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“College Football Playoffs–Wow-Pow”

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Georgia and Oklahoma had never met, ever, in college football, despite the greatness for decades of programs led by Bud Wilkinson and Vince Dooley and more.

No one will forget the first meeting ever, especially in the Rose Bowl. The Bulldogs won a heart-stopper over the Sooners.

Alabama and Clemson met in a rematch, many hoped would equal last year’s National Championship game., in the other playoff game.

The Sugar Bowl turned sour. The Crimson Tide defense rolled like a tidal wave over the Tigers.

Name it and you saw it in Pasadena.

Baker Mayfield throws for 200-yards in the first half and the Okies jump out to a huge lead. Georgia takes over in the 2nd half with its power run game and big boy defense, and changes everything.

And then 2-overtimes of slugfest football for each before Georgia won it on a wild “Wild-Dog” run play.

The mood swings were everywhere. Mayfield came out throwing to anyone-everyone. The Georgia defense look stun-gunned and could not react, couldn’t cover, couldn’t take it. ..as they fell behind by 17.

Then Georgia went to a 5-man front and called blitz packages, and unleashed its fierce power ball run game, featuring Nick Chubb and Sonny Michel.

When it was over, it was a (54-48) Bulldog win. Chubb and Michel combined for (326Y) rushing, bulldozing their way to victory.

The heroics of OU running back Rod Anderson (201Y) couldn’t save the Sooners, neither could Mayfield-the Heisman Trophy king..

It was a spectacular game, with 4-hours worth of offensive thrills.

The late game was more methodical, more sledgehammer, typical Nick Saban type football. I guess that sells in Tuscaloosa, where the steel industry and football are the topics of conversation.

Alabama turned two deflected passes into 2-touchdowns, scoring 14-points in 13-seconds to take the heart ouf of Clemson. Of the course the Tigers no longer have DeSean Watson-Wayne Gillman nor Mike Williams, all in the NFL, and had no hope of mounting a comeback..

Poor Kelly Bryant, their young quarterback could not handle all the things the Bama defense did. Hits, pressures, sacks, mad scrambles. When they were done, Bryant had (124Y) passing on an 18-for-36 night of beatdown.

The championship game will be a war of attrition. Big boy Georgia offense, run the ball, against the heavy hammer Alabama defense. It will be all Southeast Conference football.

They would have met in the SEC title game, if Bama had not fallen at the hand of cross state enemy Auburn in the Iron Bowl..

But for 8-hours, it was something. What Georgia did in the fireworks filled early game. What Alabama authored all night long.

Wow-Pow, that’s what New Year’s Day football was.

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