"Championship weekend revealed each team's identity -- brutally, honestly, cleanly and without room for imagination. We saw ... confirmation. The teams that won their matchups won because of the identity they've had all season, sustained under pressure. If we look ahead to the College Football Playoff, the blueprint from the weekend tells us what we need to know. Here's what actually mattered, why it works and how to think about it from a betting perspective."
"The Bulldogs beat Alabama Crimson Tide with suffocation. Alabama finished with -3 rushing yards, converted 3 of 14 third downs and never dictated a single possession. The SEC Championship was a mismatch in physical identity. Georgia QB Gunner Stockton simply needed stability. Georgia's front dictated the terms, and Bama's one-dimensional offense finally hit the wall I've been screaming about all season, what the metrics have been hinting at since September."
Championship weekend revealed team identities and showed that winners sustained season-long qualities under pressure. Georgia dominated Alabama by controlling the line of scrimmage, holding Alabama to -3 rushing yards, converting 3 of 14 third downs and denying possession control. Georgia's front dictated tempo while Gunner Stockton provided necessary stability. Teams that can win early downs and suppress opponent rushing efficiency are structurally built for College Football Playoff success. Betting angles favor Georgia-related unders: team total unders, opponent rushing unders and live unders when Georgia controls tempo. Alabama reached the playoff but offensive limitations cap its scoring ceiling despite a strong defense.
Read at ESPN.com
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