Liberty Bowl: Preview, Predictions for TCU vs. Georgia
In a battle between the SEC and the Big 12, the 6-6 TCU Horned Frogs face the 7-5 Georgia Bulldogs in the Liberty Bowl.
TCU started off the season hot, entering the playoff discussion, but fell off with four straight home losses to end the year. As for Georgia, it won three games in a row before narrowly losing its final game of the regular season to in-state rival Georgia Tech, 28-27.
Date: Friday, December 30
Time: Noon ET
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
TV: ESPN
Tale of the Tape
1 of 7Courtesy of the B/R Insights department, take a look at how the Horned Frogs and Bulldogs compare on paper.
It will be a battle of TCU's offense, which averages 461 yards per game, against Georgia's defense, which ranks 18th in the nation with 314 yards allowed per contest.
TCU's ability to control the ball—18 giveaways is a lot—will also be a big storyline.
Keys to Victory for TCU
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Take Care of the Ball
The TCU offense certainly has firepower, ranking 27th in the FBS in total offense with 5,700 yards. However, quarterback Kenny Hill's 13 interceptions and the Horned Frogs' 18 total giveaways have stunted drives far too often this season. Georgia's offense doesn't have the same spark as TCU, so limiting opportunities is crucial
Keep Nick Chubb Under 100 Yards Rushing
As Nick Chubb goes, so do the Georgia Bulldogs. In games where Chubb has crossed the century mark on the ground, Georgia is 4-0. In the eight games Chubb didn't reached 100 yards, the Bulldogs were 3-5—all of their losses came without Chubb getting 100 yards on the ground. Keeping Chubb contained means playing aggressive yet gap-sound defense and winning the battle along the front lines.
Keys to Victory for Georgia
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Get Nick Chubb Going
As mentioned, all of Georgia's losses this season have come in games where Chubb didn't reach 100 yards rushing. Chubb's ability to keep defenses from going into dime packages keeps an otherwise inconsistent offense moving.
Control the Clock
It certainly helps that Georgia just received the perfect game plan from Kansas State in the final week of the regular season. The Wildcats slaughtered TCU 30-6 in a game where Bill Snyder and Co. held the ball for 34 minutes, while K-State starting quarterback Jesse Ertz completed just nine passes. Having Chubb in your backfield certainly helps the Bulldogs' case for maintaining control of the ball.
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Players to Watch for TCU
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Kyle Hicks
Very quietly, running back Kyle Hicks is nearing the 1,000-yard mark for the season; he's just 46 yards shy heading into Memphis. Hicks is also a viable receiving threat, hauling in 42 balls for 396 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
Kenny Hill
The Texas A&M transfer hasn't exactly lived up to the legacy of Trevone Boykin, but he's still put up numbers. Hill has racked up 3,062 yards and 15 touchdowns through the air, albeit with 15 interceptions. He's currently battling a foot injury, per the Dallas Morning News, but should be available in Memphis.
Players to Watch for Georgia
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Jacob Eason
We've discussed Nick Chubb enough in this preview, so let's talk about the players who will complement the star running back. Jacob Eason has eased into his role as the starting quarterback in Athens despite being a freshman, tossing for 2,266 yards and 14 touchdowns with eight picks. Eason is the future of the program for Georgia, and his progression with a few extra weeks of practice before he heads into the offseason is worth watching.
Malkom Parrish
A head-turning playmaker, Malkom Parrish has 49 tackles, a sack and two interceptions this year. Parrish has a nose for the ball and must be constantly accounted for by opposing defenses. Parrish also leads the Bulldogs with nine pass breakups.
What They're Saying
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TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson, per TCU press release:
"We are very appreciative of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on our selection. It's exciting to be making our 17th bowl trip in 19 seasons. We have a great history with Memphis and the Liberty Bowl. In 2002, it was the site of our first bowl win as a staff. Being able to play a quality opponent in Georgia makes it a very attractive game for us and the TCU community. Bowls are a great reward for our players, and we're looking forward to utilizing the game as a springboard for our offseason program, spring practice and next year."
Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart, per UGA press release:
"The opportunity to play an outstanding team in TCU is an exciting challenge for our coaches and players. This will be my first trip to the game as a player or coach but the Liberty Bowl has a long history of providing a quality bowl experience that I'm sure our players and fans will enjoy. We will face a quality Big 12 opponent in TCU and I'm sure Coach Patterson will have them at their best on December 30. We are anxious to begin practice and preparations for the trip to Memphis."
Prediction
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While TCU can put up yardage, the Horned Frogs are simply in the midst of a lot of soul-searching after a disappointing season.
However, Georgia seems to be one or two clicks away from returning to contender status, and a few weeks of practice should have the Bulldogs ready to go against a less-than-stellar TCU defense.
TCU has struggled against the run and can't maintain control of the ball consistently, while Georgia has one of the nation's best running backs in Chubb to control the tempo the game.
Prediction: Georgia 31, TCU 14
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