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
CHDawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:35 pm
Where would you rather go in January, Orlando or New Orleans? I would rather head to Orlando. Yeah, the school probably gets less money, but I wouldn’t be upset. The only place I would rather be is in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon or KSU if we can’t be in Miami.
ugab
December 2nd, 2012
7:35 pm
wow!
Gay dawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:35 pm
We are getting the shaft…in a bad way
ugab
December 2nd, 2012
7:37 pm
You are right Jacket/
Douglas
December 2nd, 2012
7:37 pm
I swear, I am a UGA grad and some of you UGA fans are totally classless. In the past, I have not been happy with some of Bobo’s or Richt’s play-calling, but our team played their hearts out — they NEVER gave up. I live in South Carolina and I have never had so many other SEC and non-SEC friends tell me what a great game that was and how great UGA looked against Bama. And these folks are GT, USC, and Clemson grads.
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
7:39 pm
Who really cares about a bowl game anyway If you are not playing for a Championship? It is just for the kids to have some fun and get some good swag.
Is the dawgs starting lineup still in the Athens jail?
December 2nd, 2012
7:39 pm
When you lose and have to depend on others to make sure everything comes out fair for you, this is what happens! Win the game next time – oh, I forgot, you can’t because you have to depend on richt, bobo and grantham to remember to spike the ball.
Contractor
December 2nd, 2012
7:41 pm
Before the game everyone was drilling Nick Saban’s comments on the matter. Now that it has all played out you’re singing the same tune as him. Gracious alive, be educated on the matter and know what you’re looking at instead of “wishing and hoping” things are going to somehow be different than anyone else has predicted that has a hand in knowing these situations.
I do believe Georgia is a BCS team, but unfortunately that 13th game can help you and it can also kill you, and Georgia is seeing the negative side of it while Notre Dame, Oregon, Kansas State, and Oklahoma all go to BSC bowls while only having to play twelve games. It’s a reality you have to deal with. Just quit being freaking cry babies and accept what cards are delt to you. And quit blaming the officials as the reason your team loss, because that’s bad form and discrediting the amazing game both teams played. What ultimately lost the game was Georgia not scoring more points than Alabama, not some supernatural force, “fixed” game, or anything else bogus.
Delbert D.
December 2nd, 2012
7:41 pm
How about letting Ohio State play without getting a payout?
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 2nd, 2012
7:41 pm
@ Riff Raff(6:48 pm post)
Excellent post my friend. Another sign of maturity and class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Riff Raff = DGD
I Was Sinking Deep In Sin
December 2nd, 2012
7:43 pm
We are only the fifth best team in the SEC. We got the bowl we deserved. Alabama ran over us for 350 yards. Let’s be real.
It is what it is
December 2nd, 2012
7:46 pm
Dawg89
December 2nd, 2012
5:45 pm
It is totally bogus that UGA didn’t get a BCS invitation. Sometimes, exceptions to the rules are warranted.
——————————–
Yeah, and it wasn’t totally bogus that a team who was 1-1 vs. the only good teams they played in 2012 was playing for a shot at the national championship game last!?!?
The BCS is a total joke. Many of you got that part correct.
How could UF (.8882) be behind UGA (.8911) when UF played Texas A&M, LSU, SC, FSU, and UGA, while UGA played only SC & UF?
Talk about exceptions to the rule needing to be made. Geez
Pat Way
December 2nd, 2012
7:46 pm
If you are a Dawg fan and happy that coming in second put you in the capital one bowl against a team that had 70 points hung on them in a title game you should be ashamed, this is a slap in the face to Ga, but a lesson learned morale victories mean nothing
kingdaddy
December 2nd, 2012
7:47 pm
Nothing funnier than GT FANS laughing about UGA still being ranked #5 in the country and going to a Jan. 1 bowl-game, lol. LAUGH AT THIS —42—10—
YOU CAN LAUGH AT THIS TOO, TECH HAS LOST 11 OF THE LAST 12 GAMES WITH UGA…
Here’s a real funny one, where are you ranked right now???
Does it make you nerds feel better to see a team that took it easy on you and had its subs in at the beginning of the 4th qt., barely lose to the best team in the country?
YOU WANT FUNNY??? HOW ABOUT MIDDLE TENN. ST…???
COME ON NERDS, TELL US HOW SAD WE ARE, THEN GO LOOK IN THE MIRROR…
Delbert D.
