2009 Independence Bowl Preview

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Independence Bowl

Shreveport, LA

December 28, 5 p.m. EST

Texas A&M (6-6 SU, 6-5-1 ATS, PR: 75 ) vs. Georgia (7-5 SU, 4-8 ATS, PR: 79)

Independence Bowl Trends: Faves are 5-1 ATS L6 and SEC is 8-4 ATS L12 in this bowl game.

Texas A&M comes into this bowl game with a 6-6 record, though they did put up 87 points in their last 2 games. Mike Sherman has put together an offense that ranks 4th in the country in total offense and 15th in scoring (33.9ppg), but the defense is in the bottom 16 in total defense (431.3ypg) and scoring defense (33.9ppg). QB Jarrod Johnson (6-5, 229) has made huge strides this season with 3,217 yds pasing and 455yds rushing. He put up 4 TDs against Texas in the finale, showing that next season, he could be in the Heisman running.

Freshman RB Christine Michael (5-11, 202) was named Big 12 Off. Freshman of the Year with 767yds and 9 TDs. He teams with Cyrus Gray (752yds) in what has become a ver good combo. At WR, soph. Ryan Tannehill (6-4, 204) provides great size and leads with 44 catches for 574 yds and 4 TDs. The O-line, which has allowed 27 sacks, is led by senior RT Lee Grimes (6-6, 339). The defense ranks last in the Big 12 in total defense, and gave up more than 60 points. Junior Von Miller (6-3, 214) is a slight DE, but he is great coming off the edge and was named Big 12 as a linebacker after leading the nation with 17 sacks, adding 21 TFLs and 44 tackles.

The problem is that they are small at defensive tackle. Soph. LB Garrick Williams (6-2, 217) is third in tackles with 71, adding 7.5 TFLs and one INT. At safety, the Aggies are led by soph Trent Hunter (5-10, 185), who leads the team with 87 tackles, while senior Jordan Pugh (5-11, 191) adds 75 tackles and three picks. The special teams is ordinary on the return units and the kicking game has really struggled.

Georgia hopes to end an average season on a positive note. The Dawgs are going into this game after a coaching staff shakeup. Defensive line coach Rodney Garner will take over as def. coordinator, as the Georgia fired DC Willie Martinez, LB coach Jon Jancek and DE/sp. teams coach Jon Fabris. The offense is decent as they have pretty good balance, though they ran for 339 yards in a 30-24 upset of Georgia Tech. Senior QB Joe Cox (6-1, 210) leads the way with 2,462 yds, 22 TDs and 14 INTs. He’s not Matthew Stafford, but has some talent and just needs to stay away from key mistakes.

At RB, freshman Washaun Ealey (5-11, 205) is getting better and better each week. He has rushed for 639 yds with 3 TDs. Caleb Young adds 534 yds. At receiver, A.J. Green (6-4, 200) is a lanky sophomore who has 47 catches for 751 yds and appears to be healthy off a shoulder injury. TE Orson Charles (6-3, 230) is another talented freshman, who has become a key target for Cox. Up front, Georgia has allowed just 12 sacks and is led by soph. C Ben Jones (6-3, 304). On defense, Georgia ranks 30th in total defense but allowed 26.4ppg (70th). The run defense has allowed just 3.4ypc. Senior Geno Atkins (6-1, 287) made second-team All-SEC after finishing with 33 tackles, 2 sacks and 9.5 TFLs. MLB Rennie Curran (5-11, 228) anchors the defense with 122 tackles and 10 qb hurries.

The secondary is led by SS Reshad Jones (6-2, 212), who has 68 tackles and three picks. The special teams are very strong, led by P Drew Butler, who averages 48.8yds/punt and won the Ray Guy Award. PK Blair Walsh has made 19 of 21 kicks, while the return unit is solid led by Brandon Boykin, who averages 24.5ypr and has 2 TDs.

Key Injuries: Tx A&M: LB D.Shelby (knee) is out. Georgia DE M.Robinson (suspension) is out.

Keys: Can A&M run the ball against Georgia’s tough front line? Can Georgia limit the mistakes offensively and make the necessary adjustments to stop Johnson with a new defensive coacting staff?

Texas A&M Aggies (6-6) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (7-5)

Date: Monday, December 28th Kickoff: 5 p.m. (et)

Site: Independence Stadium (53,000) — Shreveport, Louisiana

Surface: AstroPlay

Annual: 34th

Projected Payout Per Team: $1,100,000

Television: ESPN2

Announcers: Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham and Jeannine Edwards

Home Record: Texas A&M 5-2; Georgia 4-2

Away Record: Texas A&M 1-4; Georgia 3-2

Neutral Record: Texas A&M 0-0; Georgia 0-1

Las Vegas Line: Georgia 7 (Total, 64)

All-Time Series: Texas A&M (3-1)

Last Meeting: September 13, 1980 (Georgia, 42-0 at Georgia)

Series Streak: Texas A&M has won three of the four meetings.

Versus Opposing Conference: Texas A&M vs. SEC (58-75-6)

Versus Opposing Conference: Georgia vs. Big 12 (11-8)

Bowl Records: Texas A&M (13-17 — 1-1 in Independence Bowl), Georgia (25-16-3 — 1-0 in Independence Bowl)

2009 National Rankings: Texas A&M – Unranked, Georgia – Unranked

Coaches:

Texas A&M – Mike Sherman (10-14 at Texas A&M)
(Career Record, Same as above)
Georgia – Mark Richt (89-27 at Georgia)
(Career Record, Same as above)

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