Georgia-Notre Dame to be won with ground game, defense

If you watch Georgia and Notre Dame play, it’s not all too different of styles you see. Both the Bulldogs and Fighting Irish want to be physical. It starts at the line of scrimmage for each on both sides of the ball, and everything that happens around that is simply supplementary.

Of course there’s a talent difference with the way Kirby Smart has recruited. No signing class represented on Georgia’s roster ranked lower than No. 3. He’s brought in a trio of top-ranked classes in his time back in Athens. Meanwhile, Marcus Freeman hasn’t been responsible for them all, but the Irish haven’t finished higher than sixth since 2013. However, what’s important in this one is the same for both squads: establishing the run, getting some support outside of that and playing solid defense.

“Notre Dame has a championship-level defense with stars at all three levels. Safety Xavier Watts won the Bronko Nagurski Award in 2023, but he’s been even better this season and showed why against Indiana with 10 tackles and an interception. Jaiden Ausberry led a playmaking group of linebackers and Rylie Mills created havoc up front, as Notre Dame flexed on third down (7 of 13 conversions). Notre Dame’s offense isn’t always the most fluid unit, but with so many running options, chunk plays are always possible, and Jeremiyah Love can deliver them, as he showed with a 98-yard touchdown, the longest play in CFP history,” ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg wrote. “WR Jordan Faison, a standout lacrosse player thrust into action at wide receiver in 2023 because of attrition, has become a sneaky good target for quarterback Riley Leonard. Despite missing three early-season games with a sprained ankle, Faison has made multiple catches in every contest he has appeared in, and he had a career-high seven receptions for 89 yards against Indiana. ‘He’s a playmaker, man,’ coach Marcus Freeman said. The sophomore also has a knack for shining in the postseason, as he earned Sun Bowl MVP honors last year with 115 receiving yards and a touchdown against Oregon State. Notre Dame can’t beat Georgia strictly with its run game, and it will need wideouts such as Faison to make notable contributions.”

“The Irish must harass Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton, likely filling in for injured starter Carson Beck, just as they did Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke on Friday,” he added. “Notre Dame’s defense, which has carried the team much of the season, recorded 10 tackles for loss and three sacks against Indiana and rarely let the Hoosiers operate on schedule. The Irish also need to replicate the offensive balance they showed against Indiana while being a bit more consistent on the ground. Remove Love’s 98-yard touchdown, and Notre Dame had 95 net rushing yards on 34 carries. Notre Dame also must play a cleaner game on special teams after having a field goal attempt blocked and an onside kick recovered by Indiana late in the game.”

As for Georgia, directed offensively by the backup quarterback Gunner Stockton as was pointed out above, it’ll be important for the Bulldogs to help him out. Prior to the SEC Championship Game, Stockton had never seen the field without a lead of 21 points or larger. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards to bring the Bulldogs from behind against Texas, but with more being asked of him in the Playoffs, he’ll have to count on some support.

“With Stockton stepping under center, the Bulldogs are going to need their defense to rise up big time,” ESPN’s Mark Schlabach wrote. “This hasn’t been Georgia’s best defense under coach Kirby Smart; it ranks 21st in scoring defense (20.4 points), 36th against the run (127.8 yards) and 35th in total defense (334.8 yards). The defense has played well in some of Georgia’s biggest games, including wins over Texas and Tennessee. Linebackers Smael Mondon Jr. and Jalon Walker will need to control Notre Dame’s running game, and they’ll need to force the Irish into a couple of turnovers.”

Schlabach also considers one of Stockton’s weapons on offense as the “X-factor.” That would be running back Trevor Etienne who scored both of Georgia’s touchdowns last time out and has found the end zone nine times on 111 carries totaling 571 yards, adding 168 yards on 28 catches as well.

“Etienne can become a big safety valve for Stockton because of his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield — he has 28 receptions for 168 yards. Etienne is also a more-than-capable blocker, which will be important if Notre Dame’s defense decides to dial up the heat on Stockton. The Irish are 39th in run defense in the FBS (133 yards per game), and they held Indiana to only 63 yards in the first round.”

Kickoff time for Georgia-Notre Dame on New Year’s Day in New Orleans is set for 8:45 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN. The winner between the Bulldogs and Irish in The Big Easy advances to the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl to play the winner of Boise State and Penn State on January 9th.