This advanced metric favors Georgia massively, suggesting it can win a national title

It his hard to put a number on this, but ESPN's Football Power Index sure did! While Dawn of the Dawg usually looks at playoff percentage chance above all else with this set of advanced metrics, another one has emerged in the favor of Georgia. Although the Dawgs may have better than an 80-percent chance to make the College Football Playoff, this latest batch of data says they just might win it all.

Under the Resume tab, you will find Georgia as one of the 10 best strengths of schedule in the nation.

1. Wisconsin Badgers
2. Florida Gators
3. Illinois Fighting Illini
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
5. Arkansas Razorbacks
6. Kentucky Wildcats
7. Auburn Tigers
8. Georgia Bulldogs
9. South Carolina Gamecocks
10. LSU Tigers

While most of these teams naturally hail from the SEC, only Alabama and Georgia are playoff-caliber.

College Football Zone then shared out over on X the strength of schedule for every ranked team.

College Football Zone needed a second social media post in the thread to share all 25 ranked teams.

As you can see, the only ranked team who has played a tougher schedule than Georgia is Alabama.

Georgia having played a tough schedule could propel Dawgs to title bout

Of the 25 ranked teams, only five have played a top-15 schedule of difficulty. Those teams would be Alabama (No. 4), Georgia (No. 8), Notre Dame (No. 11), Texas (No. 13), and Texas A&M (No. 14). These metrics are why two-loss teams like the Fighting Irish and Longhorns have had such staying power on the fringe on playoff inclusion. They are among the first four out at with a 25-percentage chance.

As you look at who would be in the playoff field if the season ended today, based on the latest AP Top 25 Poll, here are the seedings and each team's corresponding strength of schedule nine weeks in.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (No. 34)
2. Indiana Hoosiers (No. 42)
3. Texas A&M Aggies (No. 14)
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 4)
5. Georgia Bulldogs (No. 8)
6. Oregon Ducks (No. 37)
7. Ole Miss Rebels (No. 19)
8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (No. 83)
9. Vanderbilt Commodores (No. 32)
10. BYU Cougars (No. 49)
11. Miami Hurricanes (No. 36)
12. Memphis Tigers (No. 116)

This is just another wrinkle for some of these teams who are slated to make the playoff may end up coming up short of the ultimate prize. To win the 12-team playoff, a team has to be battle-tested in season (strength of schedule), physically able to take the body blows you will receive running the gauntlet (recruiting), and having the right man calling the shots (head coach). Who can do even it?

From a recruiting standpoint, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Oregon and Miami have the necessary players to sustain the blows of winning three or more playoff games. From a coaching perspective, Ohio State, Indiana, Alabama, Georgia and Oregon have coaches who have played in a playoff game before. As far as strength of schedule is concerned, it may hurt a few of the contenders.

As stated above, Alabama, Georgia and Texas A&M have played difficult to challenging schedules up to this point. No matter how far they go, this could serve them in the end. Ole Miss has played a hard schedule, but then again, the Rebels might not be a playoff team if they drop another game. Entering the year, they were seen to have a bottom-quarter schedule in the SEC with a weak non-conference.

This ties us back to a few other contenders like Indiana, Ohio State, Miami and Oregon. None of them have played a top-25 schedule. For a team like Ohio State, that may not matter, as the Buckeyes have the cultural identity to win anyway. In a way, this could be problematic for teams like Indiana, Miami and Oregon. How will the Hoosiers respond when they get punched in the mouth like the others did?

To attempt to tie a bow on this, Georgia just needs to make the playoff to have a real shot at winning it. Again, seeding is everything, but being comfortable being uncomfortable is something Georgia has learned to take pride in. Not everyone else can say the same about that. It is why Alabama just might win it all this season, as well as Ole Miss having a puncher's chance. Indiana may unravel soon.

By the time Georgia gets to the playoff, it will have plenty of experiencing of having run the gauntlet.