The Georgia football team will play against Penn State in Jacksonville in the TaxSlayer Bowl.
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Georgia found out their postseason fate Sunday, and they are returning to a familiar site they know all too well. Georgia (9-3) will match up with Penn State (7-5) from the Big 10 in the TaxSlayer Bowl at Everbank Field in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 12 PM EST.
Talk about a marquee matchup! Wait, it is not 1983 anymore.
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The Bulldogs and Nittany Lions play for only the second time in history, 33 years after Penn State defeated Herschel Walker and Georgia 27-23 in the Sugar Bowl for Joe Paterno’s first national championship as a head coach.
The two programs have come a long way since then, but this year there has not been a whole lot to cheer about for either fan base. Penn State is reeling to the tune of three consecutive losses to end the regular season after starting 7-2. Like Georgia, they did not beat any of their top-25 opponents, including a 55-16 trouncing by playoff-bound Michigan State in their last game.
Georgia, on the other hand, could not get out of their own way all season. With the defense playing at a high level for most of the season, the offense consistently sputtered and let the team down in big games against Alabama and Florida. Since their 13-7 victory over Georgia Tech nine days ago, the team has let go of Mark Richt and hired Kirby Smart to take over the head coaching job next season. All of the headlines that have surrounded the team recently could play a factor in whether or not the Bulldogs come out focused in this game.
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Another interesting note that could hinder the Bulldogs is their familiarity with Jacksonville and this stadium. They will play at the same venue they play the annual Georgia-Florida game each season, which could make this bowl trip less than eventful in the mind’s of the Georgia players.
Penn State will look at this game as a reward having the opportunity to leave the frigid North and spend a week of their winter down in sunny Florida.
The advantages that Georgia does have in this matchup are the things that actually matter in the game though. The Dawgs rank ninth in the country in points allowed (16.9), while Penn State ranks 29th allowing 21.7 points per game. The Bulldogs also have the advantage in rushing yards per game 194.3 – 135.3 and points per game 26.0 – 23.0.
With the game almost four weeks away, hopefully offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will have enough time to put together a solid game plan that will display a more dynamic Georgia offense than Bulldog fans have seen this season.