Here's how crazy this season has been . . . when I recently asked, "Which of the B.C.S. bowls would you most like to see Georgia attend?", I omitted what turned out to be the two most likely possibilities.
Bulldog Nation indicated a strong preference for the Granddaddy of 'Em All, as 264 of the 320 votes cast expressed a desire to attend the Rose Bowl. That's a whopping 82.5 per cent who wanted to make the trip to Pasadena.
The Orange Bowl languished in a distant second place, with 42 votes (13.1%), followed by the Fiesta Bowl with a mere 14 (4.4%). Alas, the correct answer turned out to be "(d) none of the above," as Paul Westerdawg's nightmare scenario came to pass: Georgia will face Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl.
The good news, of course, is that the Bulldogs will be playing in the Superdome on New Year's Day. As much as I would have loved to have seen the Red and Black get a national title game berth, I couldn't conscientiously defend the notion of a non-conference champion getting a shot at the crystal football.
I know the B.C.S. has permitted such nonsense before, but past mistakes do not justify future foolishness and it is cognitive dissonance to claim that a team can be the best in the country without being the best in its conference, which is tantamount to saying you are the smartest person in your neighborhood but only the second-smartest person in your household.
What is beyond aggravating, though, is the fact that Georgia will be sent to play the Polynesian parvenus from the Aloha State. The Warriors' undefeated record was compiled against a woeful schedule and there is no upside for the 'Dawgs in facing them. Win big and you get no credit because you were supposed to win big. Struggle and lose respect. Lose and an enormous damper is thrown over a stellar season. Quite frankly, it's like facing Appalachian State, Louisiana-Monroe, or Stanford in a B.C.S. bowl game.
This brings us to our new poll question: "How will Georgia fare against Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl?" Your votes go here.
The bowl pairing stinks, but it is the Sugar Bowl and it gives Georgia the opportunity to cement a top five final ranking. Hey, it could be worse . . . we could be playing Fresno State in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl in Boise at 2:00 in the afternoon on New Year's Eve like some Peach State teams I could name!
Go 'Dawgs!