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College Football Playoff- Quarterfinals
(7) Notre Dame Fighting Irish at (2) Georgia Bulldogs
Notre Dame: What more could you ask for on December 20th? You’re kicking off the inaugural 12-team playoff bracket in the sport, the first game features your program and it’s an in-state rival coming into your back yard and you’re facing them for the first time since 1991, plus, the weather was cold which means it was football weather. There is nothing like a game in South Bend, Indiana under the lights. That first-round game against the Indiana Hoosiers was the best I’ve seen the Notre Dame Fighting Irish look all year considering this is a team that hasn’t lost a football game since week two in September when they fell short to Northern Illinois. It was business as usual for them and what I loved was the fact they didn’t try anything outside the box nor did they attempt any tracks. I saw a group that lined up and not only told the opponent but also showed them that they didn’t have it and proceeded to go along with their business. Efforts such as what I described to you make me smile and that shows me that old-school football is still there. When Jeremiyah Love scored on that 98-yard touchdown run, that set the tone for the remainder of the game and the defense handled the rest. As the season progresses, I’ve noticed Riley Leonard has become more comfortable in the offense. This is the best team Marcus Freeman has had in his tenure. On Wednesday night, they will march into the Superdome to face the SEC champions.
Georgia: This was by far the most interesting season they’ve had. Since 2021, they have established themselves as a powerhouse in the sport, and at one time, they hadn’t lost a regular-season game since the 2020 season, but that all came to an end when the Alabama Crimson Tide beat them in an instant classic on September 28th. They lost two regular season games which is the most they’ve dropped since the 2020 season. This should imply to you just how strong they’ve been as a football team. Due to chaos in the SEC along with the Alabama Crimson Tide and Ole Miss Rebels each losing three games, that propelled the Georgia Bulldogs back into the SEC title game for the fifth consecutive season and won it defeating the Texas Longhorns. At times this year, it hasn’t looked the best, nor was it the efforts we’ve seen in previous years and they’ve also shown they can be vulnerable if you play their style of football against them, but it wouldn’t be much if it were too easy for them. The rocky moments during a season are what motivate a football team moving forward. Their defense which has been their backbone these last few years was tested at times and when you punched them in the mouth, they’d fold. Remember, the bully doesn’t like to be bullied. Plus, Kirby Smart is also the best coach in the country and will find a way to keep his young men motivated. This Wednesday night, they will face Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in New Orleans.
Notre Dame X-Factor: Jadarian Price– After Jeremiyah Love broke that big run, he was limited and saw sporadic playing time as he had been dealing with a knee injury. Depending on his status, Jadarian could be seeing more time as Running Back 1. He’s been a fantastic wingman to Love and the numbers may not be eye-popping, but he has certainly had an impact on this offense. Jadarian is a strong runner with a burst that runs right up the middle and is a straight-lined runner who can be tough to tackle.
Georgia X-Factor: Arian Smith– He has the most yards of any receiver on the Bulldogs roster with 750 on the season and four touchdowns. What concerns me at times is he can be inconsistent at times and the dropped passes have been an issue. One thing however I can say about Arian is he has stepped up when his team has needed him in the playoffs before and this would be an ideal time to step up and be that reliable target for the new Quarterback. This is Georgia’s best downfield threat and could be a field stretcher against this Notre Dame secondary.
Final Thoughts: We have a few blue bloods of the sport here. Believe it or not, the Sugar Bowl matchup between these two will be just the fourth meeting. There’s no Carson Beck for Georgia which means they will be turning to Gunner Stockton. He came in for Carson during the SEC title game and now, he’s their guy the remainder of the way. One thing I noticed in the first round was Notre Dame struggling to move the football on Indiana. Outside of the 98-yard run, the Irish averaged four yards per play and it wasn’t the offensive showing many made that game out to be. I expect the running game to be a factor for the Dawgs so they won’t put too much on Stockton’s plate, so controlling the time of possession will be key. Next, Georgia must dominate the line of scrimmage, especially on the offensive side of the ball. This will be a tough defensive front of the Irish that the young Quarterback will see and his Offensive Line must give him time to operate from the pocket. Is Notre Dame ready for the speed and size of the SEC opponent? They must bottle up the Georgia running game and dare Stockton to beat them. Also, can Riley Leonard make a key pass when the moment presents itself? I believe we are in for a great game and I like Georgia to advance to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
Prediction: Georgia 30, Notre Dame 23
