No. 1 Georgia and no. 3 TCU will decide the season’s national champion in the College Football Playoff National Championship Monday night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The Bulldogs beat the No. 1 team 42-41. 4. Ohio State The Horned Frogs are still steaming after a shocking No. 1 finish in the Peach Bowl semifinals. 2 Michigan 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinals.
Georgia is looking to become the first repeat national champion of the CFP era and the first since Alabama accomplished the feat in 2011-12. Led by quarterback Heisman Trophy finalist Stetson Bennett IV, the Dawgs have developed into one of the most balanced and efficient offenses in the country. The Frogs also sent a player to New York as a Heisman finalist. Max Duggan, who didn’t even start the season as TCU’s No. 1 player. 1 signal-caller, has become one of the most dynamic players in the country.
What should you expect Monday night in Los Angeles? Let’s break down the game and go straight to pick and go against the spread.
Georgia vs. TCU: Need to know
Bulldogs evolve on the outside: Going into the playoffs, Georgia’s list of top receivers is pretty odd. Its leading receiver is tight end (Brock Bowers), with wide receiver (Ladd McConkey) and running back (Kenny McIntosh) rounding out the top three. At Peach Bowl, it becomes apparent that Bennett has more weapons on the outside than initially thought.
Adonai Mitchell, who was injured for most of the season, had a game-winning touchdown and 43 receiving yards, Arian Smith had 129 yards and a pivotal fourth-quarter score, Marcus Rosemi-Jackson Featured two key catches. All of those receivers have stepped up, especially considering McConkie is still not 100 percent back from a knee injury he suffered last month, and the status of monster tight end Darnell Washington hangs in the balance.
“We’re sitting on a musical chair, most of it because people get hurt at wide receiver, but between AD and Marcus, there’s a lot of people out there,” coach Kirby Smart said this week.I think [WR coach] Brian McClendon and [offensive coordinator Todd] Monken does a fantastic job of carve- ing these characters. “
TCU’s Running Back Watch: Star rusher Kendrey Miller, who rushed for 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, left the Fiesta Bowl with a knee injury.his place in the championship game still a mystery. Senior Emari Demercado may get first-team representation if he can’t go. DeMercado rushed for 125 yards on 14 carries and had a clutch 69-yarder in the third quarter. Louisiana transfer Emani Bailey, who has 29 carries, 241 rushing yards and two touchdowns this season, will likely serve as the primary backup. Bailey had 642 yards and eight touchdowns with the Ragin’ Cajuns last season.
“I think he feels good,” coach Sonny Dykes said of Miller. “We had a good (assessment) on him when we came back from Phoenix the night before. He was sore. Woke up yesterday feeling better. I just saw him. He felt better today. So I will say he There might be issues, that’s how I bring it up. We’ll see how he progresses this week, see how he feels, and we’ll make a decision closer to game time if we think he’s going to be ready to play.”
Battle of the Great Drama: Wide receiver Quinten Johnston, who has been the Duggan’s pass catcher all season, will have a very interesting matchup Monday night against a talented Dawgs secondary.
“We’re just starting to get to them today, but they stand out with their size on the perimeter,” Georgia defensive back Javon Bullard said this week. “We know they’ve got some really big receivers with a lot of radius and they can run. Anytime you have that size on the perimeter, whether it’s a quick game or a deep ball, it’s always a great game. Contest.”
That secondary player, however, was ignited by Ohio State’s passing game, particularly star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. This came after LSU threw for 502 yards in the SEC championship game.
“Ohio State had some big games against them,” Dykers said. “And I’m sure especially in the passing game. And I’m sure they’re going to work on some of that. And, frankly, they just made some contested plays, and Ohio State has a really good group of wide receivers. .Those guys played really well.”
A chess match between the Frogs’ catcher and the Dawgs’ second-in-command could decide the outcome of the title race.
