GamblinDAWG

Using your exact logic... Bama also has zero good wins 

@Cornholio711

 And why did UM get those runs late in the game? Trenches and depth... damn the weather, physicality wears guys down over the course of the game. OSU has gotten softer and more finesse each year under Ryan Day.

I agree UGA will have to score, I think the winner here will be around 35-40. No doubt UGA will probably give up 2-3 long plays in the passing game; going to need safeties to play a good game or OSU will really put some pressure on. A key matchup to watch will be UGA's non-WR weapons making catches. Bowers, Washington, and McIntosh almost always end up with an LB trying to cover and it rarely works. Monken likes to make LBs run and if those intermediate throws to TEs are connecting early, the OSU defense will be in a bad spot.

We'll see about the rude awakening... 

So every close game anyone ever plays is due to poor coaching? Saban has a significantly better roster so did he get out coached by Josh Heupel, Jimbo Fisher, Brian Kelley, and Steve Sarkisian all in the same year?  That was certainly a narrative early in Kirby's career but he's gotten much better as an in game coach. Part of what looks like "bad coaching" is UGA also playing more underclassmen than just about anybody. I don't know that Kirby is better than Day as an in-game coach but it's obvious that he's leading a much better program. OSU has done nothing but regress under Day.

OSU has the talent on offense to make it a shootout. They do not, however, have the talent on the other side to stop UGA's offense.

UGA stopped scoring at 27... Tennessee didn't hold them to anything. It was a bloodbath, started raining in the 3rd quarter so UGA only threw 4 passes after halftime.

Health works both ways as well; Kendall Milton should be 100% and AD Mitchell (Georgia's best WR) should be more available as well (he saw limited action vs GT and LSU)

I don't think UGA winning is a foregone conclusion, that's why they play the game and we've seen Georgia get sloppy a few times this year; but I think UGA has a significant advantage in the trenches and with depth all around. Unless OSU can get out to a 14+ lead early, they don't have the bodies to go blow for blow with the physicality of a Georgia (as seen vs Michigan the last 2 years). If both teams play their absolute best game, UGA wins handily.

I would look to bet OSU live if UGA scores first. Point total lean OVER but it's hard to bet totals with this UGA team because most games they dictate how they want to win.

@GASportsDoc

Rewind to 2021 when a boatload of UGA fans were cursing Kirby and Todd Monken because there was no possible way this Stetson kid should be playing over JT Daniels... 2 transfers and a national championship later, I think it's safe to say there's not a conspiracy 

Stroud is a fine talent... and OSU is obviously a good program. But they have demonstrably regressed under Ryan Day and no longer have the physical or mental toughness needed to compete on the big stage.

Let me take off my UGA hat for a second. How do you measure the true, quality depth of a football team? It pretty much has to be the eye test... you could use the 247 talent composite to evaluate current rosters but that doesn't take into effect development and scheme. It also matters where that depth is; 2 and 3 deep at WR or DL?

Remember, especially according to the media, this was supposed to be a *rebuilding* year for UGA losing 15 to the draft and 13 more to the portal. From that perspective, UGA should be lacking depth with that many quality players gone.

The problem for Ohio State is they thrive on one style of football, high-flying finesse football. Georgia can win several ways and will dictate the style of the game to their opponent. Tennessee wanted to be in a shootout; Georgia turned it into a brawl... but as seen in the SECCG, UGA is content with needing to score 50 as well. We really only have one data point that's close to this matchup and it is OSU/Mich and I think I could make a case that UGA has more talented players on defense (and maybe offense too) than Michigan. OSU really needed JSN back to maximize the pressure they put on DBs and he's unavailable. Every offense with a pulse that OSU faced put up 400+ yards and 30+ points (Michigan, Penn St, Maryland). 

Tell me you became an Alabama fan in '08 without tell me 

Is this a serious post? I'm having trouble comprehending the unfathomable level of arrogance needed to be "too good" or "above" a NY6 Bowl Game, especially one with as much SEC history as the Sugar. I'm a Georgia fan and I hope Kirby matches Saban's run of success but I pray UGA fans are never this out of touch with reality.

This was also supposed to be a "rebuilding" year (to use Saban's words) for UGA so Bama fans might want to get used to being left out of the playoff until it goes to 12.

This... LSU just gave Kirby something to be intense about for an entire month. Georgia is a better version of Michigan and Ohio St does not have the physical or mental toughness to deal with it for 60 minutes; Ryan Day has made them one of the softest programs in the country.

That being said, the OVER is the best play here. UGA's DBs will be exposed a few times undoubtedly, but OSU just doesn't have the dudes to cover UGA's playmakers. 38-31 UGA

They were also a couple points away from being 8-4... This bad part is this was supposed to be one of the best Alabama teams ever, at least that's what we were told in the preseason. 

Teams are always trying to poach Bama coordinators for head coaching jobs. The fact there is little to no buzz around Golding or O'Brien tells you all you need to know IMO.

@Longbeach102

That is not a fact at all lol, that is your opinion. TCU will need to get absolutely blown out to get left out of the playoff. USC loses and Ohio St is in. Bama only has a very outside shot.

And neither is Bama... Committee would have ranked them 5th if they still had a shot.

Just admit you don't know ball if you're going to spout off a take like that 

What a take... when is the last time an SECCG had a line this big?

@LonghornHoosier

LSU is out regardless... and I personally think UGA is in regardless barring an absolute thrashing in Atlanta (which would be unimaginable)

@BennyIcers

11-1 Ohio State has a better resume than 10-2 Bama.

Bama has zero wins over top 20 teams in the latest AP. OSU has 2, including top 10 Penn State.

All of Ohio State's wins are by double digits, Bama played 3 1-score games.

And most important, Bama has 2 losses to OSU's 1.

I just don't see how Bama leapfrogs the Buckeyes. Even if USC and TCU lose, a 12-1 TCU might still get the 4 seed. Would be a perfect year for the BCS so we can just let UGA and Michigan play for the natty and get it over with.

What we've seen all year is 2 things: UGA plays both down to a lesser opponent but they also get up for the big opponents. Sloppy games vs Mizzou, Kent St, and Kentucky... complete domination against Oregon and Tennessee. When the lights are bright, all those 5* recruits start playing like it...

I agree. You could make a case that being 11-1 but not having to play a conference championship isn't the worst spot to be. I despise the fact that USC could play themselves OUT of the playoffs but Ohio State could sit at home and get IN.

They had nothing to play for?! They were ranked 5th... a TCU and USC loss and the obvious OSU/MICH loser and LSU could have been the first 2-loss team in the playoffs. If they had zero pride or urgency, it certainly wasn't because they didn't have anything to play for. I think LSU is what they were all season... an average team that won a few close games. Loss to FSU, 4 points over Auburn, Loss to Tenn, gave up 35 to Florida, 1 point over Bama, 3 points over Arkansas, and a 2 TD loss at home to A&M.