the Outback Bowl wouldn’t want UGA. The Dogs can be a pretty dull bowl participant. Last years Michigan State game and the Central Fla game the year before make that case. I don’t like the Chick Filet bowl because you have to play an ACC team.
Athens
November 26th, 2012
7:31 pm
@Tampa Gator
I never said the Gators are a joke. I said it is a joke they get to go to the Sugar over UGA/Bama loser, while sitting on their reptilan tails. You think the gators have the best D in the nation. I think the dawgs proved ours is better head to head. JJones (and others) was in your backfield as often as your QB was under center. No hating on the gators and I like your passion. Good luck !!
kingdaddy
November 26th, 2012
7:31 pm
Bobby
what a jealous loser. We not only think we will beat them, we think we will destroy ND too. You don’t like it, then keep on crying Lulu. UGAs offense and Defense match up well with A&M & LSU. We are going to be in the game like it or not. BTW, you don’t have to watch since you already know the outcome of every game, lol…
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
7:32 pm
Maybe Georgia can go to the Cereal Bowl !
ARdawg
November 26th, 2012
7:33 pm
“Because we played in the conference championship the lowest contract bowl we can drop to would be the Sun Bowl.”
GTBob
With a 6-7 record your team is no longer eligible for a bowl without a special waiver from the NCAA
Rick James
November 26th, 2012
7:34 pm
@Bobby
Unless you have a QB like Manziel or a very balanced offense with a ton of weapons, you’re not going to beat Alabama. You can’t squeak by Kentucky and TN and get blown out by South Carolina and think you can beat Alabama
———————————————————————————————————————————
Why didnt you mention the Florida game?
Jay Dawg
November 26th, 2012
7:35 pm
Kind of stupid that the loser of the SEC Championship game gets punished with a lower level bowl. If the Winner goes to the BCS Natl Champ game then the loser should go to the Sugar Bowl. Everyone else should have won more games when they had the chance…….
Georgia's BIGGEST Gamecock fan
November 26th, 2012
7:37 pm
Cocks heading to Outback against Michigan, all but signed! I will take Tampa in Jan!
Athens
November 26th, 2012
7:39 pm
@GatorPhil,
I suspect many a NC have been won on favorable schedules. Just ask SCal. No apologies here. If you know SEC football, you know the SEC rotates without the control of it’s members. And since you decided to be an ass— in your answer to me: How’s 2 in a row feel? I can see it coming now. You think the conference started in 1990 (since you have only been revelant since then) and you will start throwing out post 1990 W & L’s. By the way, we had 10 SEC Titles by 1990, UF 0.
Texas Dawg
November 26th, 2012
7:45 pm
i’d hate to see UGA vs Clemson especially since that is the first game of next season. come on. not a good draw for that game. if we don’t win the SEC, i’d like to see UGA play Michigan. I personally think that some of these little bowl games that don’t really matter change up their formats. Let’s start matching some SEC and Pac 12.
Bob Leblah
November 26th, 2012
8:25 pm
Am I the only UGA fan that has no problem with the bowl situation if they lose? Who cares? UF is 11-1.. as for UGA v. Michigan or Wisconsin or Clemson… who cares? None of them are great but none are awful either..
jack bull
November 26th, 2012
8:25 pm
BCS-N.D/Ala
Sugar-Fla/Ok
Rose-Stanford/Neb
Orange-Fla St/Rutgers
Fiesta-K St/Oregon
Cap One-UGA/Michigan
Outback-S.C./Wisconsin(because they travel well)
Cotton-Tex/Texas A&M(they’ll do anything to get this matchup)
ChicFilA-LSU/Clemson
Just to name a few.
BigDaddyGator
November 26th, 2012
8:27 pm
It’s a shame the SECCG loser won’t be going to a BCS bowl as they should be. AL and GA are both clearly among the 8 best teams in the country.
Best of luck to UGA in this Saturday…let’s put the East back on top where it belongs.
Can’t wait for the playoffs! The future looks bright for the Gators and I like our chances against ANYBODY right now.
kral
November 26th, 2012
8:36 pm
let see we can complain about anyones wins or..but gator phil did you watch the mizzoo game and the second loosianner team you played..fla is a good team..but are you totally sure if you played UGA again you would win..I mean totally sure..not believe but positive..I do not see how..but I guess only UGA HAS DELUSIONAL FANS..TG you know the system we are all in..it is not fair but I have grown to respect most of your insights and thank you for them not that it means anything to you just thought I would say it
kral
November 26th, 2012
8:37 pm
losses comes after or
GatorPhil
November 26th, 2012
8:52 pm
Athens- apparently reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit. I said UGA deserves to be in the SEC title game. I merely pointed that a bowl looking for the strongest resume would take UF over the SEC title game loser. I see no comments over your erroroneus report. on La Lafayette or the south carolina game comparison I used to weaken your original point. BTW-two in a row sucks, but now fsu doesn’t even have that going for them. I understand that you can only play the schedule the SEC gives you, but why always play a lousy Ga Tech- they’re pitiful, even by acc standards. Lastly, the SEC didn’t start in 1990, but that was about when it began its era of dominance. Since that time- 8 SEC for UF, 3 for UGA; 3 national titles for UF, 0 for UGA, 2 hesiman for UF; 0 for UGA. It’s about time Georgia did something to add to SEC pestige. Although based on the UGA/UF game this year, I’d vote for Jarvis Jones- a one-man wreking crew!
