Georgia has the pedigree when it comes to the College Football Playoff, and Kirby Smart's experience -- plus the game's location -- should help plenty in this matchup. However, I had zero belief in this team with Carson Beck and have even less with him not playing. Notre Dame rebounded from a rough start to play dominant, unwavering football down the stretch, and Riley Leonard should give the Fighting Irish a huge edge at QB. Plus, Jereiyah Love can match whatever UGA runs at ND and the Irish red zone defense is stout.

A great bowl season came crashing back to earth yesterday when I backed two dogs and neither covered. Silly me. I assume there is a reason that Gunner Stockton has been UGA's backup QB the past two years as he starts today with Carson Beck out injured. The little I know about Stockton is that he can run some but isn't near the passer Beck is. The Irish have been college football's best team since that stunning Week 2 loss to NIU. I tried to consider whether the postponement for some reason benefited either team, and don't really see one. It does seem to me, though, that teams who played in Round 1 have an advantage so far as they have rolled in the quarters.

Arguably the Irish’s most impressive victory came in Week 1 on the road against a sturdy Texas A&M club. So, they have proved they can win against a quality opponent in a difficult environment. The injury loss of Georgia starting QB Carson Beck will make the Georgia offense a bit more one-dimensional, which should also favor Notre Dame. Even so, we saw the short-handed Bulldogs find a way to outlast a more talented Texas club in the SEC title game, and we’re predicting they do so again before a Superdome crowd that will likely grant them a default home-turf advantage on a neutral site.

Gunner Stockton looked good in the second half of the SEC Championship, taking over for Carson Beck. However, he’s still the backup quarterback, limited experience and did have one interception in the end against Texas. The Fighting Irish are a run heavy team while Georgia has struggled to consistently establish the run this season. Maybe it’s the square play, but with a backup quarterback taking over the reins in the biggest game of the season, it’s tough to see where the offense comes from with an edge favoring the Fighting Irish defense.

In a way, I'm surprised this game is being played only a day after such a senseless tragedy in New Orleans. Hopefully the teams can focus after the worst of distractions on Wednesday. Thus far, I'm 7-0 on straight up picks in this year's College Football Playoff though my against the spread / total picks leave a bit to be desired. I like Notre Dame here as I simply don't trust Georgia with a backup quarterback. The Fighting Irish have been a consistent top-3 team since Week 3 of the CFB season and I think they keep it rolling on Thursday. Notre Dame 24, Georgia 21.

The Dogs won a huge game with their back-up, and he brought them new energy. So the Carson Beck injury doesn't bother me. We hopped the Dogs as early dogs on ML, and they know this venue well and this time of year. Experience and coaching matters so much at this point, and there is a reason so few coaches have won the natty. I give the edge to Kirby Smart and his staff to maximize all this time to prepare for a one-game season.