By Don Stone - Football Atlanta
There appears to be a
convergence of circumstances and timing that may be coming together for long
suffering football fans in Atlanta and surrounding areas. Let’s take a look
and see how the next week and a half plays out.
Could there be a Super Bowl championship for the Atlanta Falcons, a
national championship for the Georgia Bulldogs and an ACC Championship for
the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets all in the same season?
For the first time ever, all are at least possibilities as Thanksgiving
rolls around. I can’t remember any time that all three could happen this
late in the year. I know Tech fans don’t like the scenario that includes
success for UGA, but, just humor me for a second because the Jackets play a
major role in two of the three outcomes.
First, the pros. We all know what needs to happen for the Falcons. At
present, they hold the best record in the NFL at 9-1...something they have
never done at this stage in franchise history. Some of the games, like
Sunday, have not been pretty, but, a win is a win. With the embarrassing
loss by the Bears Monday night to the 49ers, Atlanta is two games ahead of
San Francisco, the second best team, at 7-2 with Chicago and Green Bay at
7-3. Still six games to play, but if the Falcons wind up with the best
record in the NFC, they get a first round bye and host all of their playoff
games at the Georgia Dome where the team is 31-6 since Mike Smith
took over as head coach. So, their odds are certainly much better hosting
all of their games at the Dome than having to travel to Green Bay, Chicago
or New York in mid January. Fans still have bitter memories of the crushing
24-2 elimination game in last season’s playoffs to the Giants. Of course,
most others also remember how the Falcons had the best record at the end of
the 2010 season and were also crushed by the Packers at home. Those words
"crushed" and "playoffs" seem to be recurrent when talking about
the Falcons postseason history.
But, still better to be at home than not.
And, remember that Atlanta still has several tough games ahead including
three straight NFC South rivalries with a resurging Tampa Bay team Sunday
and a rematch with the hated Saints on national TV next Thursday night. And,
the Super Bowl Champion Giants are still to come a few weeks later.
But, onto the situation in Athens. Georgia was stomped badly just seven
weeks ago at South Carolina 35-7. Just like last year, an early loss to
Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks was overcome by winning every game after. The
Bulldogs wound up playing in the SEC Championship Game against LSU. This
season, Georgia has plowed its way through wins against Kentucky, Florida,
Ole Miss, Auburn and Georgia Southern to a 10-1 record with another trip to
the SEC Championship Game on December 1 with Alabama.
But, this year’s situation is much different than last. They are higher
ranked. Until last weekend, all they could do was be at #5 with three
undefeated teams ahead of them along with the Crimson Tide who had fallen
from #1 to #4 with a loss at home to Texas A&M. What happened last weekend?
Kansas State, the #1 team, lost badly to unranked Baylor and Oregon lost in
overtime to Stanford. Those two teams vacated the top spots leaving a void
to be filled by Alabama and Georgia who moved up to #2 and #3 with the only
remaining undefeated team, Notre Dame, rising to the top spot.
So, there the Bulldogs sit at #3. But, the national championship game
will be between the top two teams. Georgia can take care of that obstacle at
the Dome if they beat the Crimson Tide. Its almost like a semifinal with the
winner moving on to the next level.
Now, we come to Georgia Tech. First of all, several things had to fall
in place for the Yellow Jackets to even be in this discussion. After a
dismal 3-5 start with losses at home to the Hurricanes where they blew a 17
point lead, to Middle Tennessee State by three touchdowns and 41-17 to BYU
on Homecoming, all looked lost. Even the defensive coordinator was fired.
Then, Tech got hot. They went on the road and beat Maryland 33-13 and North
Carolina 68-50. They had a matchup at home Saturday with Duke with the
winner getting a share of the ACC Coastal Division title. The Jackets took
care of the Blue Devils easily, 42-24. But, due to the previous loss to
Miami, the tie breaker would go to the Canes unless Duke were to beat them
this Saturday.
But, that barrier was removed when Miami announced a self-imposed
postseason ban for the second straight year, hoping to minimize looming
sanctions by the NCAA when its investigation ends.
That means that Tech would represent the Coastal Division in the ACC
Championship Game on December 1 in Charlotte against tenth ranked Florida
State.
All of that drama almost seems to minimize what’s going on in Athens on
Saturday. But, there is much drama to be had between the hedges. If the
Jackets can go in and upset the Bulldogs (and UGA is a 14 point favorite)
then, all hell would break loose.
Georgia’s hopes of playing for its first national championship in 32
years would be dashed. Tech would have a victory over its in state rival
that would be cherished for the ages and wipe out all of the Bulldog
domination (10 of the last 11) of the series in recent years.
And, they would eliminate any confusion about qualifying for a 16th
straight bowl appearance. They would also have a huge head of steam and
confidence going into the game with FSU.
For many fans, the big game Saturday between the Jackets and Dawgs is
all that matters. Everything else is just window dressing. And, the outcome
of this rivalry will not affect the respective championships to be had the
following Saturday, outside of motivation. Even with a loss to Tech, Georgia
could still win an SEC Championship by beating Alabama. But, it would be a
hollow victory with the national championship possibility removed.
If the Yellow Jackets lose to the Bulldogs Saturday, it wouldn’t feel
good, but they will still be fighting for an ACC Championship title on
December 1 with a return trip to the Orange Bowl the reward.
So, the possibilities are still there for the Falcons to win the Super
Bowl, UGA to win the national championship and Tech to win the ACC title. A
lot has to happen for those results to take place and a lot can happen to
throw a monkey wrench in any or all three of the events. At the very least,
we have a fascinating week and a half of football ahead of us.
|
