Georgia vs TCU 10 Best CFP National Championship Predictions, Prop Bets

Georgia vs TCU top prop bets for the College Football Playoff National Championship … if you dare to dabble.

What ten Georgia vs TCU College Football Playoff National Championship predictions and prop bets appear to be the best bets and picks?


[mm-video type=playlist id=01f09m93q11d4tbgfy player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow @PeteFiutak

10 Best CFP National Championship Prop Bets 
No. 5 | No. 4 | No. 3 | No. 2 | No. 1

Would you have been more fired up if this was Georgia or Ohio State vs Michigan? Probably, but TCU keeps on getting disrespected and it keeps on making everyone – hand raised – look silly.

Whether or not this is a classic, or if it’s a strange blowout one way or another, here are the ten best-looking prop bets, predictions, and picks for the Georgia vs TCU College Football Playoff National Championship.

One of the keys here is value. Many of the props and ideas might conflict with others, so consider this a ranking based on potential payoff to go along with the possibilities depending on which way you’re leaning.

The lines are based on BetMGM’s latest props.

CFN Georgia vs TCU Preview, Prediction
Experts Picks: National Championship

10. TCU Money Line, Both Teams Will Score 30 or More

LINE: +900

Let’s start with this caveat.

If you believe TCU really does have a shot at winning, then there’s a whole lot of value out there to be had.

Let’s put it this way. If TCU does do this, it’s probably not going to be a 7-3 defensive struggle. It beat Michigan 51-45 in the Fiesta. It got past West Virginia 41-31. The SMU win was 42-34, and the double-OT thriller over Oklahoma State was 43-40.

On the other side, Georgia scored 30 or more 11 times in 14 games. So again, if you’re feeling it for TCU, going with the shootout to go along with the W isn’t a bad play.

And then there’s the opposite of that …

9. Georgia Money Line, Both Teams Will NOT Score 10 or More

LINE: +1100

If you’re into the idea of Georgia winning this, it’s not crazy to think this might be a total wipeout.

The Bulldog defense went bye-bye against Ohio State, and it took half the day off in the SEC Championship win over LSU, but this is still the SEC’s best defense that allowed just 14.8 points per game.

Remember, this is the D that held Oregon to three points. And went on the road to beat South Carolina 48-7. And held Kentucky to six.

The problem is the 10 or more. Georgia totally wiped out Auburn and won 42-10, and it dominated Mississippi State in a 45-19 win. Texas held TCU to 17 points, and that’s the closest anyone came to keeping that O in check. However, again, if you like Georgia, would you be that shocked if it makes a 41-7 statement?

Yeah you would, but that’s why this is at +1100.

Now let’s swing back the other way …

8. Both Teams Will Score 10 or More Points in the 1st Quarter

LINE: (Yes) +1150

It’s +1150 for a reason, but it’s not unreasonable to ask both teams to go off to a hot start.

TCU is known for its comebacks – it put up 148 points in the fourth quarters of games – but it also dominated in the first quarters, too, outscoring teams 148-65. Georgia put up 122 points in the first quarters. The problem is the Dawg D – it allowed just 30 points all year in the first frame.

Again, we’re going for outside-the-box value here. If the two teams start trading haymakers, a 10-10 first quarter might seem like Christmas is still here.

And now, to keep your head on a swivel and make you a tad dizzy before we settle in …

7. Both Team Will Score 10 or More

LINE: (No) +950

To keep hammering this home, I’m looking to value to potentially help any already held beliefs.

I don’t think the Georgia defense is going to come out and shut down the TCU offense to a dead stop, but if you think this is going to be a coronation and total wipeout, +950 is a great idea.

The smarter one is to go with the +180 on NO, both teams won’t hit 20. 38-17 is far more reasonable if you’re not trying to be greedy.

Enough with the wacky fliers. Let’s go with six more realistic options, starting with …

How good was your bowl? Ranking all the bowl games

6. TCU Wins by 1-to-6 Points

LINE+750

TCU has made me look ridiculous all season long, so this would hardly be my first time. I think Georgia rolls in this – I’ll get into all that at the end.

But if TCU pulls this off – and as we’ve learned, disrespect the Horned Frogs at your own peril – I highly-doubt it’ll be a some 41-20 whacking. 35-31? Yeah, that’s the most likely spread.

So to repeat this line, if you like TCU to win, this is the best combination of value and likelihood. +750 on a walk-off field goal? That would be so 2022 TCU.

