An intriguing matchup awaits in the TaxSlayer Bowl as Penn State will face Georgia for the first time since the Lions’ 1983 Sugar Bowl victory for a national championship.
Over 30 years removed from the last meeting, Georgia and Penn State enter the contest with eerily similar 2015 campaigns: a tired defense carrying an underwhelming offense.
Georgia enters the contest unranked at 9-3 (5-3 SEC) with blowout losses vs No. 2 Alabama (38-10) and at No. 19 Florida (27-3) and its strongest win is a 20-13 win at Auburn (6-6). The Dawgs and former head coach Mark Richt parted ways after 15 years.
Here’s a quick look at some things to expect from Georgia.
WHAT THEY DO:
Defend, defend and defend some more.
Georgia’s defense has held opponents under 21 points in every win this season, most recently holding a Georgia Southern team that averages 34.7 ppg to 17 in the 2015 regular season finale, which sent the Dawgs to their fourth consecutive win.
Not much is getting over the heads of the secondary that ranks best in the country in passing yards allowed per game (146.1). Dominick Sanders, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, highlights a lockdown secondary with five interceptions on the season, which is 13th-most in country.
In crunch time the defense has shown up when it matters, holding opponents to a 65-percent success rate in the red zone, second-best in the country and have only conceded 173 first downs (third-best).
WHAT’S NOT GOING SO GOOD?
The other side of the team, basically. Georgia’s offense has been middle of the pack, 84th in the country at 26.5 points per game and completely absence in the biggest games versus ranked opponents.
Greyson Lambert has done a good job at quarterback in terms of limiting mistakes, currently with a 11:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, but junior lacks any explosive outings this season. Outside of his 24-of-25, 330-yard game versus South Carolina in September, which he threw three touchdowns, Lambert has just two other games throwing over 200 yards.
Similar to Penn State, success on third down has been seldom for Georgia, among the worst in the nation in this category, currently converting 31 percent of those plays. That is 118th out of 127 FBS teams.
Senior placekicker Marshall Morgan has regressed since his 2013 season in which he nailed 22 of 24 field goals, including all five attempts from 40-49 yards and 2 of 3 beyond the 50. After setting an SEC record for field goal percentage (91.67), he’s only connected on 15 of 21 attempts, missing two attempts in the 40s, while not taking any past the 50.
WHO’S MISSING?
Potential Heisman Candidate Nick Chubb suffered a gruesome knee injury back in October, which required surgery and has sidelined him for the season. Through his first five games, the sophomore running back piled up 745 yards and seven touchdowns on 91 carries, gaining at least 120 yards each game. Fellow sophomore Sony Michel has rushed for 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, picking up the load in Chubb’s absence, however.
Georgia will be without recently hired head coach Kirby Smart, who is expected to fulfill his commitment as Alabama defensive coordinator. Assistant head coach Bryan McClendon will be the acting head coach in the interim.
Georgia quarterback Faton Bauta announced last Friday he opted to transfer to another school for his final season of eligibility, and will not appear in the bowl game. Although Bauta only started one game behind center—a four-interception performance in a 27-3 loss to Florida—he was the holder on each field goal and extra point attempt this season, per multiple media reports.
