SEC vs. Big New Orleans, La. Big Ten vs. Pasadena, Calif. Glendale, Ariz. Atlanta, Ga. Big 12 vs. Houston, Tex. Orlando, Fla. Tampa, Fla. Mountain West vs. Tucson, Ariz. ACC vs. El Paso, Tex. Jacksonville, Fla. Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nev. Music City. I didn't say that. Oklahoma will be there lurking, as the Big 12 champion, to earn the right to play USC for the national championship. With Landry Jones returning, Oklahoma is the most skilled and toughest team in the Big But the Sooners' fun will end there.
Defensively, OU will not be able to keep up with the potent attack of the Trojans. I love the defenses for both schools, but I could see the inexperience in Tuscaloosa and the big-play absence of Tyrann Mathieu catching up to the Tide and Tigers at some point this season. This is a team that reached unprecedented heights the last two seasons despite the drama surrounding Stephen Garcia at quarterback. Now that situation is stabilized under Connor Shaw.
But all of the teams at the top of most rankings have significant questions — at least significant enough to open the door for a surprise or two. Frank Beamer will make the special teams a priority once again after a few uncharacteristic breakdowns recently, and the offense features a Heisman candidate at quarterback in Logan Thomas. Throw in a weak conference, and you have the ingredients for a championship run.
Two years after letting Cam Newton and Auburn off the hook, Chip Kelly and company will close the deal this time. There's nothing holding them back this season, including the high-powered Oregon Ducks, who the Men of Troy will defeat in a high-scoring Pac title game to earn a spot in the national championship tilt.
This season, the Tigers will put an end to the Crimson Tide's repeat hopes by beating them in the regular season and go on to defeat Georgia in the SEC title game to get another shot at that crystal football.
Once in the field, the Tide put their physical superiority on display against the first Group of Five team to reach the CFP. Though the Bearcats did a good job taking away Alabama's passing attack, the Tide ran effectively all game and dominated defensively. Georgia turned in one of the most dominant regular seasons of modern college football history by going while giving up just 10 touchdowns to opposing offenses and allowing no more than 17 total points to an opponent in any game.
That defensive superiority allowed the Dawgs to thrive without needing an explosive offense, which is a good thing considering all the injuries and absences UGA dealt with on offense this season. Nearly every receiver or tight end of note for Georgia either entered the season recovering from an injury or missed at least one game due to injury along the way.
Those absences would have crippled a lesser team, but veteran quarterback Stetson Bennett IV kept the operation going well enough to let the defense shine during the regular season. Then came the SEC title game and a reality check for the Dawgs.
Young took the game over for the Tide with the help of receivers Jameson Williams and Metchie. Bennett threw a couple of interceptions that stifled Georgia's attempts to rally in the second half, and all of the sudden, the formerly invincible Bulldogs appeared quite mortal.
But with a few weeks to prepare for the Wolverines in the Orange Bowl, Georgia returned to form by jumping out to a halftime lead and never looking back to set up a rematch with Alabama. The total was set at But I was right, and the 41 total points made it the second-lowest scoring title game in a decade.
This year, I think I am going in the opposite direction. I think that this game is going to defy the public expectation—which is another defensive slugfest—and will be both a blowout and a game that destroys the total.
I believe that both coaches will be a bit more aggressive offensively and that we could see some scoring out of either of the defenses or the special teams units. I also think that LSU has the experience edge and they will get a boost from playing in Louisiana. Yes, they were outgained and a bit lucky to win at Alabama earlier this year. But I think they have an edge at the quarterback position and, with all other things being equal, the factors that the Tigers have working in their favor should leave them as the clear favorite.
Doc Moseman is the owner of Doc's Sports football picks Web site. Join Newsletter.
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