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Why should you Bet on Georgia in the NCAAF Playoff?

Why Should You Bet on Georgia in the NCAAF Playoff?

Written by on November 8, 2017

If you’ve been keeping a close eye on second-ranked Georgia this season, and you’re looking for reasons on why you should back the unbeaten Bulldogs once the 2017-18 NCAAF Playoff gets underway on January 1, 2018, then look no further! I’ve got a trio of excellent reasons why should you bet Georgia this coming postseason as they could quite literally, beat anyone in the country – including longtime SEC rival and top-ranked Alabama. With College Football Week 11 of the 2017 season getting started in just over 48 hours, let’s get started.

Why Should You Bet on Georgia in the NCAAF Playoff?

NCAAF Playoff at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual

  • When: Monday, Jan. 1, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

NCAAF Playoff at the Allstate Sugar Bowl

  • When: Monday, Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans

Playoff Picture – Week 11 (Top 10)

  • 1-Georgia
  • 2-Alabama
  • 3-Notre Dame
  • 4-Clemson
  • 5-Oklahoma
  • 6-TCU
  • 7-Miami
  • 8-Wisconsin
  • 9-Washington
  • 10-Auburn

3 Reasons to Bet Against Georgia in College Football Playoff

Team Record (November 8th)

  • All: 9-0
  • Home: 5-0
  • Away: 4-0
  • ATS: 6-3
  • Over/Under: 3-5

The Defense

If you’re thinking about betting on the Bulldogs this postseason, then you should know that their success this season starts with their powerful defense. Georgia is ranked fourth in total defense by limiting their opponents to just 254.1 yards per game. This includes ranking seventh against the pass as they allow just 165.1 passing yards per contest. The Bulldogs are also very stout against the run as they limit the opposition to just 89.0 rushing yards to rank fifth nationally. Last but not least, all of their defensive excellence helps the Dawgs give up just 11.7 points per game, good for third in the country. Georgia has held every single opponent this season – except Missouri, strangely enough – to 19 points or less while holding five of their opponents to 10 points or less and pitching one shutout against Tennessee.

The Offense

While Georgia ranks a solid 31st in total offense by averaging 445.7 yards per game, it’s really their powerful rushing attack that gets it done for them more often than not. The Bulldogs rank just 113th in passing at 166.3 yards per contest, but their rushing attack has been nothing short of phenomenal this season. Nick Chubb is one of the reasons for you to bet on Georgia during the NCAAF Playoff. The Dawgs rank a stellar eighth in rushing nationally by averaging whopping 279.3 yards per contest. Running back Nick Chubb has rushed for a team-high 867 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Fellow back Sonny Michel has been just as dominant in rushing for 710 yards and an identical nine touchdowns while averaging jaw-dropping 7.9 yards per carry. To make matters worse for their opponents, backups D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield both average at least 7.1 yards per carry.

The Head Coach

41-year-old Kirby Smart has brought the same aggressive defense – and the same mindset – that he had as Alabama’s defensive coordinator from 2008-2015, right to the Georgia program that he started his coaching career at as an administrative assistant. After an 8-5 season in his first year in 2016, Smart has more of the players he’s looking for and has transformed the Bulldogs into a nearly identical version of the perennially powerful Crimson Tide. The better the Dawgs do this season, the better it will be for their program – and Smart’s pocketbook – in the future. Smart will receiver a bonus clause of $150,000 for winning the SEC East and can earn another $250,000 for winning the SEC Championship Game. The second-year Georgia head coach can also earn an additional $500,000 for making the NCAAF Playoff and another $500,000 for winning the national championship. Smart’s former boss, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has taken notice of his former protégées success. “I think he has done a great job,” Saban said of Smart. “I think they have probably one of the best teams in our league right now. They’re playing great on both sides of the ball. They play together. They’re confident in what they’re doing. They look very well-coached on both sides of the ball. I think he has done a fabulous job, no question about it. They have done a really good job of recruiting and continue to add to the players that they had.”