Georgia Football: 2018 Rose Bowl Score Prediction

Before each game, Dawn of the Dawg will release a score prediction for the Georgia Football team’s upcoming match-up. Here’s how we did the last time the Dawgs played:

Prediction: Georgia 28, Auburn 24

Actual Result: Georgia 28, Auburn 7

60 minutes. Georgia is 60 minutes from playing in the national title game for the first time in decades. Kirby Smart leads Georgia into the program’s biggest game its had since the 1980’s. And he’s done so in 2 short years.

Georgia will play Oklahoma on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl. The winner will then play a week later in the national championship game against either Alabama or Clemson. The Dawgs are on the brink of reaching immortality and can cement themselves as one of the best Georgia football teams ever if they can find a way to win on Monday.

Standing in Georgia’s way is a great Oklahoma team led by Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield. Like Georgia, Oklahoma went 12-1 this season and won its conference championship game. Oklahoma’s offense has put up video-game numbers all season, averaging around 45 points per game. This unit will certainly be the best offense Georgia has faced all season.

And while Oklahoma deserves a ton of credit for its success on the offensive side of the ball, the Sooners have not faced a defense even remotely close to Georgia’s in skill and talent level. Georgia ranks in the top 10 nationally in nearly every major defensive statistical category and has only allowed 13 points per game this season. Oklahoma will certainly have its hands full against this defense led by All-American Roquan Smith.

In this game, Georgia will do what it does best: run the football. Oklahoma’s run defense is average at best and I expect the Dawgs to take full advantage of that. Expect a heavy dose of Chubb, Michel, and Swift with Jake Fromm making a few throws here and there when necessary. Georgia is the more talented and more physical team in this match-up and that bodes well for the Dawgs’ chances of winning on Monday.

Make no mistake, Oklahoma is going to score some points. The Sooners’ offense is simply too good not to score some points on Georgia. However, the Georgia defense will weather the storm and contain Baker Mayfield unlike any other defense has that he has faced this season. This game will be close, but Georgia will get a late touchdown to seal the deal and help the Dawgs move on to the national championship.

Prediction: Georgia 38, Oklahoma 28

Georgia takes on Oklahoma on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl at 5:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN.