No. 1 Georgia takes on No. 4 Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday in Atlanta.
Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m., and it will be televised on ESPN. The winner advances to the College Football Playoff championship game, which will be Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Georgia (13-0) is looking for a second straight CFP championship under Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs are known for a defense that ranks second in the FBS at 12.7 points per game and features consensus All-American Jalen Carter, but the offense averaged 39.2 points per game with Heisman Trophy finalist Stetson Bennett. The Bulldogs are loaded with talent, and they are playing in their home state.
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Ohio State (11-1) is making its fifth College Football Playoff appearance – and it's third under Ryan Day. The Buckeyes lost the regular-season finale to No. 2 Michigan, but they still made the CFP and are a dangerous underdog. Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Stroud and consensus All-American Marvin Harrison Jr. are the key pieces on an offense that averaged 44.5 points per game, and the defense allowed 19.3 points per game.
This is just the second matchup between the Bulldogs and Buckeyes, and it will be flush with future NFL talent on both sides. With that in mind, here is everything you need to know to bet on the Bulldogs and Buckeyes:
Georgia vs. Ohio State odds
- Spread: Georgia -6.5
- Over/under: 62.5
- Moneyline: Georgia -260, Ohio State +220
The line dropped a half-point from its open, and it has stuck at 6.5 points for the past few weeks. Nine of Ohio State's last 10 games hit the over, and a shootout is possible. Eight of Georgia's games hit the under, but three of the last four games hit the over.
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Three trends to know
— Georgia was 4-0 ATS this season when favored by 20 points or less, and they were 3-0 ATS against ranked opponents. The Bulldogs averaged 42 points per game in those games against teams in the AP Top 25.
— Ohio State has embraced the underdog card in the past. They are 6–2 ATS and 6-2 S/U as an underdog in the CFP era. The Buckeyes are 1-2 S/U and 1-2 ATS in that situation under Day.
— How much does the Big Ten-SEC angle factor in? Georgia is 11-4 against the Big Ten all-time, and that includes a 10-2 record in bowl games. Ohio State is 5-12-1 against the SEC all time, and that includes a 2-11 record in bowl games.
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Three things to watch
—Ohio State's defense. The Buckeyes improved on defense under first-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Which defense shows up in Atlanta? Will it be the one that allowed 3.4 yards per carry for the season and had breakout performances from linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (112 tackles, 12 TFLs) and edge rusher J.T. Tuimoloau? Or will it be the one that gave up 7.2 yards per carry to Michigan and an assortment of chunk plays? Georgia averaged 207 rushing yards per game, and the committee of Kenny McIntosh (709 yards, 10 TDs), Daijuan Edwards (683 yards, 7 TDs) and Kendall Milton (531 yards, 5 TDs) will be a challenge to stop.
—Ohio State WRs vs. Georgia DBs. There are several matchups here that will be seen on Sunday. Marvin Harrison Jr. (1,157 yards, 12 TDs) and Emeka Egbuka (1,039 yards, 9 TDs) are the best receiving tandem the Bulldogs have seen this season, and Georgia did allow 502 passing yards in the SEC championship game against LSU. Georgia safeties Christopher Smith, a consensus All-American, and freshman phenom Malaki Starks will be tasked with limiting the chunk plays on the back end. The Bulldogs limited Tennessee receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tilliman to 13 catches, 131 yards and no TDs. Stroud will have to be patient in the short and intermediate passing game.
—Unsung playmakers. Georgia tight ends Brock Bowers (726 yards, 6 TDs) and Darnell Washington (417 yards, 2 TDs) will be a test for Ohio State, but Ladd McConkey (675 yards, 5 TDs) scored a TD in all three games against ranked teams. TreVeyon Henderson (foot) is out for the Buckeyes, and they need to establish a running game with Miyan Williams (817 yards, 13 TDs), Dallan Hayden (510 yards, 5 TDs) and Chip Trayanum (92 yards, TD). Day will ride the hot hand if he can find one against a Georgia defense that ranked No. 1 in the FBS at 77 yards per game.
Stat that matters
According to Pro Football Focus, C.J. Stroud has a 71.2% completion percentage with a clean pocket and a 40.6% completion percentage under pressure. Bennett has similar numbers with a 72.9% completion percentage with a clean pocket and a 41.9% percentage under pressure. Which team gets sacks? Bennett took seven sacks all season, including none in the last six games. Stroud took eight sacks and was only sacked multiple times in once this season against Penn State on Oct. 29.
Ohio State vs. Georgia prediction
The Buckeyes will have a better chance to pull the upset the higher the score gets. Will the Ohio State defense recalibrate after multiple breakdowns against Michigan? Bennett has owned the big stage for Georgia this season. He's hit 68.4% of his passes, averaged 299.7 passing yards and totaled eight TDs and no interceptions against ranked teams. He shakes off an early interception to lead a TD before halftime to give the Bulldogs a lead. That stretches to double digits in the second half before Stroud leads a late rally with a second TD pass to Harrison. The Buckeyes have a chance for a game-winning drive in the final minute, but the Bulldogs come up with the stop to advance to the CFP championship for the second straight season.
Final score: Georgia 33, Ohio State 28
