Rose Bowl

[CousinFreddie]

First EVER meeting between OU and UGa.

I was a UGa post-doc for 2 years, so am a little bit Dawg and Georgia is my favorite (and only) SEC team.  That won’t stop me in being 100% behind the Sooners, but still I’m glad to see Georgia win the SEC and hope both teams play a good game.

Im guessing Georgia will be favored since they have an incredible defense and a really good offense.  But am not sure they’ve faced an offense this year as good as OU.  Or have they?

And has OU faced a ground game as stout as UGa’s?  

[MikeDeTiger]

I like OU in a boat race.  UGA's defense is good, but not good enough to stop OU.  OU's defense is just not good.  

[CousinFreddie]

The early line has OU up slightly, with Georgia as a +1.5/2 dog.   Basically it's nearly a pick'em, but as a Sooner fan, I'd rather see the opponent as the favorite.  Sooners tend to rise to the occasion when they're down.  My guess is Georgia won't mind being a (slight) dawg in this one.

[CharleyHorse46]

Odd how GA-OU are in the Rose Bowl while tOSU-USC are in the Cotton Bowl.

[CWSooner]

CBS Sports (IIRC) ran a bazillion simulations and got Bama over Clemson 60:40 and Georgia over OU 51:49.  Then Bama over Georgia 70:30.

[CousinFreddie]

70:30??  Wow, that's a decidedly non SEC-east friendly algorithm ... I mean, what does Bama have that's so over-powering here?  I'd assume the computer would also simulate a decided Alabama advantage over OU.  I think Bammer are a really really (really really) good team, but not that much better than their Athens neighbors, or than Clemson who beat them last year, or for that matter OU.

[MikeDeTiger]

70:30??  Wow, that's a decidedly non SEC-east friendly algorithm ... I mean, what does Bama have that's so over-powering here?  I'd assume the computer would also simulate a decided Alabama advantage over OU.  I think Bammer are a really really (really really) good team, but not that much better than their Athens neighbors, or than Clemson who beat them last year, or for that matter OU.

I don't.  Alabama struggled with every team they played with a pulse (which was hardly any), and flat lost convincingly to a "pretty good" Auburn team.  They may be one of the best 4 teams in the country, but they're nothing like the Alabama teams of years past.  
Getting a few LBs back healthy and maybe some good game-planning in the month off could help that, maybe.  But to this point in the season?  No....they haven't been really, really (really really) good.  
I've never seen so many WRs running free as our game with them this year.  No less than 5 plays were likely TDs, and we're talking about a completely different outcome if Etling hadn't chosen that one game to go 0% on deep balls that day.  I can only imagine what Mayfield would do to them given any type of similar circumstances.  We won the battle of the trenches this year--though not handily--and we're just "pretty decent" on the lines.  
If this is the case, you're hardly alone Fred, but I have to wonder how much people are actually watching them and how much is just the Bama reputation and their shiny 11-1 record.  If Clemson and Bama both play like they did over the last month, Bama won't see the winner of your game.  

[CousinFreddie]

You know them better than me Mike, so I'll defer to your opinion on this.  I've just watched them in bits and pieces, and they looked really good to me in the trenches, but then again I'll admit that I'm pretty in awe of them in general.  I'd really like for OU to have a chance to play them for the title, since all Bama fans write off the Sugar bowl result in 2013 as a case of "OU had everything to play for, and Bama didn't care since they weren't playing for the NC"

But then again, I don't really care who OU plays - all three teams left are going to be hard as hell to beat.

[Thumper]

Yep.  It will play out on the field.  The only numbers that matter will be the ones on the scoreboard.

[EastAthens]

I am really looking forward to finally getting to see the Dawgs play OU.  I first became aware of Oklahoma back sometime in the late 60's.  OU playing Nebraska was nationally televised every year and it seems like it was always the day after Thanksgiving and the only game on, although memory plays tricks.  As an 8 year old, I thought the Sooner Schooner made OU the best team on the planet.  To finally get you guys and in Pasadena, no less, makes this a special game for me.

Mayfield is terrifying and the Dawgs' best defense is named the UGA running game and 15 play drives.  Good luck Sooners.

[Thumper]

Thanks, EastAthens.  The feeling is mutual.  This is a dream matchup for this Sooner fan.  Congratuations on your conference championship.

[Cincydawg]

First Rose Bowl appearance for UGA since January, 1943 (which they won and claim an NC as a result which is contested of course).  First time the teams meet.    First conference championship for UGA since 2005.  Ties UGA with Tennessee for most SEC championships in CFB (not counting Bama).

UGa has the Butkus Award winner in Roquan Smith who in my mind is the best LB I've seen at UGA in, well, forever.  UGA also has the Number Two career rusher in Nick Chubb, who recovered from that awful knee injury two years back.  The Number 3 career rusher at UGA is Sony Michel, whose parents were immigrants, both of them are outstanding young men.

UGA of course has that insurance guy behind center.  He's no Baker Mayfield of course by any stretch, but who is?  VY?

OU's colors are a sort of red and white as I recall while Georgia's are a real red and real black.  OU is known for having an outstanding fan base.  Georgia's fan base is known for traveling perhaps because the team didn't use to travel very far, ever and they are just learning there are more than 8 states in the country.

This should be a good game, but Mayfield seems like the kind of guy who can pull games out when needed.  We often see the NC team with one of those kinds of QBs that is mobile and can make plays.

[Cincydawg]

UGA of course played TCU in a minor bowl game last season.  Both teams were a lot better this year.

OU played Auburn last season as well, and Auburn probably was better this year, but lost to OU and UGA last year and went 1-1 with UGA this year.  The OU-Auburn game was close for a half.  That could presage this one.

[BrownCounty]

I've picked against OU (and Baker) all year and been wrong almost every time.  At some point you learn your lesson.

Well, I'm not at that point.  Dawgs win this one.