Michigan v. Georgia, Orange Bowl, Miami FL, Friday, 12/31/21, 7:30pm, ESPN/ESPN Video

[lineygoblue]

Secondary ticket market has scads of Bama/Cincy tickets starting at $139/ea. UM/UGA tix start at $300.

Bama fans don't travel? Or is the CFP semis so old hat they don't bother?

I think they're already looking ahead to the rematch with Georgia.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Two things of note re the COVID + situation in the NFL/NBA/NHL:

The pro-leagues are not operating in anything even close to a "bubble." They were up until around July of this year, not since.

College teams can create bubbles and I'd suspect both M and UGA have implemented some strict bubble producing measures. I have no idea what these might look light. "Home for the Holidays' throws a bit of a wrench into anything the teams might impose. One thing I think is essential right now for players, traveling staff and coaches: boosters. I'm also advocating that players not "go home" with a promise for both school and football time off after M's play-off run is complete.

I find it hard to imagine, either team can make it through the next 10d or so, without some number of players testing positive ....... and BTW, the NFL is re-evaluating it's testing protocols with an eye toward reducing their frequency. I don't have a position on that yet should it come to pass.

[Obi-Jon]

I think they're already looking ahead to the rematch with Georgia.

Lets hope both Alabama and Georgia are looking ahead. The sniveling and whining that would occur in the SEC and network board rooms with a UM-Cincy final would be music. I've heard some SEC fans refer to the CFP as their birthright....eff them.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Since 2006...11 of the last 15 champs are from the SEC...soooo yeah...

2020	Alabama	CFP
2019	LSU	CFP
2018	Clemson	CFP
2017	Alabama	CFP
2016	Clemson	CFP
2015	Alabama	CFP
2014	Ohio State	CFP
2013	Florida State	BCS
2012	Alabama	BCS
2011	Alabama	BCS
2010	Auburn	BCS
2009	Alabama	BCS
2008	Florida	BCS
2007	LSU	BCS
2006	Florida	BCS

[Cody_Russell]

Sounds right. All of the southeast teams or Ohio State (elite recruiting).

The outlier teams haven't done well in CFP history. Oregon is the only team to win outside of the Southeast/ Ohio State world of college football. Michigan State, Washington, Notre Dame... the end score of those defeats haven't been pretty.
Go back to the national championship game prior to the Playoff... Notre Dame was DESTROYED by Alabama.
I would note that everyone called that Florida State team frauds that Oregon defeated.
Not sure what you label Oklahoma as, but they are 0-3 in the CFP.

1. Just hope M shows up at the very least. Unlike Michigan State, Washington, Notre Dame... make the game interesting.
2. How awesome would it be to continue to break trends... College football needs it. Go Blue! Beat Georgia.

[lineygoblue]

I think M is going to give Georgia a good ballgame. Georgia is rightly favored to win, but I don't think they'll blow Michigan out. I think M will hang with them until the end. It will be the best of the two semi final games.

Now, .. Alabama? I think they'll roll CincyTucky.

[Mike]

Oklahoma is actually 0-4. They’ve been wrecked 3 times and lost an OT thriller to Georgia in the Rose Bowl.

It would be great if Michigan could crash the party and be one of the first “outsiders” to win a game in the playoff.

[THE_WIZARD_]

It would be even greater iffen you would shaddup...

[Cody_Russell]

Oklahoma is actually 0-4. They’ve been wrecked 3 times and lost an OT thriller to Georgia in the Rose Bowl.

It would be great if Michigan could crash the party and be one of the first “outsiders” to win a game in the playoff.

Thx. Oklahoma 0-4.
So Oregon, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Michigan State, and Washington ... 1-9 CFP record? The teams that don't consistently have top 5 recruiting classes.
IMO, this M team is one of the better teams ... if you put M in that bucket of 1-9 CFP teams.

Hope they are the outlier that breaks through.

[THE_WIZARD_]

One can dream.

[iam416]

Thx. Oklahoma 0-4.
So Oregon, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Michigan State, and Washington ... 1-9 CFP record? The teams that don't consistently have top 5 recruiting classes.
IMO, this M team is one of the better teams ... if you put M in that bucket of 1-9 CFP teams.

Hope they are the outlier that breaks through.

It's a great year to be in the CFP because there aren't any elite teams. There is no uber-great UAT team or 2019 LSU team or otherwise. It's winnable if you're actually really good. 2019, e.g., I think 3 of those teams are better than anyone in this year's playoff. Unfortunately, that was OSU's best team. Like, in my lifetime -- best team.

M certainly isn't elite, but Georgia isn't either. They don't have the offense to be elite.

[iam416]

But, yes -- a non-SEC, non-Clemson, non-Ohio State team won the very first CFP game ever. And haven't won one since. And have been completely assraped in 8 of those 9 games.

[Cody_Russell]

It's a great year to be in the CFP because there aren't any elite teams. There is no uber-great UAT team or 2019 LSU team or otherwise. It's winnable if you're actually really good. 2019, e.g., I think 3 of those teams are better than anyone in this year's playoff. Unfortunately, that was OSU's best team. Like, in my lifetime -- best team.

M certainly isn't elite, but Georgia isn't either. They don't have the offense to be elite.

Good point about the field not being as elite as usual.
I agree that 2019 LSU, Ohio State, or Clemson would be better than any of the 2021 teams. Stacked playoff outside of Oklahoma.

Bama almost lost to Auburn a few weeks ago.
Georgia is a question still because their best win is Clemson.
Cincinnati is Cincinnati. I haven’t seen anyone pick Cincinnati to beat Bama.

[THE_WIZARD_]

UGA I thought had an elite defense...and it is very good in spite of the asshammering by The Nick. Bammer has an elite QB and coach...HARBAUGH!!! and M are probably the most balanced...Cincy...meh. Only true good win was against an overrated Domer squad. I still think UGA wins it all. They will adjust to slow down Bammer better this time...look for a lower scoring slugfest this time around. I do think HARBAUGH!!! will give UGA all they want but M will struggle against that D. I'll say...

UGA 23 HARBAUGH!!! 13

NICK!!! 38 LUKE!!! 20

UGA 20 NICK!!! 17

[Mike]

I'm still not completely sold on Georgia. That win against Clemson was 10-3 without an offensive TD and after getting up 10-0 on Bama, they got their doors blown off. I won't expect them to beat Alabama if they get a rematch in Indy.

As for the Orange Bowl, my gut tells me it will be a close Georgia win. They are very similar to Michigan but with better personnel overall. They are #2 in the 247 talent composite, Michigan is #15. Michigan is playing their best football of the season right now, though, so not counting them out at all. I expect a "kitchen sink" type of game from the offense. Gattis has been amazing the second half of the season and I expect he'll have a few tricks up his sleeve.