The Georgia Bulldogs are one of the favorites to win the College Football Playoff, but Georgia will have better chances of winning a national championship if the Dawgs can avoid certain teams in the playoff.
Georgia proved during SEC play that the Bulldogs can beat some of the country’s best teams. Georgia has ranked wins over Texas, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech and Alabama this season.
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Georgia isn’t afraid of playing anybody in the playoff, but there’s no doubt that having a favorable path makes winning a national title easier. Just look at Penn State’s path the College Football Playoff semifinals last season. Penn State beat SMU at home and then defeated Boise State at a neutral site. Georgia would love to face a path like that.
In order for Georgia to have the best chances of winning a national championship, the Bulldogs are going to need a few upsets. Georgia fans should be cheering for the Dawgs and chaos over the next several weeks.
Ole Miss Rebels
Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) runs the ball as Tulane Green Wave linebacker Sam Howard (15) pursues
No. 3 Georgia would love to avoid playing the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels in the playoff. Georgia already beat Ole Miss 43-35 during the regular season and now the Rebels don’t have head coach Lane Kiffin, so why would Georgia like to avoid Ole Miss? Well, Georgia’s alternative to playing Ole Miss is the Tulane Green Wave and Georgia would have a substantial talent advantage over Tulane.
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Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss finished in the top-10 of the Heisman voting. Georgia’s defense really had a lot of trouble stopping Ole Miss during their October meeting. Bulldogs fans will be cheering for Tulane on Saturday, but it is almost a lock that Georgia will play Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) during the first half of the Big Ten championship game
Yes, No. 2 Ohio State lost in the Big Ten championship to Indiana, but the Buckeyes are national championship favorites for a reason. Ohio State has the best defense in the country and has the potential to completely shut down any opposing offense.
The Buckeyes have a dynamic receiver duo with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, who will both be playing on Sundays in the near future. Georgia has the talent to compete with Ohio State, but the Bulldogs would much rather face Texas A&M or Miami in the semifinals than Ohio State.
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Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) throws during the Big Ten Conference championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes
Picking the third team Georgia wants to avoid was a little bit tougher. Indiana’s side of the bracket has more potential for chaos, but ultimately Indiana went undefeated and won the Big Ten for a reason. The Hoosiers did not allow a single opponent to score over 24 points all season and have the best quarterback in the country.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman and is projected to the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Historically, elite quarterbacks have given the Georgia defense a lot of trouble. Mendoza is more than capable of picking apart the UGA defense.
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Three teams Georgia wants to avoid in the College Football Playoff