10 Best CFP National Championship Prop Bets 
No. 5 | No. 4 | No. 3 | No. 2 | No. 1

NEXT: Georgia vs TCU: Top 5 CFP National Championship Predictions, Best Prop Bets

Georgia vs TCU College Football Playoff National Championship Prediction Game Preview

Georgia vs TCU game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 9, 2023

Georgia vs TCU prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. College Football Playoff National Championship, Monday, January 9, 2023


Georgia vs TCU College Football Playoff National Championship Prediction Game Preview

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Georgia vs TCU How To Watch

Date: Monday, January 9, 2023
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Georgia (14-0), TCU (13-1)
Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

Georgia vs TCU College Football Playoff National Championship 5 Things To Know

Why Georgia & TCU will win
CFP  National Championship Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

How do you possibly top the College Football Playoff semifinals? TCU’s win over Michigan was as wild and crazy as any massive college football game ever, only to be topped by one of the greatest games in the history of the game with Georgia’s gut-check comeback win over Ohio State.

And now TCU is here. In the College Football Playoff National Championship with a shot that Michigan has never had. Oklahoma hasn’t been in this position. Notre Dame hasn’t, either.

Only six schools – Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, and Oregon – have played for a CFP national title, and now TCU is added to the list as it tries to become the second No. 3 seed to beat a No. 1. Georgia did that last year with its win over Alabama.

TCU knows how to do bowl games. With the shocker over the Wolverines, it’s now 5-1 in its last six post-season games, 7-2 in the last nine, and 12-3 in the last 15 going back to 2001.

How amazing is the program in bowls? Those three losses since getting rocked by Texas A&M in the 2001 Galleryfurniture.com were all by seven points or fewer. The team was great under Gary Patterson, and now Sonny Dykes showed he could take things one step further.

1938 was the school’s lone universally acknowledged national championship. The 2022 season’s version has the starting 22 with the speed, playmakers, and ability to pull this off. It was the No. 1 offensive team in the Big 12, it doesn’t make a slew of big mistakes, and no one this season does a better job of figuring out how to land the plane in the final moments of a tight situation.

CFN Final 2022 Rankings 1-131

Counting College Football Playoff games as bowls, Georgia has been next-level amazing in these things.

Under former head coach Mark Richt, Georgia lost the Gator to Nebraska 24-19 to end the 2013 season, and dropped the 2011 season’s Outback in overtime against Michigan State. When was the last time the program lost a bowl/playoff game by more than a touchdown?

Pitt closed out the 1976 season with a 27-3 win over the late Vince Dooley’s Dawgs in the Sugar.

Since then, Georgia has gone 27-13-2 with all 13 losses by seven points or fewer. Under Kirby Smart, it has won five straight, and the program has gone 7-2 with one defeat coming on Tua-to-DeVonta in overtime of the 2017 season’s CFP national title, and the year after in the Sugar Bowl to Texas.

CFN Experts Picks Georgia vs TCU, NDSU vs SDSU

Yeah, the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs broke through. It was the first national championship since 1980, but to be extremely nitpicky … it wasn’t a perfect season. Alabama got the 2021 SEC Championship t-shirt and confetti shower.

The 2022 version isn’t as good as last year’s. The defense isn’t as strong, but it’s got a whole bunch of NFL talent. The offense is a bit steadier than it was, QB Stetson Bennett has been way smoother and more confident in his play, and overall, the attack is more productive.

And this year’s team has an SEC Championship and a perfect record so far. Win, and Georgia will be the first back-to-back champion in the College Football Playoff era. Win, and it’ll be the first back-to-back national champion since 2011 and 2012 Alabama.

There’s no way we’ll be spoiled enough to get a national title game as good as the two College Football Playoff semifinals. It’s just not possible – at least historically.

The first four of these set too high a bar. Ohio State ended up blowing out Oregon 42-20 at the end of the 2014 season, but it wasn’t that bad a game. Alabama and Clemson combined for two all-time classics, and the Bama overtime win over Georgia to end the 2017 season was special.

Last year’s 33-18 Georgia win over Alabama was way tighter and more dramatic than the final score would indicate, but it was also the fourth straight College Football Playoff National Championship decided by 15 points or more.

No pressure, TCU and Georgia. Just put on a terrific show.

