Who Will Win Between UGA Football And Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl?
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NEW ORLEANS - The Dawg Post crew shares their picks on who will win in each of the College Football Playoff games this week.
Penn State (-11) vs. Boise State | Fiesta | ESPN | 7:30 PM | Tuesday
Matt: The CFP commiittee will be sweating this one hard. They’re prayin this one won’t be a blowout, but it certainly could be. Yes, Boise State is strong defensively, they best running back in college football, and a quarterback who takes care of the ball. Still, they won’t be able to match the size, speed, and overall talent that Penn State has. They’re the better tem and they’re playing at a high level. They have a strong enough defensive front that should allow them to contain Jeanty enough to secure a win. Give me Penn State to roll and cover this game. It’s been fun, Boise, but the ride if over. Penn State (-11).
Ryan: I very much wanted to take Boise State in this game. Ashton Jeanty is an absolute freak, and has been slowed down by no team this season, including Oregon. The big line was also tempting in considering going with the Broncos here.
I can’t do it. I have Penn State (-11). The Nittany Lions’ front seven will be better than any that Boise State has faced this season. Jeanty might ball out, but that pass rush is going to make things very difficult when Maddux Madsen drops back to throw. I think Penn State will force Boise State to be one dimensional, and that is not a winning formula for the Broncos.
Drew Allar and the Penn State offense is more dynamic than people give them credit for. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen make up one of the most dangerous running back tandems in the country. Tight end Tyler Warren is going to line up all over the place. I just think that Penn State will out-physical Boise State.
Dean: I'm taking Penn State (-11), which is still playing in the kiddie end of the pool in the college football playoff. You know what, sorry about that. Penn State is still playing teams that are not up to the level of talent of the other teams in the CFP.
One would think that someone in this thing is going to get upset at some point, and no one is better at doing less with more than James Franklin. But I can't see him losing this game - that would be a colossal failure. Think about all of the milage he can get out of a run to the CFP Semifinals, a place that program has never been, by beating Southern Methodist and Boise, which is not a state.
Texas (-13) vs. Arizona State | Peach | ESPN | 1:00 PM |
Matt: Another possible blowout game and one the commitee won’t want to live down. The Texas Longhorns have handled every team not named Georgia this season. They impressed against Clemson and they should handle a fun Arizona State team. Cam Skattebo is a hell of a back, but it’s very tough to run on this Texas team. They can make the Devils one-demensional, and if that happens, I think Texas rolls comfortably. They’re the deeper, tougher, more talented team. They have a chance to win it all this year, and Arizona State isn’t the team knocking them out. Big win for the Horns. Texas (-13).
Ryan: Do you wonder why Texas is favored to win the whole playoff? It is because it is playing Arizona State in this round and not Oregon, Georgia, or Ohio State. That has to be the reason, because Texas did not look like the best team in the country this season, especially not in either matchup against Georgia.
I learned who Cam Skattebo was this season and man is he fun to watch. Unfortunately for him, it will be very difficult to run against the Texas front. Unfortunately for Arizona State, Texas just has better players at almost every spot. I’ll take the Longhorns (-13) to cover the huge line.
Dean: Lots of chirping this week from the Sun Devils, Cam Skattebo in particular.
"Cam".
"Skattebo."
Bro would have been a skateboarder in the 1980s, but here we are - he's out here shredding defenses instead of fighting with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to save the world or whatever that plot line was.
This is not a great matchup for Arizona State. I thought Clemson could fight Texas a little, and they did. I am not sure the Sun Devils can or will. Texas (-13) is the far better team. I think they cover and get ready to play in Dallas.
Ohio State (-2.5) vs. Oregon | Rose | ESPN | 5:00 PM |
Matt: What a fun matchup this one should be. Two of the very best teams in the country. The Buckeyes looked like the best team in the country against Tennessee, but this Oregon team is different. They’re well-coached, they have a quarterback capable of leading them all the way, and they’re strong defensively. They’re ranked No. 1 for a reason, and I think Dan Lanning will have them ready to take on an Ohio State team that at times, looks incredible. Still, Oregon can match them physically, and I’ll take them to upset the Buckeyes. Ohio State may have the best defense in the game, but Oregon has enough weapons to put points on the board. Close game that comes down to the end, but Oregon makes just enough plays to get the job done. Give me the Ducks (+2.5).
