Bowl Game:
Autozone Liberty Bowl
Georgia (7-5) v. TCU (6-6)
Matchup
It will be a battle of offensive co-coordinators Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham’s TCU Air Raid (averaging 461 yards per game) against coach Mel Tucker’s Georgia defense — ranked 18th in the nation with 314 average yards allowed.
The Horned Frogs have a high-risk/high-reward dynamic with quarterback Kenny Hill. The shot-caller leads an offense ranked 27th in the FBS with 5,700 yards of total offense, but his league leading 13 interceptions contributed heavily to the team’s 18 turnovers on the season.
Injury issues derailed any continuity with the TCU offense, in particular the PCL knee injury that afflicted KaVontae Turpin to miss five games in the season; the receiver and punt returner was billed as Hill’s primary target after finishing second in catches last season behind lead receiver Josh Doctson.
The Georgia offense relies heavily on Nick Chubb’s rushing capabilities and are a perfect 4-0 if he gains over 100 yards; all their losses occurred when the Junior didn’t reach the century mark. Chubb currently has 3,282 career rushing yards with the Bulldogs along with 28 TDs. Sony Michel brings depth with 753 yards on the ground and three TDs.
The Bulldogs defense will be capable in holding their own against the Horned Frogs inconsistent offense, showcasing their abilities against a powerful Auburn unit that was limited to 164 total yards in a 13-7 victory Week 10 – coach Kirby Smart’s first W against a top-10 opponent.
TCU hasn’t been the same team since dropping from the AP rankings week 2 in a loss against Arkansas, and have lost four straight home contests. Georgia was on a three game streak, before losing a narrow one against Georgia Tech in the season finale.
The matchup serves as the Horned Frogs’ 17th bowl game in 19 seasons; Memphis was the location of coach Gary Patterson’s first bowl victory with the program. While the sixteenth year head coach has the experience, Georgia has the winning history between both programs, holding an undefeated 3-0 lead on the series.
Tale of the Tape:
Yards per game: Advantage TCU (461-372 yards)
Rushing yards per game: Advantage TCU (197-187 yards)
Passing yards per game: Advantage TCU (278-196 yards)
Rushing yards per game allowed: Advantage Georgia (141-183 yards allowed)
Passing yards allowed: Advantage Georgia (187-245 yards allowed)
Total yards allowed: Advantage Georgia (314-406 yards allowed)
Points per game: Advantage TCU (28-24 ppg)
Statistical Advantage: TCU (4-3)
Georgia Texas players:
0
TCU Texas players:
77
TCU Texas HS Football standouts:
Kyle Hicks (Junior, Martin 4-star RB) – Hicks had a breakthrough season as the Horned Frogs primary back, rushing for 954 yards for 10 TDs and grabbing two reception TDs.
As a Martin student athlete, Hicks was ranked the No. 3 running back Texas and No. 21 in the nation. In two years, Martin ran for 2,799 rushing yards and 48 rushing TDs, nabbing two additional scores by air. As a junior, he helped the Warriors reach the 5A Division 1 quarterfinals, where they lost to Southlake Carroll; they were bumped by the Dragons again in the first round the following year.
Sony Michel 753 yards three TDs. Quarterback Eason consistency issues When Eason (2,266 passing yards, 14 TDs, 8 INTs). Injury issues sidelined the offense, derailing the hopes of a fluid offense; in particular.especially kevontae Turpin, missed five games. Much of the roster returns 2017, another experienced group for Patterson to tinker with.
Travin Howard (Junior, Longview 3-star LB) – Howard was selected Associated Press All-Big 12 first-team, the only member of the Horned Frogs to receive the honor this season. The junior leads the Big-12 in tackles (125 stops) and is ranked seventh nationally. He is only the second player since Martin Patterson (2003-04) in the Gary Patterson era to have back-to-back years with 100 stops; Howard totaled 105 last season.
The former Longview HS recruit ranked No. 12 in Texas for his position. During his senior season, has 89 tackles including 10 for loss, grabbed eight interceptions, and four defensive touchdowns.
Josh Carraway (Senior, Flower Mound DL) – Carraway was named to the Associated Press All-Big-12 second team for the second consecutive year, tying a team leading 47 stops amongst defensive lineman (dt Aaron Curry also has this tally). The senior boasts eight sacks (team high, fourth in the conference) and a total 19 sacks (fourth best in TCU history).
As an unranked senior at Flower Mound, Carraway totaled 51 tackles and 13 sacks.
Kenny Hill (Junior, Southlake 4-star QB) – You never know what you’re going to get with the versatile dual threat. Hill has racked up 3,062 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, but his thirteen turnovers is a headache that often disrupts the offense’s momentum. The junior transfer has looked brilliant at times, and careless at others. As Jonny Manziel’s successor at Texas A&M, Hill broke a school single-game passing yards record with 511 yards debut, but off the field antics derailed his Aggies career after eight games.
Hill garnered numerous accolades in his high school career as Southlake Carrol’s shot-caller. In three years on the varsity team, Hill totaled 8023 passing yards for 66 TDs, 3253 rushing yards for 64 rushing touchdowns, and completed an average 67% of his passes – the impressive stats leading the Dragons to the state championship in 2011.
Texas HS Staff Prediction:
6-5 votes for TCU
My Prediction:
TCU
Chalk it up as an inconsistent year for the Horned Frogs. TCU lost two close contests in overtime against Arkansas and Texas Tech, but have also looked like the highly touted team hyped in the preseason against Baylor and Texas. The Georgia defense has the advantage, but expect Kenny Hill to tear through the front seven in what could be his final opportunity to keep his job — DeSoto’s Shawn Robinson and Aledo’s Foster Sawyer are vying for the starting opportunity.
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