Georgia vs. Nebraska in Capital One Bowl (UPDATED w/ comments)
(Updated 10 p.m.)
A day after coming up five yards short of a trip to Miami for the national championship game, Georgia’s football team learned Sunday that it will play a bowl game in a different Florida city.
The Bulldogs (11-2) will play Nebraska (10-3) in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 1 in a matchup of the losers of the SEC and Big Ten championship games.
While Georgia lost the SEC title to Alabama 32-28 on the final play of a stirring game, Nebraska endured an embarrassing 70-31 loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.
The Capital One, which holds first choice of SEC teams after the BCS games, had been rumored to be considering Texas A&M and its Heisman Trophy candidate, quarterback Johnny Manziel. But after Georgia’s strong performance against Alabama, the bowl opted to take the Bulldogs, who dropped from No. 3 to No. 7 in the final BCS standings released Sunday night.
Notre Dame and Alabama remained Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, and will meet in the national championship game on Jan. 7 in Miami. Alabama survived an SEC title game that saw the lead change hands five times and ended with Georgia on the Crimson Tide’s 5-yard line as time ran out.
Florida moved up to No. 3 in the BCS standings Sunday and, as the second highest ranked SEC team, will go to the Sugar Bowl to play Big East co-champ Louisville.
Other BCS games will match Pac-12 champion Stanford vs. Big Ten champ Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, Big 12 co-champ Kansas State vs. BCS No. 4 Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl and ACC champ Florida State vs. Mid-American champ Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl. In the latest controversial chapter of BCS history, Northern Illinois (12-1) received a BCS berth by being ranked in the top 16 (No. 15) and ahead of at least one champion of an automatic-qualifying conference.
After Florida passed Georgia in the rankings, UGA was locked out of a shot at a BCS game because of a rule allowing no more than two teams from a single league to get BCS bids, a rule that Alabama coach Nick Saban sharply criticized after beating the Bulldogs. Saban called it “a crying shame” and “ridiculous” that Georgia would be excluded from a BCS invitation.
Actually, Georgia appeared in danger of falling farther down the bowl pecking order than the Capital One. But that’s where the Bulldogs landed after some late scrambling among bowls triggered by Northern Illinois earning a BCS berth at the expense of Oklahoma.
“If we weren’t going to be in a BCS game, this is the location we wanted to be,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said Sunday night.
But McGarity added, “There’s no question — there’s absolutely no question — that we are deserving of a BCS bid. … There’s no question we played great the last half of the season and just to see the way we laid it on the line (Saturday) proved that we’re right there along with the best in college football.”
Capital One Bowl CEO Steve Hogan called the selection of Georgia “an easy decision” in the end.
“No offense to Texas A&M,” Hogan said. “I think they’ve had a fine first year in the conference, a 10-win team. And we have an opportunity to get an 11-win division champion, a few yards away from a national championship.
“The most important thing to our committee was, Georgia deserved this trip. And we’re fortunate to have a team, really, that is of BCS quality.”
After the Capital One selected Georgia, the Outback, which had the next pick from the SEC East, chose South Carolina to play Michigan. And the Cotton, with the next pick from the SEC West, chose Texas A&M to form a marquee matchup against surprisingly available Oklahoma.
The Capital One Bowl will be played at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Day in Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium and will be televised on ABC.
Georgia coach Mark Richt said he foresees no problem in getting the Bulldogs to bounce back from the disappointment of losing the SEC title game and their national championship aspirations.
“I think playing Nebraska is going to get everybody’s blood pumping,” Richt said. “There aren’t many teams in the history of Georgia football that have ever won 12 games in a season and it’s going to mean something to them. I know our guys want to finish on a high note.”
Georgia and Nebraska have met only once previously in football. Georgia lost to the Cornhuskers 45-6 in the 1969 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
This will be Georgia’s sixth appearance in the Capital One Bowl. The Bulldogs are 3-1-1 in the Orlando game, most recently defeating Michigan State there at the end of the 2008 season.
In Saturday’s loss to Wisconsin, Nebraska’s defense allowed 640 total yards, including 539 yards rushing. Against Alabama, Georgia’s defense surrendered 512 yards, including 350 rushing.
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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841 comments Add your comment
Stevie Ray
December 2nd, 2012
6:39 pm
CloudmanJacket
December 2nd, 2012
6:15 pm
I’m hearing that kid will be suspended from national championship game..
Time Out Dude
Who is your team?
