2011 Bowl Projections: Georgia To Outback, Georgia Tech To Sun

The Bulldogs and the Yellow Jackets still have an outside chance at a BCS bowl if they run the table.

BCS Rankings Week 11: Georgia No. 15, Georgia Tech No. 21 In Latest Rankings

The Georgia Bulldogs come in at No. 11 in the BCS Rankings for Week 11. After winning seven straight games, Georgia is in the drivers seat in the SEC East needing only to win its last two conference games against Auburn and Kentucky to secure a spot in the SEC Championship game where they could potentially ruin the championship hopes of LSU.

After scoring a victory over Alabama, LSU is a solid No. 1 and is followed by now No. 2 Oklahoma State. Alabama slips just one spot to No. 3 setting up the possibility of a rematch with the Tigers in the National Title game. Stanford is at No. 4 and Boise State remains at No. 5.

Other SEC teams in the rankings are Arkansas at No. 8 and South Carolina at No. 13. Georgia's next opponent, Auburn checks in at No. 20. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets come in at No. 21.

Here is a complete look at the full BCS Standings for Week 11: 

1. LSU
2. Oklahoma State
3. Alabama
4. Stanford
5. Boise State
6. Oklahoma
7. Oregon
8. Arkansas
9. Clemson
10. Virginia Tech
11. Houston
12. Penn State
13. South Carolina
14. Kansas State
15. Georgia
16. Texas
17. Michigan State
18. Wisconsin
19. Nebraska
20. Auburn
21. Georgia Tech
22. Southern Miss
23. Cincinnati
24. Michigan
25. Baylor

College Football Rankings: Bulldogs No. 14 In AP Poll, No. 16 In Coaches Poll For Week 11

After starting the season at 0-2, Mark Richt's Georgia Bulldogs have won seven straight games and are slowly climbing their way towards the top half of both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today coaches poll. 

Georgia climbs into the top 15 of this week's AP poll at No. 14 and one spot ahead of South Carolina whom the Bulldogs lost too in the second week of the season. LSU takes the top spot in the poll and Alabama slides two spots to No. 4. Arkansas remains in the top 10 at No. 8 after defeating South Carolina. The Bulldogs still have No. 20 Georgia Tech and No. 24 Auburn remaining on its schedule. 

The Bulldogs check in at No. 16 in the coaches poll, one spot behind South Carolina who is No. 15. Just like the AP poll, LSU is No. 1, Alabama drops to No. 4 and Arkansas is steady at No. 8. Georgia Tech is at No. 19 while Auburn comes in at No. 25. 

For more on the Georgia Bulldogs, be sure to check out Dawg Sports. 

BCS Rankings Week 11 Projections: Georgia Approaching The Top 15

Georgia is expected to approaching the No. 15 spot once the latest BCS standings are released Sunday night.

VIDEO: Aron White Lands In Georgia's Hedges After Hurdling Marimba

Arkansas Beats South Carolina, Giving Georgia SEC Standings Advantage

Georgia Vs. New Mexico State Final Score: Aaron Murray's Five Touchdowns Lead Bulldogs Over Aggies

Despite being down its top four options at the running back position, the Georgia Bulldogs piled up 627 yards of total offense in a 63-16 victory over New Mexico State. The homecoming day game provided the Bulldogs a chance to catch their breath before closing out the season schedule.

Aaron Murray threw for five touchdowns in the first half and back up Hutson Mason added another in the second. Former walk-on running back Brandon Harton narrowly missed out on a 100 yard rushing day finishing with 98 on 15 carries with a touchdown. Chris Conley hauled in five receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs. Six different Georgia receivers hauled in touchdown passes. 

The Bulldogs defense forced three turnovers and New Mexico did nearly all of its scoring in the second half after the outcome had been long decided. Matt Christian was harassed all day throwing for 156 yards and an interception. Kenny Turner was the work horse for New Mexico State running for 94 yards and hauling in eight passes for 127 more. Turner scored both New Mexico State touchdowns. 

Georgia will sit back to watch tonight's Arkansas-South Carolina game. The Bulldogs are still tied with the Gamecocks in the SEC East standings but it is South Carolina that holds the tie breaker. Today's win was Georgia's seventh straight since starting the season at 0-2. Next up for the Bulldogs is a home date against Auburn next week.

For more on the Georgia Bulldogs' football win over New Mexico State, be sure to check out Dawg Sports. 

PHOTO: Aron White Disappears In The Hedges

New Mexico State Vs. Georgia Halftime Update: Bulldogs Pummeling The Aggies 49-3

The Georgia Bulldogs are finally playing football in a fashion that their fans would expect out of their team. New Mexico State has simply been overwhelmed and overmatched in Athens today as the Aggies are down 49-3 at the half in Sanford Stadium.