Why Georgia & TCU will win
CFP  National Championship Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

NEXT: Why Georgia & TCU Will Win The College Football Playoff National Championship

Georgia vs TCU College Football Playoff National Championship First Thoughts, Prediction

Georgia vs TCU CFP National Championship first thoughts, early prediction

It’s Georgia vs TCU for the College Football Playoff National Championship. The first reaction, initial thoughts, and early prediction


[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Georgia vs TCU College Football Playoff First Thoughts, Early Prediction

Peach Bowl: Georgia – Ohio State 5 Thoughts
Fiesta Bowl: TCU – Michigan 5 Thoughts
Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

5. TCU is really in the College Football Playoff National Championship

The dust has settled, the Georgia win over Ohio State was an amazing enough game to take some of the attention away from the TCU win over Michigan, so now we can speak freely here …

Michigan royally screwed that up.

Of course TCU deserves the credit for pulling it off. It’s making the trip to Los Angeles and 129 other college football teams aren’t. The offense ripped through a Michigan defense that was among the best in the country all year, the defense came up with two pick sixes, and – oh yeah – Michigan scored 39 points in the second half.

This all just ended a little bit ago, and it’s all still fresh – I might change my mind and thoughts over the next several days – but no one is going to pick TCU to win this. I thought Michigan would rumble though the Horned Frogs – and still do – and will take the own goal after it didn’t happen.

I’ll eat it again if I’m wildly wrong.

TCU will do the “no one believes in us” thing. Yeah, right here. Hand raised.

4. Will the national interest be there without Michigan?

People will watch because if the College Football Playoff National Championship … maybe. And this falls on both sides.

TCU just isn’t that big. It’s a great story, and the fan base is rightfully going out of its mind, but best believe that ESPN people who care about ratings are breaking something tasteful that Michigan didn’t isn’t in this.

Michigan vs Ohio State would be better for national interest, but Michigan vs Georgia wouldn’t have been horrible – even if last year’s meeting in the CFP semis in the Orange was a blowout.

Georgia just doesn’t have any star power outside of the wonky NFL draft football types, and that sort of includes Stetson Bennett.

Unless there’s an unstoppable buzz coming off the semifinals, TCU vs Georgia might have a hard time resonating with the world pivoting to the NFL playoffs.

With that said …

Peach Bowl: Georgia – Ohio State 5 Thoughts
Fiesta Bowl: TCU – Michigan 5 Thoughts

3. The Georgia talent level

Here’s where the obvious concern is.

Michigan has a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, but it’s nothing like what Georgia is bringing.

As my overused line goes, there are 3.5 teams in college football at the same elite NFL talent level. Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, and the USC offense. TCU had everything go its way against Michigan – and it made its own breaks, of course – and it still took everything in the bag to get out alive.

Michigan isn’t Georgia talent-wise. Almost nobody is. TCU can extra plucky, but those Bulldog lines should be able to take over, and …

Wait, that sounds familiar. It’s like I wrote that about Michigan or something. (Full disclosure: I’ve been a disaster trying to pick for or against TCU this year.)

2. We’re not that lucky to get three amazing College Football Playoff games

It hasn’t happened in the eight years of the College Football Playoff. There was only one good semifinal undercard – Georgia over Oklahoma in the 2018 Rose – and there certainly haven’t been three good games in the tournament. Now we’re spoiled by TCU and Georgia winning like that.

TCU has now broken every mold and expectation, but three good playoff games? Not likely, so if it skews one way, I’m going with …

1. College Football Playoff National Championship first prediction

Georgia 34, TCU 20

Don’t get into a twist over this yet – I’ll adapt and adjust as we go – but I’ll run with the idea that TCU holds down the Bulldogs for a little while, and then the problems kick in up front.

Yes, this was supposed to happen against Michigan, but this Georgia offensive line will barrel away where the Big Ten team didn’t.

TCU will move the ball on the suddenly shaky Georgia defense, but there will be a lot of bending but not breaking. It won’t be enough as Stetson Bennett and the offense go on a flurry early on so the D could take over.

I’m seeing the Oregon game for Georgia. It comes out perfectly polished, scores easily on the first two drives and coasts from there.

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Peach Bowl: Georgia – Ohio State 5 Thoughts
Fiesta Bowl: TCU – Michigan 5 Thoughts

Georgia Was THE Team, Stetson Bennett: 5 National Championship Thoughts

5 thoughts from Georgia’s win over Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship

Stetson Bennett’s big drive, to the loss of Jameson Williams, to Georgia being THE team of 2021, here are 5 National Championship thoughts from the terrific game.


