Tag: david pollack

David Pollack predicts winner of national championship

Former Georgia football defensive end David Pollack predicts the national championship game winner

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish face off in the national championship on Monday, Jan. 20 at 7:30pm at Mercedes Benz-Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

There have been several notable predictions on how the game will go. College football analyst and former Georgia Bulldogs defensive end David Pollack went on YouTube to predict what will happen in the championship game. Here’s everything he said on the game:

How both teams recovered from their losses:

“Notre Dame lost to NIU and it forged them. They haven’t lost since. They’re destroying teams. Now they’ve won so many ranked games in a row. Meanwhile, Ohio State loses to their arch rival. All the negativity swirling forged them. They went through Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas, with the average margin of 20 points. They’ve been far and away the most dominant.”

The impact on injuries:

“Ohio State has had to revamp their offensive line, losing their center, who is the best center in the country, and their left tackle, who’s going to be a high draft pick. Same with Notre Dame. They lost their best defensive lineman. They lost their left tackle in fall camp to start the season, and they lost their best man-to-man corner in Benjamin Morrison…The injuries have taken its toll.”

The differences in talent and how that impacts matchups:

“There is a discrepency in talent. That’s part of playing the game, just wondering how to implement a teams style. Notre Dame’s style has worked with everyone, but that’s where my curiosity goes with this. Ohio State has the best run defense in the country, and it’s not even close. They’re good in fourth-down situation, short field situations…Notre Dame, you can chalk it up, with Riley Leonard and Jeremiah Love, that’s their package, run it straight ahead…Riley Leonard is a better athlete than you think, but can Notre Dame run the football and be good in short yardage against Ohio State?”

About Will Howard vs. Al Golden:

“(Golden) is really good at game planning, he’s really good at the scheme, but Will Howard is really good against man-to-man, and he’s really good outside of the hashes when to throw the football. He’s not an elite rhythm thrower, he’s more of a see-it, rip-it kind of quarterback.”

On Ohio State’s receiving core:

“Emeka Egbuka is on his way to being the leading receiver in receiving yards of all time at Ohio State, and Ohio State is wide receiver U… Jeremiah Smith is another freak of nature. I talked to a guy who was recruiting in the SEC, and he said “I’ve never seen anything in the past like Jeremiah Smith except for Julio Jones and A.J. Green.”

On Ohio State’s defense:

“To me, the biggest difference (in Ohio State over the years) is their defense. They make you earn everything. You talk about Notre Dame having some success in the running game, but ain’t nobody run the football on Ohio State. They’ve been really good since that Oregon game…their defense doesn’t have holes. They don’t have to blitz. They can just sit back and get home…to me the Ohio State defense was on another level.”

On the officiating:

“The SEC football teams are left out of the football team, but the officiating crew is not, and in terms of flags, they’re the highest flagging crew in the league.” This was said by Brent Rollins.

On Jeremiah Love and the running game:

“It can’t be just Riley Leonard on the offense. Love just has the ability to be freaky. He has the ability to stay patient, and wait for the big plays…You have to spy Riley Leonard. He’s so big and strong he can shrug people off of him.”

On Ohio State’s running game:

“To me, it’s not just Judkins. He’s going to get touchdowns and be the goal line back. It’s Henderson. Ohio State made a conscious effort to change who they are in the running game after the Michigan game. They basically said ‘up front is not a strength, so how can I not make it a weakness.’ If your big five can play well together, you don’t have to be elite. They’ve gotten more simple in the running game. Henderson doesn’t carry the football much, but he does well in big screens. That’s the key.”

Pollack’s score prediction:

Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 13

David Pollack reacts to Carson Beck’s transfer decision

“Leaving the team and going elsewhere during bowl season … says a lot in a negative direction,” said Pollack on former Georgia QB Carson Beck

College football analyst David Pollack, a former Georgia Bulldogs defensive end, had an intriguing reaction after Carson Beck entered the transfer portal.

“It’s interesting with with him (Carson Beck) because the injury he has, it’s a six to eighth month injury, and so that puts him, you know, right up against camp,” said Pollack.

Beck had surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in December and will not be able to throw until March (light throwing).

“Trying to get back (before the season starts). I don’t want to say this. I’m not saying this rude, but like it’s damaged goods right now. Like you don’t know what you’re getting, so if you’re going to make a heavy investment (in Beck) I think it’s kind of hard to do if you’re a college team,” said Pollack.

