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
Iloveuga
December 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
Timeout- go the hell away, loser.
You really know nothing about football if you think the hit on murray was legal.
Go read the entertainment section.
Karma
December 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
Just stopped by to say “Hi” last night with about 15sec to go in your “BIG GAME”…..
Keep spreading your obnoxious, arrogant, expletive-laden filth on the GT boards and I’ll be sure to make some more time for you Dawgs in my busy schedule.
F. Sinkwich
December 2nd, 2012
7:07 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”
Uh, because they’d kick the sh*t out of any other team in the country?
Name another BCS team that’s better, doofus.
Dawg fans are like Democrats....
December 2nd, 2012
7:07 pm
….they have an unfounded sense of entitlement. Nebraska has more class and earned pride in one ear of corn than you schmucks do in the whole hillbilly state of Georgia. What a bunch of whiny babies. You lost, get it?
Huh?
December 2nd, 2012
7:08 pm
To All of the UGA Fans whining about falling out of a BCS game…”
You had 3 big games this year, and went 1-2. And you want to complain?
Also…you do know that UGA has benefited from the same system of the loser of the SECCG falling to a lesser bowl right? Were you complaining then?
great
December 2nd, 2012
7:08 pm
“Put in Timeout” = “Bitter Tech Fan” = “Irrelevant”
chase
December 2nd, 2012
7:08 pm
You know, I’ve learned 1 big thing by coming to these blogs…..Tech and Georgia fans have 1 thing in common….THEY ARE BOTH OBSESSED WITH THE BULLDOGS!!!
Go away Tech trolls
REGGIE BALLS
December 2nd, 2012
7:09 pm
2 tuff teams before the SEC Championship Game will not get you a BCS BOWL Game if you lose the Championship Game in your Conf. schedule teams other than Beefalo and GA Southern and you may get a good BCS BOWL. shut your pie holes and suck it up. Puppies. P.S. they beat Kentucky by 4? and Kentucky went 1 and 11.
bosshawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:10 pm
only golden rod u no is tha one down your throat retard them aint eggs on yo chin either
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
7:11 pm
Be HAPPY UGa fans. It will work out great.
UGa will win and be preseason ranked top 5 and will have a chance next year to Show the World how great the Dwags are.
Arby
December 2nd, 2012
7:11 pm
Not really a reward ! That was a horrible called game. Alabama gets away with it again ! But the three and outs were horrible ! I wonder if our recievers were held ? They definately were hit early before ball arrived !!! I think the Bulldogs should pass on bowl !
Strat Cat Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:11 pm
If a comment is patently ridiculous, it’s probably there to annoy you and get you to talk back. Resist the urge. Throughout the country, fans and experts look at Georgia and wish they had the coaches, players and the wins. I would not trade Richt for Saban for any amount of money. If you want Saban, become a Bama fan. The Dawgs earned great respect in yesterday’s game and it will pay off with more outstanding recruits. Now, if Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree would decide to come back next year and finish the drill…
nate
December 2nd, 2012
7:14 pm
We’re gong to get our asses handed to us, ….. again. I’m a big cornhuskers fan, and despite our decent season record, I’m embarrassed at our performances this year.
Mark Richt
December 2nd, 2012
7:14 pm
Kiss my ass
UGA1970
December 2nd, 2012
7:15 pm
@ YellowJacket – sorry if I’m LMAO at you but I am. You of all people calling a 12-2 team losers when your insects are 6-7 and had to get a waiver just to take your course toilet paper to an outhouse bowl somewhere in East BumFluke.
Mirnafromsmyrna
December 2nd, 2012
7:15 pm
Huh? Love for you to share your thoughts on the Orange Bowl match up.
FSU vs Northern Illinois
Huh?
December 2nd, 2012
7:15 pm
Arby…horribly called game? There were missed penalties on both sides.
Get over it. The better team won.
Arby
December 2nd, 2012
7:15 pm
Who said the Refs kept UGA in the game ? It’s the other way around, the Refs gave Alabama the game!! Are you serious ?
Huh?
December 2nd, 2012
7:16 pm
Mirna…you want my opinion on the Orange Bowl? Why?
