Baker Mayfield threw for 300 yards 8 times. Can Georgia hold him to a season-low?
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Oklahoma enters Monday’s Rose Bowl game against Georgia with one of the nation’s most dangerous passing offenses.
The Sooners and Heisman Trophy-winning QB Baker Mayfield have the country’s No. 2 overall passing offense, averaging 367.4 yards per game through the air (second only to Oklahoma State).
However, the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against the Bulldogs won’t be easy for Mayfield and company, as the Bulldogs boast the No. 2 overall passing defense in the nation, giving up a measly 158.3 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks.
It will be strength against strength Monday, so something will have to give.
Mayfield has thrown for 300 or more yards eight times in Oklahoma’s 13 games. His season-high came against Oklahoma State, where he threw for 598 yards and five touchdowns. His season-low of 243, surprisingly, came in the Big 12 title game against TCU, but he still managed to throw for four touchdowns.
[table “” not found /]Mayfield threw at least 2 TD passes in every game this season (26 consecutive games dating to last season). He threw 3 or more in 10 games.
On the flip side, Georgia has only given up 250 or more passing yards twice this season, and only once has a single quarterback eclipsed that mark — Mizzou’s Drew Lock, who threw for 253. Auburn threw for 251 yards against Georgia in the first meeting, but Jarrett Stidham only had 214 of those yards (a 37-yard completion by Malik Willis accounted for the rest).
So, will the Bulldogs keep their elite defensive season going? Or will Mayfield show why he won the Heisman with another huge effort?
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Hurting Mayfield’s chances is that fact that he’s been hampered by the flu this week, having to miss the Sooners’ trip to Disneyland and a couple of media appearances. He’ll be ready to play Monday, of course, sick or not. However, not being at full strength to prepare for the tough Georgia defense isn’t a good sign.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have the benefit of having had longer to prepare for Mayfield than any team has this year. The four-plus weeks of bowl preparations are exactly what a coach like Kirby Smart needs to get his team ready for a Heisman-winning quarterback like Mayfield.
There will be certain things Georgia can work into the game plan — jamming receivers at the line, disguising coverages, etc. — to try to confuse Mayfield, who hasn’t faced a defense like Georgia’s yet this year.
This isn’t to say the Bulldogs will completely shut down Mayfield and the Sooners, but limiting the damage will be the name of the game on Monday. Mayfield has thrown at least two touchdown passes in every single game this year, and that trend will likely continue at the Rose Bowl.
However, at the end of the day, Georgia’s defense has all the skills necessary to prevent Mayfield from completely dominating the New Year’s Day semifinal matchup.
Verdict: The Bulldogs’ defense proves to be too much for the Heisman winner, who throws for 200+ yards but comes up short of his ninth 300-yard day.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