[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Georgia 33, Alabama 18: College Football Playoff National Championship 5 Things That Matter

Prediction: Georgia 26, Alabama 23
Line: Georgia -2.5, o/u: 52.5
CFN Georgia vs Alabama Preview

Now that the dust has settled after Georgia beat Alabama for the College Football Playoff National Championship – and after getting a shot to watch the game again after spending a fun night in a raucous and very cold Lucas Oil Stadium – here are the 5 main takeaways with 24 hours to let it all sink in.

5. Georgia was the team of 2021

Yeah, of course – it won the national championship. Losing the SEC Championship – as it turned out – didn’t matter, and it might have been just what the Dawgs needed.

You want focus? LB Nakobe Dean was so locked in on Alabama that he ended up wearing a Tide national championship hat after it was all over.

Obviously that was a mistake, but the loss in Atlanta refocused the effort. Any possibility of overconfidence was gone, the mission was to take down Bama – of course it was going to be Georgia-Alabama in the national championship – and this veteran team full of superstar talent had the laser focus needed to pull this off.

2021 Georgia was the team of the year, just like 2020 Alabama was the team of the year, just like LSU owned the 2019 season.

Georgia’s defense stopped Clemson to start the season – getting the only touchdown of the game on a pick six – and it ended the season with a dramatic pick six.

2021 Alabama might have rented the top spot for several weeks, but it was Georgia’s turn thanks to that D that helped bail out …

Georgia – Alabama National Championship 5 Thoughts 
4. Stetson Bennett’s one big drive
3. Jameson William’s injury mattered
2. Bill O’Brien was fine
1. The talent level, oh, the talent level
National Championship Game Thoughts

NEXT: Stetson Bennett wasn’t good until he absolutely had to be

What we know about Alabama WR Jameson Williams’ possible injury in the national championship game

Devastating loss for Alabama as talented wide receiver has to leave the title game in the first half.

Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams has been a key part of the Tide’s offense this year, especially after fellow receiver John Metchie III’s season ended when he tore his ACL in the second quarter of the SEC title game. Now Alabama head coach Nick Saban is without both electric players as Williams exited the national championship game with an apparent knee injury.

The duo has combined for 2,714 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns, including the 65 yards on four receptions Williams amassed in the title game before exiting.

What happened to Jameson Williams in the national championship game? 

With Alabama driving in the second quarter of the College Football Playoff title game, Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young found his lead receiver for a 40-yard pick up. Looking to pick up extra yardage with a lot of open space in front of him, Williams appeared to injure his left knee on the play.

Williams immediately went to the turf and was quickly helped off the field and into the medical tent.

Soon after Williams departed the playing field, the ESPN broadcast showed Metchie III, dressed in street clothes, heading back to the locker room to seemingly check on his teammate.

At the break, Saban told ESPN that there would now be opportunities for some of his younger players. “There are a lot of young guys out there. They’ve got talent, so they have to play with competitive character and have a chance to make some plays. They’re capable. They don’t have the experience, but they’re going to get it tonight.”

Update: ESPN announced during the broadcast early in the third quarter that Williams would not return to the game.

[mm-video type=video id=01frrhb46q4bjz0hns7p playlist_id=none player_id=01evcfkb10bw5a3nky image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01frrhb46q4bjz0hns7p/01frrhb46q4bjz0hns7p-597d321ba8699a72c4a698b07f45b0a8.jpg]

[listicle id=1388619]

[vertical-gallery id=1368016]

CFP National Championship offers trio of prospects that could aid Chargers’ run defense

The College Football Playoff National Championship presents three interior defenders that should interest the Chargers.

The Chargers’ run defense was a weakness all season long. But, unfortunately, it became the primary reason they aren’t going to be in the playoffs after allowing the Raiders to finish with 174 yards rushing and failing to make a play in the most crucial moment of the season.

While Brandon Staley’s defense is predicated on limiting the deep passing game and inviting opposing teams to run the ball due to the lighter boxes, the personnel that was in place still didn’t meet his scheme. Therefore, addressing that this offseason is going to be atop the list.

Los Angeles will have different outlets to resort to, with that 2022 NFL draft being one. This year’s class has many prospects that should bring intrigue, especially on the two teams that will be playing for the College Football Playoff National Championship, Georgia and Alabama.

For the Bulldogs, it starts with Jordan Davis (#99).

Hulking at 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds, Davis is not your typical nose tackle. A nuisance for opposing blockers, he is mightily powerful, has good initial quickness, short-area quickness, can occupy double teams and occasionally triple teams and pass rush.

His stat sheet won’t raise eyebrows, but his play helps limit explosive plays, both through the air and on the ground. Should the Chargers look to address the interior with the No. 17 overall selection, Davis would be the much-needed clog in the middle of the defensive line.

While Davis draws most of the buzz, the man who lines up next to him is also quite impactful. At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, Devonte Wyatt (#95) plays with the first-step quickness, leverage, lateral agility, and play strength at the point of attack to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage.

In addition, he has the versatility to line up anywhere from the zero-to-five technique. According to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, Wyatt’s most impressive testing number is the 4.87 40 he clocked this last offseason. He also vertical jumped 31 inches and broad jumped 9-3.

For the Crimson Tide, eyes will be on Phidarian Mathis (#48), who’s been a disruptive presence from his position all season long.

Possessing a quick first step to get off the line of scrimmage, Mathis has sweet feet to force offensive linemen to lunge and a powerful upper body to shock with heavy hands. Against the run, Mathis is strong at the point of attack, rarely gets pushed off his spot, and does a great job of chasing plays down.

Both Wyatt and Mathis currently project as Day 2 selections.

Alabama vs Georgia: 10 Best CFP National Championship Predictions, Prop Bets

Alabama vs Georgia top prop bets for the College Football Playoff National Championship … if you dare to dabble.

What ten Alabama vs Georgia College Football Playoff National Championship predictions and prop bets appear to be the best bets and picks?


[mm-video type=playlist id=01f09m93q11d4tbgfy player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow @PeteFiutak

So you’re bored of the idea of Alabama vs Georgia for the College Football Playoff National Championship after just seeing this a few weeks ago … fine.

Let’s make this interesting with a few wise investments.

Here are the ten best-looking prop bets, predictions, and big picks for the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Value means as much or more here as anything else. That’s why a slew of the player props that don’t give you anything extra aren’t on here. Also, this depends on where you’re looking and who you invest with.

Happy College Football Playoff National Championship. Let these confirm, deny, or help you in some way go with your already held beliefs.

Let’s start with the biggest contradiction pick of the bunch …

CFN Alabama vs Georgia Preview, Prediction
Experts Picks: National Championship

10. Alabama +2.5

LINE: +120

The payoff on this isn’t anything amazing, but if you believe in Alabama, you might as well take the free cup of coffee and get the added sweetener in it.

Now is as good a time as any to go into my belief for this season’s College Football Playoff and the National Championship.

Not patting myself on the back for the first part – I’m usually miserable at picking CFP semifinal games against the spread – but my initial calls were 1) Alabama and Georgia would roll in their respective semifinal games, 2) Georgia’s defense would be the 2021 regular season version in the two game tournament, and 3) Georgia would exorcise the demons and win it all.

Oh yeah, and 4) I’m a firm believer that you never go against Alabama, so picking Georgia hurts. That’s why Alabama +2.5 and getting +120 for it is more than fine.

Because I’ll never, ever, ever argue with anyone picking Alabama to win the national title …

9. Alabama -7.5 and total under 40.5

LINE: +1500

I’m picking Georgia, but yeah, Alabama could roll in this – because it’s Alabama.

It’s entirely possible that Nick Saban’s team takes its game up another notch AND Georgia’s defense is strong in a 24ish-16ish Tide win.

Seriously, would you be out-of-your-mind shocked if this was a defensive clinic like the 21-0 2012 BCS Championship win over LSU? Yeah, that’s probably not going to happen, but at +1500 you’re not crazy to take the shot.

So with that said …

8. Alabama -3.5 and total under 55.5

LINE: +550

Maybe I’m misreading this.

Maybe this will be a bit of a back-and-forth fight and not a defensive slugfest.

This is the one pick of the ten on this list that gives a nod to those who think the offenses are going to roll, because it’s the most practical value.

Alabama winning by 4 or more is hardly asking for the world, and maybe this is like the 41-24 SEC Championship again.

At +550, cool.

7. Alabama RB Brian Robinson scores 1st TD

LINE: +600

I’ll just say it. Player prop bets are stupid.

Yeah, they’re fun, and every once in a while they’ll hit, but over the long haul they’re not worth the trouble.

But this is a prop bet piece. It’s not like we’re doing up the practical thing here.

