B/R Expert Questions for the CFB National Championship Game
It's fitting that the 2022 season's national championship will be played in Los Angeles because the showdown between the Georgia Bulldogs and TCU Horned Frogs has the makings of a Hollywood film.
We know about Georgia. The defending champions are back for a crack at a second straight national title.
But the Horned Frogs are the greatest of underdogs.
The program moved on from its beloved leader, then hired the son of a legendary coach. The team entered the season as an afterthought. An injury sidelined the starting quarterback almost immediately, but first-year coach Sonny Dykes and once-backup Max Duggan have put TCU on the brink of a stunning championship.
Can the Horned Frogs find their Hollywood ending? Or will Georgia author a perfect sequel?
Bleacher Report's analysts—Max Escarpio, David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Morgan Moriarty and Brad Shepard—have shared their knowledge before the clash between UGA and TCU.
What's the Blueprint for TCU?
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Brad Shepard
The Horned Frogs will have to play the perfect game, but they have done that at times this year. This one will have to be their most complete.
On offense, it's just "keep doing what you're doing and hit some big plays" like they did against Michigan. That will apply pressure to a UGA defense that appeared susceptible against LSU and Ohio State.
Defensively, coordinator Joe Gillespie has to get creative dialing up blitz packages and get after Stetson Bennett with Johnny Hodges, Dee Winters and others. That may be a challenge against the Dawgs' offensive line, but Michigan supposedly had the best one in the nation, and TCU pressured J.J. McCarthy time and time again.
It wouldn't hurt for returner Derius Davis to make a splash play too.
David Kenyon
There's no way around labeling this a gargantuan task. TCU deserves all the praise for a stream of second-half comebacks because winning—no matter how it happens—is difficult.
All season, however, only Missouri and Ohio State have scared the Dawgs. They rarely need comebacks because they've been so dominant.
The stat is elementary, but it's also not a coincidence that Georgia's four-point win in Columbia and one-point victory over the boys from Columbus were UGA's two worst third-down performances of the year.
TCU has to find a few explosive plays, yes. A boost from Davis would be helpful, absolutely. But most importantly, TCU's defense must get off the field in those money-down moments.
What's the Blueprint for Georgia?
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Morgan Moriarty
The blueprint for Georgia is simple: Avoid giving an opposing quarterback time to throw the ball down the field.
We saw Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and his receivers pick apart this UGA secondary, as talented as that unit is. If Duggan has time to throw, he has talented receivers like Quentin Johnston and Taye Barber who can get open on one-on-one matchups.
Finding effective ways to disrupt Duggan in the pocket will be critical. He can take off and run in a hurry, so Georgia's defense may need to spy him to account for that.
Kirby Smart is as good a game-plan adjuster as anyone. We saw how much better Georgia's defense looked in the rematch against Alabama last year. I'm confident Georgia can do the same this time around, as much as I'd love to see TCU pull off the upset.
David Kenyon
As powerful a runner as Duggan is, it's wise not to consider him a 50-50 kind of runner. While the Horned Frogs love to utilize him on designed plays, Duggan goes through his reads and only scrambles when necessary.
Yes, he ripped off that key scamper down the sideline against Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game. And as Morgan said, Georgia will have a defender who is first responsible for that. But the majority of his damage is within the structure of the offense, and TCU leans on Duggan—wisely, of course—during red-zone opportunities.
Contain those calls, and Georgia has a huge advantage.
Otherwise, it's a matter of the Dawgs' winning the "bend, don't break" battle in the red zone. Both of these offenses will create scoring chances, but which defense will force field goals—or even turnovers? Michigan wasted two goal-line trips in the Fiesta Bowl, and that proved to be TCU's winning difference.
Georgia ranks second nationally with a 36.4 red-zone touchdown rate allowed, while TCU is 72nd at a 61.5 clip. The edge belongs to the Dawgs, and they cannot waste it.
Which Role Player Is Quietly Important?
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Brad Shepard
With Kendre Miller questionable, Emari Demercado goes from a quality backup who can push piles and bulldoze defenders to TCU's featured back.
Demercado is an Inglewood, California, native who grew up minutes from what is now SoFi Stadium, so he's going home. It would be a remarkable story if he got the bulk of the carries and showed out. But that won't be an easy task.
Led by a powerful and stingy front seven, the Dawgs lead the nation in rush defense. TCU needs Miller to be healthy to have a chance and help balance things out for Duggan.
But if Miller is out, Demercado has to take care of the ball, grind it out and keep UGA honest. The senior can't be a role player anymore.
David Kenyon
Georgia is an efficient rushing team, but the 2022 squad has morphed into a pass-first offense. Unlike last season, Stetson Bennett is the driver of this scoring attack. Tight end Brock Bowers is otherwise the biggest star of the group.
But that only makes a versatile back more impactful.
Kenny McIntosh has thrived in a long-awaited shot at a regular role. He'd previously showed a nice mix of running and receiving but totaled just 163 touches over the last three seasons. This year, he's racked up 1,284 scrimmage yards at a very effective 7.0 per touch, including 42 receptions for 505 yards and two touchdowns.
During the Peach Bowl, he caught a 25-yard score, ripped off a 52-yard run and grabbed two receptions in the fourth quarter. McIntosh was explosive early and a safety outlet late.
In other words, Georgia features him right away and trusts him in the biggest moments. McIntosh is a vital part of UGA's success.
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Which Star Player Is Not-So-Quietly Key?
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Adam Kramer
Brock Bowers. Period.
Any football game Georgia plays in over the next year should feature Bowers, the team's star tight end, prominently.
