With its 33-6 victory over Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl, Georgia made its pitch for a Top 10 finish.
The Bulldogs (10-2) had too much firepower on both sides of the ball for the inexperienced and noticeably slower Badgers."To do it in a bowl game on national TV against a good team with a chance to be a Top 10 team is something we can always hang our hat on," Georgia quarterback Mike Bobo said Thursday.
Robert Edwards ran for three touchdowns and Bobo finished a near-perfect passing day with 19 consecutive completions as Georgia rolled up 474 yards and limited Wisconsin to 234 yards.
"We expected to move the ball, maybe not as easily as we did," Georgia coach Jim Donnan said. "There isn't any question about who the best team was today."
The Bulldogs wrapped up their second season under Donnan with victories in six of their last seven games to finish with their best record since 1992, when they beat Ohio State in the Florida Citrus Bowl and also posted a 10-2 record.
Wisconsin (8-5) started just four seniors, and star sophomore tailback Ron Dayne was held to 36 yards on 14 carries, his poorest performance as a Badger in a game where he has carried the ball at least 10 times.
"Ron can't run if there is no place to run," Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said. "We didn't create many holes for Ron. That was the problem."
Georgia, though, created plenty of space for its runners, and also gave Bobo lots of time to throw.
Edwards ran for 110 yards, while Bobo completed 26-of-28 for 267 yards and one TD to earn the most valuable player award. Edwards' backup, Olandis Gary, rushed for 61 yards on just four carries, scoring once.
"Mike was on fire," Georgia coach Jim Donnan said. "I'm trying to figure out the two he missed. I can't believe it."
Bobo made good use of his favorite receiver, Hines Ward, who set Outback Bowl records with 12 catches and 154 yards receiving.
Georgia's smaller, but quicker defense dominated the line of scrimmage, harassing Wisconsin quarterback Mike Samuel just as badly as Dayne. Samuel was intercepted twice and completed just 8 of 27 passes for 84 yards.
The Badgers avoided a shutout when backup quarterback Scott Kavanagh threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Dague Retzlaff with 4:04 remaining in the game.
Alvarez will now go back to work with his young club for next year. He also plans to look for more speed.
"If you're going to be in the Top 10, you do need a lot more speed. But that's easy to say. You've still got to go get those guys," he said.
The loss was Wisconsin's first in four bowl appearances under Al-va-rez.
In five games against ranked teams this season, Wisconsin went 1-4 and was outscored by a 138-45 margin.
"Some of my kids are immature," Alvarez said. "In a few years they're going to be able to stand up in there a little bit stronger and do some more things."
Edwards scored on runs of 2 and 40 yards in the opening quarter, then ran over safety Leonard Taylor at the goal line on a 13-yarder that put Georgia up 26-0 early in the second half.
Edwards, who scored on runs of 2, 40 and 13 yards, was surprised at the ease in which Georgia was able to run the ball.
"When you look at a big defensive team like them, it's hard to think you can get inside like that," Edwards said.
Donnan was pleased that Bobo was voted MVP. His quarterback was arrested outside a nightclub in Athena, Ga., last month, although the charge of obstructing a police officer was later dropped.
"I think it was good for him for go out like this and get the MVP, particularly with what happened to him over the holidays," Donnan said. "I think justice prevailed. He deserved this."