Perhaps you remember the last time TCU was in a bowl game? It was last season’s thrilling comeback against Oregon. This game should be a considerably less high-scoring affair with a Georgia team that struggled to put things together all season on offense. The Dawgs are led by freshman quarterback Jacob Eason, but it’s likely he hasn’t faced a defense as intricate as Gary Patterson’s group.
Georgia vs. TCU, Liberty Bowl 2016: Time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
Can the Dawgs give TCU another disappointment?
Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images
TCU wasn’t supposed to be in this game. In August, the Frogs were a trendy pick to get into the Playoff. But the season never truly got off the ground after losing a shootout to Arkansas in Week 2, and by Oct. 1, TCU had picked up a second loss after getting downed by Oklahoma. Georgia finished the season relatively strong. After losing four out of five during the end of September and October, the Dawgs rebounded to beat a resurgent Kentucky team and rival Auburn. The loss to Georgia Tech in rivalry week leaves an undoubtedly bad taste, but the Bulldogs are at least looking like they’re on the right track.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: Noon ET, ESPN. The announcers are Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, and Rocky Boiman.
Online streaming: WatchESPN.
Spread: Georgia opened as a 1-point favorite.
Make friends: SB Nation’s Dawg Sports covers Georgia, while Frogs O’ War covers TCU.
Three big things to know
1. Chubb’s not sitting out. Bowl season has been about who isn’t playing in bowl games much more than it has been the contrary. Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Fournette, and Shock Linwood have all opted to sit out. But Georgia’s Nick Chubb has decided to play in the postseason and he’s returning to Athens next season, as well. The writing’s on the wall that this year’s draft class is loaded, but Chubb told the media that it was about much more than that.
2. Will Hill play? After suffering a foot injury in the season finale, quarterback Kenny Hill returned to TCU practice on Dec. 20. Just how he’ll look, should he play in this game, remains to be seen. As to how TCU would look with someone other than Hill under center, coach Gary Patterson said this: “I didn’t say they were looking good. I said the young guys are getting reps. There’s a difference.”
3. Will offense find its gear? No matter who plays in this game, someone will have to stop TCU’s offensive backsliding. Is a month of bowl practice what the team needed to get on the right track? The Frogs were abysmal on offense in 2012 and 2013, but in 2014 and 2015 they were elite. This season has seen a backslide, going from No. 3 in yards per game to No. 28. And in the high-flying Big 12, No. 28 nationally is good for No. 7 in the league. In other words: the bottom half. The Horned Frogs just weren’t able to keep up with the Joneses as far as offense is concerned.
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