Baylor Vs Georgia Predictions
Georgia is the favorite on the NCAAF odds against Baylor in the SEC/Big 12 matchup at this year’s Sugar Bowl.
- Baylor Bears vs. Georgia Bulldogs - 1/1/20 College Football Pick, Odds, and Prediction.
- Sugar Bowl Odds: Baylor vs. Odds: Georgia -7.5 Over/Under: 42.5 Date: Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 Time: 8:45 p.m. ET TV channel: ESPN Location: New Orleans Odds.
- Baylor prediction. Georgia and Baylor both know a thing about grind-it-out games, winning a combined nine one-possession games. Expect things to start out slow as each team gets a feel.
No. 5 Georgia (11-2 SU, 7-6 ATS) vs. No. 7 Baylor (11-2 SU, 9-4 ATS)
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. ET (ESPN) at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
Kickoff is 8:45 p.m. The Bulldogs are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Georgia vs. Baylor odds, while the over-under for total points scored is 41.5. Before making any Georgia vs.
Is this year’s Sugar Bowl the ultimate matchup of just-miss teams and, if so, which side among the Baylor Bears and Georgia Bulldogs is treating it more like just a consolation tilt?
According to early returns at wagering windows, that would be the Bulldogs. Georgia initially went out -7½ before money on the Bears sent that tumbling to 5½ at shops such as Heritage, even 5 at other outlets. The total is 41 across the board.
Bulldogs Banged Up, Will Play Without 2 All-Americans
Just think, if not for a blown lead against Oklahoma during the regular season and an overtime loss to the Sooners in the Big 12 Championship, that could’ve been Baylor getting blown out by LSU in one of the CFP semifinals on Saturday. All joking aside, the Bears really were just a couple of plays away from enjoying an undefeated season up to now, and were one of the top teams on the NCAAF odds board.
Matt Rhule and his staff deserve the lion’s share of the credit for a team that was balanced on both sides of the ball as Baylor ranks top 20 in both points scored and fewest points allowed. The Bears are also expected to be at full strength for this one with QB Charlie Brewer ready to play after suffering a concussion in the conference title tilt.
Though lacking some of Baylor’s scoring proficiency, Kirby Smart’s Georgia gang was also a balanced bunch. The defense allowed the 2nd-fewest points in the country, ranking only behind Clemson, with the combination of Jake Fromm (22 td, 5 int) and D’Andre Swift (1,216 rush yds) at tailback a tough duo to stop on offense.
The Bulldogs aren’t quite as fortunate as the Bears in the injury column. All-American safety JR Reed will not play due to an injured foot, and Swift is still dealing with a shoulder injury he suffered against Georgia Tech. The O-line is also going to have a couple of new faces as All-American tackle Andrew Thomas has decided not to play in advance of the NFL Draft while Isaiah Wilson is ineligible due to academics.
Bears Making First Sugar Appearance In 63 Years
For the first time in series history, Baylor isn’t travelling to Athens to meet Georgia. All four previous matchups took place Between the Hedges at Sanford Stadium, and all four ended in a Bulldogs victory, the most recent a little more than 30 years ago when Georgia downed the Bears, 15-3, during the 1989 regular season.
It’s just the second Sugar Bowl appearance for Baylor, the other coming in 1957 when the Bears upset an undefeated Tennessee squad ranked No. 2 and quarterbacked by Johnny Majors. Georgia is appearing in its 2nd-straight Sugar Bowl after falling to Texas last year, 28-21, and it’s the 11th time (4-6 overall) the Bulldogs have played in the event. Underrated and ignored all season, the Bears are my free college football pick to win the beat the Bulldogs straight-up.
Free NCAAF Pick: Baylor +200 at 5Dimes
Georgia Vs Baylor Predictions 1/1/20
Texas Tech Vs Baylor Prediction
Willie’s 2019 College Football Record: 38-29 (+8.75 units)
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2020 Georgia vs Baylor Predictions – Allstate Sugar Bowl Expert Picks: After coming up just short of a SEC title and a spot the College Football Playoff once again, the fifth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs head to the Allstate Sugar Bowl for the second year in a row. Waiting for them will be the seventh-ranked Baylor Bears, who went from 1-11 to 11-2 and a win away from a Big 12 title and spot in the College Football Playoff in the span of two years.
Both teams lean on their defenses to win game. Despite playing in the pass-happy Big 12, the Bears rank 16th in the country in scoring defense and ninth in the country in sacks. Perhaps more importantly, Baylor is tied with Clemson for the second most takeaways in the country. Georgia has been even stingier. The Bulldogs rank second in the country in scoring defense, allowing 12.5 points per game, and they rank fourth in total defense, giving up just 274.2 yards per game. Georgia’s run defense has been particularly impressive, ranking third overall.
Neither side has been dominant on the offense side of the ball, but both teams love to pound the ball on the ground with multiple backs behind strong offensive lines. The Bulldogs have the most explosive back in D’Andre Swift, but he is expected to be a game-time decision as he deals with a shoulder injury. Both Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm and Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer have been reliable, but both fall into the category of reliable game manager. One potential X-factor could be Baylor receiver Denzel Mims, who has become a legitimate big-play weapon.
2020 Georgia vs Baylor Predictions: Allstate Sugar Bowl Expert Picks
The Bulldogs Win If:
Texas Vs Baylor Prediction
In an era of high-scoring offenses, the Bulldogs remain committed to a run-heavy, defensive-minded approach. Even though Baylor is one of the most defensive-oriented teams in the Big 12, Georgia still needs to avoid getting caught up in a faster-paced, higher-scoring contest. The Bulldogs need to dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, controlling the clock and wearing down Baylor’s defensive front with their power running game and forcing Brewer to make tough throws by putting the Bears in third-and-longs on a routine basis. The Bulldogs also need a clean, solid performance from Fromm. If he can keep the offense on schedule and avoid mistakes, Georgia’s overall talent advantage should rule the day.
The Bears Win If:
For the Bears to cap a remarkable turnaround with a bowl win, they need to slow down Georgia’s ground game, especially on early downs. The Bulldogs can be downright ugly on offense when they can’t establish their running attack, so if the Bears can put the pressure on Fromm to drive the offense, they will significantly boost their chances of winning. Offensively, Brewer and company have to avoid turnovers and any mistakes that will give Georgia a short field to work with. The Bulldogs’ Achilles’ heel has been their offense, and the Bears can’t make life any easier for Georgia to score points.
Bottom Line:
It is no secret that the Bulldogs have had their issues scoring points, but Baylor hasn’t exactly been an offensive juggernaut, and the Bears play in a Big 12 conference where defense is basically optional. It is one thing for Georgia to struggle to score against the like of LSU, Auburn and Florida. It is another thing to see the Bears score just 23 points in an overtime against Oklahoma, only 24 points against a porous Texas defense and just 29 points in a triple-overtime contest against TCU. Plus, Georgia’s defense has been able to contain every offense it has faced. Yes, they allowed a season-high 37 points to LSU in the SEC title game, but I’m sure the Oklahoma team that beat Baylor twice this year would have loved to hold LSU to just 37 points. I just don’t see the Bears being able to put enough points on the board to pull this one out.