While news before the game was rampant with star tailback Isaiah Cromwell being out for Saturday's game, the Bulldogs have been able to execute a balanced attack for Mark Richt. Aaron Murray has thrown for 228 yards and five touchdown scores to Brandon Boykin, Michael Bennett, Chris Conley, Orson Charles and Aron White. The rushing duo of Brandon Harton and Branden Smith have a touchdown apiece to give Georgia 209 yards on the ground thus far.

New Mexico State has performed well in spurts, but have been unable to convert on third down opportunities consistently. The Aggies are just 3 of 9 on the day on third down. Aggies quarterback Matt Christian is 12-of-24 for 156 yards and an interception, late in the second quarter Christian was injured and helped off the field. Backup quarterback Travaughn Colwell has stepped in.

Georgia will receive the ball in the second half, and will look to push their record to 7-2 on the season.

For the latest on the Georgia Bulldogs, head on over SB Nation blog Dawg Sports.

Georgia Vs. New Mexico State Odds Update: Bulldogs Huge Favorite Despite Running Back Troubles

Not much has changed for the Georgia Bulldogs who are still considered to be a 34.5 point favorite over New Mexico State despite their running back situation that is likely down to a walk-on on Saturday. The Bulldogs opened as a 34 point favorite just as the news was coming out that Isaiah Crowell, Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome were all suspended for a failed drug test. 

Even though the spread hasn't changed that much, over half of the people placing bets on the game are taking the Aggies and the points figuring that the Bulldogs will struggle some on offense. Those placing bets on the over/under have took the over 53 percent of the time which is still peculiar given how well the Bulldogs defense has played of late. Perhaps Georgia's special teams struggles are influencing that number. 

For more on Georgia Football, be sure to check out Dawg Sports.

South Carolina Vs. Arkansas: Georgia Fans Cheering Bobby Petrino? We'd Like A Word

Georgia Vs. New Mexico State TV Schedule, Radio Coverage And More

In theory, New Mexico State is supposed to provide the Bulldogs a much needed opportunity to catch its breath before continuing to navigate the remainder of the SEC schedule. In rather ironic fashion, the Bulldogs have taken it upon themselves to even up the odds when nearly every running back on the roster ended up suspended or injured. F

Mark Richt and Mike Bobo are now faced with the challenge of piecing together spare parts in hopes of filling the running back position against the Aggies on Saturday. Freshman Brandon Harton appears to have a leg up in the competition for the tailback job on Saturday but expect to see several players take their turn throughout the game. The plan may have been to rest some key players against New Mexico State but the current situation is an example of taking things about two steps too far. 

Game date, time: Saturday, November 5, 12:30pm ET

Location: Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia

TV: CSS

Radio: WSB AM 750

Streaming: ESPN 3

For more on the Georgia Bulldogs, be sure to check out Dawg Sports. 

Georgia Vs. New Mexico State: The Manic-Depressive Preview Is Looking For A Few Good RBs

Alive and well after a wild weekend in Jacksonville, our previewing team tries to gin up some excitement -- or, hell, just stay awake -- for New Mexico State.

Isaiah Crowell Suspension: Mark Richt On Timing And Replacements

Georgia head football coach Mark Richt responded Tuesday to the many criticisms of the convenient timing of the one-game suspensions of RB's Isaiah Crowell, Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome for an "undisclosed violation of team rules" the week after the Bulldogs game against Florida:

"My response is that we've always had the utmost integrity in everything we do. We have policies in place in our Athletic Association that we follow to the T. That's the case here. It's been the case since I've been here at Georgia. So we all know we do our business the way it should be done, and we do it with integrity.

"People who make comments who don't know probably shouldn't, quite frankly, because they don't know. I'd be able to prove 100 percent that they're wrong, but I'm not going to spend the time doing that.

"But the bottom-line is we have rules and we follow them to the T with the utmost integrity in how we go about our business. That's how we've tried to build this program since the day I got here, and we're not going to change for any reason."

In that case, Richt definitely got lucky, as 3-5 New Mexico State is unlikely to give Georgia as much trouble as the Gators.

He indicated that freshmen RB Brandon Harton, who has 11 carries for 33 yards, will likely get the majority of the carries against the Aggies. Another freshmen RB, Kyle Karampelis, is likely to see time as well.

Richt also said that two Bulldog CB's -- Branden Smith and Brandon Boykin -- who have gotten carries this year might also see more time on offense this week.

