Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Dec. 30
Where:Bank of America Stadium
TV:ESPN
Westgate Superbook line:Georgia (-7)

The Georgia Bulldogs had a sour end to their regular season with a loss to in-state Georgia Tech and a Missouri win over Arkansas to keep the ‘Dawgs out of the SEC Championship.

UGA returns to the field on Tuesday to take on the Louisville Cardinals, one of the tougher opponents in the slate of bowl games for SEC teams.

Not only does Louisville boast several playmakers on both sides of the football, but the Cardinals have one of the nation’s toughest defenses, averaging just 293.3 yards per game which is good for fifth nationally.

Georgia will once again need to rely on the shoulders of running back Nick Chubb, who has more than carried the Georgia offense since the suspension and injury and of Todd Gurley. However, the ‘Dawgs will be forced to play this game without longtime offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who left to become the head coach at Colorado State.

2014 was a season of underachievement and disappointment for many UGA fans, despite nine wins on the season. The feeling is that Georgia could have done more than what it did, but now the Bulldogs are faced with an immense challenge in the Belk Bowl as they try to end their season on a high note.

Five Things to Watch

  1. Will Nick Chubb rise to the occasion? Louisville boasts the nation’s second-best run defense behind only Alabama. Can the true freshman still surpass 100 yards on the ground?
  2. Hutson Mason’s final game as a Bulldog. The fifth-year senior only got one season to prove his value as a starter and it’s been one filled with criticism. Whether Mason has deserved all of the criticism he received is another story, but the Belk Bowl will be his last game with UGA. Can he end his collegiate career with a big game?
  3. Gerod Holliman is one INT away from breaking the NCAA record for interceptions in a season. Can he force an INT from the usually efficient Hutson Mason?
  4. How will UGA’s offense respond to the departure of Mike Bobo? The longtime UGA offensive coordinator is now at Colorado State, so will there be a drop off by the Bulldogs?
  5. Can UGA finish the season on a high note? It’s certainly been a year of ups and downs for the Bulldogs. A big win on Tuesday would give some momentum heading into the offseason.

Georgia

Motivation: Georgia had an underwhelming nine-win season in 2014 and were looked at as the best team in the SEC East, despite not actually making it to the SEC Championship. With some negative energy to end the season, a win over Louisville would bring some good will back to the program as it heads into National Signing Day.

If you’ve never seen them: Watch for No. 27. True freshman running back Nick Chubb has evolved into one of the top running backs in the SEC and in all of college football. Since becoming a starter halfway through the season, he’s eclipsed 100 yards on the ground in every single game. He’ll be an early favorite for the 2015 Heisman Trophy.

Weakness: Passing attack. It’s not that UGA doesn’t have the weapons at receiver, but UGA is certainly reliant on the running game because of players like Chubb, Sony Michel and others. At times, Hutson Mason has been impressive throwing the ball, but overall it’s an inconsistent aspect of the offense.

Louisville

Motivation: Louisville won nine games in the regular season, but failed to win against either one of its ranked opponents during the year — Florida State and Clemson. Going up against a brand name like Georgia is motivation enough for a team like Louisville, but the added motivation of reaching double-digit wins should give an extra boost to the Cardinals.

If you’ve never seen them: Defense, defense, defense. Former UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has turned the Cardinals’ defense into one of the nation’s best. The Cardinals are fifth nationally in total defense (293.3 ypg) and second in run defense (93.7 ypg). UL may be the one team Georgia has faced this season capable of containing Nick Chubb.

Weakness: Quarterback. As of now, no one knows who will be Louisville’s starting QB come Tuesday night, so it’s easy to think this will be one of the weaker areas for the Cardinals in this bowl game. Both Reggie Bonnafon and Kyle Bolin will play against the Bulldogs, who boast the SEC’s best pass defenses.