Peach Bowl: Georgia Vs. Ohio State College Football Playoff Preview, Prediction

The highest-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (13-0) tackle the fourth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) within the Peach Bowl, a School Soccer Playoff semifinal, on Dec. 31 at 7:00 p.m. CT. The sport airs on ESPN from Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Georgia is a snug favourite to repeat as champions, however can Ohio State defy the chances to clinch a spot in one other Nationwide Championship Sport?

Sizing Up The Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia notched their first SEC Championship since 2017 after they bulldozed LSU 50-30. It wrapped up a 13-0 common season wherein Georgia the perfect workforce within the nation every of the 13 weeks. They put the brakes on an explosive Tennessee offense whereas avoiding many in-season scares.

Stetson Bennett was named a Heisman Trophy finalist whereas the offense took large strides ahead. All American Brock Bowers dominated as soon as once more after a terrific freshman 12 months, main the workforce in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.

Georgia rosters a number of key receivers, however their critical benefit lies of their freak room of tight ends. Bowers heads the group, however Darnell Washington is simply as a lot a mismatch for opposing defenses as anybody.

Protection once more stepped as much as the plate as a prime unit nationally. Jalen Carter emerged as a recreation wrecker, suitably filling within the large footwear left by Jordan Davis a 12 months in the past. Nonetheless, Georgia misplaced captain and prime linebacker Nolan Smith to harm a number of weeks in the past.

The only real cracks within the armor this 12 months got here in a let-up recreation towards Kent State of all groups and a nail-biter on the street towards Missouri wherein Georgia’s offensive line was dominated.

If there’s any solution to get these giants reeling, it is by successful the road of scrimmage.

Sizing Up The Ohio State Buckeyes

As soon as once more, Ohio State fielded a top-flight offense highlighted by a humiliation of riches on the extensive receiver place. Possible first-round NFL Draft decide Jaxon Smith-Njigba performed a grand whole of three partial video games resulting from a nagging hamstring harm and caught simply 5 balls all season lengthy, however the Buckeyes nonetheless fielded the perfect receiving corps within the nation by a snug margin.

CJ Stroud discovered himself in New York Metropolis once more as a Heisman finalist. He had the advantage of throwing to rising tremendous star Marvin Harrison Jr. and handing off to TreVeyon Henderson for many of the 12 months. Henderson battled harm, paving the way in which for bulldozer Miyan Williams to shine within the backfield.

The Buckeyes improved massively on protection. Move rusher JT Tuimoloau broke onto the scene as the following nice Ohio State defensive finish whereas linebacker Tommy Eichenberg earned All-America honors.

The secondary includes a litany of four- and five-star prospects, however the unit was massive and by far Ohio State’s worst. Their efficiency late within the season towards Michigan value Ohio State the sport and, probably, a Massive Ten Championship.

As is the case with the previous three years at Ohio State, conservative teaching was a problem. Ryan Day fell to 1-2 towards arch-rival Michigan– the primary Buckeye coach to have a shedding document after a couple of recreation because the notorious John Cooper.

This season was outlined by, “Arduous work beats expertise when expertise does not work onerous.” With a championship on the road, will the onerous work and passive teaching change?

Notable Accidents, Decide Outs

Georgia: LB Nolan Smith (OUT), WR Ladd McConkey (Questionable), WR AD Mitchell (Possible), OL Warren McClendon (Questionable)

Ohio State: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (OUT), RB TreVeyon Henderson (OUT), RB Miyan Williams (Questionable), OL Matt Jones (Questionable)

Why Georgia Can Win

In nearly each metric, Georgia reigns supreme. Whereas they do not area the identical historic-level of defensive expertise that they had final season, their protection nonetheless stands top-five in scoring (13.8). The place this workforce is improved from final 12 months is on offense, with the largest shock coming from their fifth-ranked passing offense in effectivity.

Georgia’s defensive entrance remains to be an exceptionally disruptive group. When Stroud will get off script and is pressured, his effectiveness goes out the window. Equally, Ohio State’s offense does not transfer the ball nicely when their prime working backs aren’t within the recreation. Henderson is absolutely out and if Williams misses, we’ll see one other meandering offensive outing like Ohio State put up towards Michigan.

In each part besides quarterback and receiver, Georgia has the benefit. They’re gifted sufficient to manage the road of scrimmage and push Ohio State round. As we have seen from earlier teaching jobs beneath Day, bodily groups beat the Buckeyes up and disrupt their recreation plan.

Why Ohio State Can Win

No workforce within the nation is extra correctly outfitted to deal with Georgia than Ohio State at their finest. Harrison and the passing assault are adequate to benefit from a Georgia secondary, their weakest unit on protection. When enjoying beneath management and with recreation plan, Ohio State’s offense is the simplest unit within the nation.

Nonetheless, the Buckeyes want Williams again within the lineup. The specter of a run recreation has confirmed to be a critical benefit all season lengthy, most just lately highlighted towards Michigan, the place Ohio State ran for over 120 yards within the first half.

Defensively, Ohio State has the athletes and the expertise to hold with Georgia. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowels is aggressive and has, at occasions, efficiently eliminated the run recreation from the equation. Nonetheless, cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Cameron Brown might want to play flawless soccer– one thing not usually seen this season.

If all three prime receivers– Harrison, Emeka Egbuka, and Julian Flemming– discover their stride, the Buckeyes will be capable of out-score Georgia even when the protection is not locked completely down.

Georgia Vs. Ohio State Prediction

In the event you return and rely the variety of “ifs” and “howevers” beneath every of the earlier two sections, you will see the place this prediction is headed. The underside line is, Georgia is the extra reliable workforce enjoying in their very own yard in a stadium they simply received the SEC Championship in.

Ohio State at their absolute pinnacle may be essentially the most gifted workforce within the nation. Nonetheless, they’re routinely not glorious and the offensive teaching is not aggressive sufficient in huge video games.

Georgia simply has too many benefits. They’re not a workforce that requires their protection to compensate for a just-okay offense– they’re really elite shifting the soccer.

The Bulldogs have the protection and training benefit and so they’re closely favored to repeat as Nationwide Champions for a purpose.

The decide: Georgia 34, Ohio State 17

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