Beck is expected to return before fall camp, but that is not guaranteed. He joins a Miami team that helped develop quarterback Cam Ward, who could end up as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

“Whoever takes a chance (on Beck) is taking a chance,” added Pollack, who published the video before Beck announced his commitment to Miami.

“There’s a lot of things that did not help Carson Beck this year,” Pollack noted. “It didn’t help the way his team responded to Gunner Stockton and the energy they played with in the SEC championship.”

Georgia won the SEC championship after Carson Beck went down with an elbow injury in the first half. In a storybook ending, Beck handed off the ball on Georgia’s game-winning play after missing the entire second half.

“You leaving the team and going elsewhere during bowl season,” continued Pollack. “I can just put it to you like this … talking to people in these realms that says a lot in a negative direction.”

Injured Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nolan Smith did everything he could for the team after going down with an injury. UGA went on to win the national championship game in 2023. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

“It (leaving the team) does not say a lot of positive things. When you look at Nolan Smith … couple of years ago. Dude hurts his arm in a sling. Out for the season. The dude’s coaching his team the rest of the year,” Pollack stated. Nolan Smith’s leadership played a role in Georgia winning a national title. It is unclear how available Carson Beck was for Gunner Stockton, who made his first career start, after the SEC championship.

David Pollack thinks 35 Georgia football players will transfer

College football expert David Pollacks thinks close to half of Georgia’s roster will enter the transfer portal

Former ESPN “College GameDay” analyst and Georgia Bulldogs defensive end David Pollack envisions major changes coming for Georgia football this offseason.

“I think there will be several changes to the Georgia (coaching) staff,” said David Pollack. “It’s already coming down the pipe and that will come out soon.”

Two potential coaching staff changes Georgia could explore are offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and offensive line coach Stacy Searels. Of course, with the current rate of change in college football, we would not be surprised to see even more changes.

“I think you’re going to have 25 plus portal additions. I think people are going to jump in the portal because that’s the world we live in,” added Pollack. Georgia already had nine players (two of which were off the roster) enter the transfer portal ahead of the Sugar Bowl.

Later, Pollack went on to up the amount of UGA players he thinks will enter the portal. “I would be shocked if you don’t get to 30. I think you’ll get to 35 like that is the kind of action you’ll get in the portal,” Pollack continued.

Georgia would need 26 more players to enter the transfer portal to reach the 35 prediction. Last offseason, Georgia had 26 players, including walk-ons, enter the transfer portal, so 35 is not outside of the realm of possibility.

Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia enter the offseason with more questions than answers about the 2025 season. The main question is who will be UGA’s starting quarterback?

“Interested to see the quarterback position,” said Pollack. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton looked solid in his first career start against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, but it was not enough for Georgia to win and the Bulldogs totaled 10 points. Many of Georgia’s offensive struggles weren’t Stockton’s fault (see: drops, poor blocking).

We think this offseason could end up as one of the defining moments of the Smart era. Will Georgia resemble a national championship contender or will the Bulldogs have to undergo a quick rebuild?

David Pollack explains why Georgia lost to Notre Dame

David Pollack details why Georgia lost to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl

Former Georgia Bulldogs defensive end and college football analyst David Pollack reflected on Georgia’s Sugar Bowl loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

“Marcus Freeman coached a great game and that’s nine straight ranked wins for the Irish,” said Pollack. “Why did they win the game? Notre Dame played clean… Riley Leonard is a dude.”

Notre Dame relied on Leonard for his ability as a rusher. Leonard avoided turnovers and complied just 90 passing yards, but he rushed for a game-high 80 yards on 14 carries. Georgia did not have 80 rushing yards as a team.

Georgia limited Notre Dame’s offense for the most part, but the Fighting Irish won the game in two of the other three phases.

“Notre Dame just dominated special teams,” said Pollack. He highlighted that Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter went three for three after entering the game just eight of 15 for the year. Jeter’s kicks weren’t chip shots either. All three of his field goals were over 40 yards.

Pollack emphasized that Georgia’s inability to run the ball and run block really hurt the Bulldogs. He also noted Georgia’s dropped passes have been a recurring theme all year and they helped put the final dagger in Georgia’s season. “They’ve lived on the edge all season,” said Pollack.

Pollack also highlights Notre Dame’s 2-0 turnover advantage as a big reason why the Irish beat Georgia 23-10.

