Sugar Bowl Preview: Why Georgia Will Beat Hawaii

As last Saturday's BCS selection melee played out, we UGA fans knew our Bulldogs were going to the Sugar Bowl—whether we wanted to admit it or not.

Sure, there was plenty of talk about Georgia's title game chances—but that was wishful thinking more than anything else.

Do I blame the BCS? I can't say I fully agree with the system—or the outcome it produced—but then again I'm not the bitter fan who wallows in woulda-shoulda-coulda's.

In the words of the old Negro spiritual, Bulldawg Nation shall overcome.

And just how might we do that?

By stomping the pineapple-eatin', Run-and-Shoot-runnin' Hawaii Warriors, whose ex-con wideouts are smart enough to execute an offense that requires no thinking at all from its receivers.

"Get open on two—ready, break."

Sure, Davone Bess and "Random guy with a hyphen in his last name" are both good receivers—when the play weak secondaries.

Hawaii's game plan hasn't changed in five years:

Throw underneath to scat receivers and hope they rack up the YAC...then, when the defense finally commits to stopping the underneath routes, throw it over the top.

In fairness, Colt Brennan's ability to deliver the ball on time, no matter the route, is extremely impressive. As a matter of fact, I believe Brennan to be the best quarterback in the country (too bad the Heisman goes to the best player).

All else being equal, it's a good bet that Brennan would have his way with the Dawgs secondary—because as much as I love them, our DBs are probably on par with those the Warriors have seen all year.

But the rest of our defense is another story.

The Warriors' line hasn't faced the size and speed of the UGA front four. Combined with Rennie Curran and the rest of a strong linebacking corps, the big boys should be able to pressure Brennan enough to turn the game in Georgia's favor.

As long as UGA defensive coordinator Willie Martinez is willing to get aggressive by playing man-up and gambling on some wholesale blitzes, UGA's D can hold Hawaii to fewer than four touchdowns.

On the flipside, the Warriors won't have an answer to the RB tandem of Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno.

Since coming into his own against Vanderbilt, Moreno is averaging 5.3 yards a carry and two touchdowns a game as a starter. With Brown back in the mix, there's no drop off between No. 1 and No. 2.

Given how easily Washingston's Jake Locker ran on Hawaii last weekend, Moreno and Brown must be chomping at the bit. 

QB Matt Stafford, meanwhile, has finally learned to harness his cannon, and has thrown the touch ball extremely well in the second half of the season. With the O-line learning to develop a pocket and the receivers finally catching the rock, the Bulldogs have one of the most balanced attacks in the nation.

In the end, if the game is tied, the two teams can settle it "B-boy" style—with the Warriors doing their tribal "jump and flex and scream a lot" tango, and the Dawgs Crankin' that Soulja Boy to carry off the Sugar Bowl trophy like Supaman.

As it stands, I'm stickin' with my Dawgs 31-28 or 31-24. The over-under is 55.