By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Georgia and Oklahoma have been matched in the Rose Bowl, one of the two national semifinals in the College Football Playoff. The winner goes to the National Championship Game.

It matches two relatively new coaches: Kirby Smart is in his second year at Georgia and Lincoln Riley is in his first year coaching Oklahoma.

It also matches two teams that got marquee nonconference road wins the second week of the season: Georgia at Notre Dame (20-19) and Oklahoma at Ohio State (31-16).

But on paper it’s pure offense vs. defense: Oklahoma has the nation’s most prolific offense with Baker Mayfield, who is the Heisman Trophy winner while Georgia has a great defense led by linebacker Roquan Smith.

One of the best big play offenses vs one of the best defenses at preventing big plays

Stats vs Power 5 Opponents (out of 65 Power 5/Notre Dame teams)

Oklahoma Offense vs P5 Teams

Plays of 10+ Yards Per Game : #3 (19.6)

Plays of 20+ Yards Per Game : #1 (8.2)

Plays of 30+ Yards Per Game : #1 (4.4)

Plays of 40+ Yards Per Game : #2 (2.6)

Plays of 50+ Yards Per Game : #2 (1.6)

Georgia Defense vs P5 Teams

Plays of 10+ Yards Per Game : #2 (8.4)

Plays of 20+ Yards Per Game : #3 (3.0)

Plays of 30+ Yards Per Game : #5 (1.3)

Plays of 40+ Yards Per Game : #11 (0.6)

Plays of 50+ Yards Per Game : #12 (0.3)

Oklahoma Defense vs P5 Teams

Plays of 10+ Yards Per Game : #31 (13.8)

Plays of 20+ Yards Per Game : #35 (4.8)

Plays of 30+ Yards Per Game : #57 (3.1)

Plays of 40+ Yards Per Game : #57 (1.6)

Plays of 50+ Yards Per Game : #58 (1.0)

Georgia Offense vs P5 Teams

Plays of 10+ Yards Per Game : #21 (14.6)

Plays of 20+ Yards Per Game : #10 (6.0)

Plays of 30+ Yards Per Game : #14 (2.8)

Plays of 40+ Yards Per Game : #25 (1.2)

Plays of 50+ Yards Per Game : #14 (0.9)

So, basically, OU is good at scoring and UGA is good at stopping teams from scoring.

UGA is good at scoring and OU is not good at stopping teams from scoring.

What does all of this mean? Absolutely nothing. Both teams earned their way to the playoff. I think both teams are equally talented and it will probably come down to who has the ball last.

Hard to believe Georgia and Oklahoma have never met in football isn’t it?

On defense, linebacker Roquan Smith leads the Bulldogs with 113 tackles and 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

Lincoln Riley was just 33 years old when he took over for Bob Stoops in June. He’s now 34 and has taken the Sooners to the College Football playoff in his first season. Outside a loss at home to an improved Iowa State team on Oct. 7, the Sooners have outscored teams 553-287.

On defense, OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo leads the Sooners with 8.0 sacks and 17 tackles for loss, adding three forced fumbles.

Prediction: Mayfield is a stud and looks unstoppable at times. Georgia’s best defense may be controlling the ball and the clock on offense.

The Bulldogs have the personnel to do so, as Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and D’Andre Swift have combined for well over 2,500 rushing yards this season.

The biggest issue for Georgia is avoiding falling behind because it will be difficult to be successful in a shootout pitting freshman quarterback Jake Fromm against Mayfield.

This Georgia team looks like a team of destiny and they seem to rise to the occasion whenever they need to. UGA gives up some points and yards, but in the end, they find a way to win.

UGA 38. OU 34.

Dawgs play in the NC game on January 8th.