Brian Robinson ran for over 200 yards against Cincinnati, but he didn’t score. He ran for 55 yards in the SEC Championship against Georgia, but he didn’t score.

In fact, he hasn’t rushed for a touchdown since putting two on New Mexico State back in the middle of November – that’s four straight games without a touchdown.

And that’s why you’re getting the +600.

If you’re going to do a player prop bet, do a player prop bet big.

How good was your bowl? Ranking all the bowl games

6. Georgia on the money line and both teams score 20+ (or, if you like Alabama, go the other way)

LINE+190 for Georgia, +260 for Alabama

It’s about as conservative as the convoluted prop bets get when it comes to value.

This goes back to the call that Georgia wins, it’s a bit of a defensive fight, but it still ends up around 26ish-23ish. Georgia on the money line doesn’t get you anything, but if this ends up on the right side of a good battle with a few scores each, +190 is a nice way to get this done.

On the flip side, if you like Alabama, the +260 is an even better call for the value.

Now, on the slightly contradictory side of this is best national championship prop bet No. 5

10 Best CFP National Championship Prop Bets 
No. 5 | No. 4 | No. 3 | No. 2 | No. 1

NEXT: Alabama vs Georgia: Top 5 CFP National Championship Predictions, Best Prop Bets

Alabama vs Georgia: College Football Playoff National Championship Prediction, Game Preview

Alabama vs Georgia: College Football Playoff National Championship prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might or might not win.

Alabama vs Georgia: College Football Playoff National Championship prediction, game preview, how to watch 


Alabama vs Georgia: College Football Playoff National Championship How To Watch

Date: Monday, January 10
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
How To Watch: ESPN, Live stream on ESPN+
Record: Alabama (13-1), Georgia (13-1)
CFN Predictions | Bowl Schedule

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Alabama vs Georgia College Football Playoff National Championship Preview

Let’s do this again. Alabama was playing for its playoff life in the SEC Championship, was razor-sharp, explosive, and rolled to a 41-24 win back in early December. Bryce Young threw for 421 yards and locked up the Heisman, the slightly-maligned defense played one of its best games of the year, and the team earned the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff.

– Alabama was nice to Cincinnati. Rested, prepared, and focused, it had the game won after the opening drive in the 27-6 Cotton Bowl victory. Now it’s in the College Football Playoff National Championship for the sixth time in seven seasons – winning three of its previous five – as Nick Saban goes for his eighth national title overall.

To do that, Bama has to make it eight in a row over Georgia – the last Bulldog win was back in 2007. The streak includes two epic SEC Championships – 2012 and 2018 – and one all-time classic of a national title finish in a 26-23 overtime win to close out the 2017 season.

Yeah, the “Alabama is in Georgia’s head” is part of the narrative. How do we know?

How good was your bowl? Ranking every bowl game

Georgia trounced Michigan 34-11 in a College Football Playoff Orange Bowl semifinal that wasn’t even that close. The Dawgs players and coaches were all complimentary to the Wolverines and didn’t show a lick of disrespect after the game, but everyone had a faraway stare – it’s Alabama time.

Head coach Kirby Smart demanded to not be doused with Gatorade, the celebration was muted, and the team that was No. 1 and dominant for most of the regular season before the SEC Championship game instantly pivoted to the task ahead.

– 1980. Georgia finished the season 12-0 behind its freshman sensation running back Herschel Walker, closing out with a victory over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl for the national championship. It had another shot at a title in 1982, but lost to Penn State in the Sugar Bowl.

That was about it until coming so achingly close to getting by Alabama in Atlanta in early 2018, but over 40 years of frustration can finally be eased with one big win.

– The College Football Playoff needs this. Since this began, 13 of the 16 CFP semifinal games were relative blowouts, and after a terrific start with an entertaining Ohio State win over Oregon followed by three straight classics – Alabama over Clemson, Clemson over Alabama, Alabama over Georgia – the national championships have been total duds.

America might be bored with more SEC teams, but Alabama and Georgia were the two best teams this season. Either Bama throws another national title on the pile and Nick Saban starts to push into John Wooden territory as – maybe – the greatest college coach ever, or Kirby Smart finally translates all the loaded recruiting classes and years of a program failing to finish the drill – to use a Mark Richt term – to make it six SEC teams to win a national championship in the BCS/CFP era.

