ATLANTA — At approximately 4 this afternoon, some 150 members of the Capital One Bowl selection committee will sit down and discuss which two teams they want in Orlando on New Year’s Day.
No. 17 Georgia and No. 21 Michigan State are the most likely selections, but Capital One representatives at Saturday’s SEC championship game were noncommittal.
“Georgia has the best record of the SEC teams that are going to be available, but we’ve really got to see,” Tom Wert said. “Mississippi’s 8-4 and Georgia’s 9-3, but until our committee votes, I can’t tell you who’s the most likely team. Either team would be great for our bowl, no question.
“They both have positives, and we’re going to talk about it and figure out what’s best for the bowl. We want to have the best matchup for TV and for our game.”
When asked about Georgia announcing last week that it has pre-sold 10,400 tickets to a bowl, Wert said, “That always helps.”
Each of the participating teams is responsible for selling 12,000 tickets, which should not be a problem for Michigan State (9-3). The Spartans have not played in a New Year’s Day bowl since the 1999 season, when Nick Saban coached them to the Capital One (known then as the Citrus).
Wert and fellow Capital One rep George Nahas said the committee likely will reach its decision by 6:30 tonight, with much of that time waiting on BCS bowls to decide their matchups. The vote is conducted by secret ballot.
“We just want a 42-42 tie that preempts the Rose Bowl,” Nahas said.
Georgia began this season hoping to play in the SEC title game, but the Bulldogs wound up getting beat by the participants by a combined 90-40. Alabama defeated the Bulldogs 41-30 at Sanford Stadium on Sept. 27, while Florida cruised to a 49-10 victory in Jacksonville on Nov. 1.
The Crimson Tide outscored the Bulldogs 31-0 in the first half. The Gators outscored them 35-7 in the second half.
“I don’t know yet,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said Saturday when asked if he would watch the SEC showdown. “I asked myself that question this morning, and I don’t have the answer yet.”
Georgia practiced for two hours Saturday, its second workout since last week’s 45-42 loss to Georgia Tech.
“It was highly spirited and competitive,” Richt said. “I liked the way they worked. We don’t know who we’re playing yet, but if we keep practicing like that, we’ll be all right for this game and down the road.
“We looked at it like spring ball. We concentrated on fundamentals and competing against each other. The guys got after it. It was a good day.”
The Bulldogs will resume workouts Wednesday and are expected to practice in Athens until Dec. 20 and then break for Christmas, reconvening at the bowl site.
