Independence Bowl: Texas A & M takes on Georgia

INDEPENDENCE

TEXAS A&M (6-6) VS. GEORGIA (7-5)

* Kickoff: 2 PST, Independence Stadium, Shreveport, La.

* TV: ESPN2.

* About Texas A&M: Mike Sherman will go to his first bowl game as Aggies coach after A&M relied on a balanced offensive attack that averaged 33.9 points a game. The Aggies finished fifth in the Big 12 South.

* About Georgia: The Bulldogs had the worst year of the Mark Richt era, prompting the ninth-year coach to fire three defensive staffers after that unit got torched all season. Quarterback Joe Cox had a pass intercepted in each of his first eight games.

* Bowl records: Georgia, 25-16-3; Texas A&M, 13-17.

* Previous meetings: Texas A&M leads the series, 3-1.

* Worth noting: The Aggies rank fifth in the nation at 465 offensive yards a game, and Georgia ranks 10th in the Southeastern Conference at 26.4 points allowed.

* Prediction: Georgia 44, Texas A&M 40.

-- Orlando Sentinel