Staff Predictions: 2022 National Championship Game

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images via thespun)

Finally that time of year! Grab your beers, order your pizza, and get comfortable because we are in for a hell of a national championship game matchup. This is the second time Georgia and Alabama will face off this season after the Tide won the first round 41-24.

Even though everybody outside of the SEC hates the SEC, you can’t argue it’s always entertaining when these teams line up on opposing sidelines. Nick Saban vs Kirby Smart, Bryce Young vs Stetson Bennett, the Dawgs vs the dynasty; who’s going to come out on top?

Here at GTD Sports, we’ve compiled our staff predictions for tonight’s contest. Vegas has Georgia slated as -3.0 favorites, but let’s see what our bloggers and podcast hosts have to say:

Ryan Bunnell

I already hate myself for betting against Nick Saban, but it has to be done. Winning a college football game is hard enough, but beating the same team twice within a five-week span is a tall task for anyone, hall-of-fame resume or not. Stetson Bennett looked legit in the Orange Bowl and I’m expecting the Dawgs defense to come out with a vengeance after giving up 41 points in the first matchup. I’m taking 2 units on Georgia -3 and half a unit on Georgia/’Bama double-result at +500 odds as a backup plan. Sad to see the college football season coming to an end, but here’s to hoping we’re in for the game of the year!

Prediction: Georgia 27, ‘Bama 24

Elijah Spann

I had a dream Saturday night that ‘Bama blew out Georgia and nick Saban celebrated another national title. Don’t need any other in-depth analysis, don’t overthink it. It’s Saban against an assistant, do you really think he’s gonna lose to two in one year after never happening before?

Prediction: ‘Bama 34, Georgia 20

Noah Parker

Alabama will win because college football in the playoff era is like Game of Thrones. Fun, exciting, immensely entertaining, and after it’s all said and done, nothing actually mattered the whole time, everyone is dead, and the ending fucking sucks.

Prediction: ‘Bama 31, Georgia 23

Braden Roux

Georgia can’t keep up with Bama’s offense. If Alabama can stop the run (like in the sec championship) I don’t care who is playing quarterback for Georgia they won’t be able to score. I think Georgia will do a better job against ‘Bama but not good enough to hold them off. 

Prediction: ‘Bama 28, Georgia 21

James Danielson

I’d like to think that I can’t be the only one that would love to see Georgia take down ‘Bama tonight in the National Championship Game. It seems like it’s always ‘Bama this, or Nick Saban that. Hard to argue with it I guess, Saban could end up going down as the best college football coach in history when it’s all said and done. Tonight though I’m taking Georgia in this game. I love that they’ll get another crack at Alabama on the grandest stage in college football. They’ve been owned by ‘Bama the last 7 games, but there is just an inkling in me saying that Georgia can slow down the Tides pass rush and get it done. Both teams are talented, coached well, and have the ability to blow up. I’m hoping for a shootout. Plus, I kind of like that James Cook guy, for no obvious reasons. So I’ll take the Bulldogs.

SKOL

- JD

Prediction: Georgia 34, ‘Bama 31

Collin Gray

We are about to witness history: Alabama versus Georgia, Part II. I’m incredibly excited to see what Nick Saban and Kirby Smart have in store for us today. However, I have a helluva lot more trust in Saban than I do in Kirby, so I’m rolling with the TIDE. I know that Vegas is giving those Bulldogs 3 points, but I do not have faith in Kirby. I know people say defense wins championships, and this Georgia defense is statistically one of the best of all time; I still do not have faith. Nick Saban has produced back-to-back Heisman winners who have picked apart defenses like a hot knife through butter. My man Bryce Young is going to show off his skillset and throw for 350 yards and 3 TDs, you can take that to the NIL bank.

Prediction: ‘Bama 42, Georgia 20

Cole Marchi

My analysis is as objective as possible here because I want Georgia to win. I can’t stand Alabama and how they always get the best players. However, even with Alabama’s injuries, they still have the best player on the field in Bryce Young and the better coach in Nick Saban. I certainly believe it will be closer than the last game, but I think in the end Alabama will be too much to handle for Georgia.

Prediction: ‘Bama 35, Georgia 28