If you talk to a sports fan over the age of 35 they might be able to tell you what it was like when college football's bowl season mattered. However, mainly thanks to ESPN and their intention to have as many bowls as possible, despite the quality of the games or the teams, bowl season has become a drawn out process of little importance.
Of course, there is the national title game coming up in a little more than a week, but there are some other games that should provide us with a nice appetizer before the title game.
The Chick-fil-A Bowl is often one of the best games of bowl season and this year should be no different with a match up between LSU and Clemson. Clemson had a 10 win season but lost their two biggest games of the year, against Florida State and South Carolina. Their offense is spectacular while their defense is average on a good day. On the other hand, LSU's offense has been hot and cold throughout the season while their defense has been fantastic as usual. I think this game will come down to Clemson's ability to slow LSU down on the ground. If Clemson can stop the run, even a little bit, then they will have a chance to win the game. I don't think they can do it. Clemson will score, but LSU will be able to keep the dynamic Clemson offense on the sideline with a run game that will dominate, especially in the second half.
LSU 31 Clemson 24
The Outback Bowl matches up South Carolina against Michigan. The Wolverines came up just short as they tried to stop Ohio State's perfect season. Michigan is a good team, but not elite. Their offense is average as is there defense. South Carolina had a wonderful season that was just short of the best in school history. If not for a close loss to LSU in Death Valley, South Carolina, not Georgia would have been playing Alabama in the SEC title game for a chance to go to the national championship game. Unless South Carolina turns the ball over, a lot, then they will win the game.
South Carolina 26 Michigan 10
No real reason to spend a lot of time talking about the Rose Bowl. Stanford may be one of the best teams in the country at this point in the season and Wisconsin is mediocre. Wisconsin is also dealing with the fact that they are being coached by their Athletic Director because their coach left after the Big 10 title game to go to Arkansas. Stanford's physicality will be the difference in this game.
Stanford 30 Wisconsin 13
It is an embarrassment to college football that Northern Illinois is in the BCS. It is also a shame because you are wasting a chance to watch a good team in FSU play another team that might be able to give them a good game. Unless FSU decides to play their backups for the entire first half, this game will be over before half time. Northern Illinois is just not that good of a team.
Florida State 42 Northern Illinois 16
Florida is going to kill Lousiville. That is all.
Florida 28 Louisville 6
In the "What might have been" Fiesta Bowl, Oregon will play Kansas State. The Wildcats will be playing their last game with Colin Kline at quarterback and if you believe all of the rumors, the Ducks might be playing their last game with Chip Kelley as their coach. The question in this game is whether or not the Kansas State offense can score with Oregon. The Ducks' offense is as high octane as it gets and they play just enough defense to be aggravating. I think Oregon is just too good. Kansas State will play well and Kline will keep them in the game, but at the end of the day, Oregon will just score too much for the Wildcats.
Oregon 38 Kansas State 34
There are so many story lines in the Cotton Bowl, but to me, the most interesting one is that Texas A&M, newest member of the SEC takes on Oklahoma, a power of the Big 12, A&M's old conference. Johnny Football, Heisman in hand, will try and deliver A&M's 11th win of the season, more than any Aggie fan could have hoped for in their first year in the SEC. Meanwhile, Big Game Bob Stoops will try and reclaim the place that Oklahoma held for so much of the past decade. It will be Landry Jones' last game as a Sooner, but I don't think he will be able to get past A&M.
Texas A&M 24 Oklahoma 20
Georgia isn't playing in the biggest bowl game this year, and the game itself isn't as appealing as some other games, but make no mistake, this is a huge game for the Bulldogs. After coming ever so close against Alabama, Georgia has a chance to win 12 games this season, and begin to get ready for the 2013 season with a win. Last year, Georgia blew a huge lead to lose to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl and it hurt the Dawgs' perception nationally. This year, many pundits believe that Georgia deserved to play in the Sugar Bowl not the Capital One Bowl, so Georgia needs to take care of business and stomp Nebraska. This Nebraska team got killed in the Big 10 title game against a mediocre Wisconsin team so they have already shown that they can come up small on a big stage.
Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez told the media earlier this week that there wasn't anything special about Georgia's defense. He thinks that they are "an average Big 10 defense." Well he should talk to Sheldon Richardson, Missouri defensive lineman, about talking about Georgia's defense, and how they respond to trash talk before a game.
I wouldn't be surprised if Georgia jumped out to an early lead, just like they did last year, only this time, they will finish the game, and their season, in style.
Georgia 42 Nebraska 10
Have a safe and Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Life after college football
It has taken almost three weeks for me to have the desire to get back on here and talk about sports. The SEC Championship Game might be considered a classic, but for me, it was torture. Every time I see a promo on ESPN about the National Title Game all I can think about is that Georgia could have been, should have been in that game. A local radio show host still talks about how heartbreaking the 1983 Sugar Bowl was for him. When he talks about it, you can still feel the pain in his voice. I think that is the way I will feel about the SEC title game, probably forever.
