2016 Liberty Bowl final score: Georgia beats TCU, so watch out for offseason hype

Are you ready for a Georgia bowl bump?

The Dawgs battled back after allowing 16 straight points early on to beat TCU, 31-23, in the Liberty Bowl. It was in large part thanks to Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, and Isaiah McKenzie flexing the full might of the three-headed monster at Georgia’s skill positions. Chubb ripped off a 48-yarder here as a high point of his 142-yard day.

Michel added 87 yards of his own on the ground with this athletic TD.

And not to be ignored, McKenzie had 103 yards receiving.

After the game, McKenzie did surprise us by declaring for the NFL Draft.

Two missed field goals and a missed extra point loomed large for TCU in the loss. Last time we saw the Horned Frogs they were erasing a massive deficit to come back against Oregon. There would be no such heroics this time around.

Even with just two of those Liberty Bowl standouts coming back (including Chubb, who said he was motivated by a rivalry loss to Georgia Tech), Georgia is in an interesting place heading into next season.

I have outlined a delicious offseason recipe for you. Take those returning players and put them in a bowl. Combine them with Jacob Eason, a five-star QB prospect who was thrown into the fire as a freshman and didn’t completely wreck the ship. Mix them together with someone in the media looking for an off the beaten path selection to win the middling SEC East and challenge Alabama, and bake at 350 degrees. You’ve got yourself a delicious bowl bump souffle.

While Georgia heads one direction going into the offseason, TCU heads the other. The Frogs finish the year with a 6-7 record after being a trendy pick to make the Playoff this preseason as a dark horse. UGA might take their place as 2017 approaches.