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Published Dec 29, 2023
Stats Crunch: Orange Bowl
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Dave McMahon  •  UGASports
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The Georgia Bulldogs have had a bowl game after every season since 1997. They have the longest current streak in the nation at 27 seasons. Georgia is second among all schools in bowl appearances with 61 and bowl wins with 37. The Bulldogs have won six straight bowl appearances (counting CFP Championships as additional bowl games).

This season it will be the Orange Bowl against Florida State. The Dawgs are 3-1 in Orange Bowls and 6-4-1 all-time against FSU. The last time was a battle between Mark Richt and his mentor Bobby Bowden. Richt had nine bowl wins as the Bulldogs head coach--the most in program history. If Georgia wins on Saturday, Kirby Smart will tie him as the top dawg in bowl games.


Most Bowl Wins by Georgia Head Coach
*** Interim Head Coach
Record

Mark Richt

9-5

Vince Dooley

8-10-2

Kirby Smart

8-2

Wally Butts

5-2-1

Jim Donnan

4-0

Ray Goff

2-2

Bryan McClendon ***

1-0

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In defeating the Seminoles in the 2003 Sugar Bowl, the Bulldogs reached 13 wins for the first time in school history. If the Dawgs win this Saturday, it will again be win No. 13. Here are the most wins in a season by a Georgia team in one season.

Most Wins in a Season by Georgia Bulldogs
WinsWins

2022

15

1980

12

2021

14

2012

12

2002

13

2019

12

2017

13

2023

12

In Georgia's last bowl game, the Bulldogs put up 65 points against the Horned Frogs. That was the most the Dawgs have ever scored in a bowl game. Here are the top highs and some of the lows (opponents) for Georgia in bowl history.

Georgia Highs and Lows (Opponents)
PointsPoints Allowed

2023 CFP Championship vs TCU

65

1943 Rose Bowl vs UCLA

0

2018 Rose Bowl vs Oklahoma

54

1960 Orange Bowl vs Missouri

0

2013 Capital One Bowl vs Nebraska

45

1964 Sun Bowl vs Texas Tech

0

2009 Independence Bowl vs Texas A&M

44

1971 Gator Bowl vs North Carolina

3

2022 Peach Bowl vs Ohio State

42

1946 Oil Bowl vs Tulsa

6

2008 Sugar Bowl vs Hawaii

41

1998 Outback Bowl vs Wisconsin

6

1942 Orange Bowl vs TCU

40

2023 CFP Championship vs TCU

7

The 58-point victory Georgia had last season against TCU was the largest all-time in a bowl game by any team. Here are the largest in Georgia history.

Largest Margin of Victory by Georgia in a Bowl Game
OpponentScoreMargin

2023 CFP Championship

TCU

65-7

+58

2008 Sugar Bowl

Hawaii

41-10

+31

1998 Outback Bowl

Wisconain

33-6

+27

2009 Independence Bowl

Texas A&M

44-20

+24

2000 O'ahu Bowl

Virginia

37-14

+23

2014 Belk Bowl

Louisville

37-14

+23

2021 Orange Bowl

Michigan

34-11

+23

Carson Beck will end the season near the top of most single-season charts in Georgia history. He should finish at No. 1 on the completion percentage list. He is currently at 72.4 percent (289-for-399). He can go 0-for-24 and still finish ahead of the current leader, Stetson Bennett, who set the school record last season at 68.3 percent. Here are some other charts he can climb.

Georgia Single Season Passing Charts
CompletionsPass Yards

Stetson Bennett (2022)

310

Stetson Bennett (2022)

4,127

Carson Beck (2023)

289

Aaron Murray (2012)

3,893

Eric Zeier (1993)

269

Carson Beck (2023)

3,738

David Greene (2003)

264

Eric Zeier (1993)

3,525

As for touchdown passes, Beck still has a hill to climb. His 22 touchdowns are still five away from the fifth-highest total of 27.

If Brock Bowers does play, he would need seven receptions to tie Brice Hunter for second place on Georgia’s career reception list with 182. He also would need 64 and 81 yards to move up to fourth or third all-time in yards receiving. Bowers is still four touchdown receptions away from tying Terrence Edwards for first in a Bulldog career.

Speaking of touchdown receptions, if Ladd McConkey plays and gets two more, he will be tied for eighth all-time in a Georgia career with 16. He will be even with such memorable Bulldogs as Hason Graham, Juan Daniels, Mohamed Massaquoi, and Malcolm Mitchell.

Both Bowers and Dominic Lovett each have over 50 receptions this season (2008 is the only other season with two Dawgs over 50).

