Tag: Sugar Bowl

UGA football coach Kirby Smart provides update on RB James Cook’s status for Sugar Bowl

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart provides update on status of running back James Cook for the Allstate Sugar Bowl

Georgia football running back James Cook was arrested earlier in the month for driving without a valid license and carrying an open container of alcohol, per the Athens-Clarke County Police.

However, head coach Kirby Smart confirmed the sophomore running back can play against Baylor in the Sugar Bowl, after touching down in the Big Easy on Friday.

Cook will give the Bulldogs some much needed talent at running back for the game, with senior Brian Herrien likely out and junior D’Andre Swift’s status also up in the air.

UGA Wire will provide you with more updates as we get them.

Watch: Georgia football lands in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl

Georgia football has landed in New Orleans for the Allstate Sugar Bowl game

The Georgia Bulldogs have officially landed in New Orleans, Louisiana for the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Baylor.

The Bulldogs will play the Bears on January 1st at 8:30 pm, after a disappointing loss to Texas in the Big Easy last season. Will the Dawgs come out motivated enough to earn the victory? Only time will tell.

Baylor QB expected to start in Sugar Bowl

Baylor QB Charlie Brewer is expected to start against Georgia football in the 2020 Allstate Sugar Bowl after being under concussion protocol

Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer is reportedly expected to play in the 2020 Allstate Sugar Bowl matchup against Georgia, per Matt Mosley of PressBoxDFW.

Brewer was sidelined in the second quarter of the Big-12 Championship game with a head injury and has not been active in practice.  He has been on concussion protocol since exiting the contest, but is expected to play in the New Years Day matchup against the Dawgs.

Baylor head coach Matt Rhule will give an official statement on Friday about the state of his QB.

The Bears will likely need Brewer if they want to get past the Bulldogs stellar defense.  Brewer has thrown for 2,950 yards, 20 TDs and 6 INTs this season along with a 65.2 completion percentage.  He has also rushed for another 337 yards and 10 TDs, helping the Bears to a 2nd place finish in the Big-12 with their only two losses coming against Oklahoma.

Georgia RB D’Andre Swift makes unexpected announcement

Georgia running back D’Andre Swift makes unexpected announcement

It has long been rumored that Georgia football running back D’Andre Swift will forgo his senior season in Athens to enter the 2020 NFL Draft.

Tuesday, fellow Bulldog offensive linemen Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson did just that in announcing they would enter the draft and sit out the Sugar Bowl.

However, Swift had yet to make an announcement of his own until…

Seth Emerson of The Athletic reported that Swift would be joining his teammates in the draft, but now, the running back has tweeted that he has not made a final decision just yet.

From the looks of the tweet, it seems like the junior out of Philadelphia will be playing against Baylor in the Sugar Bowl and could even come back to the Classic City. Of course, we still expect Swift to head to the NFL, but that is not official as of right now.

Regardless of his decision, we are thankful for all Swift did in Athens and supportive of whatever choice he ends up making.

Ranking all 39 2019-2020 college football bowl games

There are 39 FBS bowl games this year. Which ones should Ohio State fans be the most interested in?

Bowl season comes at you fast–it starts in less than a week. There are 39 FBS bowl games this year. My advice, always, is to watch every single one of them. The more college football, the better, and I always really enjoy learning about the cool stories that some of these smaller programs have. Whether it’s a first bowl appearance in decades (or ever), a coaching turnaround, a crazy walk-on story, or something else, even the smallest of bowls always have compelling backstories.

I get it, though. Time is precious. Sometimes we can’t watch all the college football that we want. So I’m going to rank all 39 bowls games, from the “will be fun to watch” to the “can’t-miss.” And, of course, since this is a Buckeyes site, extra priority will be given to games that matter more to Ohio State. There’s no particular science to these rankings. Sometimes a game’s backstory will matter more; other times I’ll focus more on how competitive or high-quality the game is likely to be.

39. FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl: Liberty vs Georgia Southern

Saturday, December 21st, 2:30 PM

We get a first-time bowl team, as the Liberty Flames began their football program very recently. And the entire purpose of this bowl is to raise money to cure cancer, so that’s pretty cool too. Once we get to the game, though, Georgia Southern is pretty clearly the better team. The Eagles beat Appalachian State this year, and Liberty lost to Rutgers. It’s college football and anything can happen, but if you have to miss a bowl game, it should probably be this one. (Especially considering the fact that the Cure Bowl is on at the same time as two much better bowl games.)

