SDS Mailbag: Georgia-TCU prediction, ranking top 5 SEC QBs for 2023, best city to host CFP title game
We’ve made it to the end of the college football season. By the time the next SDS Mailbag comes out, there won’t be any meaningful college football played until August.
It’s always a bittersweet moment. While it’s sad that the season is coming to an end, we were treated to absolutely incredible College Football Playoff semifinal games and I expect more of the same from the title game on Monday night.
We’ll see what happens in Los Angeles. The title game is the subject of our first question this week, so let’s dive right into the Mailbag, shall we?
Robert:
Prediction for Georgia-TCU on Monday?
Well, we can certainly expect a close game. The TCU Horned Frogs pretty much guarantee that on a weekly basis. No matter if TCU jumps out to a 2-score lead or falls behind by 14 points early, it’s likely to be a 1-possession game in the fourth quarter.
Unfortunately for TCU, the fourth quarter is when Georgia QB Stetson Bennett IV is at his best (living up to the IV in his name). He’s been incredible in the fourth quarter of his 3 career Playoff games.
I expect that to continue on Monday night in Los Angeles. The Horned Frogs keep things close against Georgia’s suddenly struggling defense, but the Bulldogs ride a couple of big plays from Bennett late to earn a victory.
My score prediction is Georgia 41, TCU 34.
Seth:
As things stand now, how would you rank the top 5 QBs in the SEC next year?
Let me state for the record that I don’t think we’re done seeing high-profile transfer QBs entering the SEC this offseason. The portal is still very active, especially at the quarterback position.
Auburn could be in the mix for a quarterback. Mizzou might be active, too, along with a couple of potential surprise teams.
But, should there be no more movement, here’s how I’d rank the top 5 QBs in the SEC next year:
- Jayden Daniels, LSU
- KJ Jefferson, Arkansas
- Will Rogers, Mississippi State
- Devin Leary, Kentucky
- Joe Milton III, Tennessee
I’m on the fence as to whether or not we’ll see Spencer Rattler return to South Carolina next year. If he does, he’s a borderline top-5 guy.
My wildcard is Conner Weigman at Texas A&M. He showed some flashes of brilliance in limited action in 2022. He should be even better and should be the Aggies’ full-time QB1 in 2023.
But, as I mentioned above, I would expect the QB carousel to keep spinning, even in the SEC.
Wayne:
How worried should Florida fans be about Todd Golden? Especially now that Mike White has Georgia turning things around.
Georgia’s win over Auburn on Wednesday night was certainly impressive. And thus far, Golden has been the most-disappointing new head coach in the SEC (among White, Dennis Gates, Lamont Paris, Matt McMahon and Chris Jans).
I’m not selling my Golden stock yet, as I was one of his biggest supporters during the offseason coaching carousel. I will admit that I am starting to get a bit concerned, though. This week’s loss at home against Texas A&M has my finger hovering over the panic button.
Mike White and the Georgia Bulldogs come to Gainesville on Saturday. If Golden can’t get his guys to win that game over the Gators’ former coach, I’ll officially be worried.
The Gators have too much talent to be struggling like this on a consistent basis. Colin Castleton deserves better for his final year at Florida.
@Dobbe8:
The CFP title game has been in Dallas, Phoenix, Tampa, Atlanta, the San Francisco area, New Orleans, Miami, Indianapolis and, this year, will be held in Los Angeles. Houston will join that list in 2024. What city should be the next first-time host of the College Football Playoff title game?
The obvious answer to this question is Las Vegas. It was supposed to host one of the upcoming title games, but due to some massive trade show that’s held there in early January every year, it had to back out.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ stadium would definitely be up to the task of hosting the big game, and the atmosphere would be incredible. Thus, I hope Vegas can find a way to host the CFP title game sometime in the next decade.
However, if we’re eliminating Vegas because it had its chance, I’d also love to see Nashville get a shot at hosting the title game.
First of all, it would be a great location, as it’s in SEC country, but is also not too much of a hike for Big Ten powers like Ohio State and Michigan, should they be in the mix for the CFP title game.
Secondly, I limited my answers to only cities with NFL stadiums, so Nashville fits that criteria. I’d rank my top 3 options for first-time CFP title game hosts as:
- Las Vegas
- Nashville
- Charlotte
We’ll see if the next round of CFP title locations includes any of those 3 cities. I still feel that Vegas has a good shot at getting the game eventually.
Have a question for next week’s Mailbag? Tweet at us using #SDSMailbag or email me at Adam.Spencer@XLMedia.com.