Georgia also could not establish much of a running game. UGA recorded just 62 rushing yards on 29 carries and fell to 0-3 this season when rushing for under 100 yards.

Georgia struggled in pass protection. “The left tackle spot for Georgia has been one of their biggest concerns,” said Pollack. UGA allowed four sacks including two forced fumbles.

Pollack also notes that Georgia’s defense is not disruptive enough in terms of forcing turnovers, tackles for a loss, and stopping the quarterback run. He wants to see UGA tackle better on the edges and in the secondary.

“Georgia made the mistakes and made too many of them,” Pollack said. Georgia’s turnovers and drops finally caught up to the Bulldogs in the end.

David Pollack on Cade Klubnik being a top Heisman contender in 2025

Pollack shares high praise for Klubnik.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has positioned himself as one of college football’s brightest stars, and if he returns for his senior season in 2025, he could achieve what no Tiger has before: winning the Heisman Trophy.

Despite the impressive careers of Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence, Clemson has never produced a Heisman winner. However, ESPN analyst David Pollack believes Klubnik has the potential to break that trend. “I think he’ll stay, and I think Cade Klubnik will be in the Heisman conversation next year. That’s how good I think he is,” Pollack said.

Klubnik’s 2024 season was nothing short of stellar, with over 4,000 total yards, 43 total touchdowns, and just five interceptions. His performance in the College Football Playoff against No. 5 Texas showcased his elite ability, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns to keep Clemson in contention despite a limited run game.

“What he did to Texas—Texas gave up four touchdown passes all year. He had three, and he was dropping the deep ball in the bucket, making plays,” Pollack noted.

While there remains speculation about whether Klubnik will declare for the NFL Draft, a return to Clemson in 2025 could solidify his status as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation and give him a real shot at making Heisman history.

 

David Pollack shares message to Georgia fans about Gunner Stockton

Former ESPN analyst David Pollack gives his take on how Georgia will perform differently with Gunner Stockton at QB.

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck was injured in the first half of the SEC championship game, giving Gunner Stockton the keys to the Georgia offense. Stockton performed admirably, reawakening the UGA offense and leading the Bulldogs to a 22-19 overtime win.

Given Beck’s injury severity, Stockton could start a playoff game or multiple games. Former ESPN analyst David Pollack believes that might be beneficial for Georgia due to the energy Stockton brought to Georgia.

“I am not saying Carson Beck is not good … but Carson Beck is absolutely a flatliner,” Pollack said in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “He is not emotional. … When my quarterback gets juiced up, I love it. I rally behind it. When Gunner runs to the right on his first drive and runs a guy over instead of running out of bounds and the sideline is jumping up and down like crazy, it infuses your team.”

Beck is never the kind of person who emotionally fluctuates, unlike Kirby Smart, but Stockton was immediately fired up when he entered the game against Texas. That kind of energy can be infectious to the team and the fans.

Beck has done admirable work to lead the Bulldogs to the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff and an 11-2 record, but it cannot be denied the effect Stockton’s animated demeanor had on this game.

The first-round bye gives Beck more time to heal, but if Beck is not healthy enough for the Sugar Bowl, Pollack suggests Georgia will be just fine with Stockton under center.

 

Why David Pollack would ‘rather be Georgia than Oregon’

Former Georgia Bulldogs defensive end David Pollack likes UGA’s College Football Playoff path

Former Georgia Bulldogs defensive end and college football expert David Pollack thinks that Georgia has an easier College Football Playoff path to the national championship game than the Oregon Ducks.

Georgia is the No. 2 seed in the playoff and Oregon is the No. 1 seed, so hypothetically, Georgia should have a harder path to the national championship. However, Pollack does not think it worked out that way.

“I feel like the upper echelon talent is very heavy towards the top side of this (College Football Playoff) bracket and I definitely would rather be Georgia than Oregon,” said Pollack.  “I think Oregon is clearly the No. 1 seed. All year long the only team to go undefeated throughout the season and well when you think about it, if it were a traditional bracket, if it was traditional seeding Oregon would be in the better spot.”

Oregon’s side of the bracket features Texas, Ohio State and Tennessee. The Ducks have to play the winner of the Ohio State-Tennessee game in the quarterfinals.

