Championship Saturday lived up to all the hype and then some. I didn't get the chance to watch the day's opening game. Somehow, Cincinnati was able to come all the way back against Pitt to finish off the best season in school history and punch their ticket to a BCS game.
I think the biggest disappointment of the day was the SEC title game. Florida didn't show up, period. Tim Tebow couldn't overcome the defense's inability to stop the Alabama run game. Bama simply dominated Florida who is now facing the prospect of a Sugar Bowl bid against a very good team, when they really don't want to be there. Just like Bama last year against Utah, it will be hard for the Gators to bring their best to the Super Dome on New Year's Day.
The two late games were spectacular. Georgia Tech and Clemson played a game that deserved to be in a great atmosphere, not in Tampa with about 10,000 empty seats. The Jackets get their first BCS game, and according to ESPN, their first big bowl game since 1961!
Texas got lucky. I don't know if Colt McCoy was confused or just too poised at the end of the Longhorn's game against Nebraska, but if the clock would have run out on Texas last night, McCoy would have been haunted with that play for the rest of his life. I doubt he will ever say what he was thinking about, but the guys calling the game probably got it right: I think Colt thought the play clock was the game clock, and he thought there were around 37 seconds left in the game. Some people might think that Texas doesn't deserve to go to the title game after the way they played last night, but those people are wrong. Texas is undefeated, no one cares if you win by one point or 50, just win. They have won every game they have played this season, and they are more than deserving to play for the title against Bama.
When you look at the Bowl picture now, it seems like the choices are very clear. I'm not bragging, because I've been wrong this season a lot more than I have been right, but I had the bowls picked last week, and I still believe that is how the bowls will shake out. The only change would be if the Orange Bowl picks Iowa instead of Penn State, but for Tech fans, I hope you get Joe Pa and the Nitny Lions.
On the local front, Georgia is going to get hosed tonight. The SEC Bowl tie-ins should send Tennessee to the Outback Bowl and Georgia to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but Tennessee wants to play in Atlanta for recruiting purposes, so the Outback Bowl is going to take Auburn. It looks like Georgia has a date with Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl. Don't look now, but Georgia will most likely lose that game.
Maybe something will happen today to shake things up for the Dawgs, but it looks like the win over Tech didn't change anything for Georgia's bowl prospects.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Let's Go Bowling
Trying to figure out who is going to play in what bowl this year is nearly impossible. The SEC is a mess because of so many teams with either the same or similar records. Here is my best shot at the SEC affiliated bowls and then the BCS bowls:
Capital One Bowl:
Iowa v. LSU
After LSU lost to Ole Miss, the Rebels were probably going to spend New Year's Day in Florida, however, after losing yesterday, LSU moves back into the top non-BCS spot.
Cotton Bowl:
Ole Miss v. Nebraska
Ole Miss heads back to the Cotton Bowl and Nebraska is rewarded for a strong finish in the Big 12. If Nebraska upset Texas in the Big 12 title game, this could end up being Missouri.
Chick-fil-A Bowl:
Georgia v. Clemson
There are a lot of teams at 7-5 in the SEC, so this is where things will go crazy. I think the CFA Bowl takes Georgia to increase the local hype on the game. Plus, a matchup with Clemson would be a throw back game for both schools and this might be one of the best games of the bowl season. If Clemson wins the ACC title, Georgia Tech would play here and the CFA Bowl would probably take Tennessee over Georgia.
Outback Bowl:
Tennessee v. Northwestern
Tennessee gets a New Year's game and Northwestern gets a nice trip and a beating. This is what happens when the Big 10 gets two teams in the BCS.
Liberty Bowl:
Arkansas v. Houston
This game would be a big draw for both schools and would be very entertaining. Again, there are about 6 teams that can go in these mid-level games, but logistically this would make sense.
Music City Bowl:
Kentucky v. Boston College
Again location would help this game. Kentucky would travel well to Nashville, and Boston College seems to always be a good bowl team.
