By Craig Fields
Game Info
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Georgia Bulldogs
Wednesday – January 1 – 11:00 AM
TV: ESPN2
Everbank Field – Jacksonville
Significance: There was plenty of anticipation and excitement when these two teams battled last year. This year, because of the injuries to star quarterbacks, Taylor Martinez and Aaron Murray, this game has a bit of a damper on it. Fortunately there will be two running backs that have the potential to play on Sundays on display.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
For the Cornhuskers, who rank 19th in the nation in rushing the ball, they will be handing the ball off to their horse in the backfield, junior Ameer Abdullah, who is as shifty as they come. The 5’9, 190 pound running back has collected over 1,500 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns, with a 6.2 ypc (yards per carry) average. Because of the injury to quarterback Taylor Martinez, freshman Tommy Armstrong Jr. and senior Ron Kellogg III have both been under center as a tandem quarterback duo. One thing that is clear is that whoever is calling the plays and taking the snaps in this game, they will not be as important as the man who takes the hand offs, Abdullah.
#22 Georgia Bulldogs
For the Bulldogs, sophomore running back Todd Gurley, who has struggled a little bit with injuries this year, will be looking forward to further his stake as one of the best running backs in college football. Gurley, who averages, 6.3 ypc as well as over 100 yards per game, will be looking to both run and catch out of the backfield as he has about 350 yards receiving and five touchdown receptions. Senior quarterback, Aaron Murray will be out with a foot injury, which will have junior Hutson Mason at the helm for the Bulldogs. Even though he has looked pretty good in the three games that he has started this year, there is no doubt that Gurley will be the man to watch in this one.
Prediction: The Cornhuskers won’t be able to keep up and lose this one. Georgia 28 – Nebraska 17
