If you’re enamored with the Georgia Bulldogs (13-1 SU, 10-4 ATS) following their absolutely thrilling CFP semifinal win on double overtime against No. 2 Oklahoma and you’re looking for reasons why you should bet on the Bulldogs to beat perennially powerful Alabama to win this season’s National Championship, then consider your ticket punched.
I’ve got a handful of reasons why you should bet on the Bulldogs to win it all despite what the College Football odds are saying. Let’s get started.
Linebacker Roquan Smith is a first-team All-American and a sideline-to-sideline monster that won the Butkus award as the nation’s top linebacker and SEC Defensive Player of the Year award. Make no mistake about it, scoring on the Bulldogs doesn’t come easily, even if Baker Mayfield and the Sooner’s kind of made it look that way in their CFP semifinal matchup last weekend.
Why Bet on Georgia to Win the 2018 National Championship?
See you in Atlanta, @FootballUGA!#GoDawgs || #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/KztoE8SUDs
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) 2 de enero de 2018
- When: January 8
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: 95.3 FM (Alabama) / 92.5 FM (Georgia)
- Live Streaming: Watch ESPN
- 2018 National Championship Odds: Alabama Crimson Tide -4.5 (Over/Under at 45)
Georgia Records
- All: 13-1
- Home: 6-0
- Away: 7-1
- ATS: 10-4
- Over/Under: 6-7
2018 College Football Championship Betting Preview: Alabama vs. Georgia
Latest National Championship Betting Trends
- Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
- Bulldogs are 14-1 SU in their last 15 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Georgia’s last 9 games
- Bulldogs are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games when playing Alabama
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Georgia’s last 6 games when playing Alabama
Five Reasons to Bet on Georgia
Offense
Well, if you saw Georgia light up Oklahoma in their semifinal showdown this past weekend by putting 54 points on the board, then you already know this team has a solid offense. The Bulldogs ranked 31st in total offense (440.3 ypg), but an uninspiring 110th in passing (172.9 ypg). Where the Dawgs made up for their lack of passing was with a rushing attack that ranked eighth in the country (267.4 ypg). Last but not least, Georgia ranked 17th in scoring (36.3 ppg).Their Running Backs
Georgia quite literally has a trio of running backs that will all be playing in the NFL at some point in the very near future. Nick Chubb rushed for 1,320 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per carry while Sonny Michel added 1,129 yards and 16 scores while averaging stupendous 8.0 yards per carry. Lesser known but equally gifted third-stringer D’Andre Swift chipped in 603 yards and three scores while averaging fantastic 7.8 yards per carry.The Defense
Like their national championship opponents, Georgia’s success this season all stems from their stupendous defense. The Bulldogs ranked sixth in total defense (289.5 ypg), eighth against the pass (167.6 ypg) and 20th against the run (121.9 ypg) while finishing fifth in points allowed (15.7 ppg).
Linebacker Roquan Smith is a first-team All-American and a sideline-to-sideline monster that won the Butkus award as the nation’s top linebacker and SEC Defensive Player of the Year award. Make no mistake about it, scoring on the Bulldogs doesn’t come easily, even if Baker Mayfield and the Sooner’s kind of made it look that way in their CFP semifinal matchup last weekend.
The Quarterback
Freshman Jake Fromm may not get much attention, but maybe he should. The first-year starter completed 63.7 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,383 yards with 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He may not go out and ‘win’ games for the Bulldogs, but he’s also not likely to be the reason they lose either.The Coach
Now in his second season at Georgia, Kirby Smart has done a great job in a short period of time of virtually recreating what Saban has done at Alabama. Smart was Nick Saban’s defensive coordinator with the Tide from 2008-2015 and he clearly knows how to put a quality defense together. Whether he can out-coach Saban or not remains to be seen, but there probably isn’t a coach in all of college football that knows Nick Saban as well as Kirby Smart!Last 10 College Football Champs
- 2016: Clemson Tigers
- 2015: Alabama Crimson Tide
- 2014: Ohio State Buckeyes
- 2013: Florida State Seminoles
- 2012: Alabama Crimson Tide
- 2011: Alabama Crimson Tide
- 2010: Auburn Tigers
- 2009: Alabama Crimson Tide
- 2008: Florida Gators
- 2007: LSU Tigers
