A loss in SEC Championship Game could give Georgia fans their wish

For the fifth straight season, Georgia is in the SEC Championship game. This development makes Buck Belue happy because the Bulldogs will not have a potential 32-day layoff in between games. 

Obviously, Georgia wants to win every game it plays, especially when the opponent is Alabama and there's an opportunity to add another SEC Championship to the trophy case. But there's also an argument to be made that a loss isn't the worst thing in the world.

How does a home playoff game sound?

Georgia is a lock to make the playoffs (duh) and very likely a lock to be a top-eight seed either way. So, a loss to Alabama, as annoying as that might be, gets the Bulldogs a playoff game in the comfortable confines of Sanford Stadium. Imagine the scene of the Bulldogs home playoff game against the Miami Hurricanes or possibly some payback against Notre Dame? Who wouldn't want that?

I can imagine some fans privately hoping for the latter. Do they want Georgia to lose to Alabama for a second time this season, fourth time in a row and 11th time in the past 12 meetings? Absolutely not. But, hosting a playoff game sounds pretty cool.

Kirby Smart isn't having any of it

Ok, maybe you're secretly hoping that Georgia accidentally slips up on Saturday to get that sweet first-round home game and another week of tailgating a few days before Christmas, but don't tell that to Smart.

The Georgia coach is dead serious about winning the SEC. He's not resting players, and he's not concerned about the playoffs. Don't bring that kind of energy around him because he's likely to headbutt you.

"If you worry about injury risk, we won't practice next week. So you live your life scared of injuries. You know what you get? A very scared team," Smart said. "There's also an opportunity to win an SEC championship. Does that matter? Does anybody care about that anymore? I mean, I grew up thinking that was the greatest game in the world and just different from everybody else."

It's still the greatest game in the world. But hosting a college football playoff game at Sanford Stadium?

That does sound pretty cool.