December 28 5:00 ESPN Independence Bowl - Texas A&M vs. Georgia

Compared to the Clemson-Kentucky Music City Bowl match-up, both 7-5 Georgia and 6-6 Texas A&M impressed in their rivalry games, but the overall body of work for each of these teams is considerably lacking. As for Georgia, offense cost them in a 24-10 loss at disappointing Oklahoma State, defense cost them in a questionable 20-13 home loss to LSU, turnovers cost them in a turnover-ridden 34-27 home loss to Kentucky, and they were blown out 45-19 and 41-17, respectively by Tennessee and Florida. Despite those losses and some unimpressive wins, particularly the South Carolina, Arkansas, and Arizona State games, Georgia managed to put a complete game together to stun in-state rival and eventual ACC champion Georgia Tech 30-24 in Atlanta to salvage their season, but this triumph was not enough to save defensive coordinator Willie Martinez’s job. Texas A&M was one Colt McCoy Heisman-worthy performance from the upset of the year and sending another, possibly more deserving, Texas team (TCU) to the BCS National Championship, but we will never know because Texas managed a few key stops while McCoy continued to light up the scoreboard in a 49-39 thrilling victory. If you thought Georgia was inconsistent just take a look at Texas A&M’s schedule and results. They lost at Kansas State 62-14 and at Oklahoma 65-10, but also away from Kyle Field, Texas A&M outscored Texas Tech 52-30 in Lubbock. Another interesting note: Texas A&M is undefeated in non-TV games (6-0), but also winless in TV games (0-6). Prediction time now: Georgia found a running game (Washaun Early and Caleb King combined for 349 yards and two touchdowns) and all-SEC Rennie Curran leads a defense that shut down Georgia Tech’s option attack, but neither is going to matter because Texas A&M runs a spread offense, much like Arkansas and Florida, led by quarterback Jerrod Johnson who passed for 342 yards, four touchdowns, and ran for another 97 yards against Texas. And more importantly, Texas A&M (players, coaches, fans, etc.) wants to be in Shreveport much more than Georgia. Georgia will try to control clock and play physical with Texas A&M, but, especially with Georgia replacing nearly its entire defensive staff, the Aggies will score early and often in another Vegas upset win.