#1 Georgia will face #3 TCU in the championship game of the 2023 college football playoffs.
Playtime is set for 8:00 PM ET on January 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Cailf. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Georgia (14-0) defeated #4 Ohio State 42-41 in the CFP Semifinals at the Peach Bowl. Bulldogs QB Stetson Bennett cemented his reputation as a big game with a fourth quarter comeback.
The Bulldogs now have a chance to win back-to-back National Championships under head coach Kirby Smart and become the first repeat champions of the CFP era. Their loaded roster is filled with All-Americans led by defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
TCU (13-1) defeated #2 Michigan 51-45 in the CFP Semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl. The Horned Frogs had a preseason 200-1 odds of making the playoffs. Now they have a chance to become the first Big 12 school to win a national championship since 2000.
First-year head coach Sonny Dykes worked wonders with an offense led by quarterback Max Duggan. TCU is averaging 41.1 points per game. Thorpe Award winner TreVius Hodges-Tomlinson leads the defense.
Georgia is 4-0 in the all-time series against TCU. That record includes a Bulldogs victory in the Liberty Bowl in 2016, Smart’s first season. The stakes are much higher this time around.
Here’s everything you need to know to bet on Georgia vs TCU:
Georgia vs TCU odds
- propagation: Georgia -13
- About below: 63
- money line: Georgian -600, TCU +430
This is the largest line play in the league in college football’s nine-year playoff history. Four of Georgia’s last six games have gone overs. Four of TCU’s last six games have been losses. Watch this line sway before kickoff.
Three trends to know
— Georgia is 5-0 ATS this season when favorites by 20 points or fewer and have 3-1 ATS against ranked opponents. Georgia averaged 42 points per game in those ranked games, including the shootout with Ohio State in the Peach Bowl.
– TCU is an underdog this season with 3-0 S/U, with wins over the major programs of Oklahoma, Texas and Michigan. The Horned Frogs were also 6-1 in games decided by eight points or fewer, with their lone loss coming in the Big 12 championship game against Kansas State, 31-28 in overtime.
– Georgia is 7-1 W/U and 6-2 ATS in neutral field play over the past two seasons.
Three things to see
— Seasoned quarterbacks. Bennett and Duggan were Heisman Trophy finalists that season, and both won the CFP Semifinals. Bennett tied in points against ranked teams and contributed to that trend with 398 yards and three touchdowns against Ohio State. In three CFP games, Bennett averaged 311.7 passing yards with eight touchdowns thrown on one interception. How will he deal with a Hodges-Tomlinson-led TCU secondary? The Horned Frogs are opportunists but also tend to forgo big plays. Duggan, on the other hand, is a jack of all trades and works with Quentin Johnston. Can TCU’s offensive line last long enough to give them time against a Georgia secondary who has allowed 450 yards per game in their last two games?
— Georgia versus 3-3-5. TCU’s run defense was against Michigan and Dee Winters was a factor. The Bulldogs have a quick and methodical offense with Daijuan Edwards, Kenny McIntosh and Kendall Milton, but had to run after being forced into recovery mode against the Buckeyes. If this running game works, Georgia will be content to check the clock and set the game action with Bennett. Will the Horned Frogs respond with Run Blitz under Joe Gillespie? TCU can’t let Georgia bully you on the spot.
— Is Cinderella a horned frog? Georgia is the heavy favorite in this game, but TCU has been comfortable playing tight games all season. Kendre Miller left the Michigan game, but backup running back Emari Demercado ran 150 yards in place of him. TCU must have the game going to complete the passing attack; Expect Duggan to get more carries in this game. If the Horned Frogs turn this game into four quarters, that means TCU managed to turn it into a Big 12 shootout and pushed Georgia out of its comfort zone.
Stats that matter
The Horned Frogs scored every time they hit the red zone against the Wolverines and need to get TDs against the Bulldogs. 972 point percentage in the red zone, and coordinator Todd Monken is an excellent play-caller in the inside 20. Georgia will be moving the ball; Can TCU force field goals, especially in the first half?
In the eight years of the CFP championship, the winning team averaged 39.8 points per game. The underdog is averaging 22.1 points. Which team will reach 40 points first in this year’s game?
Georgia vs TCU Prediction
After the scoring semi-final, every oversight seems easy, doesn’t it? Watch out for TCU to unleash early, but the pressure will be on TCU offensive coordinator Garrett Riley to protect Duggan from what is sure to be an aggressive Georgia pass rush. Can TCU win this battle permanently? The extra week between games will allow Ladd McConkey and Darnell Washington to recover from their injuries. Look for Bennett to spread the wealth. Arian Smith broke out with three catches for 129 yards and a touchdown in the semifinals. He and Brock Bowers will catch touchdowns, the Bulldogs will take an early halftime lead, and the running game will weigh on the Horned Frogs in the second half. Georgia wins a second straight championship and begins 2023 ranked No. 1 looking for a hat-trick.
final results: Georgia 41, TCU 27