Early against Ohio State, however, Bowers was quiet. As the offense started to turn it on, Bowers became a part of the plan. He finished with four catches for 64 yards, and I would be shocked if he doesn't increase that output against TCU.
You could argue that both quarterbacks will have a greater say in the game. But Bowers is the ultimate weapon against a defense that is likely to put a great deal of focus on stopping the run and also slowing down a passing attack that was explosive.
If Georgia wants to control the clock and slow the game down, utilizing Bowers as both a receiver and even a runner would be where I start. He could have a very, very loud Monday night.
Max Escarpio
Quentin Johnston is vital for TCU's offensive success. Like Adam said, the quarterbacks have obvious importance in this matchup, but TCU's star receiver may need to have one of his best performances for TCU to dethrone Georgia.
In the win over Michigan, Johnston tallied six receptions for 163 yards and a touchdown. That explosive 27.2-yard average is the kind of showing that must roll over to the title game. Big plays can put the Bulldogs in defensive situations they rarely dealt with during the regular season. If TCU can connect for a deep one early, the Frogs will force the Dawgs to respect a diverse offense.
Johnston needs to have another big game. If not, it's hard to see the Horned Frogs winning.
What Matchup Are You Most Excited to Watch?
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Adam Kramer
Quentin Johnston vs. the Georgia secondary.
After watching Ohio State wideouts find wide-open space all night, I am curious to see how the Dawgs attempt to slow down the best wide receiver in college football. The assignment won't be easy given the player and the circumstances, although it will likely drive the outcome of the game.
Johnston had six catches for 163 yards and a touchdown against Michigan, and much of his production came after he caught the football. For as big as he is (6'4"), he also glides down the field.
If Georgia wants to avoid the same issues that plagued Michigan, it will have to repair its secondary and tackle better in space. Fixing the secondary will not be easy. In fact, Georgia's best way to potentially slow Johnston will likely come up front in the pass rush. Michigan was unable to get to Duggan, which allowed the wideout to make plays.
Regardless, this is a wonderful matchup and an NFL scout's dream.
Brad Shepard
As mentioned before, if TCU is going to win this football game, the Horned Frogs will have to hit some shots downfield or have some monstrous YAC. That means getting Johnston the ball early and often.
While UGA's secondary is one of the best and most talented in the nation, the Dawgs have shown the past two games that they're vulnerable and you can attack them with the right signal-caller. LSU torched them for 502 yards in the SEC Championship Game, though a large portion of that was with LSU in comeback mode. Then the Dawgs turned around and gave up 348 to C.J. Stroud in a narrow win against Ohio State.
If you aren't impressed enough, Jayden Daniels, Garrett Nussmeier and Stroud completed 63 percent of those passes and threw seven touchdowns.
Duggan will need to take some shots and gambles, and they have to pay off. If TCU doesn't hit some big plays in the passing game with its electric receivers, it doesn't have a chance.
Max Escarpio
Aside from the quarterback duel, an underrated matchup is the Horned Frogs' offensive line against the Dawgs' dominant D-line.
Georgia's defensive front features a potential top-five NFL draft pick, Jalen Carter. TCU's play in the trenches was excellent in the Fiesta Bowl, but Georgia has consistently fielded game-wreckers on the defensive side.
If TCU can't contain UGA's front line, it will probably be a long night for the Horned Frogs.
Empty Your Mind: What Stat, Trend or Storyline Feels Critical?
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Morgan Moriarty
It sure feels like if Georgia loses this game, 2022 would be considered a disappointment. Yes, most college football teams dream of having a season like the Dawgs had—finishing the season as SEC champions and winning the playoff semifinal in thrilling fashion.
But if TCU shocks Georgia and wins this game—one in which the Dawgs opened as 13-point favorites (ridiculously high, in my opinion)—failing to win it all once again would be unsatisfying. Georgia has looked like it's barreling toward a repeat championship all season long, so anything short of that is a letdown.
Sound like what Alabama fans experience every year the Tide are out of the national title hunt? Well, building Georgia into Alabama 2.0 will do that.
Max Escarpio
The health of TCU running back Kendre Miller is crucial for both game plans. He exited the Fiesta Bowl with a knee injury and did not return.
TCU's best option at the position, Miller has 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. He commands the attention of opposing linebackers and safeties, which leads to openings for Duggan, Johnston and the TCU passing attack.
The Horned Frogs have quality options in the running back room, but Miller is a powerful runner who gives Dykes the freedom to stress defenses vertically.
Make Your Pick: The National Champion
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Max Escarpio
Georgia will be the national champion. Beating the Horned Frogs will make UGA the first program since SEC rival Alabama in 2011 and 2012 to win back-to-back national titles.
David Kenyon
No surprise here either. From a narrative perspective, TCU is the best champion. But the better team, Georgia, will offer yet another reminder that elite talent wins out.
Adam Kramer
Georgia. This has been the best team for the majority of the season, and it might have just played its worst game of the year. TCU is a wonderful story, but the Bulldogs bounce back and get it done by double digits.
Morgan Moriarty
I will be rooting for TCU on Monday—opening the season with 200-1 odds to win it all and then playing in a first-ever national title game is an awesome story. But Kirby Smart will make the right adjustments on defense in the secondary to avoid that, unfortunately for TCU.
Brad Shepard
This feels like one of those games, much like the SEC championship, where Georgia's opponent scores points—the Frogs are too good not to—but the Dawgs flex back. Give me Stetson Bennett flinging it around and UGA winning 44-28 to get back-to-back titles.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
