The Georgia Bulldogs are back in the Sugar Bowl a year after they lost in the same bowl game. This time, they will be up against the Baylor Bears, who are among the feel-good stories of the season despite missing a chance to play in the College Football Playoff.
Betting on the Georgia Bulldogs (11-2 Overall / 8-1 Conference)
Georgia will be undermanned in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs, who lost to Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship Game, 37-10, on Dec. 7, will have at least five starters unavailable to play against Baylor due to various reasons. Star running back and NFL prospect D’Andre Swift is also being viewed as questionable to play because of a hurting shoulder that has slowed him down of late. In any case, the Bulldogs will have quarterback Jake Fromm under center. Fromm has passed for 2,610 yards with 22 touchdowns and five interceptions and a 60.3 pass completion percentage. If Swift eventually sits out the Baylor game, running Brian Herran and Zamir White will pick up more snaps. The two have combined for 806 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the season. On the other side of the ball, the Bulldogs will look to make Baylor feel their stout defense that is allowing just 12.1 points per game.
The Bulldogs are 4-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last six games.
Betting on the Baylor Bears (11-2 Overall / 7-1 Conference)
The Bears finished second in the Big 12 standings and failed to win the conference title after losing to the Oklahoma Sooners in the league championship game. The Bears’ two losses were both against Oklahoma. Baylor’s main weapon against the Bulldogs will be its defense that has kept the Bears afloat this season. The Bears are 15th in the league with just 19.5 points allowed per game. It will be a big plus for them if Swift won’t play, too. On offense, Baylor will be hoping for quarterback Charlie Brewer to be healthy in time for the Sugar Bowl. Brewer suffered a concussion in the Big 12 Championship Game, though, he has reportedly returned to practice. Brewer has 2,950 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also has an impressive 65.2 pass completion percentage, which is 20th in the nation.
The Bears have covered the spread in all of their last five games.