kral
November 26th, 2012
8:53 pm
think there would be alot of pressure on Chick to take UGA jack bull..not too would probably hurt them bad in the state
Sierra Dawg
November 26th, 2012
8:57 pm
Being a Bulldog, I have a visceral distaste for all things reptilian and buggy. I don’t hang out on sports blogs much, but in the short time I have I’ve noticed two things:
Tampa Gator has class and shoots straight, without letting his UFL loyalties get in the way of good analysis and commentary. Thank you Tampa Gator – you do your school proud.
By contrast, GTBob is just a classless, instigating troll. His comments are intended to do nothing but incite and insult.
OkieDawg
November 26th, 2012
9:01 pm
As far as I am concerned, the only game that matters is the National Championship game. Any other bowl is a participation trophy.
We beat Alabama and I’m in Miami. Lose to Alabama and I’m a casual observer watching TV. While smoking a Cuban and having an adult beverage, I might add.
And, enjoying the fact I am not a Tech fan.
bradman1965
November 26th, 2012
9:03 pm
This is the guy who gets a NC game without getting to and SEC title game and he’s venting about bowl games?
Sierra Dawg
November 26th, 2012
9:05 pm
And on the topic at hand, aside from the prestige of a BCS bowl versus a Cap One, Outback or Peach (I refuse to sell out and call it by it’s Truitt Cathy buy-me-a-bowl moniker), there’s a boatload more money involved in getting a BCS bowl bid. THAT’s the biggest concern for most schools.
Happy the BCS is almost gone...
November 26th, 2012
9:19 pm
Any system that would even consider allowing a team like Kent State to play in a BCS game is totally flawed. The gators will beat them by at least 50, they will have the cheerleaders playing by halftime. And finally must socialism and be brought into every aspect of our lives can’t we have one thing where the strong survive and the weak die. It should not matter how many teams from the SEC, Pac12, Big 10, etc… are allowed to participate. Let the best play the best.
NoGaGator
November 26th, 2012
9:24 pm
Sierra Dawg -
The concern is more for all of the SEC schools since, after the participant school’s expenses are deducted, the remainder of the bowl payout gets equally divided among conference members. Therefore it’s a financial wash to the particular school and the SEC.
James K Polk
November 26th, 2012
9:25 pm
Only one bowl game matters. If you aren’t in it, every other bowl is merely a nice going away trip for the seniors. If we lose Saturday, who gives a flying turd what meaningless bowl game we end up in? The Liberty Bowl is just as meaningless as the Sugar Bowl, and that’s sad. But, that’s what the BCS has given us.
valinor
November 26th, 2012
9:35 pm
The only game that matters is this Saturday at the Ga Dome. It is the National Championship game. What comes after comes… the only difference is the payday. I would pay attention to the game in Miami this January if UGA was in it but only because UGA was in it. But, even then, my pride would be in the fact that the dawgs won the SEC Championship. A tall order to be sure… We match up nicely until you look at the O lines… It will take some creative coaching to overcome that and it does not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling…
Douglas
November 26th, 2012
9:37 pm
Red Pants: it is called: “Dawg Envy.” Enough said.
Sierra Dawg
November 26th, 2012
9:37 pm
Agreed, Happy. Ideally, the top 16 teams duke it out. Screw conference championships and conference limits. Let the fans see the best teams play each other. If that means 6 or 7 of the 16 are from one conference, so be it. The best is the best. Unfortunately, it’ll probably never happen due to the sway of bowl money and the difficulty for fans of being able to travel to multiple games in some complex playoff system. Even an 8 team playoff may be too much to hope for.
What kills me is the opposition to this by the NCAA, usually citing the severe disadvantages this would cause for the student-athlete. I guess this only applies to FBS student-athletes, ‘cuz they don’t seem to have that concern about the FCS football schools with their playoff system that’s been in place for years and years.
Bottom line, it’s all about the bottom line.
Jefferson Davis Hogg
November 26th, 2012
9:38 pm
Heard an interesting interview out of Birmingham today from Tim Brando. He stated that ND actually matched up better with Bama than UGA. He stated in his oppinion, for whatever it’s worth, that UGA was even or better at every position besides OL. His pick was the Dawgs…..Like I said, whatever it’s worth but it did sound encouraging. A good break and some good sound fundimentals in all phases,jump on’em early, and I think we can win this one. We’re just as tallented if not moreso. Now it’s up to the coaches to come up with a great game plan. I think we’ll throw in a few new wrinkles for this one…Go Dawg’s