After a tight first quarter, Georgia controlled most of the game en route to a 37-14 Belk Bowl win over Louisville Tuesday night. Bulldogs quarterback Hutson Mason left in the second quarter with reported concussion-like symptoms, but freshman running back Nick Chubb carried the load for Mark Richt's team.
Belk Bowl 2014 final score: 3 things we learned from Georgia’s 37-14 win
Nick Chubb ran wild for the Bulldogs against the Cardinals.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Louisville’s vaunted rush defense wasn’t able to hold up against Georgia’s ground attack, led by Chubb. The Bulldogs ran for 291 yards, more than three times what Louisville gave up on average in the regular season. Chubb got better as the game went on, and he finished the scoring with 45 yards and a touchdown on Georgia’s final drive of the game.
Louisville's offense was never able to get into high gear. The Cardinals tied the game up at 7-7 with a touchdown pass from Kyle Bolin to Gerald Christianson late in the first quarter, but they were outscored, 30-7, over the final three quarters. Without running back Mike Dyer, who was declared academically ineligible, Louisville rushed for just 65 yards.
With the win, No. 13 Georgia improved to 10-3. No. 21 Louisville dropped to 9-4.
Three things we learned
1. We are all blessed to watch Nick Chubb. That Chubb is a star isn't really news to anyone who watched Georgia this season, especially while fellow running back Todd Gurley was suspended and injured. But Chubb, just a true freshman, is going to be a special player for the Dawgs in the coming years. Louisville entered the game with the nation's second-best run defense, allowing 2.9 yards per play, 93.7 per game and nine total touchdowns on the ground. Chubb averaged 8.2 yards on 33 carries, compiling 269 yards and two scores by himself. He set the Georgia record for rushing yards in a bowl game.
2. Louisville needs a quarterback. During Bobby Petrino's tenure at Arkansas, the Razorbacks' calling card was a lethal passing offense led by big-armed quarterbacks like Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson. Neither Reggie Bonnafon nor Kyle Bolin were able to have much success against Georgia's solid secondary The two combined to complete 21 of 43 passes for 315 yards, one touchdown and 3 interceptions. Petrino needs a better QB -- or for one of his current signal callers to improve -- to get his offense going.
3. Georgia might not need a new offensive coordinator next year. Remember that Nick Chubb guy we mentioned earlier? Just feed him, and good things will happen. Run. The. Dang. Ball.
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