Wildcats Aim to Make Splash in First Bowl Since 2010
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TaxSlayer Bowl Central
Kentucky will hit the Sunshine State for its first appearance in the storied TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. It is the Wildcats’ first bowl appearance since 2010 and first matchup with former Southeastern Conference member Georgia Tech since 1960.
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| Kentucky vs. Georgia Tech | ||
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| Sat., Dec. 31 – 11 a.m. ET EverBank Field Jacksonville, Fla. Game Notes: UK  | GT Digital Gameday Program Gameday App |
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| Coverage | ||
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TV: ESPN |
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| UK | 2016 Team Stats | GT |
| 7-5 | Record | 8-4 |
| 4-4 | Conference Record | 4-4 |
| 31.0 | Scoring/game | 27.8 |
| 428.2 | Total offense/game | 388.6 |
| 241.2 | Rushing yards/game | 257.4 |
| 187.0 | Passing yards/game | 131.2 |
| 22.1 | Kickoff returns (avg) | 21.0 |
| 8.4 | Punt returns (avg) | 11.5 |
| 39.2 | Punting (avg) | 43.3 |
| 30:02 | Time of possession/game | 30:07 |
| 39.3% | Third down conversion | 42.1% |
| 83.3% | Fourth down conversion | 45.0% |
| 31.2 | Points allowed/game | 25.0 |
| 439.5 | Total yards allowed/game | 408.1 |
| 225.0 | Rush yards allowed/game | 174.2 |
| 214.5 | Pass yards allowed/game | 233.9 |
The Cats have won seven of their last 10 games, including a road victory over No. 11 Louisville that returned the Governor’s Cup to Lexington. They will have a chance at their first eight-win season since 2007.
Offensively, the Wildcats continue to run the football effectively and now rank 16th nationally in rushing yards per game with 241.2 per contest. UK is averaging 291.4 rushing yards over its past seven games with Boom Williams and Benny Snell Jr. the only running back duo from a Power 5 conference to each have at least 1,000 rushing yards for the season.
Kentucky in Bowl Games
• The Wildcats own an 8-7 all-time record in bowl games.
• The last bowl appearance came in the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Ala. on Jan. 8, 2011. The Cats lost to Pittsburgh, 27-10.
• UK went to five consecutive bowls from 2006-2010.
• Former quarterback Andre’ Woodson was two-time Most Valuable Player of the Music City Bowl in 2006 and 2007.
Cats vs. the Yellow Jackets
• Georgia Tech leads the all-time series 11-7-1.
• Kentucky won the lone neutral site meeting in Louisville in 1940, but Georgia Tech leads the series in Atlanta (7-3-1) and Lexington (4-3).
• The Yellow Jackets were members of the SEC from 1932-63. The two teams played each year from 1935-42 and 1956-60.
Scouting Georgia Tech
• Georgia Tech is 8-4 overall, 4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
• The Yellow Jackets rank 63rd nationally in total defense at 408.1 yards per game allowed.
• Kentucky and Georgia Tech have played two common opponents this season: Georgia and Vanderbilt. The Cats split those two games while Georgia Tech defeated Vanderbilt 38-7 and won at Georgia, 28-27, in the regular season finale.
• The 38 points scored against Vanderbilt were the most the Commodores allowed this season.
• Georgia Tech will be without leading rusher Marcus Marshall, who announced his transfer from the program.
• Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is a three-time ACC Coach of the Year and has reached three ACC Championship Games in his nine years with the Yellow Jackets.
• Johnson has 176 career victories during stops at Georgia Tech, Navy and Georgia Southern.
Kentucky-Georgia Tech Connections
• Kentucky has 10 players from the state of Georgia: LS Blake Best, DB Isaiah Brown, DE T.J. Carter, DB Jordan Griffin, RB Sihiem King, DT Courtney Miggins, DE Calvin Taylor Jr., RB Boom Williams, QB Luke Wright and LS/H Tristan Yeomans
• Georgia Tech’s lone player from the state of Kentucky is OL Davis Beard, who hails from Louisville.
• UK head coach Mark Stoops, defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot, offensive coordinator Eddie Gram, defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh, inside linebackers/special teams coordinator Matt House and wide receivers coach Lamar Thomas have all coached against the Yellow Jackets.
• Stoops, Eliot and Gran all faced Georgia Tech in the 2012 ACC Championship Game while at Florida State, a game the Seminoles won 21-15.
• Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Ted Roof, defensive line coach Mike Pelton and co-offensive line coach Ron West have all coached against Kentucky at past coaching stops.
