Georgia has made the National Championship Game in three of the last seven years. Will it make it four in eight?
The Bulldogs are off to a 3-0 start in 2024, but so are six other SEC programs. What are their odds of making the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff? What about the natty?
How Far Will Georgia Go in the College Football Playoff?
According to College Football Network’s all-new College Football Playoff Meter, Georgia has a 49.2% chance of making the playoffs, ranking 11th in the country and fifth in the conference:
- Texas Longhorns – 92.9% (1st in the FBS)
- Ole Miss Rebels – 66.2% (6th)
- Missouri Tigers – 64.2% (7th)
- Tennessee Vols – 57.3% (10th)
However, the Bulldogs have the third-best odds of making the National Championship (27.1%) and of winning it (14.3%).
So, how?
Georgia’s path to the CFP is far more difficult than many of its conference peers. Kirby Smart’s squad travels to No. 4 Alabama in Week 5, No. 1 Texas in Week 6, and No. 5 Ole Miss in Week 9 before hosting No. 6 Tennessee in Week 10. That’s four programs ranked in the top 10 of the most recent AP Poll.
As a result, the Bulldogs have a 4.7% chance of winning out and a 5.9% chance of winning the conference. But if — and most likely when — they make the postseason dance, every team will be on notice.
Georiga is currently ranked No. 2 in College Football Network’s Power Rankings of all 134 FBS teams, behind Ohio State and in front of Texas. The program played down to Kentucky last week (13-12), but it seemingly has one of those games every year before bowling over the rest of their opponents.
Star QB Carson Beck hasn’t even hit his stride yet but has still completed 68% of his passes for 680 yards, seven TDs, and zero INTs. Tackle play has been average at best, and the rushing game is only averaging 145 yards per game, which is by far its lowest since 2010.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
While the offense has been inconsistent, the defense has tipped the scales by exceeding expectations, ranking fourth in the nation in points (6.0) and eighth in yards (202.0) per game allowed.
If the Bulldogs can tighten up offensively and maintain their defensive prowess, they’ll be in the mix for another deep playoff run. But as the season progresses, they’ll need to show they can replicate what they’ve done in recent years: perform at an elite level when it matters most.
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