The first round of the College Football Playoff went exactly as expected. The higher seed and home teams won their games dominantly, putting up double-digit victories with ease.
Naturally, fans found these games underwhelming, with several NFL insiders openly criticizing the first round’s outcome. However, the second-round games are projected to be more competitive and less predictable.
Two games, in particular, are likely to be tough and thoroughly entertaining. And ESPN’s Paul Finebaum offered up his take.
Paul Finebaum Offers Prediction for Georgia vs. Notre Dame Outcome
The first of those anticipated games comes out west, when the Ohio State Buckeyes’ take on the Oregon Ducks in a rematch, a game that fans have spent months hoping for. The second is the Georgia Bulldogs vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Finebaum gave his prediction on Georgia vs. Notre Dame and left no room for doubt.
Finebaum stated that he is looking forward to the Georgia vs. Notre Dame matchup in Round 2 of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. In his latest appearance on “The Matt Barrie Show,” Finebaum took a deep dive into the factors that might determine the result of the game.
He especially focused on the potential impact of the Bulldogs’ quarterback issue.
“You have to be worried about Gunner Stockton,” Finebaum said. “I can’t tell you how many, ‘Oh no, we’re fine.’ No, you’re not. You lost. I don’t think Carson Beck is related to Quinn Ewers, but they’ve had the same type of year. It’s been all over the place. I think that’s what some Georgia fans are gravitating to, but in talking to Kirby Smart Saturday morning on our show, he feels pretty confident.”
Despite Finebaum’s concern for Stockton, he remains convinced that Georgia will defeat Notre Dame, pointing out the Bulldogs’ resilience throughout the season and their rugged schedule.
“I can easily see them getting in trouble,” Finebaum said. “But we overuse the word resilient. It’s kind of the new catchphrase, but nobody’s been more resilient than Georgia.
“This team really did have the most impossible schedule, and when you consider it, they had to play Texas twice, they were at Alabama, at Ole Miss, and had Tennessee at home. The fact they only had two losses is pretty remarkable. So, I like Georgia, a slight edge.”
Finebaum Comments on Georgia’s Lineup Heading Into Notre Dame Game
It’s common knowledge that Georgia starting QB Carson Beck suffered a serious injury to the UCL in his throwing arm during the Bulldogs’ SEC title game against the Texas Longhorns. Since then, various updates have been shared from the Bulldogs and head coach Kirby Smart.
It recently became apparent that Beck will be absent during the CFP, leaving the Bulldogs in a precarious position. With him injured, the Bulldogs will likely have backup Stockton in the starting role.
Stockton is a relatively experienced quarterback and has shown that he can step up whenever Beck is unable to play. After Beck’s SEC title game injury, Stockton took to the field, completing 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards and an interception, but wowed fans with his ‘leave-it-all-on-the-field’ mantra in the end.
While the impact of Georgia’s QB situation on future games remains a toss-up, Finebaum believes that the rest of their lineup is good to go.
“I think he (Kirby Smart) feels confident because (Trevor) Etienne is healthy,” Finebaum said. “That’s a big factor. He’s not been healthy all year. He’s a dynamic running back, which we haven’t seen very much of … and their defense with Jalon Walker and so many other pieces, they can hold up very well.”
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