After 14 long weeks of football, the Playoff is finally here. There are two excellent Playoff games in store to decide who gets a shot at a national title.
The third rematch between Clemson and Alabama is a real treat, and that game deserves an in-depth article on its own. But the Sooner fan in me cannot shake off the excitement about the Rose Bowl matchup between Oklahoma and Georgia on New Year’s Day. The country’s most explosive and efficient offense is taking on arguably the country’s stingiest defense.
Biggest Storyline: OU offense vs. Georgia defense
Oklahoma’s offense by the numbers:
- 1st in total yards with 7583 yards (583 yards per game)
- 1st in offensive efficiency (96.9)
- 4th in first downs (337)
- 3rd in points per game (44.9)
Georgia’s defense by the numbers:
- 6th in total defense
- 8th in pass defense
- 6th in rushing defense
- 2nd in defensive efficiency (88.7)
- 3rd in points per game (13.2)
The main questions for this matchup:
Can the Sooners move the ball on a top SEC defense? Can the Georgia defense slow down the country’s most efficient offense?
The OU offense’s biggest test this season was their matchup against Ohio State, who finished the regular season ranked 15th in defensive efficiency. The Sooners were held to three points before halftime, but exploded for 28 points in the second half behind Baker Mayfield’s three touchdown passes to win the game in Columbus. The 31 points they scored is their second lowest of the season.
The Georgia defense gave up more than twenty points just twice this season. They gave up 28 points and 373 yards to Missouri back in October, who finished the season 15th in offensive efficiency. Their season high or 40 points against was in their first matchup with the 20th ranked Auburn offense. They held that same team to 7 points in the SEC title game rematch.
Despite several matchups between the Big-12 and the SEC the last few years, this game should answer several questions about the state of both conferences. If Georgia wins, narratives regarding Big 12 offenses and SEC defenses would be locked in further. A win from Oklahoma would cement Baker’s legacy.
Key Players
OU quarterback Baker Mayfield
The Heisman Trophy winner has consistently performed well in every game this season. Mayfield finishes this regular season with 4340 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions on 71 percent completion and a 203.8 quarterback rating. Mayfield’s only other game against an SEC defense came in the 2016 Sugar Bowl against Auburn where he finished with 296 passing yards and two touchdowns on 19/28 passing en route to a 35-19 victory. There is every reason to believe Mayfield will match his incredibly high standards he has set all three seasons at Oklahoma, but the Georgia defense will have spent almost a month game planning specifically for him by the time these teams meet.
UGA running back Nick Chubb
The senior running back has led the way for the Georgia offense, finishing in the top 30 in rushing with 1175 yards and 13 touchdowns on 191 attempts. Chubb finished the regular season on a hot streak, running for 100 or more yards in three of the last six games. With the high-powered Sooner offense able to score almost at will, Chubb and fellow running backs Sony Michel and D’Andre Swirft will be crucial in allowing Georgia to control the tempo and keep Baker off the field.
Prediction
My gut says this game will be close from start to finish, with Mayfield pulling off some late-game heroics in the fourth to give the Sooners the win. 35-28 OU.