Georgia is installed as a nearly two-touchdown favorite over TCU, according to the oddsmakers.TCU is still not respected, despite making detractors seem silly.
There is already speculation that a second consecutive national championship is a formality for Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs, and that by beating Ohio State in the Peach Bowl, they have passed their toughest test of the season en route to an undefeated campaign.
We ought to be wiser by now. The bookmakers The authors. The discussing heads. We did not vote for the Horned Frogs in the preseason. We kept anticipating their deception. We believed they had no chance against Michigan.
This squad has only succeeded in proving everyone silly. It is not located here by chance. Six of its triumphs have been decided by a single point. It exceeds expectations in the trenches. Its tenacious and opportunistic defense forced three turnovers in the victory over Michigan. Both were pick-sixes.
Georgia, as skilled and well-balanced it may be, was fortunate to defeat a depleted Ohio State team. In the fourth quarter, everything had to go perfect for it to succeed. If Marvin Harrison Jr. does not sustain a head injury late in the third quarter or if safety Lathan Ransom does not slip, resulting in a 76-yard touchdown reception by Arian Smith at the middle of the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs’ season may be gone.
In the CFP semifinal triumph over Michigan, TCU running back Emari Demercado (3) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1).
Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud threw for 384 yards and four touchdowns against Georgia’s secondary, demonstrating that it is a problem. TCU’s quarterback Max Duggan and game-changing wide receiver Quentin Johnston will be difficult for Georgia to manage. The Horned Frogs average 41,2 points per game, which ranks third nationally.
Now, I anticipate Georgia to perform better on January 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Saturday was not its finest showing. Smart and quarterback Stetson Bennett discussed the need to clean up the team’s play. The Bulldogs, who have won 16 consecutive games and 30 of their past 31, ought to be the favorite, and it would be surprising if they did not become the first team to repeat as champions since Alabama in 2011-12.
However, ignoring TCU would be a mistake. The Horned Frogs outperformed a talented Michigan squad. They fit in. They have often demonstrated it this season.
Before we truly move on to what could be a riveting championship game, I wanted to reflect on the College Football Playoff’s best day in its nine-year history.
There were two outstanding semifinal contests, each of which was a classic that was decided in the closing seconds. It was the first time in history that both semifinals were decided by a single point. One underdog (TCU) won, while the other (Ohio State) came close. The Peach Bowl was determined when the calendar switched from 2022 to 2023, and the scoreboards were lit up like Christmas trees.
Against Michigan, TCU’s Quentin Johnston scores a touchdown.
Over the past decade, the favorite has coasted much too regularly. You can accurately guess which teams will qualify for the playoffs. Even the postseason contests are lopsided. This year has been unusual, as TCU was unranked in the preseason, and Saturday was no exception. Some have argued that the two semifinal games prove the system works and that a 12-team playoff is unnecessary. I believe it proves the reverse, that the playing field is becoming more even, and the addition of eight teams to the bracket will only add to the excitement and provide us with more games like the one we just experienced.
Ohio State demonstrated its legitimacy, and Stroud shown he should be the first quarterback selected in the NFL draft. The Georgia defense, which contains a number of potential NFL players, was utterly destroyed by him. He utilized his legs to lengthen plays and shot darts from the pocket the entire evening. It was impossible not to be impressed by the performance of the young quarterback at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Don’t forget that he accomplished this feat without his top receiver, Harrison, in the fourth quarter, and without two of his top playmakers, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back Treyveon Henderson. It baffles me that some experts believe Will Levis of Kentucky is a better alternative than Stroud. This is another victory for Zach Wilson over Justin Fields.
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