But life, as they say, must go on. So I will attempt to give at least some level on analysis on pro football, the NBA, and even college basketball, once the season starts in March.
That said, it is sad how little I have been able to watch the NFL this year, especially the Falcons. I have missed two games because of work, numerous games because of the obligations of fatherhood, and I have missed the second half of the Falcons three prime time games (against the Broncos, the Cowboys, and the Saints) because I am now an old man who finds it difficult to stay up past 10 pm.
Though I have missed many of the games, I do have a pretty good idea about the team and how this season has gone and I have only one thing to say about the Falcons: nothing matters until the playoffs begin.
Now don't lump me in with the rest of the national media. I think it does matter what you do in the regular season, most of the time. However, for this team, this year, all that matters is the playoffs. They have had fantastic seasons in the past (2010 13-3), but failed miserably in the playoffs against Green Bay.
The win over the Giants on Sunday was impressive, but it won't matter at all if Atlanta lays another egg in the playoffs.
The way the NFC picture is shaping up, the Falcons should have the number one seed and home field throughout the playoffs. I know they had the same situation in 2010, but as good as this team is at home you take the first round bye and take your chances in the second round. The Falcons haven't been the best team in cold weather historically, but with the number one seed, there is a chance they won't play outside again this season or throughout the playoffs.
Hopefully I will be able to stay awake to see the Falcons try and clinch that number one seed this Saturday night against the Lions.
I would give you some riveting commentary on the bowl season, but until we get to some games with at least one team that matters a little bit, I can't fake it. I will say that I'm looking forward to watching the Chick-fil-A, Cotton, and Capital One Bowls. I am sure that I will try to watch the National Championship Game, but it might just be too hard, we will see.
Have a Merry Christmas!
But life, as they say, must go on. So I will attempt to give at least some level on analysis on pro football, the NBA, and even college basketball, once the season starts in March.
That said, it is sad how little I have been able to watch the NFL this year, especially the Falcons. I have missed two games because of work, numerous games because of the obligations of fatherhood, and I have missed the second half of the Falcons three prime time games (against the Broncos, the Cowboys, and the Saints) because I am now an old man who finds it difficult to stay up past 10 pm.
Though I have missed many of the games, I do have a pretty good idea about the team and how this season has gone and I have only one thing to say about the Falcons: nothing matters until the playoffs begin.
Now don't lump me in with the rest of the national media. I think it does matter what you do in the regular season, most of the time. However, for this team, this year, all that matters is the playoffs. They have had fantastic seasons in the past (2010 13-3), but failed miserably in the playoffs against Green Bay.
The win over the Giants on Sunday was impressive, but it won't matter at all if Atlanta lays another egg in the playoffs.
The way the NFC picture is shaping up, the Falcons should have the number one seed and home field throughout the playoffs. I know they had the same situation in 2010, but as good as this team is at home you take the first round bye and take your chances in the second round. The Falcons haven't been the best team in cold weather historically, but with the number one seed, there is a chance they won't play outside again this season or throughout the playoffs.
Hopefully I will be able to stay awake to see the Falcons try and clinch that number one seed this Saturday night against the Lions.
I would give you some riveting commentary on the bowl season, but until we get to some games with at least one team that matters a little bit, I can't fake it. I will say that I'm looking forward to watching the Chick-fil-A, Cotton, and Capital One Bowls. I am sure that I will try to watch the National Championship Game, but it might just be too hard, we will see.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
SEC Championship Game Reaction
There are no moral victories in major college football, and certainly not in a championship game.
Georgia came up just short on Saturday night in what can only be described as a classic college football game. Now, Alabama will go on to play for the National Title, and Georgia will wait to see how far they fall down the SEC's bowl tie-ins.
As for the game itself, I was shocked at the poise shown by Georgia. Both teams played well in the first half, but it almost seemed like a warm half rather than an indication of how the rest of the game was going to be played. The third quarter was amazing. Georgia scores a touchdown to take the 14-10 lead, then blocks the punt and returns it for a touchdown to take the 21-10 lead. I'm not going to lie, when the punt was blocked, I didn't think the game was over, but I thought this was going to be our night. It just seemed like things were going Georgia's way.
Bama answered as you would expect them to. They battled back to take the lead at 25-21, and I think most Georgia fans probably figured this is where things would go astray for the Dawgs.
However, Georgia answered back and took the lead 28-25, and showed that they were capable of making a touchdown drive when they had to have it. Bama got their one big pass play of the game when they needed it the most to take the lead 32-28, and now, surely, the Dawgs would falter.
Georgia's offense went three and out, seemingly ending the game. All Alabama had to do was get one first down, and the game was over. Alabama had been running all over Georgia, so surely they could run for one first down right? Wrong.
