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Monday, 15 December 2008 23:18 |
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In the preseason, you could ask pretty much anyone who knew anything about college football who they thought was going to be #1 this year and you probably heard close to only one answer.
The Georgia Bulldogs.
Back before the regular season started, the Bulldogs were picked to be #1 by a couple of polls. And why blame them. Georgia was 11-2 last year after they destroyed Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. Not only that, but hey had a veritable pantheon of great players to stock the team for this season. Of course it seemed possible that they would return as national contenders, right?
So what happened?
Well, after a few impressive wins this season, Alabama (whom we now know to be really, really, good) took the Bulldogs to the pound with a 41-30 beating and exposed the Georgia defense as being weaker than most thought. It took only that sad display to hinder the Bulldog's defense for the remainder of the season. It was like unmasking a superhero. After that veil had been removed from the defense, it was never the same.
After further losses to Florida (49-10, OUCH) and to Georgia Tech for the season-closer, it was decided that the Bulldogs and Spartans would face off in the Capital One Bowl.
The different teams see this game very differently as well. While the Bulldogs may see this as a consolation prize and the poor result of a season so full of hope, the Spartans see this as progress. And it truly is.
Michigan State has not been to a New Year's bowl game in years (let alone won one), and this one comes with a sense of responsibility. The Big Ten Conference has taken the last four wins in the Capital One Bowl against SEC opponents. This may seem like a lot of pressure for the Michigan State Spartans, because it is. I'm sure the Spartans don't want to be the Big Ten team to break that streak.
I'll be the first to admit that Michigan State looks good, and sure, they're 9-3 just like the Bulldogs, but it's going to take a lot of talent from MSU running back, Javon Ringer, and his fellow teammates, to beat a frustrated Georgia team.
By the way, Javon Ringer is set to find out tonight whether he will be the recipient of the Doak Walker award for the top running back in the nation. He has a tough set of other backs to beat, like Iowa junior Shonn Greene and Georgia's own sophomore Knowshon Moreno, but stands a very good chance of winning. I'm sure that if either MSU's or Georgia's running back win the award, it will only add more fuel to the fire. You can see who will be announced to win during the College Football Awards show starting at 7:30 p.m., December 11th on ESPN.
Bulldogs' head coach, Mark Richt, still looks at the game as a possibility to end the season with a smile on his face.
"This is the last game of the 2008 season. ... Hopefully it will spring us forward in the New Year on a positive note," Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
What does Spartan coach mark Dantonio have to say?
"We're thrilled to be playing in the Capital One Bowl".
Okay then. Let's make it count, coach.
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