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Georgia Football: 3 Reasons Bulldogs will win the national title

By Matthew Bartlett

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs is presented the trophy after the Bulldogs beat the Oklahoma Sooners 54-48 in double overtime in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs is presented the trophy after the Bulldogs beat the Oklahoma Sooners 54-48 in double overtime in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

3. The Bulldogs are peaking at the right time

It took two overtimes, but Georgia withstood the Oklahoma onslaught to win the Rose Bowl in thrilling fashion. The stat sheet might not look like it was the same Georgia team that held Auburn to seven points just a few weeks ago, but it would be a mistake to judge this team solely on the 531 yards and 48 points they allowed to Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Baker Mayfield.

More: 3 Takeaways from Georgia’s Rose Bowl win over Oklahoma

Since being stripped of their undefeated status against Auburn in early November Georgia has been on a tear. They beat Kentucky 42-13, downed Georgia Tech 38-7 and crushed Auburn 28-7. Their double overtime victory against Oklahoma included some tough bounces, but the scare propels them to the College Football Playoff National Championship as battled tested contenders, not lucky bystanders.

Championship teams have been built in a variety of ways over the years. Georgia wins by playing excellent defense and running the football. The defense held Mayfield to three points in two overtimes in the Rose Bowl while the rushing attack racked up a season high 317 yards on the ground. When both of those pieces are clicking Georgia is awfully hard to beat. If Mayfield couldn’t do it why would it be reasonable to expect an offense with less of an aerial presence to upend the Bulldogs?

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