The Orange Bowl is set to take place on the day before New Year’s Eve at 4 pm EST, featuring Georgia and FSU. Some experts believe that this matchup could be the national championship. Georgia, having won the national championship twice in a row, is considered to be one of the best teams in the entire country. FSU, on the other hand, is the undefeated ACC champions with a record of 13-0. However, the Noles were not selected to make the playoffs in what is a huge controversy.
Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs are undoubtedly one of the best teams in college football, with an excellent roster from top to bottom. Although the game has no bearing on their national championship status, they are still expected to perform well.
Georgia is averaging 483 yards per game, putting them in the top 10 for yards per game in the country. The Bulldogs are averaging 306 yards per game through the air and 38 points per game which is also top 10 in the country. This team looks incredible on paper, and they back it up on the field.
Their best player is undoubtedly tight end Brock Bowers, who has over 2,500 yards and 26 touchdowns in his three-year career at Georgia. He has been dealing with injuries, so his status for the Orange Bowl is up in the air, which would be a huge relief for FSU if he can’t play. Other than Bowers, it is a huge committee at every position.
Two main RBs carry the load, both with over 600 yards on the year and both with at least five yards per carry. Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton are the running backs carrying Georgia through wins. With the stats above, Edwards has 11 touchdowns, and Milton has 12 on the year. As for catching passes, that’s a huge committee, and with Bowers out, that puts their leading receiver just under 700 yards this entire year. This team is old-fashioned, running the ball and pounding it all day, then play-action with the tight end.
On the defensive end, Georgia plays a smothering defense while also controlling the ball. Speaking of their defense, they are top 12 in passing defense, total defense, and points scored in the entire country. This defense is high-motor, with seven players with at least two sacks and six players with at least one interception this year. Georgia plays for each other and gets to the ball no matter the cost. The key to Georgia winning is to get to the QB, probably Tate Rodemaker if not Brock Glenn. They have to make him feel the dominant Georgia pass rush, and control the ball on their end.
FSU
The Florida State Seminoles have had an impressive run this year. Despite coming into the season with expectations of winning the national championship, they have answered the call each week. The Noles have achieved this through their clever use of the transfer portal. In the last two years, they have added Trey Benson, Jared Verse, Bless Harris, Johnny Wilson, Deuce Spann, and Tatum Bethune. These players helped to establish a foundation for the team’s success this year. In 2023, they added Keon Coleman, Jaheim Bell, Fentrell Cypress, and Braden Fiske. These players have allowed the team’s hype train to start running.
FSU has a top-15 scoring offense in the country. Although they will be without their starting QB Jordan Travis, they have a top-seven passing defense and a top-six scoring defense. This means that it will be extremely difficult to score against them. As for their offense, it has been a little different since Week 11 when Jordan Travis got injured. Nevertheless, they put up 24 points against the Gators in the Swamp and 16 points against a top-15 defense in Louisville.
FSU’s offense is similar to Georgia’s in recent times. They rely on running the ball, play action, and throwing it to their skill players. The team has a strong committee of running backs and wide receivers, including Trey Benson, who has 900 yards and 14 TDs, and Lawrence Toafili, who has nearly 500 yards and four TDs. Toafili can run around any defense, while Benson can barrel over defenders who won’t move.
The passing attack is powered by Keon Coleman with 600+ yards and 11 TDs, Johnny Wilson with 600+ yards and two TDs, and Jaheim Bell with 500+ yards and two TDs. On the defensive side, five players have five plus sacks on the year, and 10 players have at least one forced fumble. The defense has been playing exceptionally well all year, but in the last three weeks, they have really stepped up their game. They allowed only 13 points to North Alabama, 15 points to Florida (12 of which came in the first half), and just six points to Louisville, who were ranked 15th in the country at the time. Whenever the team needed a huge play, the defense showed up and delivered.
This upcoming game is anticipated to be a highly competitive defensive battle, promising to be an excellent match. Both teams share the same goal of reaching the opposing team’s quarterback and running the ball through the center. They also aim to control the ball and limit the opponent’s offensive plays.
The game will feature Georgia and FSU, and it is scheduled to take place on December 30th at 4 pm EST. It’s a game you won’t want to miss.