Independence Bowl News amd Notes

3 more Ga. Tech players to miss 1st half

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Tech will be without three more players for the first half of Monday night's Independence Bowl against Air Force because they missed a team curfew.

Coach Paul Johnson announced Sunday that starting defensive end Anthony Egbuniwe and reserve defensive backs Louis Young and Michael Peterson won't be allowed to play until the second half.

The Yellow Jackets will be missing four other players for the entire game, including receiver Stephen Hill and safety Mario Edwards. They were declared ineligible for the bowl because of academic problems.

Independence Bowl Preview
By: Matt Zemek

If there was ever a bowl game that was likely to take under three hours and therefore represent the kind of game you could sneak into an otherwise-busy holiday party schedule, this is it. The Air Force Falcons and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are basically the same team in different uniforms and conferences. Two teams that run the ground-hugging yet aggressive triple-option offense will simply engage in a competition that will determine who can execute in a superior fashion. In what will undeniably present the viewer with a portrait of mirror images, don’t anticipate very many forward passes to be thrown.

The Air Force Falcons didn’t do everything as well as they could have or should have in the 2010 season. They lost to Utah in a very messy contest they easily could have taken. They bumbled around at TCU, and they got blindsided on the road at San Diego State in a contest that was largely influenced by a bad move on the part of coach Troy Calhoun, an errant choice to prematurely try for a two-point conversion in the third quarter. However, it should also be noted that for all of those sins on the sporting green, Air Force achieved one very big program goal this past season: The club from Colorado Springs managed to reclaim the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for the first time since 2002. Air Force beat both Navy and Army to win service-academy superiority and take ownership of a distinctly valuable possession in the world of military football. Quarterback Tim Jefferson and the rest of the Falcons enabled their own version of the triple-option offense to beat two other academy teams that run virtually the same offensive system. Now, as a reward for beating Navy’s and Army’s options, the Falcons have been gifted with a ticket to a game against a third triple-option opponent. Scouting and advance film study just won’t be much of a problem for Air Force in the weeks before this showdown in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Then again, those same elements of game prep won’t be a problem for Georgia Tech, either.

The Yellow Jackets somehow found their way to a bowl game, but only by the hair of their chinny chin chin. They looked like a Keystone Cops operation for much of 2010, but scratched out just enough wins to taste a little bit of Independence in Cajun country in the last week of December. Tech ended up with a 6-6 record one year after winning the Atlantic Coast Conference and securing a berth in the Orange Bowl against Iowa. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt got knocked out of the lineup for the remainder of the season when he suffered a severe injury in a night game at Virginia Tech. Backup Tevin Washington did an entirely respectable job of leading the team in Nesbitt’s absence, but he’s just not the same game-breaking player. Georgia Tech’s sieve-like defense also caused a lot of problems for the Jackets in their precipitous drop-off from 2009.

The simple fact that Air Force has its normal, number-one quarterback – unlike Georgia Tech – should matter a lot in this game. The triple-option offense requires a slick ballhandler and a good reader of defenses, so the Falcons would certainly seem to deserve an advantage over the Yellow Jackets in the weeks before kickoff arrives. However, a few lapses on the triple option are all that it will take for that advantage to evaporate. Execution is the key; this game between similar squads won’t be played on paper.

STAT PACK

Georgia Tech:

Passing Yards Per Game: 87.5 (National ranking out of 120 FBS teams: 119)

Rushing Yards Per Game: 327.0 (Ranking: 1)

Points Per Game: 27.6 (Ranking: 54)

Points Allowed Per Game: 26.2 (Ranking: 60)

Air Force

Passing: 119.5 ypg (Ranking: 117)

Rushing: 317.9 ypg (Ranking: 2)

Scoring: 32.3 ppg (Ranking: 32)

Scoring Defense: 22.3 ppg (Ranking: T-71)

Independence Bowl
By Brian Edwards

After winning the ACC and going to a BCS game last year, Ga. Tech had higher aspirations than Shreveport in veteran quarterback Josh Nesbitt’s senior season. But with Nesbitt going down with a broken forearm on Nov. 4, the Yellow Jackets limped down the stretch with four losses in their last five games.

On the flip side, Air Force (8-4 straight up, 4-7 against the spread) has won three in a row, although it failed to cover the number in its last two outings. The Falcons finished the regular season with a 35-20 win at UNLV as 18 ½-point road favorites.

When the numbers were released earlier this month, Sportsbook.com opened Air Force as a 2 ½-point favorite with a total of 56. Over the weekend, Sportsbook.com Senior Oddsmaker Mike Perry told VegasInsider.com that the website had taken “62 percent of our bets for Ga. Tech on the side and 68 percent of wagers for the total on the ‘under.’”

As of late Sunday afternoon, most betting shops had the Falcons favored by 2 1/2 with a total of 56. Bettors can take Ga. Tech (6-6 SU, 5-7 ATS) to win outright for a plus-120 return (risk $100 to win $120).

Four Ga. Tech players were suspended for the Independence Bowl a few days ago, including leading receiver Stephen Hill and starting safety Mario Edwards. Hill leads the Jackets in catches (15), receiving yards (291) and touchdown receptions (3). Edwards is the team’s third-leading tackler with 68.

The other two players who won’t play are senior DE Robert Hall and senior LB Anthony Barnes. Nesbitt hasn’t been completely ruled out yet, but he remains ‘doubtful.’ Three additional players, including starting LB Anthony Egbuniwe, are suspended for the first half after missing curfew Friday night.

In Nesbitt’s absence, Tevin Washington has made three starts and played during most of a 28-21 loss at Va. Tech. Washington has rushed 88 times for 388 yards and four touchdowns. He has completed only 41.7 percent of his passes for 376 yards with a 2/2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

The Jackets are coming off a 42-34 loss at Georgia in their regular-season finale. They outgained the Dawgs in the yardage department (512-429), but couldn’t overcome four turnovers (three fumbles, one interception). Nevertheless, Ga. Tech took the cash as a 14-point road underdog.

This game features the nation’s top two rushing offenses. Air Force is second in the country and is led by junior tailback Asher Clark, who has 1,001 rushing yards and five TDs. Junior QB Tim Jefferson has 769 rushing yards and a team-high 15 TDs. The Falcons will also get senior FB Jared Tew (540 rushing yards, 3 TDs) back for this contest. He suffered a broken fibula in a 27-25 loss to San Diego St. back on Oct. 16.

Ga. Tech senior RB Anthony Allen, a transfer from Louisville, leads the Jackets' balanced attack with 1,225 yards and six TDs. Allen averages 5.6 yards per carry.

Ga. Tech is looking to end a five-game losing streak in bowl games. The Jackets have lost to LSU in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl (38-3) and to Iowa (24-14) in the Orange Bowl since Johnson took over after leaving Navy.

Air Force had dropped three straight bowl games until spanking Houston by a 47-20 count as a 4 ½-point underdog in last season’s Armed Forces Bowl.

Troy Calhoun’s squad has been a single-digit favorite three times this year, posting a 2-1 record both SU and ATS. Meanwhile, Ga. Tech is 3-2 ATS in five underdog spots, winning outright at North Carolina.

Ga. Tech has won all three head-to-head meetings against Air Force, but they have not faced each other since 1979.

Weather is not expected to play a big factor with temperatures in the upper 40s at kick-off time.

ESPN will provide television coverage at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

vegasinsider.com

What Bettors Need to Know: Independence Bowl

Georgia Tech vs. Air Force (-2.5, 56)

The Dec. 27 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., should be a clinic in the option.

Georgia Tech leads the nation with 327 rushing yards per game. Air Force ranks second with 317.9 yards per game. Both teams employ an option-based attack that chews up clock but also creates explosive plays.

Coaches have quipped this could be an extremely quick game, as neither team passes much.

Air Force (8-4, 5-3 Mountain West) enters off three straight wins, with the team averaging 41.6 points during the streak. Coach Troy Calhoun, who took over the program in 2007, was just rewarded with a contract extension through 2015.

The offense revolves around junior quarterback Tim Jefferson, who has run for 769 yards and 15 touchdowns while throwing for 1,342 yards and 10 more scores. Asher Clark has run for 1,001 yards and five touchdowns. He averages 5.8 yards a carry.

Wideout Kevin Fogler, who’s been hampered by a knee injury, should return for the Dec. 27 game and add a deep threat that’s been missing.

Air Force is 9-10-1 all-time in bowl games.