Papajohns.com Bowl:
Auburn v. Connecticut
There really aren't words to explain how sad it is that this bowl exists...
Independence Bowl:
South Carolina v. Texas A&M
There's nothing as beautiful as Shreveport, LA in mid-December.... I really hope that UGA doesn't end up here.
BCS BOWLS
National Championship Game:
Alabama v. Texas
This would be a great game whether Bama or Florida plays here, I think Bama gets by the Gators and punches their ticket for the big game.
Sugar Bowl:
Florida v. Cincinnati
This would be a match up between an undefeated Bearcat team and a one loss Florida team. Tim Tebow's last game will be huge no matter where the Gators are playing.
Orange Bowl:
Georgia Tech v. Penn State
I think this game would be really great. Tech deserves a good opponent and Penn State had a solid season.
Fiesta Bowl:
TCU v. Boise State
The Fiesta Bowl could have the only other matchup of undefeated teams other than the national title game. This would be a spectacular game and a big stage for both of these programs to play on.
Rose Bowl:
Ohio State v. Oregon
Please wake me up when this game is over... The Big 10 and Pac 10 should really look at the reality of the college football world and open their minds to playing in a place other than Pasadena.
Capital One Bowl:
Iowa v. LSU
After LSU lost to Ole Miss, the Rebels were probably going to spend New Year's Day in Florida, however, after losing yesterday, LSU moves back into the top non-BCS spot.
Cotton Bowl:
Ole Miss v. Nebraska
Ole Miss heads back to the Cotton Bowl and Nebraska is rewarded for a strong finish in the Big 12. If Nebraska upset Texas in the Big 12 title game, this could end up being Missouri.
Chick-fil-A Bowl:
Georgia v. Clemson
There are a lot of teams at 7-5 in the SEC, so this is where things will go crazy. I think the CFA Bowl takes Georgia to increase the local hype on the game. Plus, a matchup with Clemson would be a throw back game for both schools and this might be one of the best games of the bowl season. If Clemson wins the ACC title, Georgia Tech would play here and the CFA Bowl would probably take Tennessee over Georgia.
Outback Bowl:
Tennessee v. Northwestern
Tennessee gets a New Year's game and Northwestern gets a nice trip and a beating. This is what happens when the Big 10 gets two teams in the BCS.
Liberty Bowl:
Arkansas v. Houston
This game would be a big draw for both schools and would be very entertaining. Again, there are about 6 teams that can go in these mid-level games, but logistically this would make sense.
Music City Bowl:
Kentucky v. Boston College
Again location would help this game. Kentucky would travel well to Nashville, and Boston College seems to always be a good bowl team.
Papajohns.com Bowl:
Auburn v. Connecticut
There really aren't words to explain how sad it is that this bowl exists...
Independence Bowl:
South Carolina v. Texas A&M
There's nothing as beautiful as Shreveport, LA in mid-December.... I really hope that UGA doesn't end up here.
BCS BOWLS
National Championship Game:
Alabama v. Texas
This would be a great game whether Bama or Florida plays here, I think Bama gets by the Gators and punches their ticket for the big game.
Sugar Bowl:
Florida v. Cincinnati
This would be a match up between an undefeated Bearcat team and a one loss Florida team. Tim Tebow's last game will be huge no matter where the Gators are playing.
Orange Bowl:
Georgia Tech v. Penn State
I think this game would be really great. Tech deserves a good opponent and Penn State had a solid season.
Fiesta Bowl:
TCU v. Boise State
The Fiesta Bowl could have the only other matchup of undefeated teams other than the national title game. This would be a spectacular game and a big stage for both of these programs to play on.
Rose Bowl:
Ohio State v. Oregon
Please wake me up when this game is over... The Big 10 and Pac 10 should really look at the reality of the college football world and open their minds to playing in a place other than Pasadena.
The Morning After
WE ARE GEORGIA!
