Rose Bowl 2018: 5 bold predictions for Oklahoma vs. Georgia semifinal

3. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel will be held in check

Part of Georgia’s backfield success in 2017 was the ability to send out multiple top-shelf running backs to keep defenses on their heels. At various times, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb led the way on the ground for the Bulldogs. They traded the lead back role with one another, their healthy competition driving each to become better at the position.

Both players finished the 2017 regular season with 13 rushing touchdowns, or one apiece per game. They will be lucky to reach the endzone even once against the Sooners, though. Because Oklahoma will largely win the battles in the trenches, they will also bottle up Chubb and Michel from gaining too many yards on the ground.

Oklahoma’s defense gave up an average of 144 rushing yards per game over the course of 2017. They will probably give up around 150 on New Year’s Day to Georgia in the Rose Bowl. Chubb and Michel will just need more carries than usual to hit their marks, as the Sooners bottle up the interior and leave the running backs clawing for room at the edges.

That is a recipe for disaster for Georgia, which will see its speed neutralized on the edge by a well-constructed Oklahoma defense. Neither Michel nor Chubb will break the 100-yard mark in Pasadena, and both will struggle to get anywhere near the endzone.