Mirnafromsmyrna
December 2nd, 2012
6:39 pm
I’m going to be on Jerry Springer this week! So excited!!
The REAL Phil
December 2nd, 2012
6:41 pm
My problem with not going to the Sugar bowl is that prior to the championship game, UGA and UF were both 11-1. We beat UF. The only reason that UF doesn’t have 2 losses, or anyone else for that matter, is that they havent played AL in a championship game. IF we have the same record and we beat UF how could they be chosen over us?
Former Georgian
December 2nd, 2012
6:42 pm
If the SEC comissioner had brains and guts, he’d put a stop to some of this BCS crap. Too bad teams can’t refuse to play in the SEC championship since the loser in this game gets screwed due to an additional game that most teams don’t even get to play! SEC needs to insist that SEC championship runnerup gets chance at BCS-at-large slot over any other SEC team. SEC commissioner also needs to campaign for ACC to lose its automatic BCS slot when so many SEC teams are ranked ahead of its champion. FL State is 6-8 spots below Georgia and only beat Tech by a little over one touchdown and they go to BCS?
59bulldawg
December 2nd, 2012
6:43 pm
The Sugar Bowl used to have a deal where it took the SEC Champ except when the SEC Champ played for the National Championship. When that happened the Sugar Bowl had to take the SEC runner-up. Now they can pick who they want and the loser of the SEC Championship Game is punished when they’re not taken and that’s just crazy. In the last few years, because of these haphazard match-ups, Bowl Games, IMHO, have not been all that compelling or competitive.
Huh?
December 2nd, 2012
6:43 pm
The REAL Phil…probably for what UF has done this season…it’s no secret that their body of work is waaay more impressive than UGA’s…win’s over LSU, SC, Texas A&M (who beat Bama), and Florida State. Geez
Tony
December 2nd, 2012
6:43 pm
As a huge Georgia Tech fan, I will admit that Georgia got screwed on the missed call on Murray. Even the announcers agreed that the refs blew that call. Even though Tech got ripped by the Dawgs, you guys deserved a better bowl that the game against Nebraska. Good luck on your game.
Maybe, maybe not
December 2nd, 2012
6:45 pm
Doggie fans, you should be happy you are playing in the Capital One Bowl.
If you were playing a real team in a BCS game, you would get embarassed like you have the only two times you have played good teams this year.
dewnsav
December 2nd, 2012
6:45 pm
no win situation…if we lose to Nebraska, it will be we aren’t any good…if we beat Nebraska, it will be because they aren’t any good…only way I see us losing is if the team mails it in, which could happen…after last night I feel it will be hard for the dogs to get up off the deck…anyways, great game, came up a few seconds short…congrats to the Tide…go dogs
MrGreggo
December 2nd, 2012
6:45 pm
Well for starters Mark Richt was an assistant coach for soooo long for a reason. He is not a head coach. If the Full of Bull Puppies won the BCS would not suck, but since the puppies sucked….that is about it, the UGAged puppies suck…
GA Redcoat Fan
December 2nd, 2012
6:45 pm
Payouts:
Cotton
Arlington, TX
$3,625,000
Capital One
Orlando, FL
$4,550,000
Orange
Miami, FL
$17,000,000
graphite
December 2nd, 2012
6:46 pm
There is a lot of crow to eat after Ne. spanks that ugly dogs fanny. Ahhhh,the smell of another National title drifting through the air !!!! Dream on Dawg nation…RollOn…..
Is the dawgs starting lineup still in the Athens jail?
December 2nd, 2012
6:47 pm
Sounds like a bunch of Obama disciples – that’s not fair!!!!
Draggin' Fly
December 2nd, 2012
6:47 pm
Should be Nebraska and Clemson in the Goodyear Tire Blowout Bowl.
Mirnafromsmyrna
December 2nd, 2012
6:47 pm
When CMR asked him to own the question not say well that’s what I hear fans say he would not say ” I am asking you”. I have no problem with the question really. Just be a professional and be direct. It was bush league the way he backed down when challenged.
dewnsav
December 2nd, 2012
6:48 pm
maybe, maybe not, …yep like we were embarrassed in Jacksonville and last night ?? you call that embarrassing…I forgot, oh, that’s right, you didn’t say…who is your team ?? go dogs
RiffRaff
December 2nd, 2012
6:48 pm
Dawgs played a great game against the best team in college football. Murray was trying to hit Mitchell in the the endzone and the ball was tipped at the line. You can argue “what-if’s” but UGA came to play and wanted it. Saban was worried as hell.
