Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs Put Every Remaining CFP Team on High Alert
Georgia’s got a weapon heading into the Sugar Bowl that can’t be schemed against. Kirby Smart doesn’t lose rematches. The Bulldogs face Ole Miss on January 1 in New Orleans, and Smart’s sitting on a perfect 4-0 record when he sees an opponent twice in one season.
Chris Gordy laid out the numbers on Locked On SEC this week. Georgia opened as a seven-and-a-half-point favorite. FanDuel’s got them at 5-to-1 to win it all, trailing only Ohio State and Indiana.
The Bulldogs already beat the Rebels 43-35 back in October. They shut down Ole Miss’s run game and controlled the clock. Now Lane Kiffin’s squad gets another shot, except Smart’s track record says that second chance won’t matter much.
Alabama found out two weeks ago what happens when you face Georgia twice. The Bulldogs lost at home during the regular season, then turned around and hammered the Crimson Tide 28-7 in the SEC Championship. Negative-three rushing yards. 3-of-13 on third down. That’s what Smart’s preparation looks like the second time around.
Ole Miss dropped 497 yards and 41 points on Tulane in their opener. They’ve got the offense to make noise. But motivation doesn’t trump eight years of evidence.
The Rebels can watch film and adjust all they want. Smart’s already proven he figures it out better the second time. And that should terrify every team left in the bracket.
The Pattern Started in 2017 and Hasn’t Stopped
Auburn destroyed Georgia 40-17 during the regular season that year. The Tigers looked like they had Smart’s number. Then the SEC Championship happened. Georgia flipped the script completely, winning 28-7. Auburn scored on their opening drive and never reached the end zone again. D’Andre Swift ripped off a 64-yard touchdown run to bury them.
The 2021 national championship might be the best example. Alabama beat Georgia 41-24 in the SEC title game. One month later, the Bulldogs knocked off Michigan and got their rematch. Stetson Bennett found Brock Bowers for a touchdown to take the lead. Kelee Ringo took it home with a 79-yard pick-six. Final score: 33-18. That win ended a 41-year championship drought. Last season brought another rematch win over Texas after Georgia beat them in Austin first. This year’s Alabama demolition makes it four straight without a loss.
Smart finds the adjustments. Ole Miss can bring all the motivation in the world. Four opponents already tried that approach. None of them left with a win.
Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs Put Every Remaining CFP Team on High Alert
News Daily Reports
No comments: