Capital One Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs (11-2) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-3)

Kickoff: Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. ET (ABC) at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Forecast: Partly cloudy, high around 75

Spread: Georgia by 10

Watchability: This should be one of the most entertaining bowl games, as these teams average more than 72 points combined. Georgia (37.2 ppg) is gunning for the third 12-win season in program history. Nebraksa (35.1) aims for its first 11-win campaign since 2001. Both teams are coming off big disappointments. The Bulldogs came up five yards short of the BCS title game, while the Cornhuskers were demolished in the Big Ten championship game with a Rose Bowl berth at stake.

Shining stars: Georgia -- OLB Jarvis Jones. Mel Kiper’s current No. 1 overall draft pick, the 6-3, 241-pounder is the SEC defensive player of the year after ranking second in sacks (12.5) and leading the conference in tackles for loss (22.5) and forced fumbles (7). Nebraska -- QB Taylor Martinez. The school’s all-time leader in total offense, Martinez ran for 973 yards and 10 TDs while throwing for 2,667 yards and 21 scores against 10 INTs. The Big Ten’s highest-rated passer (142.3), Martinez loves throwing to WR Kenny Bell (46 catches, 803 yards, 8 TDs).

Who could steal the show: Georgia -- RB Todd Gurley. The true freshman led SEC running backs with 1,260 yards (6.3 ypc) and 16 TDs. He trails only Herschel Walker (1,616) and Knowshon Moreno (1,334) for rushing yards gained by a UGA freshman. Nebraska -- RB Rex Burkhead. The senior missed six games with a left knee injury, but he’s healthy now, providing a perfect complement to leading rusher Ameer Abdullah. Burkhead ripped undefeated Ohio State for 119 yards and averages 7.2 per carry for the season.

Magic number for Georgia: 2. QB Aaron Murray ranks second nationally in pass efficiency (172.4). He’s the first player in SEC history to throw for 3,000-plus yards in three straight years.

Magic number for Nebraska: 1. The Blackshirts, the nickname of the Cornhuskers' starting defense, is first nationally in passing yards allowed (148.2).

3 keys to a Georgia win

  • Feed Gurley and Marshall. The Huskers have given up 1,254 rushing yards in their three losses. There’s no reason for Georgia OC Mike Bobo to get cute; let Gurley and Marshall (723 yards, 8 TDs) carry the load.
  • Wrap up: The Bulldogs allowed Alabama to run for 350 yards in part because they tried to knock down Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon or strip the ball. DC Todd Grantham knows his defense must wrap up better against a Huskers offense that ranks eighth nationally in rushing (254.5).
  • Motivation: Georgia is more talented, but faces a bigger psychological hurdle after barely missing a chance to play for the school’s first national title since 1980. The Huskers won’t have any trouble getting up for this game. To cap a special season in style, the Bulldogs must put aside their disappointment. 

3 keys to a Nebraska win

  • Big-play defense: Nebraska isn’t going to shut down Georgia, but this defense has big-play capability. Senior S Daimion Stafford has four INTs and as a unit the Huskers picked off 11 passes, returning two for TDs. Senior DE Eric Martin (8.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss) leads a line that has 29 sacks and 36 QB hurries. 
  • Protect the football: The Huskers rank 105th in turnover margin at minus-11, while the Bulldogs rank 20th at plus-10. Nebraska, which has lost 21 fumbles, must at least stay even in turnovers to pull the upset.
  • Run right at Georgia: The Crimson Tide gashed Georgia primarily between the tackles, and Nebraska would be wise to follow suit. Bulldogs NT John Jenkins (academics) won’t play, and reserve NT Mike Thornton (ankle) is questionable. Abdullah, Burkhead and Martinez should test Georgia up the middle. 

Prediction: Georgia 41, Nebraska 31

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Daniel Lewis and Larry Hartstein, follow @CBSSportsSEC.