Why Georgia Will Win The College Football Playoff Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Has the Ohio State defense really improved that much?
From the opener against Minnesota to the loss to Michigan to the wild shootout win over Utah in the Rose Bowl, the defense was blamed for all of the world’s ills last year. That was going to be fixed, the offense was going to be the offense, and all was going to be right with the world.
And yeah, things were better. It finished 12th in the nation in total defense and 13th in scoring D, but it’s not like the Buckeyes were dealing with Tennessee and USC every week.
The first dangerous attack OSU faced wasn’t until late October when Penn State rolled up 482 yards in the 44-31 Buckeye win. Maryland put up over 400 in the 43-30 fight, and Michigan ripped off 530 yards with a terrific balance in its 45-23 victory.
This just might be what the Ohio State defense is this season. Oh sure, it rocks against the Iowas and Indianas of the world, but it can buckle.
Give Georgia credit for being ultra-efficient.
It might turn it over a bit too much, but the running game is always good for over 200 yards, Stetson Bennett really was worthy of Heisman finalist – not winning it, but being in the top five – consideration, and the line is every bit as good as the Michigan steamroller that flattened the Ohio State defensive front.
Georgia is No. 1 in the nation in red zone offense, No. 4 in tackles for loss allowed, No. 5 in third down conversions, and No. 8 in time of possession.
The offense doesn’t have to take any chances.
However …
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Why Ohio State Will Win The College Football Playoff Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Georgia hasn’t faced an offense with this kind of talent.
Yeah, yeah, YEAH, the Tennessee style and system was a deadly machine that was slowed to a crawl by the Dawgs, but when it comes to NFL guys on the starting 11 – and among the main backups – Ohio State has more.
The Vols had the most efficient passing game in the country. Ohio State was second.
The Northwestern game played in a wild wind storm skewed up the national stats a bit, but the downfield passing game is still amazing, the scoring offense was second in the nation behind – yeah – Tennessee, and the time off really will help the line be even stronger.
Lost in the narrative of the Michigan loss was that the Ohio State offense worked. There were two interceptions, but that wasn’t the norm for CJ Stroud or the attack. Stroud threw for 349 yards and the running game was more than fine – the Buckeye attack put up 492 yards. The O wasn’t why Ohio State lost.
And yes, of course the Georgia defense is amazing. It’s not the 2021 version.
Last year’s defense allowed just 2.6 yards per carry and three rushing touchdowns all year. Tennessee scored 17 points against in in a blowout loss, and Alabama was the only team to score 18 or more – it did it twice. No one else scored more than 13.
It’s hard to have a beef with the No. 8 defense in America overall that finished second in scoring D, but LSU was able to bomb away just enough to be annoying – 502 passing yards – in the 50-30 SEC Championship loss. Missouri was a stop away from pulling off the upset, and Kent freaking State put up almost 300 yards with its 22 points.
The Ohio State offense is going to move the ball.
– College Football Playoff Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History