38. Quick Lane Bowl: Pittsburgh vs Eastern Michigan

Thursday, December 26th, 8:00 PM

This is, by far, the least-compelling bowl game involving a Power 5 team. Pitt has talent and played Penn State close, but it’s never really a fun team to watch. Chris Creighton has done an insanely good job getting Eastern Michigan to a bowl game in three out of four years now, and it’s honestly shocking that a bigger school looking to rebuild hasn’t snatched him up yet. Still, there is a talent disparity, and neither team is that compelling to watch. If Pitt is flat once again, especially on offense, we could get a close game. If that doesn’t happen, though, there’s no real reason to stay on this game.

37. Camellia Bowl: FIU vs Arkansas State

Saturday, December 21st, 5:30 PM

There is nothing too compelling about this bowl game. The teams are probably evenly-matched, and FIU did pull off an incredible upset of the Miami Hurricanes a few weeks ago. Other than that, though, I’m not sure what about this game inspires fans to tune in.

36. Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo vs Charlotte

Friday, December 20th, 2:00 PM

Aside from having a hilarious backstory for its sponsor and being the opening game of bowl season this year, it’s a little hard to be too excited about the Bahamas Bowl. The location is awesome for the students and a ton of fun, but the matchup leaves much to be desired. This is also Charlotte’s first-ever bowl game (the program only began in 2013), which is always cool to see, but Buffalo is much more talented. Make sure not to miss Buffalo’s defensive lineman LeDarius Mack (yes, Khalil Mack’s brother). And maybe we get a good game if Charlotte is inspired by its first bowl appearance and plays perfect football.

35. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl: Utah State vs Kent State

Friday, December 20th, 7:30 PM

First of all, extra points to this game for having a hilarious sponsor. (Yes, that absolutely matters in bowl rankings. If you’re watching a game that’s not so compelling, it’s much more fun if you get to laugh every time ESPN’s commentators say the sponsor’s name.) Also, extra points for having an Ohio team. After that, though, it’s tough to look forward to this game. Utah State’s Jordan Love is going to want to end his college career on a high note, and the Aggies are a much better team than the Golden Flashes. Kent State is looking for its first-ever bowl win, which is always cool to see. Hopefully it gets it, but I wouldn’t hold out hope on it being a great game.

34. Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl: Georgia State vs Wyoming

Tuesday, December 31st, 4:30 PM

Fun fact: both of these teams beat SEC teams this year. Georgia State took down Tennessee and Wyoming beat Missouri back in Week 1. Other than that, though, there’s not much compelling about this game. Wyoming is the better team, and the Cowboys have the defense to stifle Georgia State and make this game near-unwatchable. Watch the Liberty Bowl on New Years’ Eve, and maybe check in on the end of this one if it’s close.

33. Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Tulane vs Southern Miss

Firday, January 4th, 3:00 PM

Not enough people have watched Tulane this season, which is a shame. The Green Wave are a good team and the program is heading in the right direction. Southern Miss, though, is limping into a bowl on a two-game losing streak, and it wasn’t very competitive in either game. Let’s hope it doesn’t make it three in a row.

32. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs Nevada

Friday, January 3rd, 3:30 PM

I’m a huge fan of Frank Solich. He always has a competitive MAC team and often finds some really good players. It’s very unfortunate that not enough of the country pays more attention to the Bobcats. But, other than this game being played on the blue turf (and often in snow), there’s not too much else to look forward to in this one.

31. New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Michigan State vs Wake Forest

Friday, December 27th, 3:20 PM

If you had the misfortune of watching Michigan State’s bowl game last year, you might be wondering why this game is ranked so high. Well, Michigan State is in the Big Ten, and the Pinstripe Bowl always had the added element of being played in an outdoor stadium in New York City in the winter. Combine that with Michigan State’s great defense and dysfunctional offense, and who knows what can happen.

Next… 30-21

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Georgia football safety J.R. Reed on if he’ll play in Sugar Bowl

Georgia football safety J.R. Reed discussed the Sugar Bowl and whether or not he will play.

