GAME SUGAR BOWL (CFP Qu): #7 ND vs #2 UGA • 3pm CT • ESPN

[Across The Field]

ND lost to NIU

UGA was blown out by Ole Miss and lost to Bama, and had a few escape jobs too

OSU lost at home to a Michigan team with no QB and didn’t even make their CCG

Texas lost to UGA twice, neither game was in Athens

Penn State lost to the only two good teams they played all season

They all have a case for being worse than that LSU team. Hell, UGA is the only conference champ that’s still alive and it took a ton of chaos for them to reach the CCG

If you lined up Matt Flynn and that LSU team against any of the teams from this year that you mentioned, they would all beat LSU by 14+. They struggled with an OSU team led by Todd Boeckman ffs, they were a very mediocre team. Hell, I'm not sure they'd even beat 2024 LSU.

 

[osubuckeye89]

Stockton drives an 85 two toned F-150 and owns cows. Beck drove rented Lamborghinis and looked like the sloth from Ice Age

We upgraded IMO

But seriously, Stockton was a high 4 star recruit and this is his third year with the program, and was next in line. I don’t think he’s a liability and his legs offer an element that wasn’t there with Beck.

Plus the last time we had a QB make his first career start against ND, it worked out pretty well for us

To me, it all comes down to which defense shows up. If it’s the defense that has shown up against Texas, I like our chances, if it’s the defense that showed up against GT, might be a long game for us

I agree that Stockton playing probably actually helps UGA. He will play a lot looser than Beck.

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

If you lined up Matt Flynn and that LSU team against any of the teams from this year that you mentioned, they would all beat LSU by 14+. They struggled with an OSU team led by Todd Boeckman ffs, they were a very mediocre team. Hell, I'm not sure they'd even beat 2024 LSU.

I mean, with evolution of the game, they’d be very outdated. Hell, I’d pick most current MAC and Sun Belt teams to beat 95 Nebraska

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

I agree that Stockton playing probably actually helps UGA. He will play a lot looser than Beck.

My only concern is if we fall behind early. Beck for all his faults was pretty good at second half comebacks

 

[Across The Field]

Really looking forward to this one today. Fully expecting a lot of loud hitting power football.

I think I like ND just because UGA has the backup QB thing going.

I'm also looking forward to this one. I don't know why, but I think ND gets it done by 10+. They have the better OL and RB, and I don't think Stockton is any better than Riley. It'll all depend on if UGA's defense shows up, because Love will probably be the best RB they've seen all year.

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

Need a bunch of three TE sets and Cash Jones seeing a lot of snaps. The TE’s and Cash Jones seem to be able to actually catch the ball unlike the receivers

 

[Across The Field]

I mean, with evolution of the game, they’d be very outdated. Hell, I’d pick most current MAC and Sun Belt teams to beat 95 Nebraska

No shot. The game has evolved but it doesn't suddenly mean everyone is more talented. I'd argue most of the champs from the 2000s would be at least competitive this year, if not win it all.

 

[Tharvot]

I'm also looking forward to this one. I don't know why, but I think ND gets it done by 10+. They have the better OL and RB, and I don't think Stockton is any better than Riley. It'll all depend on if UGA's defense shows up, because Love will probably be the best RB they've seen all year.

I dunno about 10+, but the next game for the winner will be essentially a replay of this game. PSU, ND, and UGA are all similar styles.

 

[jjc2009]

No shot. The game has evolved but it doesn't suddenly mean everyone is more talented. I'd argue most of the champs from the 2000s would be at least competitive this year, if not win it all.

The reason why there doesn’t appear to be a far and away dominant team or conference is the transfer portal has diluted rosters. Used to be teams like Alabama, GA and Ohio State would just reload because their second stringers would probably dominate most other schools’ starters. Now those backups want to play and can freely move around. The power schools of this century don’t have the depth every position to get by.

It has created parity to an extent and I think that’s why we don’t see a dominant team this post season.

 

[ericd7633]

I'm also looking forward to this one. I don't know why, but I think ND gets it done by 10+. They have the better OL and RB, and I don't think Stockton is any better than Riley. It'll all depend on if UGA's defense shows up, because Love will probably be the best RB they've seen all year.

I think if we were fully healthy I could see that. Losing Mills is such a big loss. Were essentially without our 1st round CB, and two draft picks in the Dline.

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

For anyone wondering, I took the under in this game. Figure it’s gonna be a lot of runs and defense

 

[Voltaire]

For anyone wondering, I took the under in this game. Figure it’s gonna be a lot of runs and defense

Hypothetical; If Georgia scores they win the game ... who do you root for?

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

Hypothetical; If Georgia scores they win the game ... who do you root for?

If UGA makes it to NCG, I want to beat Texas 3 times this year. If UGA loses today, I’d be pulling for a ND-OSU NCG

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

But I will say, for better or worse, they need to let Stockton run the full playbook. Those QB draws and bubble screens aren’t gonna win. During his first drive against Texas, they let him throw downfield and he looked pretty good on that go ahead TD drive, then they tightened the reins for some reason

 

[jjc2009]

I think if we were fully healthy I could see that. Losing Mills is such a big loss. Were essentially without our 1st round CB, and two draft picks in the Dline.

Two draft picks on D line and the next best DE in Traore.

 

[jjc2009]

But I will say, for better or worse, they need to let Stockton run the full playbook. Those QB draws and bubble screens aren’t gonna win. During his first drive against Texas, they let him throw downfield and he looked pretty good on that go ahead TD drive, then they tightened the reins for some reason

It’s a tough position to be in. You can’t run him too much because there’s still 2 games to go but a lot like ND if you don’t try to stretch the field we can game plan to stop the run.

 

[osubuckeye89]

But I will say, for better or worse, they need to let Stockton run the full playbook. Those QB draws and bubble screens aren’t gonna win. During his first drive against Texas, they let him throw downfield and he looked pretty good on that go ahead TD drive, then they tightened the reins for some reason

Lol yep Georgia better not go to the Ryan Day turtle play book. Screens and runs up the middle all day!

 

[ericd7633]

Two draft picks on D line and the next best DE in Traore.

Yeah, Traore was a huge loss too. The depth on defense this season has been insane. We lost Botelho against Purdue and IIRC, Traore that game or shortly thereafter.

 

[Across The Field]

I think if we were fully healthy I could see that. Losing Mills is such a big loss. Were essentially without our 1st round CB, and two draft picks in the Dline.

Postseason Kirby tends to be a good version of Kirby, but this team is just missing something compared to his older teams. They don't really have the skill player talent like they've had, nobody seems to stand out.

 

[jjc2009]

Yeah, Traore was a huge loss too. The depth on defense this season has been insane. We lost Botelho against Purdue and IIRC, Traore that game or shortly thereafter.

Same game. Along with Ashton Craig at center.