AutoZone Liberty Bowl Georgia vs. TCU Predictions 12/30/16

CONFERENCE PRIDE: SEC teams have won the last three Liberty Bowls and have beaten Big 12 teams in the last two, with Texas A&M defeating West Virginia in 2014 and Arkansas knocking off Kansas State last season.

The teams traded punts on the first two drives of the game, but on Georgia’s second possession, QB Jacob Eason hit WR Isaiah McKenzie for a 77 yard pass that got the Bulldogs within the TCU 10 yard line.

Two teams nationally ranked entering the season ended it trying to capture some positive vibes.

Georgia finished the game with 248 rushing yards, with both of their running backs, Chubb and Georgia’s Outstanding Offensive Player of the Game, Michel, finding the end zone.

“U-G-A! U-G-A”, Georgia fans chanted with over a minute to go when the defense held TCU, giving the ball back to the Bulldogs. Granted, Georgia can claim the same challenges in Kirby Smart’s first season, but I like siding with SEC talent over Big 12 talent in the bowls.

“These two guys have been working with him on it – they’ve been over there teaching him where to cut, where to turn”, Smart said. “I don’t think he’s 100 percent, but he’s close”. “They take into the spring what you did and what you got accomplished in your bowl sites”.

TCU is a 3.5-point favorite to win the game, according to Vegas Insider.

The Horned Frogs scored twice in the final 44 seconds to take a 9-7 lead.

The story all season with this Horned Frog offense has been that they have the potential to put big numbers, but commit critical mistakes in key spots. “I play quarterback. I need to make the plays”. “You’ve got to climb, you’ve got to work”.

Here are five takeaways from the win, which was the Bulldogs’ fourth bowl victory in five seasons. The ran began courtesy of a 40-yard field goal by Hartfield. Chubb amassed 142 yards on the ground including a 13-yard touchdown run that strengthened the Bulldogs’ lead to eight points at 31-23 with 2:48 left in the game.

The lead changed hands again after Rodrigo Blankenship’s 30-yard field goal with 13:27 left in the game.

“Absolutely. I’ve got to go out there and prove that I should start every single game”, he said during the week of practice in Memphis for the Liberty Bowl. And just like earlier, Hatfield missed a 47-yard field goal, which preserved the 24-23 lead for Georgia. Chubb should eclipse the 1,000 yard mark in the bowl game, now with 988 yards and seven touchdowns on the year.

“Six-and-six”, coach Gary Patterson said, asked to evaluate Hill’s performance.

All these questions and more will be answered over the next three and a half hours or so, so let’s enjoy this last bit of football we have together before moving toward a better 2017. “That’s the mark of two good backs”.

“That’s just a great football player making a great play”, Eason said.

Eason’s strength is standing in the pocket, going through the progression and delivering throws to his receiving targets.