The Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners will face off in this year’s Rose Bowl with a trip to the national championship game on the line.

The matchup between the SEC Bulldogs and Big 12 Sooners will pit Oklahoma’s high-powered offense, led by Heisman-winning QB Baker Mayfield, against Georgia’s stout defense, led by star LB Roquan Smith.

Recently, former SEC quarterbacks and current ESPN analysts Tim Tebow and Greg McElroy weighed in on the matchup, sharing their thoughts on the semifinal game.

Tebow said Georgia’s offense vs. Oklahoma’s defense would be a big part of the game, too, but added that the Bulldogs would have their hands full trying to stop Mayfield (via 247Sports):

“(Georgia) has three of the best running backs in the country,” Tebow said. “A lot of people forget it’s not a one-headed or two-headed monster. (Freshman) D’Andre Swift is a baller and he separated the game when they played against Auburn in the SEC championship. I think it’s going to be a key in this game. Can Oklahoma match up when they’re throwing the (swing passes) and getting the ball into the hands of these playmakers?

“This defense for Georgia has to play team defense. It’s not just getting pressure, because Baker Mayfield will step up and avoid. It’s about working with the secondary. When they blitz, they have to have each other’s backs. When it’s man-to-man, they got to get pressure on the quarterback. Lorenzo Carter and (Davin) Bellamy, they got to get to Baker.

“(Mayfield) gets the ball out fast when it’s off coverage. It’s different when it’s press, man-to-man, get in your face, we’re going to throw some hands a little bit. We have to see the difference in the matchups and how Oklahoma adjusts. Do they try to get one-on-ones with (tight end) Mark Andrews? Do they try to throw verticals on the outside of the field? I think that will be key. They’re not just going to have gimme six-yard hitches. It’s a different ballgame. It’s the semifinals.”

McElroy expects the scoreboard to light up at the Rose Bowl, citing Mizzou’s success against Georgia’s defense earlier this year:

“I think this game is going to be absolutely off the charts and high scoring,” McElroy said. “I’m taking Oklahoma. When you look at how Mizzou, which is really the only air-raid team that Georgia saw all year, Mizzou had their way with this Georgia defense, especially in the first half. Now it didn’t look good in the second half because Georgia made adjustments.

“But I think Baker Mayfield is light years ahead of (Mizzou starter) Drew Lock. In regards to his comfort level within the offense. I do think the perimeter run game will be difficult for Oklahoma to slow down. I think it’s going to be a high-scoring affair, maybe 38-35. And when it becomes high scoring, I go with the quarterback and Baker Mayfield does it like nobody else in college football.”

Will they be proven right? Well, that’s why they play the games.

The New Year’s Day semifinal matchup is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. Eastern time and can be seen on ESPN.