Georgia's Keys to Victory vs TCU

The stage has been set for the national championship game as Georgia and TCU will battle it out in Los Angeles for the college football playoff trophy. The Bulldogs are looking to become the first team in the playoff era to win back-to-back titles while the Horned Frogs are looking to win their first since 1938. Georgia remains as the heavy-point favorite, but as they showed against Michigan, you can't ever count out TCU.

In his first year as head coach, Sonny Dykes has helped lead TCU all the way to the national title game despite the program going 5-7 the year prior. It has been an incredible run for the Horned Frogs as they weren't even ranked inside the top 25 at the start of the season. Georgia on the other hand has kept the ball rolling from their national title run a season ago into this year and is on the cusp of repeating as champions.

So as the Bulldogs seek their second title in as many years, what are some keys for Georgia in this game that will help them accomplish their goal of defeating TCU?

Limit Explosives

The Horned Frogs have been one of the most explosive offenses in college football this season. They rank second in the nation for plays of 40 yards or more and rank first for plays that have gone for 50 yards or more. Quarterback Max Duggan and wide receiver Quenton Johnston are a lethal duo that the Bulldogs will need to keep in check to limit TCU's ability to hit for big plays.

Georgia is typically a team that does a good job of keeping everything in front of them defensively, and that will need to be a major priority during the national championship game. Especially with how talented Duggan is as a runner.

Play Clean Football

One of the many reasons TCU was able to pull off the upset against Michigan in their semifinal game was because of the turnovers they were able to create. The Horned Frogs forced three turnovers throughout the game, and two of them were pick-sixes. They have also forced 22 total turnovers this season which is tied for the 22nd most in the country while also holding the 17th-best turnover margin amongst all teams with a 0.64 season turnover margin.

Georgia has not fared well in regard to winning the turnover battle this season, but limiting mistakes will be a huge factor on Monday. TCU's offense will already be a handful for the Bulldogs, so they can't be gifting them extra possessions.

Maintain Control

Upsets tend to happen when the underdog is able to get some momentum rolling on their side and continue to hang around throughout the football game. Georgia doesn't need to make this game a blowout, but they do need to keep the ball in their court. That plays into the two other keys that have been mentioned. If Georgia is allowing TCU to hit for explosive plays on offense and/or turning the ball over, then those things will allow the Horned Frogs to hang around in this football game and put the Bulldogs in a tough spot.

A lot of Georgia's success this season has come from them being able to consistently piece together long efficient offensive drives that end in points while also imposing their will on defense. If the Bulldogs are able to do that on Monday then they will be in a good position to be claimed as national champions yet again.

Limit Explosives

Play Clean Football

Maintain Control

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