DAWG BONE OFFENSE – BAYLOR
The Dawgs head into the Sugar Bowl looking to create some positive momentum headed towards 2020. It has been a struggle for this offense for a majority of the season and with multiple draft-eligible players considering sitting out the Dawgs could be missing key weapons. However, this is also a tremendous opportunity for young players to shine and for Jake Fromm to remind everyone what he is capable of. Look for an aggressive game plan from Coach James Coley with the Dawgs looking to create multiple explosive plays.
The Baylor offense begins and ends with their quarterback Charlie Brewer. Brewer has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards and also leads the team in rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns. He is not a dynamic athlete, but continuously finds ways to make big plays when called upon. Receivers Denzel Mims and Tyquan Thornton catch everything thrown their way and can take it to the house on any play. The Bears take home the Dawg Bone on offense because they have been more consistent and more explosive throughout 2019.
DAWG BONE DEFENSE – GEORGIA
Baylor has the most improved defense in the country in 2019. Defensive coordinator Phil Snow has transitioned the Bears to a 3-3-5. They are an undersized unit, but they are absolutely loaded with speed and do a great job of tacking in the open field. The most intriguing part of the defense is the fact that they blitz from everywhere while playing soft coverage on the back end looking to create negative plays and force turnovers. Defensive lineman James Lynch is a monster pass rusher with 12.5 sacks on the season.
The Georgia defense arrives in New Orleans with a point to prove. The SEC Championship was their worst performance of the season and is not how this defense wants to be remembered. The Bears play physical at the line of scrimmage, but their offense only goes as far as their speed will take them. In 2019, Baylor has not seen a defense with the team speed Georgia has. Georgia’s ability to rally to the football and set the edge will make life very difficult for Baylor in the run game (making the Bears one dimensional).
DAWG BONE SPECIAL TEAMS – GEORGIA
Rodrigo Blankenship was rightfully awarded the Lou Groza Award after a fantastic career in the Red & Black. Also, since the Notre Dame game, punter Jake Camarda has consistently flipped the field with booming punts. However, the Georgia return game has some question marks with Dominick Blaylock out due to injury. Baylor also boasts a strong kicker, but their punter Isaac Power has been abysmal in 2019.
DAWG BONE COACHING – PUSH
This is a matchup between two of the best young head coaches in college football. Kirby Smart has created a juggernaut in Athens that is on the verge of a national championship breakthrough. Matt Rhule has taken a program that was left in shambles after the Art Briles scandal and quickly rebuilt Baylor into a Big 12 contender. A huge part of this game will be about which coach will be able to motivate their team and have them ready to play from the opening kickoff. Both of these coaches are known as great motivators.
DAWG BONE OVERALL – GEORGIA
This is a huge game for the Baylor program and a very important game for Georgia. The Dawgs need to recapture the upward momentum of the program and make a statement. A victory for Baylor would announce that they are for real and a force to be reckoned with moving forward. Georgia gets the nod here because this team will arrive in New Orleans on a mission and when this team is locked-in they have too much size, speed, and strength for Baylor to overcome.