Something has to give in this match-up, Georgia is an excellent Rushing Offense and Louisville is an outstanding Rushing Defense.  In our opinion this is a top flight match-up.  Whoever wins this part of the game….wins the game.

Georgia Rushing Offense

The Bulldogs were the 13th best rushing offense in 2014 averaging 255 yards on the ground per game. That is a HUGE number, and UGA did that largely without the services of all-world Running Back Todd Gurley.

Georgia played FIVE Top 50 Rushing Defenses in 2014 and Louisville will be the best Rushing Defense yet for the Bulldogs.  But the last time they played a team even in the same category as Louisville’s Rush D, Clemson, the Bulldogs MAULED the Tigers and gained 328 yards in the season opener on the ground.  Clemson finished #7 in the nation in Rushing Defense DESPITE that total allowed in its first game.

Georgia gained 200+ yards in 9 of 11 FBS games, and went over 300+ in 3 of 11 games.  That is huge and consistent.

On the year Georgia gained 97 yards more on the ground than its opponents usually allowed or 169.24% of the average. Against Louisville’s 93.67 yards allowed per game, the stats suggest that UGA will gain 158-191.  Only two teams fell into that range against the Cards in 2014 (FSU and BC).

Rushing Defense Georgia Gained vs. Deviation from Avg. % Gained of Avg
Clemson 97.67 328 230.33 335.82%
South Carolina 214.42 217 2.58 101.20%
Troy 246.08 367 120.92 149.14%
Tennessee 162.08 289 126.92 178.31%
Vanderbilt 183.75 243 59.25 132.24%
Missouri 135.31 210 74.69 155.20%
Arkansas 124 207 83 166.94%
Florida 116.82 141 24.18 120.70%
Kentucky 191.17 305 113.83 159.54%
Auburn 149.5 289 139.5 193.31%
Georgia Tech 168.77 194 25.23 114.95%
Louisville 93.67 Average 97.52 169.24%

Louisville Rushing Defense

UofL’s ground defense finished 2014 as the #3 Run D in the nation, following up from its #1 Run Defense performance in 2013.  The Cards held opponents under 100 yards rushing in 6 of 11 FBS games and under 150 yards in 8 of 11.

The Cards played just THREE Top 50 rushing offenses in 2014 and held all three of those teams under its average.  In fact, only Florida State was able to gain more than its average on the season versus Louisville.

Louisville held opponents under 52 yards of its average on the season or to just 58% of its usual average.  Against Georgia’s 255 yards per game rushing the suggested stat range in the Belk Bowl is 149-202 yards on the ground, which is a much wider range than what we found above.  Who wins this match-up wins the game.

Rushing Offense Louisville Allowed vs. Deviation from Avg. % Gained of Avg
Miami (FL) 179.92 70 -109.92 38.91%
Virginia 137.75 114 -23.75 82.76%
FIU 125.17 88 -37.17 70.30%
Wake Forest 39.92 -22 -61.92 -55.11%
Syracuse 145.83 59 -86.83 40.46%
Clemson 153 72 -81 47.06%
NC State 206 128 -78 62.14%
Florida State 134.85 173 38.15 128.29%
Boston College 251.83 166 -85.83 65.92%
Notre Dame 150.83 99 -51.83 65.64%
Kentucky 153.17 151 -2.17 98.58%
Georgia 255 Average -52.752 58.63%
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@UofLSheriff50. Louisville native, University of Louisville Business School Grad c/o 2004. Co-Founder of TheCrunchZone.com

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