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Georgia

Long awaited Georgia-Ohio State game week is finally here

Palmber-Thombsby: Palmer Thombs12/26/22palmerthombs
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Georgia head coach Kirby Smart pulls quarterback Stetson Bennett IV aside after winning the SEC Championship against LSU. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

ATLANTA — Peach Bowl week is officially here, and it feels like its been forever since we were in a Georgia game week. While the matchup between the top-ranked Bulldogs and No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes was announced only three weeks ago, the clash of college football powers has been awaited longer than that by these two fanbases.

“I mean it’s a premier matchup. I know the Peach Bowl and Gary Stokan and his staff are fired up to have this matchup. When it came out you knew it would be a really hot ticket because their fans have been waiting on this, our fans have been waiting on this opportunity,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said late last week during a Friday morning radio appearance on Atlanta’s 92.9 The Game. “It really probably wouldn’t matter who we were matched up with in this game, it was going to be a big game because of the Playoffs. The fact is two national powers make it that much bigger. Both of us recruit on a national stage. It’s really what College Football is all about and really what the CFP was created to have, these two matchups and another for the winners.”

Since the two teams were scheduled to meet in a non-conference home-and-home matchup that would have pitted them against each other in 2020 and 2021 but had to cancel back in 2012, Georgia and Ohio State have only played just once before. That matchup also came during bowl season, but come Saturday’s kickoff, it’ll be just one day shy of 30 years since the Bulldogs and Buckeyes last met.

Heisman Trophy finalist Garrison Hearst ran for 163 yards to lead Georgia on the ground. He had two touchdowns and was named MVP of the 21-14 Bulldog win. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s Robert Smith also ran for over 100 yards in a game that was decided on a late score after an Ohio State turnover with less than 8 minutes left.

Saturday’s clash is once again expected to be one to remember. The oddsmakers in Vegas have Georgia as a 6.5-point favorite coming into game week as the Bulldogs once again bring to the table a Heisman Trophy finalist, this time in Stetson Bennett. Ohio State isn’t any slouch though with CJ Stroud at quarterback, who accompanied Bennett in New York and finished one spot higher than him in voting. Both teams have their fair share of talent all over the field making this one well worth the 30-year wait.

Kickoff time for Saturday’s game is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN as the second half of a College Football Playoff semifinal doubleheader. No. 2 Michigan takes on No. 3 TCU in the Fiesta Bowl with a spot in the January 9th National Championship Game on the line against the winner of the Peach Bowl.

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