Georgia vs. Oklahoma 2017 Rose Bowl Betting Prediction & Pick

The last time the Georgia Bulldogs played in the Rose Bowl, they had to take a train across the United States, a four-day trip that led them to Pasadena where they beat the UCLA Bruins, 9-0, on January 1, 1943. They return to face the Oklahoma Sooners in one of the College Football Playoff semifinal games, as Georgia is seeded third and the Sooners are seeded second. Both teams have 12-1 records; the Bulldogs won the SEC, while the Sooners won the Big 12, and the Sooners enter on an eight-game winning streak, routing TCU in the Big 12 title game by a 41-17 score. Georgia lost to Auburn but then got revenge on them in the SEC title game, rolling to a 28-7 victory. Who will have the NCAAF lines on their side to make it to the Championship game?

Georgia vs. Oklahoma 2017 Rose Bowl Betting Prediction & Pick

It’s official: @FootballUGA has arrived. #CFBPlayoff #RoseBowl #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/wYyvNLTGdD

— Rose Bowl Game (@rosebowlgame) December 27, 2017

When: Monday, January 1, 2018, 5:00pm ET Where: The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA TV: ESPN Radio: ESPN Radio Live Stream: WatchESPN Rose Bowl Odds: Georgia (-2), O/U 60

Weather Forecast

• Chance of Rain: 20^°C/68^°F
• Humidity: 65%
• Precipitation: 48%
• Wind: 9 mph N
• Cloud Cover: 95%
• Type of Stadium: Open

Why should you bet on the Bulldogs?

Georgia piled up the points on offense this year, averaging 34.9 points per contest. Their most impressive win outside of SEC play came at Notre Dame in Week Two, as they came away with a 20-19 result. They also routed all of their SEC opponents (except for Auburn in the regular season), including a demolition of a solid Mississippi State team that had routed LSU the week before. In the SEC title game, they trailed 7-0 in the first quarter but then scored the next 28 points for the win, punctuating things with a 64-yard touchdown run by D’Andre Swift. The running back trio of Swift, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb have overwhelmed opponents all season long, and they rumbled for 238 yards combined in the title game. Their passing game is more of an afterthought, as Jake Fromm has thrown for just 2,173 yards on the season — with 21 touchdowns against just five interceptions. The Bulldogs have a physical, quick defense. Linebacker Roquan Smith leads the squad with 113 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He also has two fumble recoveries. Safety J.R. Reed has posted 69 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The Georgia defense is about to take on an opponent with more speed on offense than they have seen all season long, though, particularly in the passing game, as the Sooners have the Heisman Trophy winner, Baker Mayfield, leading their offense. If you like Georgia, you think they can keep up with that Sooner offense.

Why should you put your money on the Sooners?

Oklahoma did take a bad loss at home to Iowa State back on October 7. However, in their other eleven games, they have outscored the opposition by a combined score of 553-287. They routed a talented TCU team — which may have one of the top 10 defenses in the nation — not once, but twice, in the regular season and in the Big 12 title game. Mayfield threw a pair of bombs in the second half in that title game to break the Horned Frogs’ spirit. Check the status of Rodney Anderson, the Sooners’ tailback — he could be suspended because of sexual assault allegations from early in December, but no official word has come yet. He has run for 960 yards on the season and has 283 receiving yards. What about that defense? Ogbonnia Okoronkwo leads the team with eight sacks and 17 tackles for loss. However, this is a team that gave up 41 points at Baylor (who only won one game this season) and has a tendency to give up points at the worst times. However, they did not bend against TCU in either meeting, and they also overcame an Oklahoma State team who also has a video-game style offense in their Bedlam rivalry game. So they can get the stops when they need them.

Expert Pick and Final Prediction

I just don’t see Georgia keeping up with Oklahoma in the scoring department. Georgia has a speedy front seven, but I don’t know that their secondary can stop Baker Mayfield throwing the ball down the field. I predict a final score of Oklahoma 41, Georgia 31.