There are only a handful of undefeated teams in the top 25, with Cincinnati being one of them. A perfect 9-0, the Bearcats reached as high as 6th in the AP Polls.
Now, with the Peach Bowl in their sights, the Bearcats look to end their season without a loss for the first time in program history.
However, one of the top SEC teams may have something to say to Cincinnati. The Georgia Bulldogs aren’t as menacing as seasons’ past but are still a threat in the NCAA.
Georgia enters the Peach Bowl with a record of 7-2. Their two losses are nothing to scoff at, as they were defeated by Alabama and Florida.
If you have followed either team this season, you’ll be aware of their defensive prowess. The Bearcats and Bulldogs were tremendous in keeping teams out of their respective endzones.
The Bearcats are ranked 9th in average score against, while the Bulldogs are ranked 20th. It’s no secret this should be a defensive battle between top teams.
With that being said, I think this is going to be a high-scoring affair.
I’ll focus on the Bearcats first since they employ one of the best defenses in the nation.
Over the past two games, the Bearcats have allowed 57 points, which equates to 28.5 points against per game.
In those games, the Bearcats squared up against UCF, who owns the 8th ranked offense in the NCAA, and Tulsa, who has the 73rd ranked offense in the NCAA. I think teams are starting to figure out the Bearcats’ defensive schemes, making it easier to score touchdowns.
Georgia’s offense has found its groove over the past two games. Dropping 45 points against South Carolina and 49 against Missouri, the Bulldogs have been in tremendous offensive form.
The Bulldogs have also been in high scoring games against Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Florida. The over has cashed in 6 of Georgia’s last 7 games as well.
Swinging back to Cincinnati, the over has cashed in 4 of their last 5 games. There seems to be an offensive upswing for both teams, which entices me to hit the over for this game.
I think Georgia has the chance to walk away Peach Bowl champs as well. While they have a 7-2 record, the Bulldogs faced far superior opponents. I would have liked to see the Bearcats’ record against teams in the SEC, compared to teams in the AAC.
When tested against ranked opponents, the Bearcats have won but it wasn’t a walk in the park, especially against Tulsa.
I think Georgia’s preparation for the SEC gives them a huge advantage. Don’t get me wrong, Cincinnati faced some decent opponents, but it’s hard to compare Cincinnati preparing for SMU like Georgia would prepare for Alabama.
Georgia had one of the toughest schedules in the NCAA, while Cincinnati’s schedule was average at best. Sports betting sites are siding with the Bulldogs as well. Georgia is the favorite entering this game, listed at -265 (10Bet).
I’ll give credit to Cincinnati. I think they should put up a fight against Georgia, but I can’t see them winning straight up.
With the Bulldogs firing on all cylinders, and both teams making huge strides on offense, I think we could see the over cash as well as the Bulldogs win on the Money Line.
