Georgia’s national title path: 3 ideal matchups, 3 teams to avoid
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The Georgia Bulldogs look like a juggernaut once again. After losing inexplicably at home against the Auburn Tigers, Kirby Smart‘s squad has reeled off back-to-back dominant wins against the Florida Gators and the Ole Miss Rebels.
The win at Ole Miss was especially impressive, as the Dawgs posted a 42-7 final score and never really had to sweat.
Even if the Bulldogs lose another game in the last 3 weeks (vs. Mizzou, at South Carolina, vs. Georgia Tech), they’re still a near-lock for the College Football Playoff.
There’s a strong chance the Dawgs are the No. 1 team in the new Playoff top 25 rankings that come out on Tuesday night. So, who should the Bulldogs hope to see in the quarterfinals and beyond?
Let’s start with the most-favorable matchups:
Georgia’s ideal CFP opponents
If Georgia were to face any of these teams in the Playoff, it would probably go well for the Dawgs:
1. Wake Forest
Wake Forest has had an incredible season, and if it takes care of business, a trip to the final ACC Championship Game might be in order. But the Demon Deacons, while they’ve put up strong numbers defensively, haven’t had a great success rate. That’s particularly true against the pass, where the Demon Deacons rank No. 117 in the nation, per Game on Paper. Wake Forest lost its only matchup against a truly elite squad this year (Miami), and while it kept the score close, I’d trust Georgia in this spot in the Playoff.
2. Tennessee
Tennessee is a tough team. The Vols have proven that time and time again. I’m not trying to minimize what they’ve accomplished. But, they match up terribly with Georgia. They’re one-dimensional on offense, relying heavily on an elite running back in DeSean Bishop. And the game would be on a neutral field, not at Neyland Stadium, where the Vols are almost unbeatable. I’d like Georgia’s chances a lot in a Playoff matchup.
3. BYU
BYU has one of the best-looking wins of the year against Notre Dame, but the Cougars have been struggling lately. A loss to UCF was baffling, and then the Cougars let a great opportunity slip away against an elite Utah team in the Holy War. Bear Bachmeier is a good QB, but having him go against the Dawgs’ defense seems like a recipe for disaster for BYU.
3 matchups Georgia should want to avoid
These are the teams Georgia should hope end up on the opposite side of the 12-team bracket:
1. Miami
This is especially true if star WR Malachi Toney is able to return from injury in time for the postseason. This is an elite offense even without Toney, as Darian Mensah is among the Heisman Trophy favorites. The Georgia offense could find success against a Miami defense that isn’t as strong as last year, but the Hurricanes’ offense is one of a very few around the country that could cause problems for the Bulldogs’ defense.
2. Alabama
Yes, Georgia already went to Tuscaloosa and won this year. But these 2 teams could very well meet again in the SEC Championship Game. Any third meeting in the Playoff would be really tough for both sides. I think Georgia is certainly capable of beating Alabama once again on a neutral field, but if I were the Dawgs, I’d simply want to avoid the Tide altogether.
3. Notre Dame
These 2 teams are too similar, in my opinion. Great defenses, strong QB play, well coached. Just strong, solid overall teams. If Notre Dame and Georgia played on a neutral field, it’d be a tossup. There are better hypothetical title game matchups on the board for Georgia.
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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.