Why Georgia Will Win
Why Alabama Will Win
Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History
Expert Picks: National Championships

NEXT: Why Alabama Will Win, Why Georgia Will Win, College Football Playoff National Championship Prediction

9 potential Chargers prospects to watch in College Football Playoff title game

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out nine prospects in the College Football Playoff title game that Los Angeles could target.

All eyes will be glued to the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship game, where the Alabama Crimson Tide takes on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

While many will be watching it for entertainment purposes, there will be plenty of NFL caliber talent on the field that are worth keeping an eye out for.

With that, here are nine players that the Los Angeles Chargers could be scouting tonight:

Alabama

CB Patrick Surtain

Voted a unanimous All-America selection and the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year, Surtain has been lockdown, breaking up eight passes and picking off one which he took back to the end zone. Surtain is a long, smooth athlete who has impressive instincts and ball skills. He could polish up in the run game, but overall, he has the makeup of an All-Pro cornerback.

Projected Round: Top-15

WR DeVonta Smith

While Smith may not have the track-like speed, the 6-foot and 172 pounders plays with a well-rounded route tree, excellent footwork, and brings the separation tactics to thrive at the next level. Through four seasons, Smith has 3,750 yards and 43 touchdowns.

Projected Round: Top-15

WR Jaylen Waddle

Speed kills. Waddle, the 5-foot-10 and 182 pounder, is a pass-catcher with elite phone booth quicks and legitimate breakaway speed to threaten a defense vertically. He can line up all across the formation as well as serve as a return man. After missing the last seven games with a fractured ankle, Waddle is game-time decision.

Projected Round: 1st

OT Alex Leatherwood

Named the 2020 Outland Trophy winner, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football, Leatherwood, the 6-foot-5 and 313 pounder, made 47 starts for the Crimson Tide with 13 of them coming at right guard in 2018. Leatherwood is an excellent blindside blocker who possesses great size, length and physicality to grow into a very reliable tackle or guard at the next level.

Projected Round: 1st-2nd

CB Josh Jobe

Surtain is the No. 1 corner but opposite of him is another player who has proven to put the clamps on receivers. Jobe has good length and size at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, reactive athleticism and ball skills. He has 52 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and 11 passes defensed.

Projected Round: 3rd-4th

Ohio State vs Alabama: CFP National Championship Final Thoughts, What Will Happen

The final thoughts, a few predictions, and some investment advice for Ohio State vs Alabama College Football Playoff National Championship.

The final thoughts, a few predictions, and some investment advice for the Ohio State vs Alabama College Football Playoff National Championship to make your life a heck of a lot better than it currently is. 


[jwplayer CaVao6EW]

Contact/Follow @PeteFiutak

This is all just for spits, giggles, and entertainment purposes only. However, just in case you dabble …

In any normal time I’m in Miami right now doing this either 15 minutes before hitting the bar or way, way after in the wee hours of the AM. Either way, I’d be warm instead of being stuck in this snow-infested place I’m forced to live in because of various people in my house who don’t leave, and …

By the way, tonight I’m doing my annual Stream of Consciousness Game Notes as it all goes on. Check back, be entertained, and then move on.

– 2017 Georgia vs. Alabama Game Comments
– 2018 Clemson vs. Alabama Game Comments
– 2019 LSU vs Clemson Game Comments

I’ve been obnoxious about this, and I’m going to keep bringing it up until the College Football Gods hear my cries. We need a good game.

No, we need an epic national championship, because the bowl season was SO awful and SO boring and SO worthless – at least to the general public – compared to how amazing the NFL Wild Card weekend was. This is our chance to take the big sports narrative back. Ohio State and Alabama, save our 2020-2021 college football bowl season.

By my rough count, 15 of the last 16 radio/video/TV appearances I’ve done ended up devolving into an argument about talent level, as if Alabama is about to take on Akron.

This is OHIO FREAKING STATE. You know, tons of superstars, beats Michigan every year, joyless fan base … OHIO STATE. This isn’t some rising star program or Little Engine That Could story. This is one of the baddest of the bad boys on the block, and it has every bit as much talent across the board as Bama.

There aren’t any excuses. If the Tide lose, I don’t want to hear Alabama fans whining about Ohio State only playing seven games before this. This is really Game 2 for the Buckeyes – the team was never right all season, and it still isn’t. It’s still getting used to playing with all of its parts – I’ll rephrase that … nah. Alabama go win this.

If Ohio State loses, I don’t want to hear about Justin Fields’ ribs, or that Player X couldn’t go, or because there was some sort of delay, or there should’ve been one, or whatever. Ohio State, go win this.

