The Georgia Bulldogs were on to the SEC Championship Game before Week 13 was even over. Almost too bad for the Bulldogs, however, it appears that they undersold what arch rival Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets had to offer in Week 14.
Now that the Bulldogs have held on to defeat their rival Georgia Tech, what do their playoff chances look like?
Georgia Playoff Odds
According to the College Football Playoff Meter power by our Playoff Predictor, the Bulldogs have a 98.89% chance to make the playoffs. This comes after they were ranked No. 7 in the latest iteration of the College Football Playoff Rankings, as well as after they hung on in overtime to beat the Yellow Jackets.
Now that the Bulldogs have finished the regular season with a 10-2 record, it’s apparent now more than ever that they’ll be in the College Football Playoffs. The Bulldogs inclusion in the playoffs is all but guaranteed no matter their result in the SEC Championship Game.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Georgia will at the very least hang tough to their No. 7 ranking in the playoffs rankings after beating Georgia Tech. And it’s great that they did come from behind to win as it was looking like they’d have to win the SEC in order to make the playoffs.
Despite it being a 12-team playoff, a fourth loss in the SEC Championship Game would have almost certainly knocked them out. Now that the ‘Dawgs have beaten Georgia Tech, you can assume that they can make the playoffs even with a loss in the SEC Championship Game.
A 10-3 or 11-2 record is on the horizon for the Bulldogs, and it’s hard to imagine the playoffs without either of those two versions of Georgia this season.
Next up for Georgia is the winner of the Texas vs. Texas A&M game. Georgia already beat Texas this season once before, 30-15, in a game that saw their offense struggle to get anything going and their defense do most of the heavy lifting.
The Bulldogs haven’t played Texas A&M this season, but the Aggies have their own issues at quarterback, something unique for a program fighting for a berth in the SEC Championship Game in the final week of the regular season. Despite their QB issues, the Texas A&M roster is clearly a talented group and have been able to win games with questions at the sport’s most pivotal position, indicating their strength across the roster.
Now, who they meet in the SEC Championship Game — Texas or A&M — will be playing with different scenarios of their own. Like Georgia, Texas is likely in the playoffs, even with a loss in the title game.
A&M, however, likely needs to win the SEC Championship to make the playoffs.
It’s a unique angle toward the 12-team playoff, but one that certainly makes the SEC Championship Game mean even more than it usually does as nothing is truly guaranteed for the loser of the title game.
And for that, 12-team playoff, we thank you.
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