The College Football Playoff semifinals conclude on New Year’s Eve night in the Orange Bowl from Miami as No. 2 Michigan of the Big Ten faces No. 3 Georgia of the SEC for a spot in the national championship game – probably opposite No. 1 Alabama.

The Bulldogs are 7.5-point favourites to win on the college football odds with a total of 45 points.

Capital One Orange Bowl Betting Analysis

It’s the first time in the College Football Playoff for Michigan – the Wolverines were just 2-4 in last season’s COVID-shortened campaign and Coach Jim Harbaugh’s job was in jeopardy. U-M is the first school to reach the playoff after being unranked in the preseason Associated Press Top 25.

No Big Ten school has won the national title since Ohio State in the first College Football Playoff following the 2014 season. Three times a No. 2 seed like Michigan has won it, last following the 2018 campaign by Clemson. The Wolverines are +577 to win it all.

Georgia is in the playoff for the second time. Following the 2017 regular season, it was the No. 3 seed in the Rose Bowl and beat Oklahoma in a double-overtime thriller. UGA then lost in the title game in an overtime classic to No. 4 Alabama.

SEC schools have won the playoff four times. Here’s something interesting, though: A No. 3 seed like Georgia never has. The Bulldogs are +147 second-favourites to Alabama this time.

Michigan and Georgia have split two all-time meetings but haven’t played since 1965.

Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia (12-1) was the No. 1 team in the nation for the last several weeks of the regular season but lost that when the Dawgs were beaten quite thoroughly 41-24 by Alabama in the SEC title game. That Georgia defence entered allowing fewer than seven points per game and hadn’t allowed more than 17 all year (it still leads the nation by far in allowing 9.5 ppg).

That’s not the biggest worry coming out of that game, though. Quarterback is. Stetson Bennett had a very uneven performance with two picks and Coach Kirby Smart may have a decision to make on going with Bennett in this game or previous starter JT Daniels. Daniels opened the year as the starter but then got hurt and served as backup to Bennett once healthy. Then again, that question may be moot as Daniels and receiver George Pickens are among players who have been placed in COVID protocol. Daniels is vaccinated and in theory could have enough time to recover. Georgia is 5-2 ATS in its past seven non-conference games.

Michigan Wolverines

Jim Harbaugh had yet to beat bitter rival Ohio State as Michigan’s coach and few expected the Wolverines (12-1) to do so on Nov. 27, but they dominated in a 42-27 victory to reach their first-ever Big Ten title game, where Michigan crushed Iowa 42-3. This is an old-school team that wins with a strong running game behind the duo of Hassan Haskins (1,288 yards, 20 TDs) and Blake Corum (939 yards, 11 TDs), more of a game-manager at QB in Cade McNamara (only four picks) and a stellar defence led by end, Heisman Trophy runner-up, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-American and potential 2022 NFL Draft No. 1 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson.

Hutchinson finished with a school-record 14 sacks to go along with 15.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Thanks in large part to Hutchinson, U-M ranks No. 4 in scoring defence (16.1 ppg). As of this writing, Michigan has not reported any COVID issues and the entire team was to get a COVID booster shot Wednesday (Dec. 22). Michigan is 5-0 ATS in its past five overall.

NCAA Football Prediction: Who Will Win Georgia vs. Michigan?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Bulldogs Team Leaders

UGA

Touchdowns	Brock Bowers 12
Rushing	Zamir White 718
Passing	Stetson Bennett 2325
Receiving	Brock Bowers 47
Sacks	Adam Anderson 5.5
Interceptions	Christopher Smith 2

MICH

Touchdowns	Hassan Haskins 20
Rushing	Hassan Haskins 1288
Passing	Cade McNamara 2470
Receiving	Cornelius Johnson 38
Sacks	Aidan Hutchinson 14
Interceptions	DJ Turner 2

UGA

Touchdowns	Brock Bowers 2
Rushing	Zamir White 138
Passing	Stetson Bennett 537
Receiving	Brock Bowers 9
Sacks	Robert Beal Jr. 2
Interceptions	Derion Kendrick 2

MICH

Touchdowns	Andrel Anthony 1
Rushing	Hassan Haskins 39
Passing	J.J. McCarthy 131
Receiving	Erick All 4
Sacks	Erick All 0
Interceptions	Erick All 0

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Wolverines Team Leaders

UGA

Touchdowns	Brock Bowers 12
Rushing	Zamir White 718
Passing	Stetson Bennett 2325
Receiving	Brock Bowers 47
Sacks	Adam Anderson 5.5
Interceptions	Christopher Smith 2

MICH

Touchdowns	Hassan Haskins 20
Rushing	Hassan Haskins 1288
Passing	Cade McNamara 2470
Receiving	Cornelius Johnson 38
Sacks	Aidan Hutchinson 14
Interceptions	DJ Turner 2

UGA

Touchdowns	Brock Bowers 2
Rushing	Zamir White 138
Passing	Stetson Bennett 537
Receiving	Brock Bowers 9
Sacks	Robert Beal Jr. 2
Interceptions	Derion Kendrick 2

MICH

Touchdowns	Andrel Anthony 1
Rushing	Hassan Haskins 39
Passing	J.J. McCarthy 131
Receiving	Erick All 4
Sacks	Erick All 0
Interceptions	Erick All 0

Injuries

Georgia

JT Daniels (QB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 22 / 12 / 21

George Pickens (WR)

