Georgia football does not play Missouri until 7 p.m. tonight, meaning Bulldog fans have all day to watch Saturday’s best games.
With the Dawgs in prime position, every team ahead of them matters. Sure, if Georgia wins out it’s in the Playoff, but teams ahead of it losing can only help our chances, especially if we really want to look way ahead into Playoff seedings – which we are not entirely ready to do.
With that in mind, here’s a look at today’s games that Georgia fans should care about.
Noon slate:
No. 4 Penn State at No. 17 Minnesota (ABC):
This is one that Georgia fans will want to keep an eye on. If Penn State loses to Minnesota in this battle of 8-0 teams, Georgia will certainly pass them in the rankings as long as we take care of business against a talented Missouri team.
The committee did not appear to show much respect to Minnesota, ranking the undefeated Big-Ten team at No. 17. A Penn State loss would pretty much eliminate it from Playoff discussion.
Vanderbilt at No. 10 Florida (ESPN):
This is more so for a strength of record outlook. Georgia beat the Gators last week, giving it a top-ten win. Notre Dame, Georgia’s other big win, has fallen off and struggled lately, turning that win from a great one into an average one. Now, I would love Florida to lose to Vandy for comical purposes, but it would allow the rest of the country to argue that Georgia has not beaten anybody to this point and is not deserving to be the highest ranked one-loss team.
Next: Later games
3:30 games…
No. 2 LSU at No. 3 Alabama (3:30 CBS):
You don’t really need me to tell you how big this one is for Georgia, assuming the Dawgs don’t choke and find a way to squander its lead in the SEC East.
If Georgia keeps winning and makes it to Atlanta, then whoever wins the LSU/Bama battle today will face the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game.
If Georgia still only has one loss at this point, it will be a play-in game for the Bulldogs in Atlanta.
I think Georgia matches up better with Alabama, and if the Tide lose today (and beat Auburn), they could very well make the Playoff even without getting to play in the SEC Championship, like they did in 2017. And nobody wants to see that again.
No. 19 Wake Forest at Virginia Tech (3:30 ACCN):
You’re probably wondering what this game is doing on here. Good question.
Wake Forest, ranked in the CFP rankings for the first time ever, is sitting at 7-1 and having its best season in a long, long time. If the Demon Deacons can win today, they will ride that momentum and confidence into a big one with Clemson next weekend. Clemson is currently ranked No. 5, one spot ahead of Georgia. If Wake Forest can somehow pull off the upset next weekend, then Georgia will move up as long as it beats Mizzou and Auburn.
7 p.m. games…
Missouri at No. 6 Georgia (7 p.m. ESPN):
How can I not include the Georgia game in a story titled ‘Games Georgia football fans should care about today?’
Dawgs need to win to keep their season alive.
No. 15 Notre Dame at Duke (7:30 p.m. ACCN):
Georgia wants the Irish to win to keep its strength of record strong.