In the last 25 seasons, Georgia has had four or more players with 30 receptions in four previous seasons. They have a good chance to add to that list on Saturday,

Georgia Seasons with 4+ Players with 30+ Receptions (last 25 Seasons)
*** Ladd McConkey (29), Dillon Bell (24), Rara Thomas (23) and Oscar Delp (21)
19992011201320182023

Terrence Edwards (53)

Tavarres King (47)

Chris Conley (45)

Riley Ridley (44)

Brock Bowers (56)

Randy McMichael (34)

Orson Charles (45)

Michael Bennett (41)

Mecole Hardman (34)

Dominic Lovett (51)

Michael Greer (31)

Malcolm Mitchell (45)

Todd Gurley (37)

D'Andre Swift (32)

Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (32)

Jervais Johnson (31)

Michael Bennett (32)

Arthur Lynch (30)

Isaac Nauta (30)

***

Rantavious Wooten (30)

In terms of running the ball, Daijun Edwards became the 19th Bulldog to reach 2,000 yards in his career during the SEC Championship game. Kendall Milton is still 265 yards away. But several Dawgs in the past have reached that goal during the Smart era from 2016 to the present. Several Dawgs have also reached 20 touchdown rushes.

Career Rushing Stats by Georgia In Kirby Smart era (2016 to Present)
*** Chubb and Michel had additional yards and touchdowns prior to Kirby Smart
Rush YardsTD Rushes

D'Andre Swift

2,885

Zamir White

25

Nick Chubb

2,475

Nick Chubb

23

Sony Michel

2,067

Daijun Edwards

22

Zamir White

2,043

Kendall Milton

21

Daijun Edwards

2,020

Sony Michel

20

Kendall Milton

1,735

D'Andre Swift

20

Kenny McIntosh

1,582

Kenny McIntosh

16

James Cook

1,503

James Cook

14

Brian Herrien

1,413

Stetson Bennett

14

Elijah Holyfield

1,340

Brian Herrien

13

Peyton Woodring can climb the charts as well. He is currently fifth in the nation with 125 kicking points. His 21 field goals and 62 extra points also rank in the top-15.

However, his extra points and kicking points in a single season rank near the top in school history.

Georgia Single Season Placekicking Leaders
Extra PointsKicking Points

Jack Podlesny (2022)

73

Jack Podlesny (2022)

151

Jack Podlesny (2021)

71

Jack Podlesny (2021)

137

Marshall Morgan (2014)

67

Billy Bennett (2003)

131

Rodrigo Blankenship (2018)

65

Billy Bennett (2002)

130

Marshall Morgan (2012)

63

Rodrigo Blankenship (2019)

127

Rodrigo Blankenship (2017)

63

Peyton Woodring (2023)

125

Peyton Woodring (2023)

62

Rodrigo Blankenship (2017)

123

Speaking of kickers, it was in the 1984 Citrus Bowl that Georgia faced Florida State, when Kevin Butler’s 71-yard field goal attempt fell inches short. It would have won the game, which instead finished in a 17-17 tie.

Florida State has many of its stars not playing for various reasons. The Seminoles may have to be creative in filling out an offense. When Georgia and FSU last met, the Seminoles also had to be creative when wide receiver Anquan Boldin played quarterback for the majority of the game. He went 6-for-14 for 78 yards and a touchdown. He was also sacked three times. The Dawgs defense has been extremely tough against opposing quarterbacks in bowl games in the Smart era.

Sacks and Interceptions in Georgia Bowl Games Under Kirby Smart
OpponentSacksInterceptions

2016 Liberty Bowl

TCU

5

0

2018 Rose Bowl

Oklahoma

5

1

2018 CFP Championship

Alabama

3

1

2019 Sugar Bowl

Texas

2

0

2020 Sugar Bowl

Baylor

3

2

2021 Peach Bowl

CIncinnati

8

0

2021 Orange Bowl

Michigan

4

2

2022 CFP Championship

Alabama

4

2

2022 Peach Bowl

Ohio State

4

0

2023 CFP Championship

TCU

5

2

After games on Wednesday, Georgia is ranked ninth in total points per game at 38.4. The Bulldogs have 499 points on the season, and one more will give them at least 500 for the seventh time in school history. The school record is 616 set last season.

The Dawgs are also ninth in the country in points per game allowed at 16.6.

Courtesy of college football expert Jack Kempner, Georgia and Notre Dame are the only two schools in the nation that are in the top ten in both scoring offense and defense. Speaking of Notre Dame, they are facing Oregon State in the Sun Bowl on Friday. The Beavers are one of three schools to have defeated the Fighting Irish more than once without losing. The other two are the University of Chicago and the University of Georgia.

(edited after Friday's game - Oregon State lost so it is now just Chicago and Georgia)

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