December 2nd, 2012
7:48 pm
@contractor – Oklahoma doesn’t get a BCS bid. The wonderful BCS says that a non-AQ team that is a conference champion and ranked in the top 16 has to get a BCS spot. Oklahoma gets the short straw.
kingdaddy
December 2nd, 2012
7:50 pm
You Booger-eaters wish you could play on Jan. 1. You wish you were ranked in the top 5 in the country. You wish you didn’t suc so bad and you wish you were UGA, LOL…
Pat Way
December 2nd, 2012
7:50 pm
hey tech nerds if you think you will be USC with a heathy Matt barkley you are insane USC will be GT 56-6
DAWG GONE
December 2nd, 2012
7:51 pm
DAWG NATION we are in good shape with Richt and the direction of the program. I am looking forward to his nexr 7 years. he will get 20 years with the UGA and then go off to do mission work
I am ready for the CC BOWL. Lets Go DAWGS !!!
Neutral
December 2nd, 2012
7:52 pm
Have we all forgotten that just 3 weeks ago EVERYONE said Bama could beat several NFL teams. Yes they lost to Texas A&M and arguably the best 1st year QB in history. It was a great game and my heart bleeds for the team because they played their hearts out. Great game guys and I’m proud of you and our coaches. Go DAWGS!
LakeDawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:52 pm
Why not the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma? Why didn’t Slive step in and protect us?
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
7:52 pm
Would you rather UGa play in a BCS game against a good team and get beat or beat a bad Nebraska team and start 2013 saying THIS COULD BE THE YEAR with a top 5 ranking.
Mike
December 2nd, 2012
7:53 pm
Ranked in the top 5 National Champions!
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
7:53 pm
Georgia fans…..now you can go to Sea World and get bitten by a Dolphin. It will hurt less than losing to Bama….I assure you.
F. Sinkwich
December 2nd, 2012
7:53 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.”
Nope.
They don’t “deserve” that. Just the system is all.
gg
December 2nd, 2012
7:54 pm
Does it really matter whether its bcs bowl game or not? At the end of the day no one will remember who won what bowl except the bcs championship game
chase
December 2nd, 2012
7:54 pm
Tide 48
Thanks for that! Well said! I think we actually saw the true National Championship Game last night…no way Notre Dame can play with either of those teams…carry the mantle for the SEC…we’ll see you in the Dome next year!
Bob Batchelor
December 2nd, 2012
7:54 pm
Nebraska vs.Georgia one word-BORING!!!!!!
CHDawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:54 pm
Guys, FSU is playing someone I hadn’t heard of and Florida is playing Louisville in New Orleans! We are playing Nebraska in Orlando. Yep, Neb got blown out by Wisconsin yesterday, but they beat Wisconsin earlier this season. Don’t know what happened, but they have beaten some good teams this year. They should have matched SEC teams against Oregon and KSU, but they didn’t. LSU is eating Chik fil a and SC is in Jax. It is tough for the SEC because top ten teams are getting matched with much lower ranked teams.
It is what it is
December 2nd, 2012
7:55 pm
kingdaddy….you are making yourself look stupid. Especially if you watched the same game I was actually AT last night.
If it weren’t for all those Bama/replay official gaffs (I think I counted 4 or 5) Bama wins by 21+!
Dawgs got a D that is supposedly loaded with future NFL players, but gave up 350 yds rushing! The Tide had TWO RBs who each had more yds rushing than the Dawgs did as a team!
woodstockdawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:55 pm
So let me understand this. UGA loses to #2 Alabama and drops 3 spots to #6 below Florida and Oregon. How far do they fall had they actually WON???
LakeDawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:55 pm
Tampa Gator
At least UGA doesn’t have to play Loiusville. What a snorefest.
LakeDawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:56 pm
*Louisville
kingdaddy
December 2nd, 2012
7:56 pm
Tech has the most PATHETIC FANS IN THE COUNTRY…AT LEAST YOU’RE # 1 AT SOMETHING… Sad little trolls.
F. Sinkwich
December 2nd, 2012
7:57 pm
“We are only the fifth best team in the SEC.”
Anyone who read that is now wondering if they now have a lower IQ for doing so.
Shame on you.
Moist Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:57 pm
These comments are almost identical to the ones last year when Michigan State was announced as our opponent. Just sayin don’t sleep on Nebraska.
tmc
December 2nd, 2012
7:58 pm
This is exactly why CFB & the NCAA is a JOKE.
I love college football… i hate the NCAA and all bowls and the “bowl process”.
