Music City Bowl Capsule
Dec 29, 2015 - 9:56 PM Louisville (7-5) vs. Texas A&M (8-4), Wednesday, 7 p.m. (ESPN)Line: Louisville by 4
Series Record: Texas A&M 3-0.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
After opening the season with three straight losses, Louisville can finish with their six of their final seven games and give coach Bobby Petrino his 100th career victory. The Cardinals also are looking for their third win in their last four bowls. Texas A&M is trying to send home a second straight senior class with four straight bowl victories.
KEY MATCHUP
Louisville has the 13th-stingiest defense in the nation, allowing just 323.4 yards per game. The Cardinals also led the Atlantic Coast Conference and ranked 14th nationally with 16 interceptions. Christian Kirk is averaging 14.8 yards per touch this season, and he is 75 yards shy of joining Mike Evans as the only Aggies wide receivers with 1,000 yards receiving as freshmen.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Louisville: Freshman QB Lamar Jackson. He ran for a school-record 734 yards and scored nine touchdowns, and he also has thrown for 1,613 yards with 10 TDs and eight interceptions. He is expected to start his seventh game this season, first since Oct. 30.
Texas A&M: Texas A&M sophomore Jake Hubenak is making his first start after both Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray transferred earlier this month. A walk-on who redshirted at Oklahoma State in 2013, Hubenak threw for 4,052 yards in junior college last year. He was 12 of 27 for 92 yards and a TD in five games this season.
FACTS & FIGURES
Louisville is playing in its sixth straight bowl and 20th overall. ... Petrino went 3-0 against Texas A&M when he coached Arkansas. ... Louisville is 16-36-1 all-time vs. current members of the Southeastern Conference. Louisville is 1-1 this season and has won six of the past eight against SEC teams. ... Cardinals linebacker Devonte Fields tied for second nationally with 19 1/2 tackles for loss, and teammate Sheldon Rankins had 12. ... Texas A&M is playing in its seventh straight bowl, the longest streak in school history. ... Kirk leads the FBS averaging 24.4 yards per punt return. ... Aggies defensive end Myles Garrett leads the SEC with 11 1/2 sacks and 18 1/2 tackles for loss. ... The Aggies rank fourth nationally allowing 161.3 yards passing.
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AP College Football website: collegefootball.ap.org
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