TJ’S PICK 3 FOR 2022 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Playoff Bowls: 2-0 overall 2-0 ATS Season Record: 31-16 Overall 20-27 ATS
Point spread and the over/under are from FanDuel
TCU -v- Georgia (Inglewood, CA) Georgia -13.5 O/U 62.5
#3 TCU is 13-1 after beating Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl, 51-45. Senior quarterback Max Duggan went 14-29 for 225 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 57 yards and two more touchdowns. Junior running back Kendre Miller rushed for 57 yards before getting injured with an undisclosed injury. Senior running back Emari Demercado filled in for Miller getting 150 yards and one touchdown. Junior wide receiver Quentin Johnston had six catches for 163 yards and one touchdown. The TCU defense gave up 528 yards to Michigan while getting four sacks and forcing three turnovers. Senior linebacker Dee Winters had seven tackles, one pass deflection and one pick six. Sophomore safety Bud Clark had five tackles, one fumble recovery and one pick six. And senior defensive lineman Dylan Horton accounted for all four of the Horned Frogs sacks.
#1 Georgia is 14-0 after squeaking out a 42-41 win over Ohio State in the Peach Bowl. Senior quarterback Stetson Bennett went 23-34 for 398 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Senior running back Kenny McIntosh rushed only five times but gained 70 yards while adding 56 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Junior running back Daijun Edwards chipped in eight rushes for 58 yards. Sophomore wideout Arian Smith had three catches for 129 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore tight end Brock Bowers had four catches for 64 yards. The vaunted Georgia defense was torched by the high-powered Ohio State offense, giving up 467 yards while getting four sacks and no turnovers. Senior defensive back Christopher Smith led the Dawgs with eight tackles. Sophomore linebacker Smael Mondan, Jr. had seven tackles and one sack while freshman defensive lineman Mykel Williams had five tackles and one sack.
Prediction
Georgia’s defense gave up a lot of yards and points to Ohio State’s offense, which is very unlike Georgia. TCU’s offense exposed the Michigan defense for what it is, a good defense on paper only. With Miller being questionable for TCU it’s going to be difficult for the Horned Frogs to go punch for punch with the Dawgs. Both defenses were scorched in the semi-final games, and I see a similar back and forth shootout. Georgia’s experience and defense will ultimately make enough plays to seal their second consecutive title.
Georgia: 37 TCU: 33 take TCU getting the points and take the over