College football finalized its conference champs and the bowls are set. ( You can join our Yahoo! Bowl Pick'Em Contest by clicking HERE ). This Championship Weekend was no different in surprises than the last few weekends: an upset, two down-to-the-wire games, controversial calls, controversial no-calls -- everything we have come to expect.
W E E K L Y W R A P
Besides the conference games listed below you also had un-ranked Baylor rout another ranked team (again). Baylor will not be looked over next year. And Boise pulls off the Mountain West tie-breaker with their win over Nevada.
The PAC-12 Championship
Maybe the PAC-12 will rethink scheduling next year. UCLA had it in hand but let it slip away. Twice in two weeks has gotta hurt worse than just losing the conference championship.
The ACC Championship
I was pulling for GaTech so the BCS would be forced to send a 7-6 team to a BCS Bowl...and it almost happened. It was another last-minute close one for Florida State but they took home the trophy.
The MAC Championship
Kudos to N Illinois for not giving it away so the league could be likely guaranteed their first BCS bowl berth (and much needed dollars for facility upgrades). Both teams played their hearts out and showed once again that mid-level conferences cannot be ignored any longer.
The B10 Championship
A completely unexpected trouncing. Where has Wisconsin been all year? Their 70-31 rout of #12 Nebraska sounds like the Baylor beat down of K-State a few weeks ago. They weren't even suppose to play this game (but did thanks to OSU and Penn on probation).
The SEC Championship (the de facto semi-final...and some might even say National Championship)
No one thought UGA had a shot; they were given little hope from the odds makers and the analysts. And they were all correct. But none of them expected this. UGA came in underdogs, lost the game, but left with their heads high knowing they just played one of their best 60-minutes. They'll forever be haunted that they were 5-yards from playing for the title but they also know they gave their all - and that's anyone can do.
The Irish will have their hands full. And say what you will about the SEC being on top six straight years with #7 in waiting (voters are biased, they cheat, they have all the money, etc.), but I don't see anyone else with a legitimate argument to play for the title (again). Maybe Oregon, maybe K-State, maybe - but those are big maybe's.
W E E K L Y W H I N E
Whining this week for the "almost" teams; the 11-1 and even some 10-2 teams that almost made it this year. I'm talking about teams like N Illinois, Kent State, Florida, Oregon, TA&M, SCar, Clemson, etc.
Florida and Oregon gotta feel the worst. Both watched their conference foes play Saturday and at least had to be thinking "We're better than that!". And maybe so. But you lose that one game and your chance is blown. Florida beat four Top 10 teams during the regular season but lost the one to UGA (who only beat one Top 10 team - Florida). Oregon beat four Top 25 teams (although only one remains) but lost the one to Stanford. Those losses kept them out of their conference championship games. Florida sat and watched two teams who lost to teams they beat during the season. Oregon sat and watched two teams with more losses play for the title. It just doesn't always come out clean. (PS: But having watched a few Florida games I don't think they would have played 'Bama near as well as UGA did).
E N D Z O N E
Some would say Georgia should have spiked or called a different play, others say the receiver should have known better than to catch the ball, others say UGA just can't pull off the big wins. True - big wins have eluded UGA. They win enough to look good but not the right ones that put them on top of the pile. I often blame poor coaching for losses like Georgia's. But not this time. UGA did everything right. None of these players or coaches should be second-guessing themselves. They did their job, tried their best, and although their best is much better than most, it simply was not better than all. Learn the lesson, go back to the drawing board and try again. Nothing to be ashamed of here.
From BleacherReport: "...Surely, "devastation" was the word used most after the game by Georgia fans to describe the emotionally draining finish to what was the best SEC Championship game ever, but there was more than enough proven in that game to ensure Georgia fans can hold their heads high and be proud. ... For years, we've seen Georgia get trounced in big games and heard criticism after criticism as fans continued to cope with the fact it was once made clear to the country Georgia's nearly elite status would always be nothing but a stagnant curse. ... But what we saw tonight is that Georgia's 11-1 record and No. 3 ranking was not just a result of voting protocol and an overrated name. Georgia proved it was one of the best teams in the country. ..."
Once again: Join this year's Yahoo! Bowl Pick'Em Contest. Click HERE to join.
W E E K L Y W R A P
Besides the conference games listed below you also had un-ranked Baylor rout another ranked team (again). Baylor will not be looked over next year. And Boise pulls off the Mountain West tie-breaker with their win over Nevada.The PAC-12 Championship
Maybe the PAC-12 will rethink scheduling next year. UCLA had it in hand but let it slip away. Twice in two weeks has gotta hurt worse than just losing the conference championship.
The ACC Championship
I was pulling for GaTech so the BCS would be forced to send a 7-6 team to a BCS Bowl...and it almost happened. It was another last-minute close one for Florida State but they took home the trophy.
The MAC Championship
Kudos to N Illinois for not giving it away so the league could be likely guaranteed their first BCS bowl berth (and much needed dollars for facility upgrades). Both teams played their hearts out and showed once again that mid-level conferences cannot be ignored any longer.
The B10 Championship
A completely unexpected trouncing. Where has Wisconsin been all year? Their 70-31 rout of #12 Nebraska sounds like the Baylor beat down of K-State a few weeks ago. They weren't even suppose to play this game (but did thanks to OSU and Penn on probation).
The SEC Championship (the de facto semi-final...and some might even say National Championship)
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| Gurley - destined for bigger games and accolades. |
The Irish will have their hands full. And say what you will about the SEC being on top six straight years with #7 in waiting (voters are biased, they cheat, they have all the money, etc.), but I don't see anyone else with a legitimate argument to play for the title (again). Maybe Oregon, maybe K-State, maybe - but those are big maybe's.
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| Really refs? How'd you miss this one? |
Whining this week for the "almost" teams; the 11-1 and even some 10-2 teams that almost made it this year. I'm talking about teams like N Illinois, Kent State, Florida, Oregon, TA&M, SCar, Clemson, etc.
Florida and Oregon gotta feel the worst. Both watched their conference foes play Saturday and at least had to be thinking "We're better than that!". And maybe so. But you lose that one game and your chance is blown. Florida beat four Top 10 teams during the regular season but lost the one to UGA (who only beat one Top 10 team - Florida). Oregon beat four Top 25 teams (although only one remains) but lost the one to Stanford. Those losses kept them out of their conference championship games. Florida sat and watched two teams who lost to teams they beat during the season. Oregon sat and watched two teams with more losses play for the title. It just doesn't always come out clean. (PS: But having watched a few Florida games I don't think they would have played 'Bama near as well as UGA did).
E N D Z O N E
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| Richt defending his game plan and players. And rightfully so. |
From BleacherReport: "...Surely, "devastation" was the word used most after the game by Georgia fans to describe the emotionally draining finish to what was the best SEC Championship game ever, but there was more than enough proven in that game to ensure Georgia fans can hold their heads high and be proud. ... For years, we've seen Georgia get trounced in big games and heard criticism after criticism as fans continued to cope with the fact it was once made clear to the country Georgia's nearly elite status would always be nothing but a stagnant curse. ... But what we saw tonight is that Georgia's 11-1 record and No. 3 ranking was not just a result of voting protocol and an overrated name. Georgia proved it was one of the best teams in the country. ..."
Once again: Join this year's Yahoo! Bowl Pick'Em Contest. Click HERE to join.