What are we missing? LSU over Clemson last year was obvious. Notre Dame getting whacked around by Bama in this season’s CFP semifinal was obvious. Clemson obliterating Alabama in Santa Clara … not obvious. Ohio State rolling past Clemson in this season’s CFP semifinal … not obvious, but we should’ve seen that coming.

What’s one thing we’re missing? Ohio State is going to be every bit as laser-focused – if not more so – than lives-on-process-and-focus Alabama.

Give Ryan Day this as a head coach. Since he started, he has made certain that his team doesn’t let up for a moment – he wasn’t going to let the Buckeyes suffer the types of letdowns that were so costly in the two years before he took over.

That’s been rougher to do this year, but be shocked if Ohio State doesn’t look and play with the same Sugar Bowl attitude it had against Clemson.

What’s the one thing we might not see coming? Alabama has yet to have any semblance of a clunker. What happens if and when Mac Jones gets rattled around a bit? What happens if Ohio State’s Shaun Wade really is able to show off his NFL corner skills on DeVonta Smith and slow him down? Bama handled a little adversity against Florida, but not really.

I feel like we’re all prepared for anything but Ohio State rolling with a dominant performance. No matter what, I feel like my postgame column will start, “How Did We All Possibly Miss (blank)?”

A 9-6 defensive slugfest. I’m not prepare for that. I demand 52-46. I want a repeat of the SEC Championship.

The line opened at Bama -7, and it got hammered almost instantly to get it up to -8.5. I’ll be shocked if it doesn’t start rolling back down to about 7.5 before game time.

I like the over on the 75. You like the over on the 75. We all love the over on the 75 because it’s what we want. It’s what we expect out of these two offenses. That’s still a massive number to hit no matter what. This could be a whole lot of fun and still finish 38-34.

Back to what we’re all missing … Alabama vs both Ole Miss and Florida. It’s not like the Tide faced a ton of high-powered offenses. Sure, LSU had its moments, and Georgia had a certain charm before JT Daniels took over, and Texas A&M had its style and talent, but Ole Miss and Florida were the two teams with some firepower, and they each put up good numbers against the Tide.

The Ohio State defense doesn’t get enough credit. Yes, the pass defense is statistically bad. The run defense has been terrific, and this group can apply a whole lot of pressure, even if it doesn’t bring the sacks.

Trivia time, and almost no one gets this outside of the most die-hard of Bama types. Name the star winning quarterbacks in each of the College Football Playoff national championships.

Going backwards … Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, I’ll allow for Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, Deshaun Watson, and then … there’s your road block.

Jacob Coker. He took Alabama to the national title to end the 2015 season, and Cardale Jones did it the year before for Ohio State. The point?

Justin Fields is the best player on the field. Argue this all you want, but he’s almost certainly the first guy from this game to be taken in the NFL Draft. This has to be his moment. He has to be The Guy. He has to be Joe, and Trevor, and Tua, and Deshaun.

Alabama can win this with Mac Jones being Jacob Coker, even though Jones really is good enough to be The Guy.

By the way, that’s not fair. Coker threw for 335 yards and two touchdowns with no picks in the national title win over Clemson in Glendale – he made big play after big play. He had some Derrick Henry guy to hand off to, but he was still fantastic. Cardale Jones only threw for 242 against Oregon, and Tua and Jalen combined for 187 against Georgia.

Alabama should be so lucky for Jones to have the day Coker had. However, Jones might have to hit 400 to win this.

Gut feeling … the big underdog role works with this Ohio State team. As if being in the national championship isn’t enough, after that emotional win over Clemson, this is just the sort of thing that can be that oomph to keep that all going.

The SEC Championship spooked me. That Ole Miss game spooked me. I think Bama is way overdue for a letdown that’s not Santa Clara, but enough to be on the wrong side of the fight.

I won’t argue in any way, shape or form if you think Alabama is going to win. There’s no real argument in the toughest call for a national championship in the College Football Playoff era. Even the ones I missed – Clemson over Bama for its two titles – didn’t have a whole lot of drama in the decision, even though the picks were wrong.

I can be swung either way, and I won’t be shocked by any outcome at this point. So my oh-too-tortured call …

Ohio State wins outright in a showcase of offensive fireworks that will make this the new standard of fun national championships.

I hope … at least on the fun national championship side. I just want a really, really, really good game. We all deserve it.

CFN Ohio State vs Alabama Preview, Prediction

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]