The final college football game of the calendar year is New Year’s Eve night from the Peach Bowl in Atlanta as No. 4 Ohio State takes on No. 1 Georgia in the second College Football Playoff national semifinal. The Dawgs are 6.5-point favourites on the NCAAF odds.

Peach Bowl Betting Analysis

Friday is the second all-time meeting between Ohio State and Georgia, two of the sport’s true powerhouse programs. On New Year’s Day 1993, Georgia beat Ohio State in the Florida Citrus Bowl from Orlando.

The Buckeyes last faced an SEC team on Jan. 11, 2021, in the national championship game against Alabama and got routed 52-24. Georgia faced Big Ten school Michigan on Dec. 31 last year also in the College Football Playoff semifinals and won easily 34-11.

The winner faces either No. 2 Michigan or No. 3 TCU in the national title game on Jan. 9 from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. We could get a Buckeyes-Wolverines first-ever postseason matchup and rematch from this year’s regular-season finale won by Michigan in Columbus. Despite that, early lookahead lines have OSU -3 for a rematch. Georgia is currently -8 vs. U-M and -15 vs. TCU.

Ohio State Buckeyes (4)

OSU’s playoff chances looked in major trouble following that 45-23 home loss to Michigan on Nov. 26 as the Buckeyes were absolutely gashed on the ground, allowing 252 yards rushing and 530 total. However, the CFP committee only dropped coach Ryan Day’s team from No. 2 to No. 5 in the rankings and when No. 4 USC lost in the Pac-12 title game to Utah, OSU slipped into the final spot and will have played in five of the nine CFP since its inception in 2014. Ohio State won it all that season but not since. The Buckeyes are 1-2 in CFP games under Day.

This may be the last collegiate game for record-setting quarterback CJ Stroud, who was the Heisman Trophy favourite much of this season but finished third. Stroud, who has thrown for 3,340 yards with 37 TDs and just six picks, could be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Two of college football’s true game-breakers, running back TreVeyon Henderson and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, will miss the playoff due to injury. Ohio State is 2-6 ATS in its past eight non-conference games.

Georgia Bulldogs (1)

Georgia looks to be the first repeat national champion in the CFP era and should have a clear-cut fan advantage as it’s UGA’s 11th game all-time at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is 72 miles from the Bulldogs’ campus. They opened this season there with a hugely impressive 49-3 win over Oregon and then beat LSU there 50-30 on Dec. 3 for the SEC title. The Bulldog senior class has established a school record for most career victories with a 47-5 record. It’s UGA’s 26th consecutive bowl appearance, the nation’s longest active streak. UGA is 35-21-3 in bowl games overall.

While the Dawgs can’t really match Ohio State in offensive talent – although Brock Bowers won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end and quarterback Stetson Bennett was a Heisman finalist – they are again spectacular on defence led by tackle Jalen Carter, who could be the first defender chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft. Georgia ranks second nationally in total defence (12.3 ppg) and No. 1 against the rush (77.0 ypg). It is 4-1 ATS in its past five neutral-site games.

Peach Bowl Prediction: Who Will Win Ohio State vs. Georgia?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Buckeyes Team Leaders

OSU

Touchdowns	Miyan Williams 13
Rushing	Miyan Williams 817
Passing	C.J. Stroud 3340
Receiving	Marvin Harrison Jr. 72
Sacks	Michael Hall Jr. 4.5
Interceptions	Tanner McCalister 3

UGA

Touchdowns	Kenny McIntosh 11
Rushing	Kenny McIntosh 709
Passing	Stetson Bennett 3425
Receiving	Brock Bowers 52
Sacks	Jamon Dumas-Johnson 3
Interceptions	Kelee Ringo 2

OSU

Touchdowns	Marvin Harrison Jr. 2
Rushing	Dallan Hayden 43
Passing	C.J. Stroud 348
Receiving	Emeka Egbuka 8
Sacks	Steele Chambers 0.5
Interceptions	Steele Chambers 1

UGA

Touchdowns	Adonai Mitchell 2
Rushing	Kenny McIntosh 120
Passing	Stetson Bennett 702
Receiving	Brock Bowers 11
Sacks	Mykel Williams 2
Interceptions	Javon Bullard 2

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Bulldogs Team Leaders

OSU

Touchdowns	Miyan Williams 13
Rushing	Miyan Williams 817
Passing	C.J. Stroud 3340
Receiving	Marvin Harrison Jr. 72
Sacks	Michael Hall Jr. 4.5
Interceptions	Tanner McCalister 3

UGA

Touchdowns	Kenny McIntosh 11
Rushing	Kenny McIntosh 709
Passing	Stetson Bennett 3425
Receiving	Brock Bowers 52
Sacks	Jamon Dumas-Johnson 3
Interceptions	Kelee Ringo 2

OSU

Touchdowns	Marvin Harrison Jr. 2
Rushing	Dallan Hayden 43
Passing	C.J. Stroud 348
Receiving	Emeka Egbuka 8
Sacks	Steele Chambers 0.5
Interceptions	Steele Chambers 1

UGA

Touchdowns	Adonai Mitchell 2
Rushing	Kenny McIntosh 120
Passing	Stetson Bennett 702
Receiving	Brock Bowers 11
Sacks	Mykel Williams 2
Interceptions	Javon Bullard 2

Injuries

Ohio State

Miyan Williams (RB)