From 6-7 to 10- 4 to 11-2 is in th right direction. Rag on Bobo and CMR if you want. I’m proud of the Dawgs eventhough a few more seconds could have been the difference.
And yes, the BCS is a waste. Go Dawgs!
The REAL Phil
December 2nd, 2012
6:49 pm
Huh? Scientists have insisted that the world is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Why they didn’t include MORONS like you is surely questionable. Using your logic, UGA is better than all of those teams that UF simply because we beat them. And to even imply that A&M wouldn’t have ran UF out of the stadium if they hadn’t played them at the first of the year is ridiculous.
Do the research
December 2nd, 2012
6:49 pm
we will gladly take the money from the CapOne, and the opportunity to grab more top recruits. So far looks really good for the DAWGS…..Tech fans can go sit on their pocket protectors and spin.
See you bees next November for another boring a$$ whipping.
Keeping it REAL
December 2nd, 2012
6:49 pm
YOu know if u think about it, if you are not playing for the BCS national championship, who cares. There are several teams in BCS games who dont deserve to be there. Capitol one with Nebraska is fine. There is a game with two traditional schools and it won’t take away from our ranking. I would have rather go here and had a chance in the SEC final than the way FLA got it….and I think FLA deserves to be in the bcs too. Heck 6 sec teams could be in the bcs if you want to keep it real.
59bulldawg
December 2nd, 2012
6:50 pm
Yea I know the pay-out for the Capital One Bowl is better than the Cotton and I guess that’s really the bottom line. I’m not sure about the Sugar though! But a change of scenery every now and then would certainly be welcomed by fans.
Huh?
December 2nd, 2012
6:51 pm
Mirna…again, he was correct. You have heard media, fans and others critisize Richt and Murray for not winning the big games…that’s what he said.
I think it’s bush league they way Richt handled it. He could have just said, “You know what? I can’t disagree with the fact that we haven’t played well in big games lately. The record is clear on that. However, we did play well tonight against the best team in the country.”
edawg
December 2nd, 2012
6:51 pm
Just for the record, the capital one bowl gets first pick of SEC teams after BCS. So Ga was the first SEC team off the board. Disappointed about the loss but proud of how hard the dawgs played.
GA Redcoat Fan
December 2nd, 2012
6:51 pm
Outside the BCS bowl games Georgia got the next highest paying bowl game. Big money in the BCS but at least GA got the best of the rest money-wise.
The REAL Phil
December 2nd, 2012
6:51 pm
Yeah FL state is a real feather in your victory cap…………………….they beat TECH, TECH by 6 whole points
Golden ROD
December 2nd, 2012
6:51 pm
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW ugay vs nebraska EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Dwags are all tards!
Maybe, maybe not
December 2nd, 2012
6:52 pm
Yes, it is embarassing that your coach and QB didn’t know to spike the ball when time is running out at the end of a game.
7576DAWG
December 2nd, 2012
6:52 pm
Our BCS Bowl game was the SEC Championship and we lost one of the best College games I have seen ever. Because we lost to South Carolina there was no way we would get a BCS bid because of tie in’s and region pulls.
Since we were not going to get a BCS Bowl I would much rather go to Orlando than Tampa, Atlanta or Dallas. Orlando is a lot of fun with Disney and Universal and the players and fans will enjoy Orlando the most.
Having said that I can’t wait for an eight team playoff. The TV rating will be much better than the bowl game get today and the teams that deserve to get into the playoffs will get the invite. Top eight teams in the BCS rankings.
edawg
December 2nd, 2012
6:52 pm
Enter your comments here
No. 1 Braves Fan
December 2nd, 2012
6:53 pm
Don`t understand why many UGA fans are complaining about going to Capital OneBowl intead of Cotton Bowl. More payout, much closer,much warmer, better stadium to view game are some of the advantages for Capital One Bowl.
GIVE ME A BREAK
December 2nd, 2012
6:53 pm
UGA deserves better.
The REAL Phil
December 2nd, 2012
6:53 pm
I hate on FSU because I have nightmares of Oceola towel popping me with his jock strap
collegeballfan
December 2nd, 2012
6:54 pm
Alabama made a play. Georgia was set with about 15 seconds, threw a pass and Alabama tipped the pass. Alabama made a play. A play that won the game.
The Alabama offense scored 4 TD’s and a field goal. The Georgia offense scored three touchdowns.
Alabama made a statement on the importance of recruiting offensive linemen.
