Well, the first round of the College Football Playoff was fun, but it didn’t make for the best games. Coming off of four straight games of the favorites covering big spreads by margin, the second round sets up for much more competitive matchups. The last game of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals features two blue blood programs. The 12-1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the 11-2 Georgia Bulldogs in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. This is the nightcap on Wednesday, January 1st at 8:45 p.m. ET on ESPN. Back to back to back playoff games is the PERFECT way to kick off 2025. Let’s take a look at this College Football Playoff: Notre Dame vs Georgia Preview and Best Bets!
#7 Seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had a disastrous start to their season. Facing a relatively easy schedule at the onset of the year, the Irish were one of the teams expected to make the 12 team College Football Playoff, as long as they could avoid a major misstep. Well after going on the road and beating a ranked Texas A&M team, their playoff chances increased significantly and the team seemingly felt it. They quickly followed up a very impressive performance with a flat out embarrassing one. They lost 16-14 at home to Northern Illinois from the MAC and it seems their playoff dreams crumbled before their eyes.
To their credit, the Fighting Irish picked themselves off the mat and proceeded to absolutely clobber teams. They have now won 10 out of 11 games by double digits, including their impressive win over Indiana in round one of the CFP. This impressive stretch has been led by their transfer Senior QB Riley Leonard, who came over from Duke. Leonard has been a threat through both the air and the ground, combining for 32 TDs on the season. They have also relied on a dynamic two-headed monster in their RB room with Sophomore Jeremiyah Love and Junior Jadarian Price. They’ve combined for 1740 rush yards and 23 rushing TDs so far this season.
The Fighting Irish also sport the number three scoring defense in the county giving up less than 14 points a game. They are especially stout against the passing game, only giving up on average 162 yards per game. This great defense will be tested however due to injury. They lost their Senior leader on the defense line, DT Rylie Mills, to a significant knee injury against Indiana. Mills leads the team in sacks and will unfortunately be out for the rest of the season. Other players will need to step up with Mills out but this is a team that has persevered through several major injuries already. At an imposing 12-1, Notre Dame looks to right their early season mistake and continue their 11 game winning streak.
#2 Seed Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs find themselves back in the College Football Playoff despite having what they would consider a “down” year. With losses to both Alabama and Ole Miss this year, Georgia ended the regular season at 10-2. This is remarkably the same amount of losses they had in the last three seasons combined. With those two missteps, the Bulldogs found themselves fighting for their playoff lives. They finished the year with an insane EIGHT overtime game against their rivals Georgia Tech and another overtime game against Texas in the SEC Championship Game.
To their credit, the Georgia Bulldogs played an incredibly tough schedule this season. They played five teams ranked in the Top 20, with only one of those games being at Sanford Stadium. In recapping the Bulldogs impressive season, I want to make it apparent that this is not the same dominant Georgia team that we have come to know over the past three seasons.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Georgia’s starting QB and Senior leader Carson Beck is out for the rest of the season with a torn UCL. Beck led this Georgia passing attack to the number 11 passing offense in the country. The Bulldogs will turn to the Sophomore QB Gunner Stockton to make his first collegiate start in a College Football Playoff Game. Besides the major injury, this team has not showcased the typical dominant running game and defense that we have grown accustomed to. Giving up close to 21 points a game and only rushing for under 130 yards a game this team has been involved in more shootouts than in years past. As a battle-tested 10-2 SEC team, Georgia has found ways to win this season even if it looks a but different than in years past.
College Football Playoff: Notre Dame vs Georgia Preview and Best Bets
Notre Dame +2 (-110)
This Allstate Sugar Bowl Notre Dame vs Georgia matchup has all the makings of an instant classic. These two teams are similar in their approach and both will look to impose their will on the line of scrimmage. However, there is one glaring difference between these teams at the most important position in football. On one hand, you have a veteran Senior QB who is in his third year of being a collegiate starter. On the other hand, you have a unproven Sophomore QB who barely has thrown the ball 50 times in two seasons, with most of those coming in garbage time. My handicap starts and ends with fading a QB making his first collegiate start in the Quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff.
Despite the loss of DT Rylie Mills, this Notre Dame defense is a complete unit. Their impressive secondary will be especially key in this matchup. I expect Notre Dame to load the box to stop the run and dare the Bulldogs and the young Gunner Stockton to throw on them. Led by Senior safety Xaiver Watts, this Irish secondary is a ball hawking group with 18 interceptions and five pick-sixes. I see the young QB being baited into some ill advised throws that will change the game. Give me the Irish to move on to the CFP Semifinals and in a game that is projected to be close, I’ll gladly take Notre Dame +2 (-110).
Riley Leonard 40+ Rushing Yards +115
Additionally, I like the versatility of this Notre Dame rushing attack to wear down Georgia’s defense. The Irish have two stud RBs in Price and Love but also have one of the most dynamic QBs in the country in Riley Leonard. The QB run can particularly be an effective strategy against this stingy Bulldogs defense. In both of Georgia’s losses this season, the opposing teams QB was their leading rusher. Both QBs rushed for over 50 yards and they even gave up 117 yards to Bama’s Jalen Milroe.
Look for the Irish to follow this blue print to success. Leonard has carried the ball 135 times this season and averages 5.6 yards per carry. I expect him to have double digit carries due to game script and to keep the defense honest. My favorite prop for this Notre Dame vs Georgia matchup is Riley Leonard 40+ rushing yards at +115.