33-20 Dawgs. Hoping they can lean on the running game and avoid a shootout.
That’s pretty much where I’m at with it.
Score permitting, I think the Dawgs should run the ball down their throats, wear them down, and keep the ball out of Max Duggan’s hands. Score permitting of course.
I’ve believed the game will be close since it was determined that Georgia vs. TCU in the Natty. Hopefully the Dawgs defense has a good game. TCU’s QB, Duggan, will run a lot. The kid’s got grit.
Go Dawgs ! Bring home that Natty.
“Criteria” is plural.
42-20 UGA over TCU.
Coach Napier be like, great, focus on the basketball coach for a while!
That’s good stuff. That one gatorlakefan will not like this
liked!
Lol.
I’m going out on a limb here. I think Sonny Dykes is going to channel his old boss The Pirate and score enough on Georgia to pull this one out 42-38
That’s a pretty risky limb. I think UGA wins by double digits.
poptiger
You’d make some dough in Vegas with that prediction.
What causes you to think TCU can hold Georgia to 38?
Pop tiger, Is your prediction coming from your heart, or your brain? Would you say the same thing if someone put a gun to your head & told you that your life depended on getting your prediction for this game right? I think most fans listen to their heart more than their head.
What idiot is going to make a prediction with a gun to their head? It is a prediction with a specific score being named, the chances of it being correct are very slim. He just gave his thoughts on how the game could go, and it very well could happen. I don’t expect it, but it is not going to be a walk in the park for UGA.
If TCU plays like TCU and doesn’t come out too tight, no, it won’t be a cakewalk for Georgia, but Georgia will wear them out in the 2nd Half and the separation will be evident.
Wow! You do realize that was just a verbal construct, right?
The #1 QB in the SEC next year will be none other than Mertz the Merciless! He will be the latest unheralded transfer to light up the SEC unleashing Mertz-Mania as he cruises around campus in his Mertzcedes Benz.
SEC champs as the league gets Mertzed!
I award you 673 points for “Mertz the Merciless”.
Congratulations.
Thanks. He should make T-shirt’s, though as he ascends to national glory, Mertz the Mertzilous may be the real money maker.
Prepare yourselves! 2023 is the YEAR OF THE MERTZ!
OK, what are you smoking and what have you done with mrtruth?
Truth is busy watching the Flash Gordon marathon on TMC. But you gotta admit, that was classic Mrtruth …. it’s gold, Emilio, it’s gold!
i like jayden daniels getting some recognition in your ranking, as it really seems like a vocal contingency of the lsu fan base want to move on from him.
further to your ranking, great performance by milton in the ob, but based off what we’ve seen from certain back-ups this past season, i’d rank beck and nussmeier just ahead of him
I really don’t see how you can rank those guys ahead of Milton. Milton has proven himself by being the Orange Bowl MVP against a very good Defense in Clemson. Beck hasn’t seen the field all year. I get your a GA homer but have some sense here. Milton didn’t throw an INT all year. 10 TDs to 0 INTs. I think Milton finished in the top 3 easily in 2023 with DANIELS and KJ.
well, as you said, i’m a homer. or, maybe i considered that milton struggled in 2 of the 3 games he got meaninful snaps in this season. i credited his perfomance in the ob, but a ‘homer’ would choose to ignore that he hardly had good games against sc and vandy….in his prev two outings and only other games of meaninful snaps.
Because there is far more negative to his track record than positive to this point and a great hame against Vanderbilt and a nice Bowl game aren’t yet enough for many to look past that track record.
Braves…How many starts does Milton have ? His body of work has not even been written and you’re gushing over his greatness. About six(6) games into the 2023 season You & all SEC fans will know his story, not until then. You’re sounding like a typical Vol fan. Let’s keep it real.
Carson Beck will likely make that top-five list by the end of next season. He’s developed very well, has every tool in the QB box, and will have weapons galore. The real key is whether Monk will be back.
Beck will be top 5 based on what? He may get beat out by the next walk-on!
3 years in the system and has looked extremely sharp in his appearances this year. 6’5”, 230, with a howitzer mounted on his shoulder. He’ll be Kirby’s first true NFL-prototype QB since Eason. If Monk stays on board, watch out.
it’s kind of funny. the game in gainseville this wknd carries very little to no interest from a national perspective, but it’s pretty evident that two fanbases and regional media will definitely have their eyes on it.
i don’t have a good feeling. really like what white has brought, but he’s still got an uphill climb in resetting the mindset of this roster. many don’t realize that the current roster is essentially the same as lasy year’s team, with exception of roberts. that said, great recruiting pitch by white in keeping those players in the classic city, as there was clearly some talent that wasn’t getting coached.
kudos to spencer for owning his golden hype…though he also criticized the white hire by uga.