Ryan: Ohio State has the most talented roster in college football. However, it will be $20 million well spent if the Buckeyes win it all, and Ryan Day’s job could certainly be in the balance if this squad does not at least make it to Atlanta.
I think that Oregon has the better coach in Dan Lanning and quarterback in Dillon Gabriel. That is about it. Pretty much everywhere else, I would give the edge to Ohio State. Now, in a lot of cases that is pretty marginal, but it adds up.
Oregon is the only squad this season that does not have a blemish on its record. It was a couple of plays away from having one against Ohio State out in Autzen. The Buckeyes screwed up that last drive. If it was done differently, it could certainly take Ohio State with a playoff bye.
I don’t know how you could feel good about picking either team. This is a true toss up to me. If Ohio State plays anything like it did against Tennessee, I don’t see that team losing to anybody. I am going with Ohio State (-2.5).
Dean: These are "probably" the best two teams in the CFP. And they are being wronged by this stupid format. That said, you are where you are in this thing, and Texas is probably next. I've got Ohio State (-2.5) here for two reasons. First, they are the better, more talented team. Second, I think Dan Lanning has to prove he can do it in these big moments. Frankly, both of these coaches have to right now because it's not so hot with Ryan Day on that front, either.
But at least Day has played for a national title. Oregon is being punished for what? Bad. Bad. Bad on the commissioners of this sport.
It is unacceptable that either Boise or Penn State will be in the semifinals of this thing and either Ohio State or Oregon won't. Pathetic to be frank. What were they thinking?
Georgia (-1) vs. Notre Dame | Sugar | ESPN | 8:45 PM |
Matt: Here we go. Season on the line. A chance to take one setp cloer to their ultimate goal. The Dawgs have everything in front of them, but Notre Dame is standing in the way. Georgia’s playing without it’s starting quarterback, but they’re still healthier than Notre Dame. They’re bigger than Notre Dame. They’re more talented than Notre Dame. They’re deeper than Notre Dame. They can lose to Notre Dame, but they should’nt.
This Georgia team appears loose. Confident. They know what they’re up against and they know they’ll have to play well to win the game. This group is connected, knows how to fight, and should be able to find a rushing attack with a healthy group of front, reliable backs, and a dual-threat quarterback who can help open things up.
Georgia’s the better team, and while it could be another fourth-quarter fight, I expect Georgia to come out on top. Give me Georgia (-1).
Ryan: I think there are really only two reasons why this line is as small as it is, otherwise Georgia would be closer to a 10-point favorite.
The main one is that Gunner Stockton will be out there instead of Carson Beck. I think that Vegas is factoring in a few points right there. The other is the inconsistency of the team. There have been different Georgia’s that have shown up this season and one of them loses games or close to it to teams it is better than.
Here are the things that I know or that I am at least very sure about:
- Georgia will have significantly more fans than Notre Dame in the Superdome
- Georgia has the better players
- Georgia is healthier
- Georgia has a better and more experienced coaching staff in big games
Give me Georgia (-1) to move onto the next round. I’m most confident in the Dawgs to make it to the national championship out of all of these teams. Not necessarily win it, but make it for sure.
Dean: Too much group think here on Dawg Post. Maybe it is Georgia that gets tripped up here, but I'm not picking that to happen. Give me Georgia (-1) to win and cover. This is about the better team and staff having three weeks to get ready for this game. The line is low, IMO, because you are forced to make a change at QB.
The betting market showed you what it thought when this game swung violently from Notre Dame being a 1.5-point favorite to UGA being a 2.5-point favorite. We have it at UGA -1 because we apparently got it at the bottom of where it has been since Christmas. It is above that now.
It is starting to look like UGA is going to "massively" outnumber Notre Dame fans here in the Big Easy. That's not great, either, for the Irish. This could backfire, but I think Georgia wins this game. I also think this is the toughest situation for UGA until a possible spot to play for it all in Atlanta.