One of the best matchups of this years’ bowl season will be featured in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, January 2nd where Aaron Murray and #16 Georgia Bulldogs square off against Kirk Cousins and #17 Michigan State Spartans. Both teams are coming off conference championship game losses. The Bulldogs are coming off a 42-10 beat down loss in the SEC Championship to the #1 ranked LSU Tigers, while the Spartans are coming off a heartbreaking 42-39 loss to #15 Wisconsin Badgers.
Georgia QB Aaron Murray (Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
This bowl game will have much more on the line than just any other bowl game being played this season. Spartans QB Kirk Cousins will be looking to enhance his draft status as he hopes to end his senior year at Michigan State with a dominating performance. Cousins has silently put up big numbers in 2011, passing for over 3,000 yards and 24 TDs. Out of the 12 games the Spartans have played this year, Cousins has only been held under 200 yards passing three times (Florida Atlantic, Michigan, and Nebraska). Georgia Sophomore QB Aaron Murray has put up comparable numbers throwing for over 2,800 yards and 33 TDs. But since he is just a sophomore, Murray will be looking to pad some stats and carry the Bulldogs to a bowl victory and increase the exposure for the Bulldogs heading into the 2012 season.
There is no question this game will feature two of the best QBs of the season, but it will also feature two breakout running backs in Georgia Freshman Isaiah Crowell and Spartan Sophomore Le’Veon Bell. Crowell is wrapping up a freshman season rushing for over 800 yards, but may have been slighted due to a hampering injury, which kept him out of games against New Mexico State and Georgia Tech. If he plays in those games, I find no reason why he wouldn’t be a 1,000-yard rusher this year. Perhaps Crowell rushes for a career high and ends the season with a 1,000.
Bell has also had a big season in 2011. The sophomore has rushed for 900 yards on 165 carries. At 6’2” 235 lbs, Bell is a powerful running back with tremendous speed. If he can break into the secondary on Georgia at all, watch for fireworks. Bell can also catch the ball out of the backfield. On the season, Bell has caught 30 passes for 228 yards. Expect the Spartans to pull some trickery with Bell if they are down late in the game.
Both teams have very talented defenses (Georgia ranks No. 3 in the country in yards allowed per game, Michigan State No. 5), but the Spartans are the more veteran team. The Spartans are ranked 9th in the nation in total defense while the Bulldogs are ranked 17th.
This game won’t be one you will want to miss. Given the ABC start time for 1 PM EST on January 2nd, you may want to set your DVR for this one since most of us will be back at work.
Prediction:
Both teams know that which team keeps the defense on the field the longest will win this game. With that being said, look for Georgia to take advantage of a healthy Isaiah Crowell. Georgia will pound the running game and look to dominate time of possession.
Predicted Score:
Georgia 23 – Michigan State 17
Great read! Thanks for posting.