The College Football Playoff hits the ground running as it moves from on-campus first-round games to quarterfinals and major bowl games. For Georgia, it’s a familiar scene. The Bulldogs haven’t lost a bowl game in six years. This is not the case for Notre Dame, which has not won a major game since 1994 at the Cotton Bowl, well before the advent of the BCS and then the CFP.
Is this Notre Dame’s defining moment? Or is the Big Easy yet another easy stop for the Bulldogs, whose last two bowl appearances also marked the largest winning margin in bowl history? The Pierced Bulldogs State of Florida by 60 points in the Orange Bowl last season and won the national title by beating 58 points TCU in 2023.
But this year seems different, doesn’t it? Georgia’s top five defenses of the past have regressed to their lowest level in 11 years as top-35 units. Notre Dame not only wins, but wins big with an unstoppable offense and a top-10 defense, including the best pass defense in the playoffs (96.9 opponent pass rating). Additionally, Georgia is set to send first-time starter Gunner Stockton into the fray at quarterback.. He will try to surpass his counterpart Riley Leonard, who has more career touchdowns (75) than Stockton has pass attempts (51).
The Sugar Bowl is the place of fond memories for the Georgia faithful, who celebrated their first national championship in 1980 with a victory against Notre Dame. The Bulldogs are 3-0 against the Irish. The question is whether the past really matters with the arrival of the new Irish look.
This Sugar Bowl game was originally scheduled to be played on New Year’s Day, but following the deadly truck attack in New Orleans, the the match was finally postponed to Thursday.
Georgia vs. Notre Dame: What you need to know
Can Gunner Stockton make big throws in crucial situations? Let’s be real: the quarterback position hasn’t necessarily been as critical in from Georgia success compared to previous years, but loss Carson Beck is always a big punch in the gut. There is a glimmer of hope, however, and perhaps a little advantage gained for the Bulldogs with Beck out for the season. Stockton certainly doesn’t have Beck’s NFL-ready arm, but the replacement is a better runner than his predecessor. Perhaps it makes sense that Beck has owned and driven a Lamborghini this season, while Stockton continues to drive a 1984 Ford F-150. Stockton is a rugged racer and, dare we say, a “brave” performer. These are qualities that can help a team in a close game, even if he’s not the type to make throws longer than 30 yards. He led Georgia on a three-pointer in the second half of its overtime victory against Texas in the SEC Championship Game, so big-game experience is no longer a question.
Notre Dame being without a best defensive lineman: Notre Dame was able to win despite losing several starters to injuries throughout the season, but will the Irish’s depth be tested more than ever against Georgia? The Irish lost their All-American defensive tackle Rylie Mills to a knee injury during their playoff victory against Indiana. Mills was a dominant force in the final half of the season and led the team with 7.5 sacks, including 4.5 in the final five games. He also had 27 quarterback pressures. In a season that has already seen losses for the Edge Rushers Jordan Botelho And Boubacar Traorecan the Irish afford another defeat? Mills is not only the sacks leader, but also a team captain, and someone that coach Marcus Freeman has leaned on to rally his teammates on the field. “You can’t replace Rylie Mills,” Freeman said.
Gabriel Rubio stepped in for Mills and provided a strong performance, notably when he chased down an Indiana receiver on a screen to force a third-and-short. Senior All-American Howard Cross III returned against Indiana after missing the final three games of the regular season due to injury, but is he at full speed for the quarterfinals?
Who has the advantage in the trenches? Notre Dame’s success relies on ball management; Georgia’s success depends on stopping the run. Notre Dame is averaging 222.4 rushing yards per game, compared to 127.8 yards per game against Georgia. Slow down the backtracking Jeremy Love (rushing touchdowns in every game this season) and quarterback Riley Leonard (15 rushing touchdowns) is crucial for the Bulldogs, especially with the Irish struggling to throw against most opponents (No. 101 nationally in YPG). Georgia’s defense is a far cry from the impenetrable walls that built the Bulldogs’ championship runs in recent years, but it still focuses on slowing down the running game. If that fails, Notre Dame, which has scored 42 touchdowns as a team (most since 1989), has a gigantic advantage.
Where to watch Georgia vs. Notre Dame live
Date: Thursday January 2 | Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: Caesars Superdome — New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: ESPN | Live broadcast: fubo (Try for free)
Notre Dame vs. Georgia Prediction, Picks
Georgia is a slight favorite (-1.5), according to the SportsLine consensus, which gives me pause. The Bulldogs enter the playoffs 1-9 ATS as favorites this season. There’s no doubt that Georgia played a tougher schedule than Notre Dame, and the difficulty was noticeable with two overtime wins to end the season, but one wonders if the Bulldogs are allowing their opponents to better dictate the pace of these matches, which would result in closer matches. results than expected. Gunner Stockton appears to be a player at the quarterback position, even if he’s not the most talented passer, but that plays into Notre Dame’s hands with one of the best pass defenses in the country. Everything points to a Notre Dame victory, even with Kirby Smart’s knack for preparing his teams for the playoffs. Choose: Notre Dame SU
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