SEC Bowl Game Match-Ups

While several of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) teams had high hopes for national championship entering the season, only Georgia will represent the SEC in a BCS bowl. The SEC as a conference had a relatively strong season posting 6 teams with winning records all of which received bowl bids on Sunday. Georgia leading the pack will be playing West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl in Atlanta. The Bulldogs should look to be a favorite in this game with two factors in their favor. First they are playing a West Virginia team coming out of the weak Big East conference and second because the game is hosted only 75 miles off campus in Atlanta. The Auburn Tigers, who went undefeated last year and lost 4 key players to the NFL, ended their season strong and with a (9-2) record. They will be playing the 3rd place team from the Big Ten, Wisconsin, in the Capital One Bowl. Alabama who started the season (9-0) and was a practical lock for a BCS bowl dropped its final two games and will now match-up against Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. The Crimson Tide and quarterback Brady Croyle should be a big favorite for this game, but with their recent miscues will use the next couple of weeks to readjust their game plans. Urban Meyer will take the Florida Gators, who had one of the more dramatic seasons in the conference, to the Outback Bowl for the 3rd time in 5 years to face the Iowa Hawkeyes. The team that lost the most at the end of the season were the LSU Tigers. With the #3 ranking and only one game left before gaining a BCS spot they completely lost focus in the SEC championship game and got crushed by the Georgia Bulldogs. In a similar situation the Miami Hurricanes who were recently #5 lost key games at the end of the season and will meet LSU in the Peach Bowl. Both teams will have a lot of pride to play for after disappointing finishes. Finally rounding out the pack is the South Carolina Gamecocks, who will be playing Missouri in the Independence Bowl. Steve Spurrier, who made drastic changes in his first year, looks for this to be a momentum boost for his squad before the grueling offseason.

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The 5th Year Senior Shockley carries Georgia to the SEC Championship

With a BCS bowl spot on the line and the SEC league championship, the #3 LSU Tigers were no where to be found. For a team that is usually very strong in the first half, LSU gave up an early 14 point lead and could never muster up an attack to catch up. Georgia led by their amazing senior quarterback D.J. Shockley played an excellent overall game and will head back to the Atlanta to represent the SEC in the Nokia Sugar Bowl in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome, which is only 75 miles off campus. For Shockley, who was named MVP of the game, this was a culmination to a long journey. For the past 4 years Shockley has sat behind David Greene, the winningest quarterback in college football history. Instead taking the easy route and transferring, Shockley watched and learned for four years waiting for this opportunity. For LSU, all has not been lost and after the traumatic events of the summer with hurricane Katrina, the season has unfolded to be very successful. LSU will now get a short break after playing 10 games in 61 days and prepare for their bowl game. First-year coach Les Miles has overcome numerous obstacles throughout the season and looks forward to going back to the drawing board and working with the team over the off season. Both of these teams are very well-rounded and will have a good chance of winning their respective bowl games.

To hear from the players and get more stats click here

Bama's Defense secures a victory against Miss. St.

With only a field goal to show on the offensive end, Bama's defense and special teams pulled out this win against the non-ranked Mississippi Bulldogs. After only leading 3-0 after the first half the Crimson Tide had to rely on their defense for their only touchdowns for the game. The special teams increased the lead to 10-0 after returning a fumble for 17 yards on the opening kick off of the second half. On the following possession the defense stepped up and Rudy Griffin intercepted a pass and took it back for another score. The Bulldogs were plagued with turnovers throughout the game with 3 interceptions and 1 fumble. Alabama was nothing close to sharp on offense with 2 interceptions and 1 fumble themselves. Brady Croyle, who was previously regarded as a heisman candidate, had a poor performance with only 116 yards of passing and 2 interceptions. Alabama's defense is nationally regarded as one of the best in the country and national championship worthy, but with the mediocre productions we've seen thus far by Bama's offense it does not look to good.

To read more about Brady Croyle and the Bama victory click here

LSU's defense carries the Tigers to the championship

In a close game against the Arkansas, the LSU Tigers defense held tough and stopped the Razorbacks from a last minute comeback. With the win, LSU returns to the SEC championship game and will play the #13 Georgia Bulldogs for the second time in three years. LSU is currently ranked as the #3 team in the country and hopes to secure its spot in a BCS bowl with a win next weekend in Atlanta. The SEC championship, which is normally held in New Orleans, will be moved to Atlanta because of the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. LSU has had an emotionally challenging season dealing with the tragedy and looks to cap off an amazing SEC season with a league crown. While it was not LSU's most impressive victory, the team held strong and captured its 10th win for the season.

For more on LSU's run at the championship click here

Mississippi State brings home the Egg Bowl

For the first time since 2001 Mississippi State has beat their in-state rival Mississippi. In last game as a Bulldog Jerious Norwood led Miss. St with 4 touchdowns to a 35-14 victory. While the Bulldog's season came to end with a 3-8 record Sylvestor Croom and his players believe this is a great sign for a winning program in the future. Croom one of only 3 african american coaches in NCAA D-1 football has struggled in his first couple years, but believes the program is on the right track to be successful next year. Mississippi St. has a good all-around game with important plays coming on special teams and defense to set up easy scores. Mississippi ended the season with a 3-8 record and only one conference win. The Rebels sputtered in the second half with less then 50 total yards and couldn't stop the Miss. St. attack.

To read more about this installment of the Egg Bowl click here

No more BCS controversy as LSU derails the Crimson Tide

In a heavyweight match-up between #4 Alabama and #5 LSU it took an overtime touchdown from Jarmarcus Russel to clinch the victory for the Tigers. LSU gained control of their BCS destiny and currently sit atop of the SEC West. Alabama's offense sputtered again similar to the previous three weeks and while leading after halftime 10-0 could not manage any 2nd half points until overtime. In LSU's credit they played excellent defense and special teams holding the tide to only four first downs in the second half.

Box Score and an extended analysis of the game

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Partheev Shah

I am a student at the University of Michigan. The OC

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Partheev Shah, parshah@umich.edu

Florida pulls out a close one against Vandy

In a game that went late into Saturday night, the Florida Gators won a nail bitter 49-42 (OT)against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Jay Cutler's gusty performance was not enough to overcome the well balanced #13 Gators. His 361 passing yards and 4 touchdowns all went to waste with a crucial interception in overtime. Cutler is revered as one of college football's best quarterbacks and will has a successful future in the NFL ahead of him. For Florida the win means they still have a chance to win the Eastern Division of the SEC. With a win next week against South Carolina and a loss by Georgia in either of its two final games, Florida can head to the SEC championship game and a hopeful BCS spot. Urban Meyer, in his first year as Florida's head coach, has not been as successful as many believed. After the game he told reporters "We didn't play great, but we did what we had to do to win". Florida now looks to concentrate on their game next week against the Gamecocks and their old head coach Steve Spurrier. Vanderbilt will look to remain bowl eligible and must beat Kentucky and Tennessee in their upcoming games.

For the complete story click here

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This site includes information on important events occuring in the SEC from week to week.