How to watch Georgia vs. TCU live
game: College Football Playoff National Championship
date: Monday 9 January | time: 8 p.m. ET
Place: SoFi Stadium – Los Angeles
television: ESPN | live streaming: fuboTV (free trial)
Georgia vs. TCU predictions, picks
featured games | Georgia Bulldogs vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Barrett Sally: TCU is 9-3-1 this season, but it has yet to encounter a situation like it did in the championship game. Georgia’s speed, depth and experience will end TCU’s magic in a game similar to the Dodgers’ win over Tennessee earlier this season. They’ll win the scrimmage early, turn it into a couple of touchdowns in the first half, and deflate on the way to the resounding victory they’ll control from the start. The public will want a shootout similar to the one these two teams produced last weekend. Sadly, for the public, it will be the exact opposite. Picks: Georgia (-13) | Georgia 31, TCU 14
Tom Funelli: I’ve stopped trying to figure out who TCU can and can’t beat this year, and this game. I am concerned with totals. There have been eight CFP National Championships, and they tend to score high despite having the best defense in the country. Eight games averaged 64.5 points. While having an elite defense is often what separates a top team from the rest, once you get to that point, we’ve seen offense win time and time again. I expect that to be the case on Monday. The team probably won’t be led by a future first-round NFL pick, but Duggan and Bennett didn’t make it to the Heisman finals this season by accident. Picks: Over 62.5 | Georgia 38, TCU 30
Chip Patterson: On the brink of building a new modern dynasty, Georgia has this matchup with TCU, which has the talent and championship experience to help them be the favorites. But after seeing how TCU made Michigan pay for its offense and defensive lapses in the Fiesta Bowl, I think Smart would be happy to approach it the same way old-school Alabama did against high-octane offenses this problem. Limit turnovers, play field position, and have Jimmy and Joe in the trenches wear out TCU. I’m sure the back door will never be fully locked with an offense that Dugan and the Frogs can score quickly, but I think the Dodgers are on track for their second straight title. Picks: TCU (+13), under 62.5 | Georgia 34, TCU 27
Dennis Dodd: The biggest reason TCU can win this game…they’re playing! At this point, the Frog family has accomplished what no previous contender for the throne has done. Boise didn’t make it here. Neither Cincinnati nor UCF. So, in a vacuum, TCU can definitely win. Michigan underestimated it. Georgia doesn’t, but does it matter? Frog is better than advertised. Scoring and coming from behind is in their DNA. They will not be intimidated. They’re not going to trail by 10 points in the fourth quarter. In fact, that’s the way they like it, it seems. If you want an early indicator of this game, watch TCU center Steve Avila take on Georgia tackle Jalen Carter. All Avila needs is a confrontation. Can Georgia explain TCU’s athleticism on defense? Bennett hasn’t been stopped yet, at least not in the last 16 games of the nation’s longest winning streak. Picks: TCU +13, over 62.5 | Georgia 34, TCU 30
Shehan Jeyarajah: TCU wins the biggest betting upset in college football history, beating Michigan. Why give up the frog now? TCU has NFL talent all over the floor and a receiver who will be the first player to leave in April. Georgia has had its share of mistakes against Ohio State at times, especially with tight end Darnell Washington sidelined with an injury. The Bulldogs rely on tight-end mismatches to create effective offense, so even limited Washington will be concerned about a basically sound Joe Gillespie defense. The last two touchdowns were too big, especially with a player like Duggan moving the chain. Ride to cover with the frogs; they have a chance to shock the world. Picks: TCU (+13) | TCU 28, Georgia 24
Adam Silverstein: Georgia is a known force, and TCU is still viewed as a brave underdog, which creates a favorable line. Despite their seeming lack of pedigree, the Frogs aren’t just a team that surprises opponents and can score. They actually come in with the 19th most efficient defense in the country and have a special team that ranks better than the Dawgs in efficiency (49-84). TCU is live dew Yet in this game, getting close to two touchdowns against a team that goes to a 9-3 ATS and (at least in my opinion) has a 25 percent chance of outright winning the game is very valuable. In a worst-case scenario, a backdoor cover will come into play. Since 1999, the double-digit bowl favorite is a 2-5 ATS and the 5+ national championship favorite is a 4-11 ATS. Picks: TCU (+13) | Georgia 37, TCU 30
Jack Crosby: I love TCU for the CFP National Championships as much as anyone else. Sure, the Frogs are a Big 5 team, but they’re a Cinderella story in the sense that they just came off a 5-7 season, fired their longtime coach, and finished in the Big 12 preseason. Voted seventh in the race media poll. Dykes has led this team to something truly remarkable, and while TCU may stay close for a while, Georgia will retreat in the second half as it dominates in the trenches. This punishing Georgia squad will slowly but surely wear down the Froggers and continue to build their dynasty as Smart captures his second straight national title and the Dodgers cover a massive spread . Picks: Georgia (-13) | Georgia 45, TCU 28
Ben Kechevar: There are many ways to dissect this game, but I’ll kiss Georgia as the best team in college football all season long. In the most important games against the toughest opponents, the Bulldogs have shown time and time again why they’re just another rung above everyone else. TCU has the offensive weapons to attack Georgia’s pass defense, but it’s hard for me to imagine the Dawgs’ defensive line being an irrelevant factor for the second straight game. Will score, but not like we saw in the semi-final. After picking frogs in the Fiesta Bowl, I’d sell them for a fortune and even gift Georgia a front door cover. Pick: Georgia (-13), Over 62.5 | Georgia 41, TCU 27
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