OXFORD, Miss. – Without knowing all the nitty gritty of how the data gets fed into ESPN’s tool to determine the chances a contender will make the 12-team playoff field, Georgia football still isn’t in dire straits after Ole Miss dealt it a second loss of the season Saturday.
The 28-10 takedown of the Bulldogs, No. 2 in the coaches poll and No. 3 in the CFP rankings going into the game, led to the fans storming the field (including a premature celebration with time still on the clock) and tearing down the goalposts.
Even after this message on the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium video board with two minutes to go: PLEASE STAY OFF THE FIELD.
According to ESPN’s playoff predictor, Georgia (7-2, 5-2 SEC) still has a 99% chance of making the playoff now if it can beat Tennessee, UMass and Georgia Tech and doesn’t go to the SEC Championship Game.
The chances drop to 90% percent if the Bulldogs do go to the championship game but lose it.
A second regular-season loss would have felt much different in the four-team playoff era.
“I guess it is a different world, college football the way it’s set up this year,” safety Malaki Starks said. “Teams that can handle that the best will move on and be a team at the end. We just want to be one of those.”
Lose at home to Tennessee, and a 9-3 Georgia would stand just a 38% chance to make the playoff by winning its final two games.
The Athletic’s projection has Georgia as a No. 9 seed traveling to No. 8 Penn State in the first round. It gives Georgia a 69% chance to make the bracket.
Now is the time to ask Georgia fans: How confident do you feel Georgia can beat Tennessee and Georgia Tech after watching the Bulldogs get held to 10 points, tied for the lowest in Kirby Smart’s nine seasons, and 245 yards, the second-lowest behind the 164 against Florida in a 24-10 loss in…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/flaws-aside-georgia-football-still-120136984.html
Author : Athens Banner-Herald
Publish date : 2024-11-10 12:01:36
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