2012 Outback Bowl: Georgia vs Michigan State

by Kavin Caruso
(Atlanta, GA )

The Georgia Bulldogs will face Michigan State Spartans on January 2nd. This will be the second time in three years that the Bulldogs will face the Spartans. Last time these two teams met was the Capital One Bowl in 2009. Georgia beat Michigan State 24-12.

The Georgia Bulldogs is 10-3 and rank number 18 in the BCS poll. Michigan State is also 10-3 and rank number 12 in the BCS poll.

The Georgia Bulldogs have come a long way this year. Georgia started the season at 0-2, and then reeled on 10 consecutive wins to win the East division. At the beginning of the season the Bulldogs couldn’t find a way to get in the end zone. Then on the third game, the Bulldogs trashed Coastal Carolina 59-0. So everyone in Athens thought, oh wow! They beat a FCS school, then when Georgia went to Oxford and they beat Ole Miss 27-13. Isaiah Crowell rushed for more than 100 yards in the Ole Miss game. The Bulldogs then faced Mississippi State in Athens. Defense stepped up and created some key turnovers. Georgia beat Mississippi State 24-10. Georgia Bulldogs then went to Knoxville to try to beat Tennessee. The Bulldogs battled back against the Vols with field goals. In the 2nd half, the Bulldogs took control against the Vols. Georgia beat Tennessee 20-12. It was Georgia’s first win in Knoxville since 2005 season.

The following week the Bulldogs went to Nashville to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores. It was not an easy task for Georgia. Usually when the Bulldogs face the Commodores, it’s an easy win. Not on this day it wasn’t. Georgia barely beat Vanderbilt 33-28. Two weeks later, the Bulldogs faced the Gators of Florida. Georgia beat Florida 24-20. It was a game that the Bulldogs needed to win in order to contend for the East division. Georgia came back home and played New Mexico State on Homecoming. Georgia again trashed another FCS school. The Bulldogs beat the Aggies 63-16. Then the following week, it was Auburn.

Auburn, who won the BCS National Championship game last season, was a different team this year. Georgia beat Auburn 45-7; Georgia had to win this game because South Carolina had won earlier in the day. The following week, it was Kentucky that Georgia had to beat. It was not an easy task either. Kentucky Wildcats played like they were going to the SEC Championship game. Georgia did come out in the 2nd half and scored a touchdown that put a dagger to Kentucky. Georgia beat Kentucky 19-10. It was all over; Georgia had won the East division with only 1 conference loss.

In the SEC Championship game, the Bulldogs played well in the 1st half of the game. In the 2nd half it was all over for the Bulldogs. LSU Tigers scored 21 points in the 3rd quarter to end Georgia’s chances of winning. LSU beat Georgia 42-10.

So here we all now, Georgia is in the Outback Bowl. Georgia thought they could be in the Sugar Bowl because they played well this year, but it didn’t happen.