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
7:16 pm
Iloveuga
December 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
Timeout- go the hell away, loser.
You really know nothing about football if you think the hit on murray was legal.
===================================
Not saying legal or illegal. I said IT IS FOOTBALL and not for PANSY BOYS.
If you don’t want to get hit go play soccer. This POLITICAL CORRECTNESS CRAP has gone too far.
You want to Stop helmet to helmet hits? Take away the helmets and players will not use their heads. Want better Safety in the game? Eliminate more pads don’t add more pads.
F. Sinkwich
December 2nd, 2012
7:17 pm
BCS teams better than UGA?
Bama? Push.
The rest? Nope.
Mirnafromsmyrna
December 2nd, 2012
7:18 pm
Can’t find a projection on where Tech lands. Anyone?
great
December 2nd, 2012
7:18 pm
Tech fans are pathetic. Your only shot at feeling good about your miserable selves it to get on the UGA blog and throw stones.
Here’s what’s funny: You finished with a losing record in a loser conference. What does that say about the state of your program? UGA is so much better than you that we don’t even have to play our starters in the fourth quarter.
Go back to staring at your computers and video gaming where maybe you can do some virtual beating us in your make believe playstation world.
We played at the highest level on the highest stage against a true championship team. Your criticisms are jealousy which makes your comments ridiculous.
Here’s a tip: When (and if) you can ever fill your small ghetto stadium full of people, come back to the blog and fill it up with more comments obnoxious comments. Until then, you are dismissed.
Upon closer look
December 2nd, 2012
7:19 pm
I have watched the Youtube video of the “cheap shot” over and over trying to figure out how the refs missed it. If the ref didn’t see it, he should have at least heard it. But if you freeze frame it and watch in slow motion, it was NOT helmet to helmet. The Bama guy went in hard with his right shoulder. After that impact, their helmets bumped, but the helmets weren’t the first point of contact.
Mike
December 2nd, 2012
7:19 pm
This is Chuck Oliver’s fault.
Mirnafromsmyrna
December 2nd, 2012
7:19 pm
No matter what you people say, I love my deep fryer, my double-wide, my parking spot at Wal-Mart, and I love my georgia bulldogs!!!!
Huh?
December 2nd, 2012
7:20 pm
Sinkwich…name calling…very mature.
As you very well know, it’s not about that. Most of the BCS is decided by league contractural obligations and built in conference tie-ins. In UGA’s case, it really came down to UGA or Florida…I can certainly see why most would choose Florida. Get over it. UGA has been no more screwed than any other lose of the SECCG
clem
December 2nd, 2012
7:20 pm
screwed up…..uga gets the shaft because it won the division and beat gators. they were ranked last week higher. so they get to play bama for conference title and lose by a little. gators would have gotten trounced more likely. uga should have gotten sugar bowl.
RC, big whoops Dawg fan
December 2nd, 2012
7:21 pm
If they had a requirement for IQ being larger than your shoe size, you wouldn’t even be able to post here.
Well, us Dawg fans can get kinda nasty to each other but we ain’t got nothng on Alabama. ‘Bama’s got one fan going to prison for two years for, uh, putting his Private Parts on the neck of a passed out LSU fan, while another Bammer is waiting to be sentenced for poisoning the Auburn oaks.
Just be happy you’re not a Bammer waiting for the long arm of the law to catch up to you. Take the $5 million from the Capital One and be happy.
chase
December 2nd, 2012
7:22 pm
Chuck Oliver and David Pollock both did themselves a career disservice in this area yesterday….
Tide 48
December 2nd, 2012
7:23 pm
UGA played a great game Saturday night! Nothing for them to hang their heads about. They could have quit in that last minute but they hung in there and battled to the end. This Bama fan gained a great deal of respect for the Dawgs as a team. Epic battle!
Kyle
December 2nd, 2012
7:24 pm
When you don’t get the job done like you should you end up in a crap game like this but it is what they deserve.
Mirnafromsmyrna
December 2nd, 2012
7:24 pm
Do you think the system makes any sense?
Not saying UGA deserves that spot because it’s not set up that way.