And last night this team that has underachieved and disappointed all season long finally proved and earned the title of Georgia Bulldogs. Take the Georgia/Georgia Tech angle out of it and just listen to the facts:
An unranked 6-5 team went on the road to their arch rivals home field and upset the number 7 team in the country.
That's a great ending to a bad season.
Georgia played like successful Georgia teams have since the Vince Dooley Era. Georgia made an obvious attempt to establish the run and stuck with that philosophy all game long. Washaun Ealey and Caleb King had their best games of their careers in the same game, and the offensive line played just like we thought they would all season.
For the first time all season, Joe Cox was used properly. Cox's early season success against South Carolina and Arkansas had made the coaching staff think that he could throw the ball around the field, but that is not the quarterback he is. He managed the game last night and made some big plays in the passing game, but he wasn't asked to win the game, he was simply asked not to lose it. Alabama almost won a national championship last year with a similar philosophy, and I think this season could have been much better had the coaching staff not taken 13 weeks to figure out that we need to run the ball to be successful.
Despite the win against Tech, a few things still have to happen in Athens. Willie Martinez isn't going to be fired because of one game, and he shouldn't be saved by one game either. I'm sure Willie is a good man, but its time for a new philosophy and a new face leading the Georgia defense.
Also, going into next season, Aaron Murry will need a similar game plan as last night to be successful. Both running backs will be back next year, and the offensive line will be a year older (hopefully anchored by Trenton Sturdivant). The red-shirt freshman quarterback will need the pieces around him to help take the pressure off a young player who will make mistakes.
The honest truth about next year is this. With an inspired defense, there is no reason Georgia can't be right back at the top of the SEC East next year. Florida is losing Tebow for sure, and there could be up to 26 Gators who will either graduate or take their talent to the NFL. Florida will not be a bad team, but to think that they will be the dominant team that they have been over the past two years, would be crazy.
Georgia's win last night was fun for Georgia fans who have sat through a very difficult season. Hopefully last night and a victory in the bowl game will signal the beginning of the next chapter of Georgia football.
And last night this team that has underachieved and disappointed all season long finally proved and earned the title of Georgia Bulldogs. Take the Georgia/Georgia Tech angle out of it and just listen to the facts:
An unranked 6-5 team went on the road to their arch rivals home field and upset the number 7 team in the country.
That's a great ending to a bad season.
Georgia played like successful Georgia teams have since the Vince Dooley Era. Georgia made an obvious attempt to establish the run and stuck with that philosophy all game long. Washaun Ealey and Caleb King had their best games of their careers in the same game, and the offensive line played just like we thought they would all season.
For the first time all season, Joe Cox was used properly. Cox's early season success against South Carolina and Arkansas had made the coaching staff think that he could throw the ball around the field, but that is not the quarterback he is. He managed the game last night and made some big plays in the passing game, but he wasn't asked to win the game, he was simply asked not to lose it. Alabama almost won a national championship last year with a similar philosophy, and I think this season could have been much better had the coaching staff not taken 13 weeks to figure out that we need to run the ball to be successful.
Despite the win against Tech, a few things still have to happen in Athens. Willie Martinez isn't going to be fired because of one game, and he shouldn't be saved by one game either. I'm sure Willie is a good man, but its time for a new philosophy and a new face leading the Georgia defense.
Also, going into next season, Aaron Murry will need a similar game plan as last night to be successful. Both running backs will be back next year, and the offensive line will be a year older (hopefully anchored by Trenton Sturdivant). The red-shirt freshman quarterback will need the pieces around him to help take the pressure off a young player who will make mistakes.
The honest truth about next year is this. With an inspired defense, there is no reason Georgia can't be right back at the top of the SEC East next year. Florida is losing Tebow for sure, and there could be up to 26 Gators who will either graduate or take their talent to the NFL. Florida will not be a bad team, but to think that they will be the dominant team that they have been over the past two years, would be crazy.
Georgia's win last night was fun for Georgia fans who have sat through a very difficult season. Hopefully last night and a victory in the bowl game will signal the beginning of the next chapter of Georgia football.
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