This year's College Football Playoff final will be an all-SEC affair after Alabama and Georgia defeated Cincinnati and Michigan in their respective semifinal matches. Can Georgia win its first national title since 1980, or will Alabama extend its dominance and bring home another championship? Here's a breakdown of the Alabama vs Georgia CFP Final.
Alabama Crimson Tide installed as +2.5 underdogs
Alabama barged into the College Football Playoff final after beating the Cincinnati Bearcats, 27-6, at the Cotton Bowl. Brian Robinson Jr. starred for the Crimson Tide, who will be going for their second consecutive national title and fourth under the new CFP format.
Robinson punished the Bearcats' defensive line all afternoon, running for a career-high 204 yards on 26 carries. Alabama surprised Cincinnati by opening the game with 10 consecutive runs, a strategy that paid dividends for Nick Saban's men.
Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young failed to reach the heights of his herculean performance in the SEC Championship game but was still influential in the win against Cincinnati, completing 17 of 28 passes for 181 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
He now has the opportunity to become just the fifth Alabama quarterback in the past 13 seasons to win a national championship as a first-year starter. Young will fancy his chances against the Georgia Bulldogs, a team he dismantled just five weeks ago. He set an SEC Championship Game record with 461 total yards in Alabama's 41-24 victory over Georgia.
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Georgia Bulldogs enter CFP Final as -2.5 favorites
The Georgia Bulldogs earned another crack at their conference rival after beating the Michigan Wolverines, 34-11, in the Orange Bowl. Georgia showed no ill effects of its heavy defeat to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game to set up a mouth-watering rematch in the College Football Playoff final.
They have faced each other at this stage of the tournament before, with Georgia suffering a heartbreaking 26-23 overtime loss to Alabama in the 2017 national title game. Georgia looked to be on its way to a famous win after building a 13-0 lead over Alabama at the halftime break. The Crimson Tide battled back, though, and forced the extra session.
Georgia surged ahead again in overtime, but Alabama had the last laugh with Tua Tagovailoa throwing a 41-yard touchdown pass to fellow freshman DeVonta Smith for the unlikely win. The Bulldogs have not returned to the College Football Playoff since then. That is until now.
Georgia made the most of its return to the College Football Playoff by destroying No. 2 Michigan in the semis. The Bulldogs relied on their world-class defense to get the job done, holding Michigan to just 97 yards rushing.
The Bulldogs have allowed a total of just 15 touchdowns this season. However, they will be tested by the Crimson Tide, who scored five touchdowns past them in the SEC Championship Game.
Stetson Bennett is one guy who needs to step up for Georgia in the final. He was superb in the win against the Wolverines, completing 20 of 30 passes for 313 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Writer's Prediction
Georgia wins and covers the spread.
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