The Georgia Bulldogs are once again on the brink of winning the CFP title. Does that come as a shock? Not really, especially if you consider that throughout the season all but one of their wins came by double-digit margins.
Amongst those victories are the 49-3 beating they gave Oregon on the first game of the season, the 48-7 stomping against South Carolina, a 42-10 dub against Auburn, their 27-13 win against Tennessee, and the 50-30 SEC conference title triumph over LSU.
Now, even after having their season rely on a missed field goal from Ohio State, the Bulldogs are ready to try and go for the repeat, this time facing TCU.
So, what will it take for the Bulldogs to once again capture the CFP title?
Let’s break down what Kirby Smart’s team will have to do if they wish to topple the Horned Frogs and become back-to-back college football champions.
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Having Their Offense Dominate from The Get-Go
If there’s one thing that Georgia should avoid if they wish to win the title once again it’s to let TCU stay close. All but one of Georgia’s wins in the season came with a double-digit margin. It was in that one win by 26-22 against an unranked Missouri team, that Georgia would show that when put against the wall, it can scramble to a victory.
Needing another example? Just look at the Dawgs’r Peach Bowl win over Ohio State. Through three quarters, it seemed as if the Buckeyes would leave the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the “W.”
Leading 38-24 entering the fourth quarter, things were looking as steep as ever for the Bulldogs, but when it came time to start firing back, Georgia got to work and never looked back. With an astounding 18-3 fourth quarter, the Bulldogs managed to turn the game around, finishing with a 42-41 score.
So what does this all add up to? Simple. For Georgia to cruise to their second title in as many years, they need Stetson Bennett and company to march onto the field and start putting points up on the board from the get-go.
TCU is the kind of team that can start slow but all of a sudden pickup and barrel through any defense, which is why Georgia should approach this game in the same manner. Once players like Bennett, Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington, Ladd McConkey, Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards, and Arian Smith get going, there should be no stopping this Bulldogs offense.
With a defense as strong and stealthy as Georgia’s, all this team needs is for the offense to start clicking from the start of the game. Do that and the defense will take care of the rest.
Georgia’s Defense Cannot Skip a Beat
If you look at Georgia’s defensive line, it wouldn’t take more than a minute to see why this is the best unit in the country. For example, this season, opposing teams have only managed to score in 32,1% of their tries when facing Georgia’s defense in the red zone. Add to that the fact that they are ranked first in the country in rushing yards allowed, second in points allowed per game, and third in third-down conversions, and what do you get? A defense nobody wants to face.
Getting into the nitty-gritty of it all, if Georgia wishes to beat TCU without giving them a chance to catch a glimpse of hope, they will need their defense to come out swinging from the start.
Against Ohio State, one of Georgia’s main deficiencies on defense came from allowing QB C.J. Stroud to have plenty of time to spot coverages down the field as well as giving him ample room in his pocket to move around and pass.
Facing the Horned Frogs, the Bulldogs should be ready to face off against a QB that’s faster and better at running with the ball than Stroud. TCU’s Max Duggan thrives when being pressured to make plays, always finding a way to make plays happen.
This is why Georgia’s front defense will have to play their best version of perfect football if they wish to take Duggan out of the equation and isolate TCU’s receivers down the line.
Championship Pedigree Must Stand Out
Not only do bragging rights come from winning a national title. As the current CFP title holders, the Bulldogs boast a ton of experience when it comes to not only playing on college football’s biggest stage but also coming out triumphant. That in itself works as one, if not the biggest advantage that Georgia can hold over TCU’s head.
In the past two years, Georgia has won 31 out of 32 games, losing only once last season against Alabama, the team it would go on to beat in last year’s CFP title game weeks later. Even with some of their biggest names from last season’s championship ride moving on to the pros, Coach Smart managed to keep some of the biggest players in the team still on for one more year.
Especially looking at the offense, having guys like Bennett, Bowers, and McConkey will be key to gaining a strong edge over TCU on January 9.
Against a team like TCU which is making its first appearance in the CFPs experience and pedigree need to be the main calling card for the Bulldogs. They beat the best No.4 seed the playoffs have seen in Ohio State. Last season they thrashed Michigan in the semifinals, the team that TCU beat to make it into the finals.
So, what’s left for Georgia? A Horned Frogs team ready to bring the fight but who might not be ready for what’s coming to them.
