ATLANTA -- Georgia's biggest game in 30 years might be the toughest one for Bulldog Nation to swallow.

"It was in our hands and there is no reason we don't have it tonight," one Georgia fan told me after the game.

She's almost right.

It was in Georgia's hands. They went toe-to-toe with mighty Alabama and had them beat.

But there is a reason Georgia doesn't have it tonight.

It's not because Mike Bobo didn't tell Aaron Murray to spike the ball (even though that really hurts).

It's not because the refs didn't give the Dawgs many calls (but these are the best guys in the conference?).

The reason Georgia isn't planning to go to Miami is because the Crimson Tide is just a little bit better.

They might be four yards better, but when it came down to it, these guys made the plays.

Alabama's defensive lineman got his hand on the ball with eight seconds left. When the Bulldogs had a chance to stop the Tide on 3-and-5 at midfield in the final four minutes,  a tackle is missed and  T.J. Yeldon picks up the first down.

AJ McCarron hit his man when he was wide open for the go ahead score. When Aaron Murray's had his chance for a bomb, he missed his guy by 20 feet and threw an interception (which led to a pretty big field goal at the end of the half).

"We came out short of points," said Mark Richt. "The clock ran out on us."

But they had the points.

Georgia led this game 21-10. Cornelius Washington blocked a field goal and Alec Ogletree ran it all the way back for a touchdown.

That play was going to live forever. It's a play champions make.

But champions don't blow that lead. Champions don't get outscored 22-7 after making "the play."

Champions also don't give up 350 yards rushing.

Georgia needed the miracle of miracles to win this game. But they shouldn't have.

After McCarron hit Amari Cooper for the go ahead score, the Dawgs still had 3:15 to go and 75 yards to get to their dreams.

As you saw, they could have done a lot with two more minutes.

With a legacy on the line, Murray got sacked on the first play. Adrian Hubbard knocked the tar out of him. The drive never recovered.

Yes Murray should have spiked the ball. Or have been told to spike it.

But this team's legacy was sealed on that sack.

This was one of, if not the best football game I've ever seen. It had everything you could want. It was a classic.

It also had a fair result.

And don't put this one Murray. He played fine. This wasn't South Carolina or even Florida. He threw for 265 yards against a great defense. That should almost work. He did not lose this on his own. He made one horrible pass. He also made one great pass for a touchdown. He was almost good enough to win.

Georgia almost won the SEC Championship. Georgia almost played for the National Championship.

Georgia is probably the second best team in the country.

But they aren't the best. And they shouldn't be.