2018 Rose Bowl preview

The first College Football Playoff game is the 2018 Rose Bowl between Georgia and Oklahoma. Conflicting styles will go at it with one high-powered offense going up against a good defense. Here is the 2018 Rose Bowl preview:

3 Georgia Bulldogs (12-1)

Roquan Smith (Photo by profootballfocus.com)

Georgia is one of the few teams that had a chance to avenge a loss and did so by beating Auburn in the SEC Championship Game. They were tested and beat plenty of tough teams in Notre Dame, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Kentucky and Auburn. Facing Oklahoma is a new challenge, but they have some really good players who can make an impact.

The offense scores 34.9 points per game and is fueled by a good running game. Nick Chubb is the leader of three running backs who gain a lot of yardage. Chubb has 1,175 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Sony Michel chips in with 948 yards and 13 touchdowns. Freshman D’Andre Swift is the best third-string running back in the country with 597 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

When Jacob Eason went down with an injury, a lot of Bulldog fans got nervous, but Jake Fromm has stepped up to lead this team to an SEC Championship. He doesn’t have the biggest stat line, but has made some nice throws. He has 2,173 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions on 63% completion. Javon Wims and Terry Godwin are the two leading receivers for the Bulldogs. Wims has 631 receiving yards and six touchdowns, while Godwin has 540 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Their defense has been great and will need to be at its best against Oklahoma. They allow just 13.2 points per game, which is fourth best in the country. Georgia is 11th against the run and second against the pass. The best player on their defense is linebacker Roquan Smith. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year has 113 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks this season.

2 Oklahoma Sooners (12-1)

Baker Mayfield (Photo by wsj.com)

The Sooners have ridden the great play of quarterback Baker Mayfield to the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma only lost to Iowa State this season and has some pretty impressive wins. They beat Ohio State, Oklahoma State and TCU twice.

They have a potent offense that averages 44.9 points per game. While Mayfield gets a lot of the headlines, the running game is good too. Rodney Adams leads the team with 960 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Trey Sermon and Abdul Adams also get a lot of carries and produce. Sermon has 710 rushing yards and five touchdowns, while Adams had 542 rushing yards and one score.

Mayfield has had a great season that has garnered him the Heisman Trophy. He has thrown for 4,340 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and five interceptions on 71% passing. This Georgia defense will put him to the test, but he hasn’t shown he can be totally stopped. His leading receivers are Marquise Brown and tight end Mark Andrews. Brown has 981 receiving yards and six touchdowns, while Andrews finished with 906 yards and eight touchdowns.

The defense is average, but only has to get a few stops a game with the good offense. They allow 25 points per game, with them ranking 41st against the run and 88th against the pass. Pass rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo has 70 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks and three forced fumbles this season.

Prediction

Baker Mayfield is a premier player who isn’t easily stopped. While he will be slowed down by Georgia’s great defense, the Sooners will come out on top. They can throw the ball and run it well, which will keep Georgia off balance. On defense Oklahoma will key on stopping the run and will make Jake Fromm try to keep up with Mayfield. Mayfield will come out on top.

Oklahoma Sooners 34 Georgia Bulldogs 30