The college football playoff Semifinal between Alabama and Clemson provides a matchup of two teams who are a mirror image of each other on both sides of the ball. However, the first semifinal between oklahoma and Georgia features two teams that look nothing alike.
The Sooners are led by their Heisman-winner quarterback Baker Mayfield and the nation's best offense, whereas the Bulldogs feature a nasty defense with a dominant run game. Who has the edge in this game of up-and-coming head coaches with contrasting styles?
Oklahoma offense vs. Georgia defense
Baker Mayfield will likely go down as one of the best quarterbacks in college football history, and he's in the midst of the best season of his collegiate career. According to Bill Connelly's S&P+, Mayfield is quarterbacking the best passing offense in the nation. Mayfield has thrown for an obnoxious 10.8 yards per attempt while completing 71% of his passes with a 41-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Oklahoma also has the number one rushing offense in college football according to S&P+. Led by underclassmen running backs Rodney Anderson and Trey Sermon, the running ability of Mayfield, and a dominant offensive line, the Sooners can beat you on the ground and through the air.
Kirby Smart is coaching S&P+'s eighth-ranked defense this season, and they may be one of the only units in the entire country that is capable of slowing down Oklahoma's offensive attack.
Georgia's defense ranks eighth against the run and sixth against the pass, and the Bulldogs have elite talent at all three levels of the defense.
The battle in the trenches between Oklahoma's offensive line and Georgia's defensive line will go a long way in determining which team can punch their ticket to the National Championship Game.
Georgia offense vs. Oklahoma defense
Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, and D'Andre Swift make up one of the nation's most dangerous backfields.
Each one of these backs possesses speed and power, which is why Georgia ranks eighth in rushing offense according to S&P+.
Jake Fromm is no Baker Mayfield, but he's led a passing attack that ranks in the top five in offensive efficiency this season. The true freshman has thrown for 8.5 yards per attempt with 21 touchdowns and five interceptions, and he provides a great compliment to the running game.
Oklahoma's defense ranks 95th in S&P+ as they've struggled to defend both the run and the pass this year. Mike Stoops' defense played much better over the final four games of the season, but they'll need their best game of the season to give Mayfield and the offense a chance to win the game.
TV schedule
January 1, 5 PM ET on ESPN
Prediction
Baker Mayfield is the best player in college football, Oklahoma's defense will have a tough time slowing down Georgia's balanced offense. I don't expect the Bulldogs to shut down the Sooners' offense totally, but they will be able to contain them enough to allow Jake Fromm and Georgia's talented backfield to exploit Oklahoma's weaknesses on defense.
