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.
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180 comments Add your comment
Outer Banks Dawg
November 27th, 2012
8:51 am
I don’t understand what all the discussion is about. The loser of the SEC Championship doesn’t ever go to a BCS bowl. Generally, none of the losers of the conference championship games get into the BCS.
The BCS bowls generally take the champion, and most the time, the next best team that did not get the opportunity to play in the conference title game. (Many times the two best teams in a conference are in the same division… See Alabama- LSU last year. See FSU-Clemson this year).
When you lose late in the season, it kills you in college football. Even in the SEC championship game.
Nothing new here:
Also, we should be focused on winning the championship, not on what happens if we don’t. I am very surprised Saban was talking about this. I’m sure he was asked directly, but its not like him to talk about losing scenarios. Go Dawgs!
Outer Banks Dawg
November 27th, 2012
9:07 am
The best example from this year is Stanford and Oregon in PAC 12 North. Oregon, like Florida is a one-loss team shut out of the championship game.
Can we get an Oregon vs. Florida matchup in the Sugar? Nope. And that’s why the BCS is BS.
On a positive note, how good would it be to have Florida-Oregon and Notre Dame- Alabama/Georgia winners meet for all the marbles?
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November 27th, 2012
9:09 am
[...] UGA isn’t just playing a team — it’s facing the Alabama aura* Bowl options not great for SEC Championship Game loser* Georgia-Alabama history on the gridiron* Matchup: Georgia rushing offense vs. Alabama rushing [...]
icedawg
November 27th, 2012
9:32 am
I’d rather play for the SEC championship (game) and let the chips fall where they may. To reach that level means that you have had a pretty good season.
Tallcarl
November 27th, 2012
9:39 am
Hey Buckeye, did your team beat anyone with a winning record outside the big 10 farce of a conference. Your mediocre Champion will go to the Rose Bowl to be blown out again. The best thing about your team being on probation is you can’t get embarrassed by another SEC team in a bowl.
Tn Dawg
November 27th, 2012
9:43 am
I’am really concerned about the play calling of Bozo, if he don’t come up with a better game plan than what he usually does, we will get blown out of the Georgia Dome, also I just don’t have much confidence in Murray to win a game of this magnitude. I hope I’am wrong!!!!
Tallcarl
November 27th, 2012
9:52 am
Sorry I posted my comment to Bucheye before I had a chance to spellcheck. Sorry all.
RxDawg
November 27th, 2012
9:57 am
I guess I’m in the minority on this, but I’ve never looked down or minded the peach bowl. I think it’s a great bowl. It may be a little lower in the selection process, but it’s also usually a better game and match up over the outback and capital one…. tangent time, how disgusting is it that the bowls all have corporate names now. Who cares about these advertisement bowls.
Bring back the peach, citrus, gator bowl names please.
1969 Graduate
November 27th, 2012
11:33 am
“The AJC really should give me my own blog. I bring an edge that the others are lacking,” said GTBob.
Hey, let’s all get behind Robert’s request. He can talk to himself on his very own blog. We won’t have to skip through his posts. Everybody wins.
Go, Dogs!
BTW, I’m going to root for Tech in FSU’s upcoming scrimmage on the theory that even Tech deserves one believing fan. I truly believe Tech can get at least one first down, no matter what anyone says.
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November 27th, 2012
12:44 pm
[...] Bowl options NOT GREAT for LOSER of SEC Championship [...]
When?
November 27th, 2012
2:06 pm
When will everyone learn to ignore Sponge Bob and Suckeye. They are just on here to stir the pot and most of you fall for it every time.
Sponge Bob – Just has no life what so-ever. Does not have a GT degree as he acts like he does. As many times as he blogs on UGA blogs my guess is that he does not have a job and lives in his mothers basement.
Suckeye – He is just so relieved that he does not have to worry about playing an SEC team in a bowl game this year. Their season is done so he feels it’s time for him to run his mouth being that he has not done it for the past couple of years.
Solution – Ignore those trolls!!
DIT
November 27th, 2012
2:08 pm
Have to say, Last time UGA went to the Sugar Bowl they were not in the SEC CG. Can’t complain about the bowl they go to. It’s easy, find a way to win and you will know exactly where you are going to. If our Dawgs don’t win, who cares what bowl really!
LVDawg
November 27th, 2012
2:50 pm
Why are we having this conversation? Need to win the SEC championship game first and then it will all fall into play. Stay FOCUSED! GO DAWGS!
crimson hammah
November 27th, 2012
3:15 pm
no – saban is looking out for the overall fairness of loser of sec champ game yesterday today and forever
crimson hammah
November 27th, 2012
3:16 pm
the loser of the sec champ game will have 2 losses – fla has only one but did not even show up for a 13th game – when i was in school if i did not show up for a test i got an f
Saldiven
November 27th, 2012
4:14 pm
This is one more example of how the BCS system is pretty broken. It’s absurd that a team that loses the conference championship can end up with a lesser bowl berth than a team that didn’t even make the championship.
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November 27th, 2012
4:17 pm
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Cobb Shopper
November 27th, 2012
5:33 pm
While I love a Chick-Fil-A sandwich and appreciate the support they provide to UGA I do not want to see Georgia going to the Georgia Dome to play the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. What a boring trip for the team, band, and fans. Last year at the Outback Bowl the entire team and band were treated royally in Tampa and had a blast! I hope Georgia gets to go back to Florida for a bowl game and better yet to Miami!
GIGO
November 27th, 2012
8:44 pm
Does it really matter? Go big or go home… Chick Fil A…Cotton…Outback…Capital One…who cares…they are meaningless exhibition games. Only the SEC championship and NC game matter.
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Eat Mor Chikin
November 28th, 2012
4:21 pm
Saban and the Tide to the Chic-fil-A Bowl would be great.
Cobra
November 29th, 2012
6:45 pm
Memo to Dawgs–take care of business on Saturday and we won’t have to worry about the other “bowl options”. Who cares where Bama plays other than Miami?
rolltide fan14
December 1st, 2012
11:15 am
well i agree with saban the loser should be able to go to the sugar bowl they deserve to go because they are better than any of the other sec teams ranked and muchamp if you want to talk crap why dont you and your gators play bama in reguar season play the same for steve spurrior cuse the nxt time you play bama is in t town ROLL TIDE
rolltide fan14
December 1st, 2012
11:17 am
and i am sick and tired of hearing johnny football yea i give him credit he is a good football player but he aint all that aint till next year when he tries running down the field smeone is goingto pop him one and then he will be out for the year
rolltide fan14
December 1st, 2012
11:19 am
ad for l the auburn fns you shul pull or bama that makes the statelook good if bama can win out this year it will be 4 years straight for the state of bama and thats a great complishment for a bunch of red neck hillbilles lol ROLLTIDE
Mojo
December 1st, 2012
6:39 pm
It’s about the money and payouts. They’re losing a lot of money by hitting the lower bowl games vice if they would grab a CapOne Sport or higher, esp, a main bowl game.