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I don't know which team has more to play for. Georgia or Florida State both getting snubbed from the Final Four. Florida State went undefeated but it's offense is down to their third string QB. Georgia will be without all-world TE Brock Bowers, and several AA defensive players. The Seminoles defense will be up to the task to keep their team in the game. Take Florida State plus the points.
With one-way line movement accelerating this week after Noles backup QB (and projected Orange Bowl starter) Tate Rodemaker made a late decision to enter the portal, the oddsmakers are now asking Georgia to win by three TDs to handle this rising impost. After watching FSU's 3rd-stoing QB Brock Glenn struggle (expectedly so) in the ACC title game vs. Louisville, it is hard to imagine the Noles doing much more against another top-flight Kirby Smart Georgia defense. The regret of this game is that the injury to Jordan Travis prevented what could possibly have been a national title game between these two; instead, we're left to wonder if Florida State can even get on the board in Miami. Play Georgia-FSU "Under" (Orange Bowl)
I wouldn’t touch the game line in the “Opt-out Bowl,” but I’m more than willing to attack the total. It would be a minor miracle for Florida State’s offense to even threaten double-digits against this Bulldogs defense, and it’s unlikely that Georgia will want to run it up once the game is in control. The under has hit in four of the last five games for both teams, and those trends should continue.
FSU's offense will be borderline unrecognizable with so many opt-outs as top WR Keon Coleman joined No. 1 RB Trey Benson and No. 1 TE Jaheim Bell today. Georgia surely will see star TE Brock Bowers opt out among others. Simply not sure how the Noles score if the UGA defenders care at all.
Two announcements on the same day shed some light on this projected one-sided matchup. LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, an All-America and Butkus Award finalist last year, became the 18th -- 18th! -- Georgia player to enter the portal since the Bulldogs' loss to Alabama. Further south, FSU DB Jarrion Jones, despite headed into the NFL draft, declared he would play in the Orange Bowl. Brock Glenn, the Seminoles' third-string QB who would be at the controls at Tate Rodemaker remains out, has been shaky, but the long stretch of bowl practices will help immensely. More talent sits on Georgia's side, but it is at least partly offset by the motivational edge for FSU, which is bound and determined to complete an unbeaten season.