Prob Sat Illness - 29 / 12 / 22

Avery Henry (OL)

out for season Illness - 20 / 12 / 22

TreVeyon Henderson (RB)

out for season Foot - 21 / 11 / 22

Miyan Williams (RB)

Prob Sat Lower Body - 12 / 11 / 22

TreVeyon Henderson (RB)

Prob Sat Foot - 05 / 11 / 22

Miyan Williams (RB)

Prob Sat Arm - 29 / 10 / 22

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR)

out for season Hamstring - 25 / 10 / 22

Lloyd McFarquhar (CB)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 22 / 10 / 22

Miyan Williams (RB)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 08 / 10 / 22

TreVeyon Henderson (RB)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 01 / 10 / 22

Georgia

Darnell Washington (TE)

Ques Mon Ankle - 01 / 01 / 23

Jalen Carter (DL)

Prob Sat Ankle - 29 / 12 / 22

Ladd McConkey (WR)

Ques Sat Knee - 03 / 12 / 22

Arik Gilbert (TE)

Ques Mon Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 22

Adonai Mitchell (WR)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 29 / 10 / 22

Nolan Smith (LB)

out for season Pectoral - 29 / 10 / 22

Dan Jackson (DB)

Out indefinitely Foot - 25 / 10 / 22

Kendall Milton (RB)

Ques Sat Groin - 08 / 10 / 22

Jalen Carter (DL)

Early Nov Knee - 02 / 10 / 22

Javon Bullard (DB)

Ques Sat Poss. Suspension - 26 / 09 / 22

Injuries

Ohio State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Miyan Williams (RB)	Prob Sat	Illness - 29 / 12 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Williams is expected to take the field for the Peach Bowl versus Georgia despite a stomach illness.
Avery Henry (OL)	out for season	Illness - 20 / 12 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Henry has been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
TreVeyon Henderson (RB)	out for season	Foot - 21 / 11 / 22	0-2	2-0	+ -
Henderson will miss the rest of the season after having foot surgery.
Miyan Williams (RB)	Prob Sat	Lower Body - 12 / 11 / 22	1-3	3-1	+ -
Williams sat out the previous two games with a lower-body injury, but it is likely that he will line up for Saturday's battle versus Michigan.
TreVeyon Henderson (RB)	Prob Sat	Foot - 05 / 11 / 22	1-4	4-1	+ -
Henderson has sat out the previous two games with a left foot injury, but it is projected he will take on Maryland on Saturday.
Miyan Williams (RB)	Prob Sat	Arm - 29 / 10 / 22	2-4	5-1	+ -
Williams exited the last game with a right arm injury, but it is expected that he will line up against Northwestern on Saturday.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR)	out for season	Hamstring - 25 / 10 / 22	2-4	5-1	+ -
Smith-Njigba has declared for the NFL draft and will not take on Georgia in the Peach Bowl.
Lloyd McFarquhar (CB)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 22 / 10 / 22	3-4	6-1	+ -
McFarquhar is idle with an unspecified injury, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Miyan Williams (RB)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 08 / 10 / 22	3-4	7-1	+ -
Williams was held out of the last contest with an unknown ailment, but it is likely that he will lace up versus Iowa State on Saturday.
TreVeyon Henderson (RB)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 01 / 10 / 22	4-4	8-1	+ -
Henderson exited the previous game due to an undefined injury, but it is projected that he will face Iowa on Saturday.

Georgia

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Darnell Washington (TE)	Ques Mon	Ankle - 01 / 01 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
Washington is hindered by an ankle injury, leaving his availability for the National Championship versus TCU in question.
Jalen Carter (DL)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 29 / 12 / 22	1-1	2-0	+ -
Carter has an ankle injury, but he is expected to face Ohio State in the Peach Bowl.
Ladd McConkey (WR)	Ques Sat	Knee - 03 / 12 / 22	1-2	3-0	+ -
McConkey is dealing with knee tendinitis, and it is unclear if he will be available for the Peach Bowl against Ohio State.
Arik Gilbert (TE)	Ques Mon	Undisclosed - 19 / 11 / 22	2-3	4-1	+ -
Gilbert is dealing with an unknown ailment, and it is unknown if he will play in the National Championship against TCU.
Adonai Mitchell (WR)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 29 / 10 / 22	4-4	5-3	+ -
Mitchell is out of commission with an ankle injury, and there is no timetable for return.
Nolan Smith (LB)	out for season	Pectoral - 29 / 10 / 22	4-4	5-3	+ -
Smith will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn pectoral muscle.
Dan Jackson (DB)	Out indefinitely	Foot - 25 / 10 / 22	4-4	5-3	+ -
Jackson is in danger of missing the remainder of the season due to foot surgery.
Kendall Milton (RB)	Ques Sat	Groin - 08 / 10 / 22	5-5	6-4	+ -
Milton has missed the past two games due to a groin injury, and it is up in the air if he will play Saturday against Tennessee.
Jalen Carter (DL)	Early Nov	Knee - 02 / 10 / 22	5-5	6-4	+ -
Carter is sidelined with a knee injury, and he will not return until the beginning of November.
Javon Bullard (DB)	Ques Sat	Poss. Suspension - 26 / 09 / 22	5-6	6-4-1	+ -
Bullard is facing a potential suspension for an off-field incident, and it is uncertain if he will be active Saturday against Missouri.