Kent
December 2nd, 2012
6:54 pm
Better hope you don’t have Big 10 officials or you’ll get flagged for looking cross-eyed at yor opponent.
He Hate Gator
December 2nd, 2012
6:55 pm
Blame the SC loss, not Bama for yet another appearance in Orlando. That poor performance, poor preparation, poor coaching and poor play from that game still haunts….
Maybe, maybe not
December 2nd, 2012
6:55 pm
Not sure why UGA fans are more excited and encouraged when they LOSE a game by 4 points than by any of their wins this year.
Never seen a bunch of fans of any team get so excited over a so called moral victory losing your conference championship game.
Huh?
December 2nd, 2012
6:55 pm
The Real Phil…resorting to name calling so soon….spoke in typical UGA fashion. Stay classy…
I am not at all drawing conclusions about common opponents. I am simply replying to your post as to why anybody would choose FL over UGA considering that UGA beat them. To use your logic, then the Capitol One Bowl should have chosen South Carolina.
Again, I see why some would choose FL…because they played and beat several ranked opponents…some of the better in the league actually.
RobH
December 2nd, 2012
6:56 pm
The Huskers got rolled by SoCar in this game last year. SoCar hammered UGA earlier this season — I don’t see the Huskers doing anything in this game but eating popcorn.
Stiffneck
December 2nd, 2012
6:57 pm
Maybe, maybe not = idiot.
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 2nd, 2012
6:57 pm
The REAL Phil…………did I say anything about the call on Hitting the Bama QB? He is there to get hit. I think that was a bad call.
This is FOOTBALL and if you are in pads and on the field you shouldn’t be a Pansy or go play Soccer.
No. 1 Braves Fan
December 2nd, 2012
6:58 pm
Maybe Maybe Not: Reggie Ball spiked the ball.
F. Sinkwich
December 2nd, 2012
6:58 pm
Dawgs deserve better. Crap bowl vs. a crap opponent. Shades of Hawaii.
Dawgs would run up 90 against these farm boys if for some reason they actually give a sh*t.
Noon game. Orlando.
Mickey Mouse.
Dawgs deserved BCS.
2-16 against ranked opponents
December 2nd, 2012
7:00 pm
In ten years UGA will still be “waiting until next year”. LOL
Huh?
December 2nd, 2012
7:00 pm
F. Sinkwich…where have you been for the last decade? I haven’t heard you crying when other SECCG losers dropped in the bowl standings…why is just now, since it has happened to UGA, that you and other UGA fans want to make a huge deal out of it?
Ron Roberts
December 2nd, 2012
7:00 pm
Hey Big Enos, keep your politics to yourself.
On another note, what game were the AP and USA Today Coaches poll voters watching yesterday? I mean, is there a RULE that if a team loses a game they HAVE to drop?
Why the hell should a team be penalized for playing an extra (and CHAMPIONSHIP) game while other teams benefit by staying home? Unless a teams gets PANTSED (as Nebraska did, or SC vs. Auburn two years ago in the SECCG), there should be no such penalty. That, alone, would’ve dealt with the BCS hosing.
BB
December 2nd, 2012
7:00 pm
What is actually worse?
–the outcome of the UA-UGA game?
–Timeout/POAD trolling the AJC website masquerading as a Tech fan when he actually didn’t even go there.
We get it, you don’t like anything UGA. Go away now, little boy. Tech doesn’t want you embarrassing them any longer. Don’t feel bad though, Kennesaw State wants you to come back and support their team
UgaDawg97
December 2nd, 2012
7:01 pm
Wow, not surprised. We played a 3 game season ans went 1-2. Don’t expect any less with Richt and Murray.
Tom
December 2nd, 2012
7:02 pm
The BCS system is a joke. The capital one, chik filet, and cotton will be more watched than the orange and sugar bowl. FSU playing N Illinois? Come on. I’m not saying this because I’m a sore lose. You even had the winners (saban) saying it is ridiculous for uga to not get a BCS game. The entire thing is laughable at this point. I hope the officials and corporate sponsors know that
2013
December 2nd, 2012
7:02 pm
There’s just no pleasing some people! I’m looking forward to New Years Day and then a great 2013 season. Can’t wait to get back in Sanford Stadium.
Damn Good Dawgs!
Erk
December 2nd, 2012
7:02 pm
Not sure how much good a 4-team playoff does the loser of the SEC CG. Maybe an 8-team playoff would still include the loser most years.