Bob Batchelor
December 2nd, 2012
7:58 pm
Heck Northern Illinois gets to the Orange Bowl-Northern Illinois you got to be kidding!!!! I wish we had playoffs like Divison 2 does!!
SEC Rules, man!
December 2nd, 2012
7:58 pm
Don’t worry UGA fans, you’ll still get your name on the NC trophy IF bama wins, right? I hear more SEC fans rooting for the SEC than their own schools so you must get your name on the trophy too. Does the “S” in SEC stand for Socialism?
Maybe the BCS weren’t very impressed with Buffalo and GA Southern on the schedule and all the other SEC cupcakes on the schedule.
CHDawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:59 pm
UGA vs NEB should be exciting….both high scoring, exciting Os. One other point, the old bowls have lost their values from the 60s and 70s. They just don’t mean what they used to mean. You really want to play Louisville in New Orleans? Oregon in NO would have been good, but they took out the interesting matchups. UGA vs Oregon and UF vs KSU, Fiesta and Sugar. Louisville could have played Nebraska.
Neutral
December 2nd, 2012
8:00 pm
I sat in the Bama section (bummer tickets) and I assure you every Bama fan was sweating bullets during that last drive and throughout the entire game. Anyone putting down Murray, the coaches and team are total idiots. I simply laugh at your lunacy! We played a fabulous game against a fabulous opponent. Be proud to be a Dawg and let’s get behind our DAWGS in Orlando. Don’t be “fair weather” fans. P.S. Orlando is an awesome consolation bowl so enjoy!
Tech Sucks
December 2nd, 2012
8:00 pm
Must have been a Tech fan who said refs kept UGA in the game. Bama ran like 80 plays without one holding call. Every major penalty went against UGA.
You are a moron.
Stevie Ray
December 2nd, 2012
8:01 pm
Put in Timeout
I missed you telling me where you went to school? Who is your team?
Your brilliance and time commitment to this particular thread are nothing short of outstanding…
Hairy Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
8:01 pm
Everybody knew that we wouldn’t be in a BCS bowl if we lost last night. We went to the highest bowl we could outside of the BCS. Should’ve won last night if we wanted better. I just hope a bunch of Dawg fans will show up for that game against the Huskers and back our guys.
Danny Ford
December 2nd, 2012
8:01 pm
The ACC has a an opening it might be a good fit for Georgia.
Courtney
December 2nd, 2012
8:02 pm
Timeout = 45 year old virgin who lives to troll UGA. Just ignore the loser.
Citrus Bowl is fine. All of the bowls have now sold out to corporate sponsorship. Why not play on New Year’s Day when everyone is watching??
ashevilledawg
December 2nd, 2012
8:02 pm
remind me to miss this stupid bowl.
Contractor
December 2nd, 2012
8:02 pm
Delbert D,
I realized that after I posted, but it was just my point that teams like them only play twelfth, where the SEC has a thirteenth game they are forced to play and handle the consequences. Georgia fans wouldn’t have cared had they won, and would still be chastising Saban’s comments and railing Alabama fans. The Orange Bowl is going to be terrible, and Florida drills Louisville. The BCS is a mess, but whining about it is not changing the outcome of yesterday’s game are this years bowl season. It’s best to drill Nebraska, work on that per-season ranking for next year and plan for that instead of blaming bogus refs and all that crap.
Stevie Ray
December 2nd, 2012
8:03 pm
Bob Batchelor
December 2nd, 2012
7:58 pm
What do you suppose the attendence will be like in Miami? These idiots are cutting off the nose despite face..BCS committee anyhow. Our dawgs are playing a team that gave up twice the rushing yardage we did..oh yeah….theres that 70 points they gave up…
I we are on our game and play lights out, we will end in top 5…
ashevilledawg
December 2nd, 2012
8:04 pm
remind me to miss this crappy bowl and match-up!
kral
December 2nd, 2012
8:04 pm
first of all the fla over UGA supporters on here make good points,,,,but there is no proof that if UGA played those teams UGA could not beat them…ol yeah we lost to usc and barely beat kentuck..and gosh beat fla by luck you say..well guess what fla got lucky with 4 to’s by mizzoo..and a blocked punt against some team from la..yes the bowl system is what it is..17-9 remember..all because of fla turnovers sure…beauty contest system and bowl system have sucked since the 60’s..far back as I CAN REMEMBER…no we should not complain all the other team’s fans never would..dang did not SABAN complain about it..he is not a fan though just a coach