When they had to do it to save the season, Georgia's defense managed to stop Alabama one last time and give Aaron Murray a chance to win the game. The next minute plus of football almost seemed like a blur. Completion after completion, with a Gurley first down run tucked in on third down, and all of a sudden Georgia was in Bama territory. Murray found Arthur Lynch and now Georgia was inside the Bama 10. Here it is, its going to happen.
I started yelling at the TV for Murray to spike the ball. But no spike came, Murray's pass was tipped, Connelly did what receivers are trained to do, and the game was over just that quickly.
I think Georgia would have been better served spiking the ball on first down and calling two pass plays into the endzone that you would have had time to run with 14 seconds left. However, I heard the explanation after the game that Georgia got the play called and Bama's defense wasn't able to substitute so that is why Georgia didn't spike the ball. I buy that.
As I said before, it was a fantastic game that didn't end in the way Georgia fans wanted it to.
Anyone who wants Mark Richt, Mike Bobo, or Todd Grantham to be fired, should turn in all of your red and black attire for the gold and blue of Georgia Tech because you are an idiot and you deserve to be miserable watching the triple option.
Anyone who hopes that Aaron Murray goes pro because Georgia would be better off without him, can do the same thing.
I started this post by saying that there are no moral victories, and that is true for the players and the coaches. The one thing that I hope comes out of this loss, is that I hope the fan base finally falls in love with this team. I feel like the Bulldog Nation is constantly looking for someone to blame when things don't go right, but there is no one to blame after last night's game. We played great, they played a little better.
There is one criticism that makes sense. It has taken 12 years for Georgia to have a legitimate shot at the National Championship under Richt. When you play in the biggest games against the best teams, you are going to lose sometimes, just like Georgia did last night. The problem is that Georgia needs to be in that position more often.
Still a Dawg through and through, and looking forward to having one more chance to watch the Dawgs play this season.
Georgia came up just short on Saturday night in what can only be described as a classic college football game. Now, Alabama will go on to play for the National Title, and Georgia will wait to see how far they fall down the SEC's bowl tie-ins.
As for the game itself, I was shocked at the poise shown by Georgia. Both teams played well in the first half, but it almost seemed like a warm half rather than an indication of how the rest of the game was going to be played. The third quarter was amazing. Georgia scores a touchdown to take the 14-10 lead, then blocks the punt and returns it for a touchdown to take the 21-10 lead. I'm not going to lie, when the punt was blocked, I didn't think the game was over, but I thought this was going to be our night. It just seemed like things were going Georgia's way.
Bama answered as you would expect them to. They battled back to take the lead at 25-21, and I think most Georgia fans probably figured this is where things would go astray for the Dawgs.
However, Georgia answered back and took the lead 28-25, and showed that they were capable of making a touchdown drive when they had to have it. Bama got their one big pass play of the game when they needed it the most to take the lead 32-28, and now, surely, the Dawgs would falter.
Georgia's offense went three and out, seemingly ending the game. All Alabama had to do was get one first down, and the game was over. Alabama had been running all over Georgia, so surely they could run for one first down right? Wrong.
When they had to do it to save the season, Georgia's defense managed to stop Alabama one last time and give Aaron Murray a chance to win the game. The next minute plus of football almost seemed like a blur. Completion after completion, with a Gurley first down run tucked in on third down, and all of a sudden Georgia was in Bama territory. Murray found Arthur Lynch and now Georgia was inside the Bama 10. Here it is, its going to happen.
I started yelling at the TV for Murray to spike the ball. But no spike came, Murray's pass was tipped, Connelly did what receivers are trained to do, and the game was over just that quickly.
I think Georgia would have been better served spiking the ball on first down and calling two pass plays into the endzone that you would have had time to run with 14 seconds left. However, I heard the explanation after the game that Georgia got the play called and Bama's defense wasn't able to substitute so that is why Georgia didn't spike the ball. I buy that.
As I said before, it was a fantastic game that didn't end in the way Georgia fans wanted it to.
Anyone who wants Mark Richt, Mike Bobo, or Todd Grantham to be fired, should turn in all of your red and black attire for the gold and blue of Georgia Tech because you are an idiot and you deserve to be miserable watching the triple option.
Anyone who hopes that Aaron Murray goes pro because Georgia would be better off without him, can do the same thing.
I started this post by saying that there are no moral victories, and that is true for the players and the coaches. The one thing that I hope comes out of this loss, is that I hope the fan base finally falls in love with this team. I feel like the Bulldog Nation is constantly looking for someone to blame when things don't go right, but there is no one to blame after last night's game. We played great, they played a little better.
There is one criticism that makes sense. It has taken 12 years for Georgia to have a legitimate shot at the National Championship under Richt. When you play in the biggest games against the best teams, you are going to lose sometimes, just like Georgia did last night. The problem is that Georgia needs to be in that position more often.
Still a Dawg through and through, and looking forward to having one more chance to watch the Dawgs play this season.
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