While meeting with the media in Atlanta as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, Georgia safety J.R. Reed discussed the Sugar Bowl and if he will play.

Reed confirmed that he will indeed be suiting up in red and black in New Orleans.

“The Dawgs are playing and I’m still a Dawg,” Reed told the Athens Banner-Herald’s Marc Weiszer.

Last season, Bulldog cornerback Deandre Baker caught some heat after sitting out the same game to avoid risking injury.

Baker went on to be a first round NFL Draft selection by the New York Giants.

As for Reed, though, he said he and his family discussed it but thought it was best to play and represent his university one final time.

Georgia will have both safeties for the Sugar Bowl, as Richard LeCounte expressed the same sentiment after the SEC Championship Game loss.

“I’m definitely going to play in the bowl game,” LeCounte said. “The next thing I’m looking forward to is what happens in the bowl game.”

Everything Georgia football fans need to know about Baylor

Georgia won each prior meeting, but the game in New Orleans will be the first in which they’ve faced each other outside Sanford Stadium.

With conference championship week having come to a close, bowl season is upon us. The Georgia Bulldogs are headed to the Sugar Bowl to square off with the Baylor Bears, with whom they’ve competed four times across the programs’ histories.

Georgia won each prior meeting, but the contest in New Orleans will be the first in which the Dawgs have faced the Bears outside Sanford Stadium. It will be the first time the teams have played since 1989.

Baylor and Georgia enter the game with identical records (11-2), both having lost one regular season game and their respective conference title games.

The Bears’ two losses both came against playoff-bound Oklahoma by a combined ten points.

Led by third-year head coach Matt Rhule, Baylor will make its second consecutive bowl game following an incredible turnaround: the Bears finished with just one regular season win in Rhule’s first season, six in his second, and eleven in 2019.

Georgia’s second-longest active bowl streak continues with a second consecutive trip to the Allstate Sugar Bowl. It will be Baylor’s first Sugar Bowl appearance since 1957, when the Bears shocked a second-ranked and previously undefeated Tennessee Volunteers squad by a score of thirteen to seven.

Baylor possesses a balanced, powerful offense that averages 257 yards passing and 175 yards rushing per game.

However, The Bears’ powerful offense may arrive to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome shorthanded; starting quarterback Charlie Brewer was knocked out early in the second quarter of this weekend’s Big XII Championship and stayed sidelined for the remainder of the game.

Backup quarterback Gerry Bohanon, who was also recruited by UGA, was later replaced by third-string QB Jacob Zeno against Oklahoma. Zeno led a comeback that took his team to overtime before coming up short. Prior to his team’s most recent game against the Sooners, Bohanon had attempted just 21 passes wearing green and gold. Zeno has attempted nine passes all year.

Baylor has a run-first offense, attempting 82 more rushes than passes in 2019 (476 to 394).

If Brewer, who’s posted a solid 20:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio with a 65% completion rate, remains out, expect an even heavier rushing attack procured by the Bears’ massive offensive linemen (three of whom have played together for over three years). Behind them, shifty tailbacks JaMycal Hasty and John Lovett have combined for 1251 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.

On Defense, Baylor hasn’t allowed north of 30 points all year to anyone who doesn’t attend school in Norman, Oklahoma. This group of players amounts to one of the most physical defenses the team has produced in years, nearly half-full of seniors (Henry Black, Jameson Houston, James Lockhart, Chris Miller and Blake Lynch) all playing the best statistical season of each of their college careers.

They give up just 19.3 points per game facing an injury-plagued Georgia team that has failed to score over 27 points in all but one game (against Georgia Tech) since their first loss of the season to South Carolina two months ago.

Baylor presents a cohesive defensive unit against a rattled Silver Britches offense. Whether their signal caller is missing or not, the Bears are not to be underestimated.

Georgia opens as favorite in Sugar Bowl vs Baylor

The Georgia Bulldogs and the Baylor Bears will meet on January 1st for the 2020 Sugar Bowl. See the opening spread for the Dawgs here.

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The Georgia Bulldogs lost a tough one this past Saturday, falling to LSU in the SEC Championship by a score of 37-10.  The Dawgs have lost SEC Championships two years in a row, and have dropped from #4 in the CFP rankings to #5 yet again.  Oklahoma jumped to the #4 spot after their Big 12 Championship win over Baylor.