Gawd how I hated Tom Crean in the end. What a dumpster fire.
yeah, i don’t think crean is a bad guy and i don’t think he consciously did anything wrong. he just wasn’t a good coach.
i blame him mcgarrity for his lazy approach and interview process. he hired a search firm to interview matta and crean. two coaches who had been woefully terminated at schools where developing a b-ball program was much easier than what was potentially in front of them at uga. matta leveraged him for continued compensation from osu and crean was thrilled to get the opportunity.
I don’t think White or Golden are established by any means. We still have a very small sample size so far. White has gotten off to a great start, let’s see how he does on the road in the SEC. As for Golden, he can quickly turn it around. If I’m not mistaken Golden is playing with the same guys White left him and Whitw couldn’t win with those guys either.
i don’t think either have fully established themselves either. i didn’t think i did or mean to elude to such. i noted that white still has an uphill battle, but he’s made some strides…especially considering what was left in athens.
we’re only 1-2 games into the conf sched, but back in the preseason, i predicted that uga would simply avoid playing on wed of the conf tourn. that seemed outlandish at the time, but looks reasonable now.
(1) UGA by 21+, most of the nation will go to bed early. A snoozefest.
(2) Golden Showers = Don DeVoe 2.0. The guy is a loser, and couldn’t place higher than 4th in his three seasons in the weak sauce WCC. So of course, our Starkville Dork AD interviewed him only and hired him on the spot, ala Napier.
(3) Nashville and Charlotte would be good hosts, but I don’t see the CFP title game being played outdoors unless it is in Florida or California, although football is a game to be played outside, bad weather or not.
I’d like to see it in Jacksonville
There’s absolutely no way the CFB final will be scheduled in an outdoor stadium (Nashville, Charlotte) in January.
None. Zippo. Nada. Ain’t gonna happen.
Correct, but Nashville is planning to build a dome very soon. That will draw a CFP final.
This…⬆️. Can’t wait to walk across the river to the Wild Horse Saloon after winning a championship in the new indoor stadium!
Hahaha. Tennessee will be in Final by then, to play at home in greatest State in the Land of the Free!! Go Big Orange!!!
Based on the time between your last 2 you have several decades left until that happebs
Happens
I hope it is Georgia that wins, but only by 12 points or less! #PointSpread12.5
I would like to see a CFP title game at Lambeau Field in January.
Greatest football town in America.
I would then I would like to see Miami and UCLA in the game.
The title game should rotate between Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, and Nola. If you want to throw the West a bone, then play it at the Rose Bowl.
The point spread looks about right to me. I’d go with UGA 38, TCU 24 in a game where the final score looks closer than the actual game feels.
The difference in distance between Nashville and Atlanta is only 215 miles, interstate all the way. I doubt Nashville is so much easier for the BIG10 that they would notice.
The Women are much prettier in Nashville!
Nashville is like Mecca for white girl bachelorettes
That is certainly an important consideration.
Nashville would be a great choice
If the next OC at MSU shifts away from a pure air raid offense it will be interesting to see how it impacts Will Rogers place on that top five list. A more dynamic run game might help Rogers but they won’t help his stats. He has shown tremendous accuracy on short and intermediate routes and those should continue to be available. But I think he struggles with the long ball. Then again the air raid doesn’t really put much emphasis on stretching the field vertically so maybe he gets more attempts over 20 yards and shows me something. One thing for sure. He won’t make any headlines running the ball himself.
The best natty host city is Atlanta and its not close. No other potential host city has as many avid college football fans as Atl. Virtually every SEC and ACC school east of the Mississippi has a huge Atlanta fan base. Same with Big 10 schools since there are so many transplants. IOW, more people here place College Football ahead of any other sport, including the NFL, than do fans of other cities
I do believe Chicago has the same dynamic of different alumni bases that care that ATL has, so when their proposed new domed stadium is finished at the end of the decade, Chicago will also be a great natty city.
I wouldn’t mind it at Soldier Field. They won’t of course but it would be fun. I get the desire to have it in a dome though and minimize game factors outside of the teams.
“Well, we can certainly expect a close game.”
Wrong.