Bowl Projections: Georgia's Late-Season Surge Has Them Primed for BCS Sugar Bowl

The No. 14 Georgia Bulldogs have officially risen from the ashes and returned to the top of college football in 2011, and for that they are going to New Orleans this January.

Pause. Unfortunately, they won't be playing for the BCS National Championship in the Superdome, but instead, they'll be on center stage in a major bowl game despite kicking off the year 0-2.

The current rankings would have casual fans believe that No. 6 Arkansas is instead the best SEC team in position to snag an invite to Louisiana for the annual BCS title game warm up, but the Bulldogs will be the team when the dust settles.

At 9-2, Georgia has won nine consecutive games, including seven in a row in the SEC, and now simply needs a win over reeling Georgia Tech to complete the unusual dream season.

Arkansas has also won seven-straight in the conference, but their latest test will surely end that run. No. 1 LSU is on a mission and will crush the Razorbacks' hope and spirit.

The Bulldogs late-season success has saved Mark Richt's career in Athens, and regardless of whether Georgia wins or loses in the SEC title game, which will be played in Georgia, the SEC East division winners are destined for the Sugar Bowl.

How can Georgia go unrewarded for such a miraculous turnaround?

The country's 11th-best scoring defense has been absolutely dominant since mid-September, and no team is hotter outside of LSU and Houston.

Quarterback Aaron Murray has the offense playing at an even higher level. The sophomore has thrown for 2,284 yards and 27 touchdowns this season, and just six interceptions since the first two games.

It gets easier and easier to make a case for Georgia week after week, and after Saturday night's thrills and spills by many of college football's powerhouses, the case has been made.

The Bulldogs are the most underrated story in college football, and they'll be Sugar Bowl bound by Christmas.