“But because of the way they do the byes and putting Boise State and Arizona State there, now you’ve taken teams that are ranked according to the committee six and seven in Ohio State (and Tennessee) but are actually now eight, nine in the bracket,” continued Pollack.

Texas and Ohio State are among the national championship favorites, so Oregon has quite a challenging path to a national title despite finishing the season undefeated.

Georgia could have to get past Notre Dame and Penn State to make the national championship.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDX6KipvYAV/

Georgia football schedule

Georgia plays the winner of the Notre Dame versus Indiana game in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Jan. 1 at 8:45 p.m. ET.

David Pollack believes Georgia is playoff lock

David Pollack believes both SEC Championship teams are playoff locks. However, UGA has to be worried with Alabama as the No. 11 seed

The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs and No. 2 Texas Longhorns have a rematch in the SEC championship this Saturday. Winning the conference championship is paramount for many teams to reach the College Football Playoff.

Former ESPN analyst and Georgia linebacker David Pollack doesn’t think so. On his YouTube channel “David Pollack College Football”, he stated that he believes both teams to be playoff locks.

“I think both teams are in the College Football Playoff regardless,” Pollack said.

Pollack believes that “Texas has the right identity on offense at the right time in the right moments.” That identity appears to be a reliance on a stout running game. Quintrevion Wisner has 344 rushing yards in his last two games. He also believes “the secondary just doesn’t give up big plays.”

In Georgia’s previous game with Texas (who was No. 1), the Bulldogs dominated the Longhorns’ 30-15. The Bulldogs generated tons of pressure, forcing four turnovers including two fumbles.

According to ESPN’s matchup predictor, Texas has a 61.5% chance to win the game and winning the SEC in their first year in the conference. If Georgia wins, it would be UGA’s second SEC title in the last three years.

Georgia should be a little worried with Alabama as the No. 11 seed. The Crimson Tide has a head-to-head win over Georgia, so UGA wants to avoid losing so the selection committee won’t put Georgia and Alabama in the same ranking group.

Former Georgia LB David Pollack shares interesting take on Texas Longhorns

Former NFL Linebacker, and, ESPN Analyst shares interesting take on Texas Longhorns.

David Pollack took to social media to share an interesting take about the Texas Longhorns as they inch towards the race to the College Football Playoff. He shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) “Texas ain’t flashy.”

In the twenty-five second clip shared to the platform he states that Texas is not an “explosive offense.” Stating that they don’t have the speed for Head Coach Steve Sarkisian to “play with.” He noted that Texas didn’t have consistency, stating that Quinn Ewers was good, but hasn’t turned heads necessarily. He did share that he feels that Texas is the type of team to “put a few games together.” He said Texas, could “win (the College Football Playoff) it.”

David Pollack is a former NFL linebacker and college football analyst. A standout at the University of Georgia, he was a three-time All-American and recorded 36 career sacks, ranking third in NCAA history. Pollack won awards as the nation’s top defensive player and was a first-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. His NFL career was cut short by a neck injury in his second season. From 2011 to 2023, he served as a college football analyst for ESPN.

David Pollack predicts winner of Tennessee-Georgia game

Former ESPN analyst David Pollack, who played for UGA, predicts the winner of the Georgia-Tennessee game

Former Georgia Bulldog and ESPN analyst David Pollack has a number of opinions on the matchup between the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers and the No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs. With massive playoff implications for Georgia, he believes the Bulldogs will show up and win. Pollack talked about the Georgia-Tennessee game on his YouTube channel.

“Georgia can’t lose at home to Tennessee,” Pollack said. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Pollack also went on to call this a de facto elimination game for either Georgia or Tennessee. People, such as Paul Finebaum, have called this an elimination game for Georgia, but so far no one has covered Tennessee’s playoff chances after this loss.

“They’re (Georgia) going to have three players that are going to be mocked in the top 15 of the (NFL) draft,” said Pollack, who thinks Georgia has more than enough talent to win.

With a loss, Tennessee will be 5-2 in the SEC but could end up behind other two-loss teams due to tiebreakers. That would eliminate it from the SEC championship race. If Tennessee loses a close game to Georgia, there’s still a chance it could make the playoff, but it’d be an uphill battle with the competition from the Big Ten.

For Georgia, a win could essentially guarantee it a playoff spot, but it could also open the door for it to reach the SEC championship, since it would have a 6-2 conference record. A loss would be a significant blow to Georgia’s playoff hopes.