The Dawgs will play in the Sugar Bowl for a 2nd straight year and open as 7.5 point favorites over the Baylor Bears.

Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 1:45 p.m.

Want to get in on the action? Place your bet now at BetMGM.

Most teams in the college football world would kill for a chance to play in the Sugar Bowl, but for Dawgs fans it feels like more of a consolation game than anything.  Last year hit a little bit harder due to dropping after an incredible game against Alabama in the SEC Championship.

Georgia opened the Sugar Bowl last year to Texas as two touchdown favorites, but we all know how that went.

Georgia will be without some key contributors, including Dominick Blaylock, Lawrence Cager and possibly a few starters who are headed to the pros  Hopefully Kirby Smart and the Dawgs can pull out an impressive victory and go into next season with a chip on their shoulder and smile on their faces.

The Sugar Bowl kicks off at 8:45 p.m. on New Years Day in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, and will be airing on ESPN.

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Who will Georgia football play in its bowl game?

The Georgia Bulldogs fell 37-10 to LSU in Atlanta Saturday and are likely headed back to New Orleans for another disappointing Sugar Bowl. Final. Georgia 10 // LSU 37 #GoDawgs – Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) December 8, 2019 Despite the …

The Georgia Bulldogs fell 37-10 to LSU in Atlanta Saturday and are likely headed back to New Orleans for another disappointing Sugar Bowl.

Despite the 27-point loss to the Tigers, the Bulldogs won the head-to-head matchup with rival Florida in Jacksonville this season and have an extra win on the schedule, so it’s hard to see Georgia falling behind the Gators.

However, if the Dawgs were to slip behind Mullen and company, they would likely head to Miami for the Orange Bowl against ACC runner-up Virginia.

Assuming it’s the former and not the latter, Georgia gets Baylor in the Sugar Bowl, who fell 30-23 in overtime to Oklahoma on Saturday.

Several players are expected to sit out the bowl game for the Dawgs, but time will tell of Georgia comes out motivated for its bowl this season or plays flat like it did against Texas just one year ago.

As for now, it’s waiting time in Athens, with the Bulldogs’ New Years Six fate in the hands of the committee.

Final 2019 College Football Bowl Projections

Finally, with all of the college football games (aside from Army-Navy) complete, we can look ahead to the bowl season. Teams will find out where they’re going bowling at some point on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t try to tell you where …

Finally, with all of the college football games (aside from Army-Navy) complete, we can look ahead to the bowl season. Teams will find out where they’re going bowling at some point on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t try to tell you where every team will be going. We’ve been patiently tracking rumors and conversations about who will be going where. After patiently dealing with all of the rules and regulations for each conference, here are my best guesses as to every bowl matchup.

Remember: Nowadays, bowl projections are more of an art than a science. Most conferences no longer allow the bowls to select teams in order, but instead provide “pools” of teams for certain tiers of bowls. The Group of 5 conferences essentially have no selection order preference. The conferences then work with the bowls to determine which team goes where. Anything can be the cause for this–geography, fan interests, matchup quality, whether the conference thinks its team is more likely to win, or any other reason. Therefore, at the end of this article, I will provide a list of which conference pools would be tied to which bowl. That way, you have as much information as possible when figuring out where each team could be headed.

79 teams are bowl-eligible this year, and there are 78 slots available in bowl games. Right now, I have Eastern Michigan being the unlucky team that will stay home, though it could definitely be Toledo or Kent State.

I will also update these for the next few hours Saturday night if any credible rumors come in.

College Football Playoff

Peach Bowl Sat, Dec 28, 4:00 PM LSU vs Oklahoma
Fiesta Bowl Sat, Dec 28, 8:00 PM Ohio State vs Clemson

This is simple enough. No. 1 plays No. 4, and No. 2 plays No. 3. The committee will ensure that the No. 1 team is not given a geographic disadvantage, so LSU will get the Peach Bowl against Oklahoma.

The times for these matchups are flexible and not yet set, but given that Ohio State vs Clemson will by far be the bigger draw, I expect that to be the game given prime time billing.

Next… NY6 and other Big Ten bowls

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