The College Football Playoff title game is set with the #3 TCU Horned Frogs (13-1) taking on the defending national champion #1 Georgia Bulldogs (14-0). Georgia holds a 4-0 advantage all-time against TCU, the last meeting a 31-23 triumph in the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Monday’s title bout kicks off at 7:30 p.m. EST inside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Georgia is a 12.5-point favorite, and the over/under total is 62.5 points.
What to Know – #3 TCU Horned Frogs
TCU has a chance to become the first team in the CFP era to begin the year unranked and win the national title. The Horned Frogs knocked off Michigan in a thrilling 51-45 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl semifinal. TCU were perfect during the regular season, with their only blemish coming at the hands of Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship.
Offensively, TCU averages 41.1 points per game behind an offense that generates 474.1 yards of total offense. The Horned Frogs defense limits teams to 25.0 points per game and 385.1 yards of offense.
Max Duggan completed 14-of-29 passes for 225 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in the semifinal victory. Duggan added 57 yards rushing and a pair of scores on the ground. Emari Demercado carried the ball 17 times for 150 yards and one touchdown.
The Horned Frogs are 10-3-1 against the spread so far and 1-1 ATS at neutral site locations. TCU is 6-2 ATS over its previous eight matchups.
What to Know – #1 Georgia Bulldogs
The Bulldogs are back in the college football title match for the second season in a row aiming to be the first program since Alabama in 2011 and 2012 to do so and first in the CFP era. Georgia held on to beat Ohio State, 42-41, in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The Bulldogs rolled through the SEC East and smashed LSU in the SEC title game to return to the playoffs.
Georgia scores 39.4 points per game and averages 494.9 yards of total offense. Defensively, the Bulldogs limit opposing teams to 12.8 points and 292.1 yards of offense.
Stetson Bennett led the Bulldogs offense throwing for 298 yards and three touchdowns. Bennett completed 23-of-34 throws and chipped in a second-half rushing score. Wide receiver Arian Smith hauled in three passes for 129 yards and a touchdown.
Georgia is an even 7-7 ATS this year and 2-2 ATS at a neutral location. The Bulldogs are 0-4 ATS over their last four non-conference matchups.
The Pick is In
TCU is a great story this year in college football, but the Horned Frogs don’t have the size and athleticism to compete with Georgia for four quarters. TCU’s offensive line is going to be in for a long night against Georgia’s front seven and it’ll disrupt Duggan’s ability to move the offense.
Georgia’s offense presents a challenge for the TCU defense with its balanced mix of run and pass. Tight end Brock Bowers was quiet in the semifinals, but look for him to have a big game on Monday night.
The Pick: #1 Georgia Bulldogs -12.5
