The ACC and SEC square off for the 18th edition of the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, as the Texas A&M Aggies take on the Louisville Cardinals at Nissan Stadium. Both teams are coming off disappointing seasons and are desperately in need of a morale-boosting victory that’ll serve as a launching pad for their 2016 campaign. This bowl game will be the perfect and last opportunity to do so. Who’ll take home the glory?
Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this promising battle. And if you’re still craving for some more bowl action, check out our detailed preview of the Nevada Wolf Pack vs. Colorado State Rams in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl Preview
Where: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
When: Sunday, December 30, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Texas A&M Aggies (+4) vs. Louisville Cardinals (-4); total: 47.0 – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Texas A&M Aggies (8-4, 4-4 SEC)
The Texas A&M Aggies are going to look a little different in this matchup. They’ll have a new starting quarterback in Jake Hubenak since Kyle Allen and freshman Kyler Murray, who combined for 2,896 yards, 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions this year, have both decided to transfer to different programs. This move certainly puts the Aggies in complete disarray, but nonetheless they’ll have to keep moving forward and make the necessary adjustments.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Speaking of adjustments, Hubenak, who split time this season between backup and third-stringer, will now be making his first career start against the Louisville Cardinals for the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. In five appearances for the Aggies, he’s passed for just 92 yards (12-of-27) and a single touchdown.
From those numbers alone, it’s clear that there’s some potential and a tremendous lack of experience. That being said, a lot of the pressure falls on running back Tra Carson to help Hubenak locate his comfort zone and take some of the offensive burden off him. Carson boasts a team-best of 1,059 rushing yards with six touchdowns this season.
Besides Carson, Hubenak will also have plenty of targets in Christian Kirk, Josh Reynolds and Ricky Seals-Jones to help him ignite their passing game, which is averaging 248.8 yards per contest. The three wideouts have combined for a staggering 2,197 receiving yards and 14 scores. But they might have their work cut out for them opposite a Louisville defense that allows just 26.3 points and 211.5 passing yards per game.
If the Aggies do struggle to find a steady rhythm on offense, it’s a good thing they can compensate for this via their improved defense that’s yielding only 22.0 points per outing (24th in the nation).
Texas A&M is 6-4 SU and 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games.
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Betting on the Louisville Cardinals (7-5, 5-3 ACC)
Despite a slow start, the Louisville Cardinals were able to get things together and go on a roll towards the end of their campaign by winning five of their final six games. Their offense found its groove especially in the last four games in which they averaged 37.8 points. That stretch includes their inspiring 38-24 victory over long-time rivals, Kentucky Wildcats, wherein quarterback Lamar Jackson displayed his dual-threat abilities to help his team finish on a winning note.
Jackson led the charge with 130 passing yards (8-of-21) and a touchdown while rumbling for 186 yards with two scores on 17 carries. He’ll definitely be looking to build on this momentum and hopefully give his club its eight win when they lock horns with the Texas A&M Aggies in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium.
In order to do so, Jackson, who’s thrown for 1,613 yards and 10 touchdowns this year, ought to remain aggressive on the ground and make life tough for the Aggies’ leaky front seven that’s allowing 212.2 yards per contest. He currently boasts a team-high of 734 rushing yards with nine scores.
Apart from the ground game, the Cardinals could also resort to their passing attack (244.1 yards per game) through Jamari Staples or James Quick. The two wide receivers have combined for 1,161 receiving yards and eight scores this season. But it’ll be interesting to see if the two will be able to make their presences felt versus a very solid Texas A&M secondary.
Defense, meanwhile, will probably be the deciding factor and the biggest driving force for the Cardinals. They have held opponents to fewer than 20 points five times in the regular season and are 17th in the nation with just 334.5 yards given up per game.
Louisville is 6-2 SU and ATS in its last eight games against the SEC.
Writer’s Prediction
Cardinals (-4) win, 27-20.
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