In week 4 of the CFB season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish head to Athens, GA to take on the Georgia Bulldogs in what is surely the game of the week in college football. The game will be played at Sanford Stadium at 8:00 pm eastern. This game represents the first true test for both teams, each hoping to get a crucial victory which could put them on the path to the College Football Playoff.

So far this season, Georgia has steamrolled everyone in its path. The Bulldogs have won their first three games by a combined score of 148-23. This game, however, will provide the toughest test yet for the SEC East powerhouse. Georgia has improved significantly since they last played Notre Dame and will feel that they should win based off of sheer talent advantage.

This is the first time both programs are meeting since the iconic 2017 matchup when Georgia knocked off the Fighting Irish in South Bend by a score of 20-19. A close game throughout the matchup, Georgia edged Notre Dame with a fourth quarter field goal by Rodrigo Blankenship with 3:34 remaining in the game. The win propelled the Bulldogs toward an eventual SEC Championship and close call to Alabama in the College Football Playoff Championship game. Georgia finished 13-2 on the season with losses against Auburn in November and Alabama in the CFP Championship.

Notre Dame vs. Georgia football TV channel

The game will air on CBS at 8:00 pm eastern time.

Notre Dame vs. Georgia football players to watch

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book with look to step up his game this week. Book has struggled to play well against the top tier teams he has faced and is undoubtedly trying to prove the haters wrong with a big performance against one of the top teams in the nation. Book struggled a little bit in the opener against Louisville, but picked it up in week 2. However, the opposition he has faced so far this season pales in comparison to the talented Georgia defense, and Book will need to take a big step forward in this game in order to achieve the elite status many believe he deserves.

D’Andre Swift, Georgia’s elite running back, is another player to watch in this game. Due to the Bulldogs lack of elite pass-catchers this season, Swift has found himself thrust into a multipurpose role in the Georgia offense. Through the first three games he has rushed for 290 yards and 2 touchdowns. Many expected Swift to be a darkhorse Heisman contender this season, and a big performance on the national stage against Notre Dame could be a big factor in such a pursuit.

Demetris Robertson is another Georgia player who could have a big impact. As mentioned before, many perceive Georgia’s receiving core as a weakness for the team. Robertson has been struggling with injury the first two games, and has yet to make the impact expected of him. If he can regain his health for this game and have a big performance, he may put to bed questions about the quality of this Georgia receiving core.

Alohi Gilman for Notre Dame is a stud at safety, and a big-time difference maker on defense for the Irish. Gilman has recorded 13 tackles and a forced fumble so far this season. It would certainly do a lot for Gilman’s rising stardom, and not to mention his team’s chance of winning, if he were to have a solid game against Jake Fromm and the vaunted Georgia offense. Gilman is certainly capable of being a game changer, and if he can come up with a few big plays in this tight match-up, it may be the difference between a win and a loss.

Notre Dame vs. Georgia football odds

Georgia is favored by 14.5 points in this game, after opening at 12.5 points.

Here are the SDS staff predictions for the Georgia-Notre Dame game and others:

The over/under line is up to 58.

Notre Dame vs. Georgia football history

Notre Dame and Georgia have only played each other two times in the past. Georgia currently leads the series 2-0.

In addition to the 2017 matchup, Georgia beat Notre Dame in 1981 by a score of 17-10.

Georgia 2018 football season review

The Bulldogs had a very good season under Kirby Smart in 2018. They went 10-3, with marquee wins against Florida, Kentucky and Auburn. Georgia had a disappointing end to the season, losing 28-21 to the Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs averaged 38.1 points per game and 464.9 yards per game in 2018.

Additional Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the game?

8:00 p.m. eastern time on Saturday, September 21, 2019.

What channel is the game on?

CBS.

Where is the game being played?

The game is being played at Sanford Stadium in Athens, GA.