No. 1 Georgia is a heavy favorite against No. 3 TCU in the College Football Playoff championship at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Monday.
The Bulldogs (14-0) have a chance to complete a perfect season and a second straight national championship run. Georgia beat No. 4 Ohio State 42-41 in the CFP semifinals.
TCU (13-1) is the ultimate underdog here. The Horned Frogs beat No. 2 Michigan 51-45 in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. TCU is a 12.5-point underdog to Georgia. Which way will that line move before Monday?
MORE: Betting trends to know ahead of Georgia-TCU title game
SN's eight-person expert panel had mixed results in the CFP semifinals. We were 1-7 S/U and 2-6 ATS in the TCU-Michigan game, with Bill Trocchi the only person to hit both for the Horned Frogs. We were 7-1 S/U and 3-5 ATS in the Georgia-Ohio State game, and Bill Bender and Edward Sutelan were the only ones to hit both the result and the spread.
Did anybody pick the Horned Frogs to cover the spread this time? Sporting News staffs makes their picks for the CFP championship game:
Georgia vs. TCU predictions
Bill Bender: Georgia 41, TCU 27
"Knowing that the CFP champion has averaged 40 points per game the last eight seasons, this is a first-one-to-40-type game. If Max Duggan has time, then he will make some great plays in the passing game. Running back Kendre Miller's health is a concern. TCU must get after Stetson Bennett, who averages 311.7 passing yards per game with eight TDs and one interception in three career CFP games. Bennett will throw a pair of first-half TDs, and Georgia's physical rushing attack of Kenny McIntosh, Daijuan Edwards and Kendall Milton will ground out any hopes of a miracle comeback for the Horned Frogs. TCU does not get blown out, but Georgia will dictate the game tempo on the way to 40-plus points."
Bill Trocchi: Georgia 41, TCU 31
"As the only Sporting Newser to go 2-for-2 straight up in the semifinals, there's pressure on this pick! The offense vs. defense matchups both favor Georgia, but TCU does what it does, right? The Frogs were able to punch back after every Michigan rally in the Fiesta Bowl to maintain the lead, and the defense stood tall when it mattered most. TCU quarterback Max Duggan can play better than he did, but he will be facing an even tougher defense on Monday night. One advantage TCU may have is WR Quentin Johnston vs. CB Kelee Ringo. There's no argument which team has more talent. It is more about Georgia's mentality coming into a championship game as a heavy favorite. Michigan was a heavy favorite, but was unable to exert control. The Bulldogs will be able to do that, but TCU won't let it be clean and will keep it at least within shouting distance."
MORE: Smart, Bennett make the difference in epic win over Ohio State
Zac Al-Khateeb: Georgia 45, TCU 27
"TCU shocked the world — and the vast majority of The Sporting News staff — with its 51-45 victory over Michigan. The Wolverines shot themselves in the foot several times over in the loss, but the Horned Frogs still wouldn't have won without physically dominating Michigan from the outset. The question now is whether they could accomplish the same against a Georgia team that was surprised by Ohio State in the Peach Bowl before escaping the Buckeyes by the margin of a missed field goal. The Bulldogs will be on high alert after nearly facing elimination in the semifinals, and won't need another comeback to claim their second consecutive national title. They'll instead use their superior physicality to overwhelm TCU, ending the Horned Frogs' Cinderella run."
Mike DeCourcy : Georgia 38, TCU 28
"It would be quite a story if TCU were able to overcome Georgia for the championship. Just getting Cincinnati into the field a year ago, and the Horned Frogs this season, was a victory for inclusion in a sport that has fought so vehemently against it for so very long. It’s just tough to see it happening. The Bulldogs offense was so ruthless against Ohio State that it appears beyond the TCU defense to slow that down, let alone stop it. One thing that seems certain is that those who love a good upset will be on TCU’s side, but you’d be surprised how few of the sport’s most ardent fans fit into that category.”
MORE: Winners and losers from wild bowl season
Vinnie Iyer: Georgia 44, TCU 41
"Sonny Dykes looks like a Coach mashup of Craig T. Nelson, Jerry Van Dyke and Bill Fagerbakke. Unlike many of the coaches in college football, he's old enough to get that sitcom reference. Stetson Bennett isn't quite as old as Dykes or Tom Brady, but he can channel his inner Chris Weinke to make sure the Dawgs don't lose to the Frogs. Max Duggan, that other surprise Heisman Trophy finalist, will stake many poses with Quentin Johnston making some big plays, but Georgia will survive, this time with a made field goal late by Jack Podlesny."
Matt Lutovsky: Georgia 41, TCU 31
"There's a 'Team of Destiny' vibe going on with TCU right now, but Georgia has found a way to win for nearly two straight years. The Dawgs showed they can keep up with high-scoring teams in the CFP semifinal, and they'll be in for a similar fight against TCU's explosive offense in the CFP championship game. As long as Georgia doesn't have key red-zone turnovers as Michigan did, then its superior top-to-bottom roster should help it wear down the Horned Frogs and pull away late for its second straight national championship..”
Nick Musial: Georgia 38, TCU 28
"TCU's Cinderella-esque run will come to an end so long as Georgia's able to take care of the football and limit self-inflicted mistakes. The Horned Frogs' semifinal victory over Michigan was impressive, but J.J. McCarthy and the Michigan offense gave up two-pick sixes while turning the ball over twice in the red zone. Championship-caliber teams find a way to execute and limit mistakes in the red zone, and Stetson Bennett's ability to play mistake-free football results in a second straight national championship victory. Georgia's pass rush flusters Duggan just enough to force a key mistake. The Bulldogs' defense generates ample stops on third down to notch a two-score victory."
Edward Sutelan: TCU 49, Georgia 45
“If there were two takeaways from the CFP semifinals, it should be that the Horned Frogs aren’t to be taken lightly and that Georgia is vulnerable. The Bulldogs struggled against quarterback C.J. Stroud anytime he managed to escape pressure, and he is far less mobile than Max Duggan. The TCU receiving room isn’t as explosive as Ohio State’s, but Quentin Johnston and Taye Barber are dangerous, and TCU will have more of a run game to support the offense than Ohio State. TCU has been David all year. On Monday, the Frogs end this miraculous season by taking down Goliath.”
MORE: Mistakes, not missed calls, costs Michigan in loss to TCU
