While it isn’t the game they were hoping for, Georgia football will be highly motivated when they play in the Sugar Bowl with a chance to prove a lot of people wrong.
So the dust has settled. Georgia football isn’t going to the playoff this year and that’s fine. I’ve made my point about how I feel about the CFP which seems to have rilled up a lot of Oklahoma fans despite the fact the issue is with the system, not their team. But moving forward, the fact is that Georgia fans wake up today knowing that their team is going to be playing in the Sugar Bowl this year on January 1st. And it’s against Texas, not a bad consolation prize when you think about it.
Unlike last years Auburn team who completely wet the bed against UCF, I fully expect that UGA will be ready to play this year. Not only are they taking on a premier program, but a lot of Georgia’s players have a point to prove. As Kirby Smart mentioned the other day, this senior class will be the second winningest in program history if they win in New Orleans. That’s not a bad way to send out your leaders even if it’s not the game you wanted.
Then there’s the anger and disappointment a lot of this team are feeling. They let Alabama slip through their fingers and they know it. I just can’t imagine a scenario where these guys don’t come out of the gates absolutely flying. One of the things that have helped me feel better after this loss was the reaction on social media and in interviews of UGA’s young players. None of them are depressed or feeling sorry for themselves but they are hurt and more importantly, they’re motivated. They just had their dream taken away from them and they’re ready to fight back.
All of which bodes relatively well for the 2019 season when you think about it. This offseason should be one for the ages if those guys live up to their words. But before we get there, the Dawgs face Texas and to be honest, I almost feel bad for the Longhorns. They’re a proud program that hung in with Oklahoma in the Big-12 title game and beat them earlier this year. That being said, there are huge holes in their defense and a very definite talent deficit between the two teams.
I’ve got to believe that Georgia’s players will want to make a statement on New Years day. Everyone is saying that the Dawgs were left out of the CFP for Oklahoma. What better way to show college football they were wrong then beating the living hell out of the second best team in their conference. And believe me, I think this team will want to do just that. One thing that has been prevalent since Saturday is people from all over the country making fun of Georgia and belittling this group of players. I’m pretty sure they’ll look to shut some mouths.
All of which leads me to think that this might actually be a really good Bowl game for Dawg fans to go to and nowhere near as costly as last years trip to Pasadena. It’s on New Years day, in New Orleans and their team is going to show up and hopefully beat down one of the most storied programs in football. It’s also a chance to send off some players that have given us fantastic memories over the past 3-4 years. Should make for a pretty damn good road trip if you ask me.