Following two classic showdowns in the College Football Playoffs (CFP) semi-finals, the stage is set for the Georgia Bulldogs to square off with the TCU Horned Frogs in Los Angeles. The CFP National Championship game is slated for Monday night on January 9th and should be a spectacular showcase between the champions of the SEC (Georgia) and the Big 12 (TCU). Indeed with both teams playing their best ball, this game has the potential to go down as an instant classic. The former is coming off a nail-biting win over Ohio State that saw the Buckeyes miss a game-winning field goal with time winding down. Meanwhile, TCU was able to hold off the scrappy Michigan Wolverines and earn their first berth to the CFP National Championship.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each team, who will win the CFP National Championship, and also some more notes about college football betting.
Team Spotlight: Georgia Bulldogs
Barely escaping Ohio State in the CFP Semifinals, 42-41, the Bulldogs are looking to defend their crown as champions of the college football world. A squad that has a vaunted defense all year long (12.8 points allowed per game), Georgia surrendered a ton of points to the Buckeyes this past weekend and was at one point down 38-24 heading into the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, the Bulldogs rallied, and quarterback Stetson Bennett was able to connect with two different receivers for touchdown scores in the final period. Following a missed final field goal from Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles, Georgia survived to face TCU at SoFi Stadium.
For the ‘Dawgs this season, the story has, of course, been their vaunted defense, but Bennett has been incredibly efficient for them on offense with 3,823 passing yards and 23 passing scores. Running back Kenny McIntosh has paced the offense with 779 rushing yards on the season and chipped in 70 against Ohio State on only five carries. In addition to some explosive players on the outside (receivers Arian Smith and Adonai Mitchell), tight end Brock Bowers is one to watch in the middle, with 790 receiving yards and six scores on the year. He has been Bennett’s favorite target at times.
Team Spotlight: TCU Horned Frogs
In a similar vein to the Bulldogs, TCU is coming off its own harrowing win in the semi-finals, holding off Michigan, 51-45. The Horned Frogs mainly had this game in the bag, but the Wolverines kept this one interesting with multiple fourth-quarter scores that cut the deficit to three and six. While Michigan threatened multiple times at the end of the game, the Frogs’ defense stood strong and was able to outlast the 13-1 Wolverines. In this game, TCU quarterback Max Duggan did not have his best outing (14-29, 225 passing yards, three total scores, and two picks), but he is still a Heisman Trophy Finalist for a reason. Though Duggan had an off night, the TCU defense was the star, with two defensive scores.
A squad with stars at multiple positions, TCU’s rushing attack also shined in the last game. Running back Kendre Miller has been the main workhorse this season with 1,3999 rushing yards and 17 scores. His partner in crime, Emari Demercado, however, was the star of the game against the Wolverines with 150 rushing yards and one score. The senior is also from Inglewood, so the CFP National Championship game will be a homecoming for him.
Prediction: While it might be hard to live up to the spectacular showings from the semi-finals, this should still be a great contest. However, the reigning champs just have too much talent on offense and defense. Take Georgia to win straight up.
Once you are all dialed in regarding the CFP National Championship and ready to roll out your bets, SBS has a lot more great information for you to check out. Even though the college football season is coming to an end, you can prepare for the action next year with our NCAAF betting sites guide, which contains a ton of great NCAA football action. This page also has the latest bonuses to get you that extra yard. Speaking of bonuses, for the best comprehensive source related to that topic, the SBS best bonus betting sites breakdown has your back with a catalog of different bonuses and tips for maximizing your wagers. Finally, if you are perhaps uncertain which payment options are the best for you, then our payment methods rundown should give you some clarity on which route for deposits and withdrawals should work best for you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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