Belk Bowl 2014: Georgia vs. Louisville TV Info, Spread, Time, Injury News, More
There were times during the 2014 season that Georgia looked like a national championship contender. There was also the time when it allowed 38 points to the decidedly mediocre Florida offense.
The result is a mid-tier Dec. 30 bowl game in Charlotte against Louisville instead of the New Year’s Day or Eve contest Bulldogs fans were hoping for this season. While it may not be the game Georgia wanted, it gets a chance to make a statement against a fellow nationally ranked squad.
Here is a look at the essential information for the matchup between the Bulldogs and Cardinals.
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2014 Belk Bowl
Matchup: Georgia vs. Louisville
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 30
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Spread: Georgia -6.5, via Odds Shark, as of Sunday at 10 a.m. ET
Injury Report (via USA Today)
| Reggie Bonnafon | QB | 12/24/2014 | is probable for the Belk Bowl Tuesday against Georgia | Probable | knee |
| Michael Dyer | RB | 12/25/2014 | will miss the Belk Bowl Tuesday against Georgia | Out | eligibility |
| Will Gardner | QB | 11/11/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Corvin Lamb | RB | 10/16/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Sheldon Dawson | S | 10/01/2014 | has left the team | Out | personal |
| Michael Erdman | WR | 11/19/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | wrist |
| Shattle Fenteng | DB | 09/25/2014 | is expected to miss the remainder of the season | Out | shoulder |
| Leonard Floyd | LB | 12/24/2014 | is expected to miss the Belk Bowl Tuesday against Louisville | Out | shoulder |
| Todd Gurley | RB | 11/16/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Merritt Hall | FB | 08/14/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | concussion |
| Rico Johnson | CB | 10/02/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | illness |
| Shaq Jones | CB | 10/06/2014 | was dismissed from the team | Out | disciplinary |
| Keith Marshall | RB | 12/24/2014 | is questionable for the Belk Bowl Tuesday against Louisville | Questionable | ankle/knee |
| Ryne Rankin | LB | 12/24/2014 | is questionable for the Belk Bowl Tuesday against Louisville | Questionable | wrist |
| Jon Taylor | DT | 07/23/2014 | was dismissed from the team | Out | disciplinary |
Preview
The Belk Bowl is one of only four contests outside of the major bowls that pits two ranked teams against each other. It also represents a chance for both programs to reach double-digit victories.
Louisville coach Bobby Petrino discussed the opportunity in front of his team, according to STATS LLC, via ESPN.com: "Yeah, we want to get to 10 wins. That's certainly something our seniors would be very proud of so they can look back at their career and see the double-digit winning seasons they've had."
His Cardinals will have to deal with a powerful Georgia offense that finished 12th in the nation in rushing and eighth in scoring. While Todd Gurley won’t be lacing it up in this game, freshman running back Nick Chubb is a star in his own right with 1,281 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns.
Chris Low of ESPN noted just how effective the physically bruising Chubb has been this season:
The matchup between Georgia’s rushing attack and Louisville’s front seven, which was second in the country against the run, is the key showdown to watch in this contest.
If the Cardinals load up the box to stop the run, Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason may have to make some plays with his arm. He only hit the 200-yard mark in three games, but he did manage 20 touchdown passes to only four interceptions.
Ball control will be critical for Mason against a Louisville defense that led the nation with 25 interceptions, thanks largely to safety Gerod Holliman, who racked up 14 picks on the way to the Jim Thorpe Award as the country’s best defensive back.
Louisville’s defense will need to come through because the Cardinals will be without running back Michael Dyer on the offensive side. The good news for Louisville is that four different players ran for at least 350 yards, so his absence won’t be crippling to the game plan.
Quarterback could be a bigger concern considering Will Gardner tore his ACL and Reggie Bonnafon hurt his knee in the final regular-season game. That means a less than 100 percent Bonnafon may split time with third-stringer Kyle Bolin.
Georgia’s offense gets most of the credit, but its defense was second in the nation against the pass and was 23rd in the country in scoring defense. The uncertainty for Louisville at the quarterback spot to go along with the absence of Dyer (which isn't devastating but does weaken the running back rotation) will be difficult to overcome against a solid Georgia defense.
This one will be close because of Louisville’s ability to stop the run and force turnovers on defense, but the Cardinals won’t have enough firepower to win at the end. Look for an SEC victory in this one.
Prediction: Georgia 21, Louisville 13
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