Capital One Bowl 2013: 5 Nebraska Starters Better Than Georgia Counterparts

The Capital One Bowl 2013 features two teams in Nebraska and Georgia that were hoping to be somewhere else. Georgia lost the SEC Championship Game to Alabama in heartbreaking fashion, coming just four yards short of a winning touchdown as the game expired. Nebraska had the opposite experience, giving up 14 points to Wisconsin in the first two minutes of the B1G Championship Game and ultimately losing to the Badgers, 70-31.

Georgia is currently a 10-point favorite over Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl, according to Vegas.com, meaning most people think the Bulldogs will win easily. But there are a few areas where Nebraska has an advantage over Georgia. 

Taylor Martinez > Aaron Murray

There is no question that Aaron Murray is a more accomplished passer than Taylor Martinez. Murray has a 65.4 completion percentage, compared to 62.2 percent for Martinez.

Murray has thrown for 3466 yards, while Martinez has only thrown for 2667. Murray has thrown for 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while Martinez has thrown for 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Murray also does not lead the FBS in fumbles, unlike another quarterback suiting up for the Capital One Bowl.

But the dimension Martinez adds with his rushing ability—973 yards and 10 touchdowns on 175 carries—more than makes up for Murray’s advantage throwing the ball.

Eric Martin > Jordan Jenkins

This one might be cheating a little bit, because Eric Martin frequently isn’t listed as a starter for Nebraska. But Martin is clearly Nebraska’s most effective weapon in penetrating an opposing backfield, leading the team in tackles for loss and sacks. Georgia’s closest equivalent on the defensive line, Jordan Jenkins, does not have the kind of prolific, disruptive performance of Martin.

Kyler Reed > Arthur Lynch

Kyler Reed is very much in the mold of the hybrid receiving tight end now used in the NFL. He has rebounded from a down year in 2011 with 23 catches for 354 yards and two touchdowns. Arthur Lynch, while having comparable yardage and touchdown statistics, was responsible for only 13 catches this season, meaning Reed was a bigger part of Nebraska’s offense.

Daimion Stafford > Baccari Rambo

Look, let’s just agree that Baccari Rambo has a way cooler name than Daimion Stafford. Once we’ve resolved that, though, Stafford’s production has been better than Rambo’s in 2012. Stafford leads Rambo in interceptions (four to three), total tackles (89 to 67), tackles for loss (3.5 to one) and passes broken up (seven to two).

Brett Maher > Collin Barber

Yes, Brett Maher has had his struggles with shanks at inopportune times in 2012. But he has also been lights out at times, with kicks that have changed field position and kept Nebraska in close games throughout its six-game win streak to end the regular season. Maher’s experience, along with a slight advantage in statistics, give him the nod over Georgia’s freshman punter.

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