Could playing in the SEC championship help the Georgia Bulldogs navigate through the playoffs? Buck Belue thinks so.
The legendary Georgia quarterback believes that the potential of a significant layoff between the Bulldogs' season finale against Georgia Tech on November 29 and their projected CFP quarterfinal game on December 31would be difficult to overcome. Playing in the SEC Championship Game would cut the Bulldogs' layoff time by at least a week.
Georgia won the SEC Championship Game last year
The Bulldogs defeated Texas, 22-19, in overtime in last year's SEC Championship Game held on December 7. In that game, Georgia lost starting quarterback Carson Beck to an elbow injury. The Bulldogs had a 25-day layoff before playing Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl on January 2, which they lost 23-10.
UPDATE - The sequence of what lead to Carson Beck's hand injury right before halftime vs. Texas. #SECChampionship #CollegeFootball https://t.co/m5razApQuM pic.twitter.com/EUapClkSMq
— Justin David Kish • Sports Journalist (@JustinDavidKish) December 7, 2024
Obviously, the injury to Beck played a major role in the game against the Irish and one can argue that if Georgia didn't play in that game, not only does Beck not get injured, but the Bulldogs would likely have taken Texas' (No. 5 seed) or Penn State's (No. 6 seed) slot and had an easier road to the semifinals. So, there's something to be said for both sides.
"How can you expect to play your best football, in the year's most important game, when you haven't played football in a month?"Buck Belue
My thoughts: There's no proven CFP strategy yet
Going into the first year of the 12-team bracket, it was believed that the teams with the first-round byes would have an advantage because they wouldn't have the wear and tear on them. Well, all four teams with first-round byes lost, and only Arizona State didn't lose by double digits.
If Georgia gets the opportunity to play in the SEC Championship Game, I expect the Bulldogs will work hard to win a conference title and not worry about the future. You can't assume anything and a major injury will force even the best plans to be adjusted.
The playoffs are going to continue to grow. The next is 16 teams and I would predict we could be at 20 or 24 within the next ten years. At every level of sport, there's a combination of talent and luck that's needed to win a championship. College football is no different.