For the latest on the Bulldogs, head on over to Dawg Sports.

SEC Football Schedule: Alabama And LSU Play Small Game After Epic Kentucky / Ole Miss Showdown

While Georgia enjoys its post-Cocktail hangover meal of WAC doormat New Mexico State (12:30pm ET, CSS), there's a small football game being played that evening set to determine the future of the human race, while the rest of the SEC is scrambling to punch a six-win ticket to bowl eligibility.

Vanderbilt at Florida (12:15pm ET, SEC Network) Florida hadn't lost four consecutive SEC games since 1988, until last week's Cocktail Party. Vanderbilt has proven to be their usual inferior selves in terms of talent, but wildly more agressive and well coached. The last time Florida went down to the Commodores? 1988.

Ole Miss at Kentucky (3:30pm ET, ESPNU) BIZARRO LSU/BAMA WANT YOU TO WATCH IT! Don't. The league's two worst teams are a combined 0-9 in conference play, and Ole Miss has lost 11 consecutive conference games dating back to last season - when they beat Kentucky at home. "Something will have to give!..." when Kentucky's 118th ranked offense battles the Rebels' 104th ranked defense. 

Middle Tennessee at Tennessee (7pm ET, FSN) The 3-5 Volunteers will try and remain calm as they scramble to earn bowl eligibility with virtually no offense (186 total yards in a loss to South Carolina, 28 points scored in the last four games) and three more games to be won in their four. The Blue Raiders are rebuilding after several dominant years in the Sun Belt, and anything other than a convincing win will try what's left of the patience fans have in Derek Dooley, unfairly or no.

South Carolina at Arkansas (7:15pm. ESPN) Because television contracts preach balance and logic, and are always constructed with the viewer in mind, the only halfway decent SEC football game other than Bama/LSU will go almost head-to-head with it in primetime. Georgia fans are all in on the Razorbacks, who pose the best shot at knocking South Carolina down in the conference standings and giving the Bulldogs the SEC Eastern Division title.

UT Martin at Mississippi State (7:30pm, CSS) This wasn't supposed to be the year that Mississippi State fought for its life to get bowl eligible, but it is. It wasn't supposed to be the year it earned its first conference win last year, but it is. Dan Mullen's program has regressed in his third year, and now with Arkansas, Alabama and Ole Miss remaining after the Skyhawks, MSU's best shot at a sixth win will likely come in a bonkers rivalry game against a wounded but insane Houston Nutt team.

LSU at Alabama (8pm ET, CBS) Supposed to be a real good time. A real good time.

Georgia Among The Country's Hottest Teams, Says Math

Isaiah Crowell Suspension Wasn't Postponed Due To Florida Game, Says UGA

The University of Georgia issued a statement regarding the allegations that it purposely withheld punishment for a trio of its players until after the victory over Florida. Officially, Georgia suspended leading rusher Isaiah Crowell, and backups Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome for a "violation of team rules". A report suggests that the trio failed some sort of drug test prior to last week's game, but offers no knowledge of when the results of those tests were known. 

Here is the statement from UGA:

Our Athletic Association regulations are strict that competition suspensions, as a result of a violation of team or Athletic Association policies, are immediate and occur at the next scheduled competition.

Thus, Georgia is insisting that, had it known about the team rules violation in advance of the Florida game, the three players would've instead been suspended for that contest.  

For more on Georgia's running back situation, be sure to check out Dawg Sports. 

Georgia Vs. New Mexico State Odds: Bulldogs Open As Big Home Favorite

Coming off of the victory over Florida, Georgia expectantly opens as a big favorite for Saturday's home game against New Mexico State.

UGA Suspensions Could Mean Brandon Boykin At Tailback, Says Mike Bobo

With Georgia's depth chart at running back either wiped out by suspension or surgery, it begs to question just who exactly will line up at the tailback position for the Dawgs on Saturday? From the sound of things even offensive coordinator Mike Bobo isn't quite sure although he has plenty of candidates. 

Mike Bobo on TB options:"The 2 Brandons could be a possibility, Nick Marshall could be a possibility, Damian Swann could be a possibility."

At the moment, Bobo said that walk-on Kyle Karempelis and former walk-on Brandon Harton are the top two tailbacks after the suspensions. Brandon Boykin and Brandon Smith figure to see more action on Saturday with the offense at the running back position. Another possibility would be fullback Zander Ogletree. Other defensive backs like Damian Swann and Nick Marshall could also get a look but may get the opportunity to spell Boykin and Smith on the defensive side of the ball should they be needed on offense. 

For more on the Georgia running back situation, be sure to check out Dawg Sports. 

Mark Richt Comments On Suspended Isaiah Crowell And Company

Georgia Bulldogs coach Mark Richt commented Tuesday on the suspension of UGA's entire offensive backfield -- or at least starting tailback Isaiah Crowell and backups Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome. Combined with news of Richard Samuel's ankle surgery, that takes out the Dawgs' top three rushers, plus Malcome.

Richt:

We have certain standards in all that we do and their actions do not reflect the Georgia way. They will serve their suspensions, learn a lesson and I¹m sure be better men for it.    

Crowell has previously endured minor discipline of some sort, sitting out a quarter against the Vanderbilt Commodores. After that game, Richt commented, "Because I love him," when asked why the team's best back wasn't playing. Adoration all around now, apparently!

The joke, of course, is that this all happened just days after the Florida Gators game and in advance of New Mexico State. Expect Mike Bobo to get really, really creative in the fourth quarter, when the Bulldogs are trotting out walk-ons at halfback.

For more on UGA, visit Georgia blog Dawg Sports.

Isaiah Crowell Suspended Along With Two Teammates, UGA Confirms

The Georgia Bulldogs have suspended running backs Isaiah Crowell, Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome for Saturday's game against New Mexico State, the school confirmed after reports broke Tuesday. They're out for just one game, and an inconsequential game at that, due to the ever-ominous violation of team rules.

@marcweiszer Georgia confirms that Isaiah Crowell, Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome are suspended for Saturday's game for violating team policies.    

Running backs partyyy!

Expect Aaron Murray, Hutson Mason, Christian LeMay and so forth to do a whole lot of passing, I guess, since it would be a bad idea to turn Brandon Boykin into an every-down back for one game. Maybe Orson Charles could get a few carries. Jarvis Jones probably earned a few touches after bringing down John Brantley four times. Big John Jenkins! Who would want to tackle big John Jenkins?

For more on UGA, visit Georgia blog Dawg Sports.

Richard Samuel Injury: Surgery Could Sideline UGA RB Until Bowl Game

Georgia utility man Richard Samuel will miss at least four weeks after undergoing ankle surgery Tuesday, Mark Richt announced.

Georgia Football Schedule 2011: New Mexico State In The World's Largest Cocktail After-Party

Come November 5, the Dawgs will either be celebrating a rare win over Florida in Jacksonville (and praying it portends a historical shift in the Georgia-Florida rivalry) or wailing and gnashing their teeth with fear that yet another rookie Gator head coach is going to continue their inexplicable losing streak in Jacksonville. What does all this have to do with New Mexico State? Not a thing, really. The Aggies, who haven't had a winning season since the last time Georgia played them in 2002, are little more than a light scrimmage between the Cocktail Party and the Dawgs' season-ending stretch run. 

BETTER KNOW THE AGGIES
Coach: DeWayne Walker, 5-20 in two seasons at New Mexico State; 5-21 overall
Last season: 2-10, 1-7 WAC; finished 8th
Returning starters for 2011: 16 (seven offense, seven defense, two special teams)
Key returners: RB Kenny Turner, RB Robert Clay, KR Taveon Rogers
Key losses: RB Seth Smith, WR Marcus Allen, CB Davon House, TE Kyle Nelson

Best-case scenario: The Dawgs shrug off whatever happened in Jacksonville, win or loss, and pound NMSU into submission. Let's don't beat around the bush here -- New Mexico State is a baaaad team, having averaged fewer than three wins per season since head coach Tony Samuel was fired in 2004, and they haven't beaten a BCS-conference team in more than a decade. Last season they ranked in the nation's bottom 10 in nearly every defensive category, and in total yardage and scoring offense to boot. If the Dawgs play up to their potential, Todd Grantham's defense will look like the second coming of the Steel Curtain, and Hutson Mason will be subbing for Aaron Murray early in the third quarter.

Worst-case scenario: Whether hung over from a win in Jacksonville or bummed out from yet another loss, the Dawgs play distracted, hold a tenuous lead at halftime, and don't really start putting the Aggies away until midway through the third quarter. The precedent is there for such a thing -- four years ago, Georgia came home after knocking off Florida in the infamous End-Zone Celebration Game only to find themselves in a shootout with Troy (which they won 44-34). Granted, Troy is a dramatically more talented team than NMSU, but the Aggies have just enough talent at running back and on special teams to make it a longer day for the Dawgs than they'd like. A good kick return here, a long, grinding drive there and all of a sudden Dawg fans are wondering why it's the third quarter and they're only up by nine or 10 points. This game won't test the Bulldogs' physical talents much, but it will test their focus.