Tech is 22-16 in bowls and 3-0 all-time against Air Force, but those wins over the Falcons came in the late 1970s. With a win, Tech (6-6, 4-4 ACC) would post its 14th straight winning season and snap a five-game bowl skid.

Senior quarterback Joshua Nesbitt, who broke his forearm in the Nov. 4 loss at Virginia Tech, had hoped to return for the bowl but that appears highly unlikely. Sophomore backup Tevin Washington, who nearly rallied the Jackets to a comeback win in Blacksburg, Va., has run for 383 yards and four touchdowns in less than four full games. He’s also thrown for 376 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

However, Tech lost four of its last five, including 42-34 in the season finale at archrival Georgia.

The Jackets like to control the ball with powerful B-back Anthony Allen, who’s run for 1,225 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards a carry. A-backs Orwin Smith (9.7 yards a carry) and Roddy Jones (6.7 yards a carry) are big-play threats on the outside.

If Tech has to throw, Washington will need a receiver to step up. Because 6-foot-5 sophomore Stephen Hill, an incredible athlete who averages 19.4 yards per catch, has been ruled ineligible after not meeting Tech's academic requirements. Starting safety Mario Edwards is ineligible for the same reason.

While Tech doesn't expect to have Nesbitt, Air Force is hoping fullback Jared Tew can return from the broken bone in his right leg that kept him out of the last five games. The senior was the backbone of Air Force’s ground game and had rumbled for 540 yards. Calhoun called Tew “a longshot” to play.
Air Force linebacker Brady Amack, who missed the regular-season finale with a hamstring injury, is expected to be available. The Falcons will be without defensive linemen Zach Payne and Bradley Connor. Both suffered knee injuries in the finale, a 35-20 win over UNLV.

Tips and Trends

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs Air Force Falcons

YELLOW JACKETS: Georgia Tech comes into this bowl contest struggling, having lost 4 of their past 5 games SU. Georgia Tech is 6-6 SU and 5-7 ATS overall this year. The Yellow Jackets are 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS away from home this season. Georgia Tech is 3-2 ATS as the listed underdog this season. The Yellow Jackets are likely to be missing a few key players tonight, noticeably QB Josh Nesbitt. RB Anthony Allen is going to have to be even more lethal today in Nesbitt's absence. Allen led the Yellow Jackets with 1,225 rushing YDS this year, including 6 TD's. Georgia Tech averages 327 YPG rushing, the best mark in the nation. Georgia Tech struggled defensively, as they've allowed at least 27 PTS to 4 of their last 5 opponents. For the season, the Yellow Jackets allow 26.2 PPG, simply middle of the pack in all of FBS this year. The Yellow Jackets are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games following a SU loss. Georgia Tech is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game. The Yellow Jackets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games. Georgia Tech is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 bowl games. The Yellow Jackets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games played in December.

Yellow Jackets are 5-2 ATS last 7 games as an underdog.
Under is 4-0 last 4 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game.

Key Injuries - QB Josh Nesbitt (arm) is doubtful.

Projected Score: 23

FALCONS: (-3, O/U 56) Air Force finished the regular season with a record of 8-4 SU and 4-8 ATS. 3 of the 4 teams Air Force lost to were ranked in the top 8 when they originally played them. Their other was a 2 point road loss at San Diego St, a team that looked dominant in the Poinsettia Bowl. Air Force was 3-3 SU and 2-4 ATS away from home this season. The Falcons were 2-1 ATS as a single digit favorite this year. The Falcons will try to beat Georgia Tech at their own game tonight. Air Force averaged 317 YPG rushing this season, 2nd best in the nation. RB Asher Clark led the Falcons in rushing with more than 1,000 YDS. QB Tim Jefferson had more than 2,100 total YDS this season, including 25 TD's. Defensively, the Falcons allowed 22.3 PPG this year, 37th best in the country. The Falcons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games. Air Force is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game. The Falcons are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall. The Falcons are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following an ATS loss. Air Force is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games played on grass. The Falcons are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU win.

Falcons are 1-6 ATS last 7 games as a favorite.
Under is 4-0 last 4 games following an ATS loss.

Key Injuries - RB Jared Tew (leg) is probable.

Projected Score: 31 (SIDE of the Day)