Out indefinitely Illness - 22 / 12 / 21

Ladd McConkey (WR)

Prob Fri Undisclosed - 21 / 12 / 21

Kearis Jackson (WR)

Ques Sat Ribs - 27 / 11 / 21

Nolan Smith (LB)

Ques Sat Elbow - 18 / 11 / 21

Arian Smith (WR)

out for season Leg - 11 / 11 / 21

Warren McClendon (OL)

Ques Sat Upper Body - 06 / 11 / 21

Jamaree Salyer (OL)

Ques Sat Foot - 05 / 11 / 21

Adam Anderson (LB)

Out indefinitely Suspension - 03 / 11 / 21

Justin Robinson (WR)

Ques Sat Hamstring - 27 / 10 / 21

Michigan

Daxton Hill (DB)

Ques Fri Personal - 30 / 12 / 21

Blake Corum (RB)

Prob Fri Ankle - 27 / 12 / 21

Andrel Anthony (WR)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 08 / 11 / 21

Blake Corum (RB)

Prob Sat Foot - 07 / 11 / 21

Donovan Edwards (RB)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 30 / 10 / 21

Trevor Keegan (OL)

Ques Sat Shoulder - 23 / 10 / 21

Taylor Upshaw (DE)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 23 / 10 / 21

Roman Wilson (WR)

Prob Sat Wrist - 07 / 10 / 21

Zak Zinter (OL)

Out indefinitely Wrist - 21 / 09 / 21

Ronnie Bell (WR)

out for season Knee - 04 / 09 / 21

Injuries

Georgia

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
JT Daniels (QB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 22 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Daniels has been enter into COVID-19 protocols, and it is unknown when he will return.
George Pickens (WR)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 22 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Pickens has been shuttled to the league's COVID-19 protocols, and it is unclear when he will return to the lineup.
Ladd McConkey (WR)	Prob Fri	Undisclosed - 21 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
McConkey has an injury to an unlisted area, but he is expected to take on Michigan in the Orange Bowl.
Kearis Jackson (WR)	Ques Sat	Ribs - 27 / 11 / 21	2-2	2-2	+ -
Jackson is dealing with a rib injury, and it is undetermined if he will face Alabama in the SEC Championship.
Nolan Smith (LB)	Ques Sat	Elbow - 18 / 11 / 21	3-2	3-2	+ -
Smithsat out the last game with an elbow injury, and it is up in the air if he will play in Saturday's tilt versus Georgia Tech.
Arian Smith (WR)	out for season	Leg - 11 / 11 / 21	3-3	3-3	+ -
Smith will miss the remainder of the season due to a fractured leg.
Warren McClendon (OL)	Ques Sat	Upper Body - 06 / 11 / 21	4-3	3-4	+ -
Mcclendon exited the last tilt due to an upper-body injury, and it is unclear if he will return for the clash against Tennessee on Saturday.
Jamaree Salyer (OL)	Ques Sat	Foot - 05 / 11 / 21	4-3	3-4	+ -
Salyer is managing a foot injury, and it is unknown if he will dress versus Alabama in the SEC championship.
Adam Anderson (LB)	Out indefinitely	Suspension - 03 / 11 / 21	4-3	3-4	+ -
Anderson is serving an indefinite suspension due to an off-field incident.
Justin Robinson (WR)	Ques Sat	Hamstring - 27 / 10 / 21	4-4	3-5	+ -
Robinson has sat out the last four games due to a hamstring injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against Georgia Tech on Saturday.

Michigan

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Daxton Hill (DB)	Ques Fri	Personal - 30 / 12 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Hill is tending to a personal matter, and it is undetermined if he will be available for the Orange Bowl versus Georgia.
Blake Corum (RB)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 27 / 12 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Corum is expected to take on Georgia in the Orange Bowl despite an ankle injury.
Andrel Anthony (WR)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 08 / 11 / 21	5-0	3-2	+ -
Anthony is fighting off an undisclosed injury, leaving his status up in the air to suit up Saturday against Penn State
Blake Corum (RB)	Prob Sat	Foot - 07 / 11 / 21	5-0	3-2	+ -
Corum missed the last two games with a foot injury, but it is likely that he will return Saturday against Ohio State.
Donovan Edwards (RB)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 30 / 10 / 21	6-1	4-3	+ -
Edwards has sat out the last two contests due to an undisclosed issue, and it has yet to be determined if he will be available for Saturday's tilt against Penn State.
Trevor Keegan (OL)	Ques Sat	Shoulder - 23 / 10 / 21	7-1	5-3	+ -
Keegan missed the last game due to a shoulder injury, and it is unknown if he will return to action against Michigan State on Saturday.
Taylor Upshaw (DE)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 23 / 10 / 21	7-1	5-3	+ -
Upshaw missed the last game due to an undefined issue, and it is undetermined if he will return to take on Michigan State on Saturday.
Roman Wilson (WR)	Prob Sat	Wrist - 07 / 10 / 21	8-1	6-3	+ -
Wilson is dealing with a wrist injury, but it is likely that he will take on Northwestern on Saturday.
Zak Zinter (OL)	Out indefinitely	Wrist - 21 / 09 / 21	9-2	7-4	+ -
Zinter is recovering from offseason wrist surgery, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Ronnie Bell (WR)	out for season	Knee - 04 / 09 / 21	-	-	+ -
Bell will miss the remainder of the 2021 season due to a knee injury.