I am a rational, objective fan. Just waiting for the new system to be in place
harold
December 2nd, 2012
7:25 pm
So disappointing. UGA is getting the shaft here. UGA is going to a bowl no one cares about but Georgia should be in a BCS bowl.
However, it was stupid not to spike that ball or throw it into the end zone. Which is why Richt is still 1-12 aginst ranked teams and why Saban is like The Bear! That last 9 seconds by UGA was plain dumb!
KSUAlumFan#1986
December 2nd, 2012
7:27 pm
Welcome to the world of the BCS (the Bull Cr** Series), still controlled by the big time money, the AP voters poll, and the big Bowls. In 1998 KSU lost in the Big 12 Championship when they were ranked # 2 in the polls about to play Tennessee for the National Championship all we had to do was win the Big 12. We lost to Texas A&M and got drop kicked all the way the Alamo Bowl, were we were so down that the Purdue Boilermakers beat us. It makes me want to puke, I still hate Drew Brees today, because of that Alamo Bowl Loss. Keep your head up you are 12 and 2; now go down to the bowl and hang a 100 on Nebraska to finish the year and add the Capital 1 Bowl Trophy to the case.
Heywood Jablowme
December 2nd, 2012
7:27 pm
When Murray threw the interception, he became a defender – NOT A QUARTERBACK! Knock his azz out!
Glenu
December 2nd, 2012
7:28 pm
Great Bowl & Great matchup, other than the BCS Bowls the Capital One Bowl has the highest payout including the Cotton Bowl. Did you want to play N Illinois in the Orange Bowl or Louisville in the Sugar??
Ace
December 2nd, 2012
7:28 pm
A&M is the #2 sec team, they actually beat Bama. UGA should be in the peach bowl. Enjoy your lucky day.
Delbert D.
December 2nd, 2012
7:30 pm
I figure it will be Texas A&M and Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl. The LSU projection was supposed to be against Texas, but that went out the window with the KSU blowout of the Longhorns.
ugab
December 2nd, 2012
7:30 pm
Louiville and NIU are going to the BCS??????WTh is wrong with this system? Fl and Fsu matched up with who????? Omg!! Ga played the game of the century and get the Capital One???Wth. Louiville who. norther illinois bahahahahahabahahaha. I just lost all respect for the BCS. Do they expect to make money off these games??Bhahahahahahahahahahahaha
jlew
December 2nd, 2012
7:30 pm
The best way to handle this is to stay focused, go in and dominate the game. Finish strong. top 5 ranking.
Chuck
December 2nd, 2012
7:32 pm
Coach,
Against top 25 opponents… you were 1 and 2 this year, oh and 4 last year, 1 and 4 the year before, and oh and 4 in 2009.
Any comment on that 2 and 14 performance in the last 4 years?
Browndog
December 2nd, 2012
7:33 pm
Doesn’t the majority of bowl payout go to the conference and then it is shared with all teams in the conference?
Larry
December 2nd, 2012
7:33 pm
Just decline the invitation….this is a no-win football game.
ugab
December 2nd, 2012
7:33 pm
The BCS used to altleast be about match ups. Ga would of been better off to skip the SEC title game and just sit in the ranks and get a bcs bid. lol.. This is a joke!!!!1
Gay dawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:34 pm
I plan on going with Terry
Chuck
December 2nd, 2012
7:34 pm
Heard you’re recommneding dawg gans get permanent time shares in Tampa and Orlando for the Outbak and Cap one bowls.
Any comment?
Delbert D.
December 2nd, 2012
7:34 pm
I hope these conference-bowl affiliations are dumped when the BCS contract expires next year. Other than the 3 playoff games, let the big money bowls rotate their selection order each year and pick the teams one at a time.
JACKET
December 2nd, 2012
7:34 pm
The bulldogs are a top 5 team no doubt. You guys can talk all you want but they played one hell of a game. Could have went either way. Had the ball been dropped with afew seconds left,i think the bulldogs win this one, Saban and crew got all they wanted and more.This was the national championship game!!!!
ATLien
December 2nd, 2012
7:35 pm
Funny how we’re getting a better opponent and more prestigious matchup in the Capital One Bowl (Nebraska) than we would have got in the Sugar Bowl (Louisville).