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2022 concludes with the second College Football Playoff semifinal, the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. Georgia looks to become the first team to repeat in the College Football Playoff, while Ohio State returns after missing the 2021 CFP.
When: Saturday, December 31st @ 8:00 PM ET
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
Who: Ohio State vs. Georgia
Spread & Total: Georgia -5; O/U 62
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Tale of the Take: Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State nearly completed a perfect season, had it not been for the 4th quarter against Michigan. Now, they get a chance at redemption. CJ Stroud looked like a Heisman frontrunner for most of the season. 9.4 YPA, 10.4% touchdown rate and 1.7% interception rate on 355 pass attempts. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka are two 1,000-yard receivers for Stroud. Miyan Williams will get a bulk of the workload behind Stroud. TreVeyon Henderson is out for the bowl game due to a foot injury. Williams scored a touchdown in six of his last seven.
Ohio State allowed 6.8 YPA, the same as fellow CFP semifinalist TCU. The Buckeyes have sacked opposing quarterbacks 32 times, while intercepting them 10 times. 3.4 YPC is the 20th best mark for rushing defenses. Ohio State has caused more fumbles on defense (11) than rushing touchdowns allowed (10).
Opt Outs: N/A
Injuries:
RB TreVeyon Henderson
(Played in just 8 games for the Buckeyes. Only played once in the month of November. Rushed for over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021)
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
(Plagued with a hamstring injury throughout the season. Played in just 3 games this season. 95 receptions, 1,606 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns in 2021)
G Matt Jones
(Starting Guard for the Buckeyes; named to All-Big Ten Second Team. Missed the Michigan game due to injury. Status is uncertain if he’ll play in the Peach Bowl)
Transfer Portal Departures:
LB Teradja Mitchell
Players to Know:
#44 DE J.T. Tuimolau
All-Big Ten First Team selection. 28 tackles (10.5 for loss). Recorded 3.5 sacks, 2 pass deflections and 2 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown against Penn State
#35 LB Tommy Eichenberg
All-Big Ten First Team selection. 112 tackles leads the team. Recorded 2.5 sacks, 3 pass deflection and an interception for a touchdown
Tale of the Tape: Georgia Bulldogs
For 365 days, the Georgia Bulldogs have been flawless. Yes, there have been moments where the Bulldogs have looked beatable. But when the lights get bright, Georgia plays their best. Many disagree with Stetson Bennett’s invitation to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. But his play the last two years has been superb. 66.6% completion rate, averaging 9.2 YPA, throwing 49 touchdowns (7.2%) to just 13 interceptions (1.9%). 15 up. 15 down. Georgia will mix in three running backs – Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards, and Kendall Milton. Each have contributed over 500 yards on the ground, over 5 YPC, and at least six touchdowns.
The Georgia defense is the anchor of this team. For the third time in the last four years, Georgia has produced a top-5 scoring defense. While their passing yards allowed ranks above average, it’s due to volume. The Bulldogs allow just 6.2 YPA, 13th best nationally. Georgia has forced 10 interceptions on defense, while bringing down the opposing quarterback 26 times. Five rushing touchdowns allowed is the 2nd fewest nationally behind Iowa’s four. 2.9 YPC is a top-5 mark in FBS. Before LSU scored 30 in the SEC Championship, the last team to go over 20 points against Georgia was Missouri on October 1st.
Opt Outs: N/A
Injuries:
WR Ladd McConkey
(Second Team All-SEC; 2nd on team in receptions (51), receiving yards (675) and receiving touchdowns (5). Suffered a knee injury in the SEC Championship game. It was reported earlier today McConkey is available for the Bulldogs)
G Tate Ratledge
(Dealing with shoulder pain, but expected to play barring aggravating the injury)
OT Warren McClendon
(First Team All-SEC; suffered a knee injury during the SEC Championship game. Per Kirby Smart, he is hopeful McClendon can go in the Peach Bowl)
EDGE Nolan Smith
(Suffered a season-ending pectoral injury against Florida on October 29th)
S Dan Jackson
(Suffered a foot injury against Vanderbilt on October 15th. Has not played since; expected to be unavailable for the remainder of the season)
Transfer Portal Departures:
DT Bill Norton
Player to Know:
#19 TE Brock Bowers
First Team All-SEC. Awarded the John Mackey Award for nation’s best tight end. Stetson Bennett’s favorite target. 52 receptions for 726 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, all lead the team
#29 DB Chris Smith
All-SEC First Team selection. 49 tackles, team leading 3 interceptions and 5 pass deflections
Bowl Game Trends:
- In the last 5 years of the CFP, favorites are 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS
- 3 of the 16 CFB semifinal games have been decided by single digits; 9 have been decided by 20+
- The 1-seed in the CFP semifinals is 6-2 SU. The only two teams to upset as the 4-seed was Alabama and…Ohio State
- Per Chris Fallica, only three times has the 1-seed entered the CFP semifinals as a single-digit favorite. Two of the three lost outright (Georgia is a 5.5-point favorite)
- Per Chris Fallica, Ohio State is 3-13 ATS in their last 16 against ranked opponents
- Defending National Champions who made the College Football Playoff the following year are 4-1 in the College Football Playoff semifinals
Game Synopsis:
This is essentially a home game for Georgia, traveling an hour and a half west from Athens to Atlanta. Georgia’s defense is elite, especially the defensive line. Jalen Carter and Nazir Stackhouse anchor that line and can create havoc for CJ Stroud. If Stroud gets uncomfortable, it could look similar to the 4th quarter against Michigan. Ohio State has the offense to hang with Georgia, but the line has to protect Stroud up front. I think Ohio State could redeem themselves after an embarrassing loss over a month ago, but it’s going to be a tall task. The better team is Georgia, and I’ll take them here for a chance to repeat next Monday.
Bowl Mania Pick To Win: Georgia
Bowl Mania Confidence: 28/43
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