After a thrilling four months, we are nearing the end of the college football season.
This season, we were treated to what was likely the best semifinal matchups in CFP history. In the Fiesta Bowl, TCU held onto an 18-point lead to knock off Michigan, 51-45, in a wild one. Meanwhile, Georgia rallied from 14 down to knock off Ohio State, 42-41, in the Peach Bowl.
As a result, TCU and Georgia will play for the National Championship at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles. At +12.5, TCU is the largest underdog in a national title game in the CFP era. Additionally, with two more high-powered offenses facing off, the total set is at 62.5 points.
With plenty of action expected, let’s craft a same-game parlay and end the season with a win.
Parlay Odds: +819 via FanDuel
- Stetson Bennett 250+ Passing Yards (-220)
- Kenny McIntosh 50+ Rushing Yards (-210)
- Kenny McIntosh Over 28.5 Receiving Yards (-114)
- Brock Bowers 50+ Receiving Yards (-240)
- Quentin Johnston 80+ Receiving Yards (-125)
Stetson Bennett 250+ Passing Yards (-220)
It may seem like Stetson Bennett has been at Georgia forever, but the sixth-year senior will play his final college game on Monday night. I'm expecting him to go out with a bang.
Bennett has been excellent this season, throwing for 3,823 yards and 23 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. He ranks seventh nationally in QBR and ninth in passing yards and has thrown for 250 yards in 11 of his 14 games this season.
He has been at his best against ranked opponents, averaging 324.2 passing yards in those matchups.
Last week, Bennett threw for 398 yards against Ohio State. It helped Georgia was trailing, but Bennett lit the Buckeyes up in the first half as well. Ohio State came into the Peach Bowl allowing just 184.4 passing yards per game, but Bennett’s performance upped Ohio State’s average by 16 yards.
Bennett has an even more favorable matchup against TCU. The Horned Frogs rank 93rd in passing yards allowed, giving 243.1 yards through the air per game.
Last week, Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy threw for 343 yards.
I like Bennett’s chances in this matchup, and Kenny McIntosh and Brock Bowers are a couple of reasons why.
Kenny McIntosh 50+ Rushing Yards (-210) & Over 28.5 Receiving Yards (-114)
In last week’s same game parlay, I took McIntosh over 57.5 rushing yards and he nearly got there on one play when he broke off a 52-yard run. He finished with 70 yards on five carries.
It was McIntosh’s seventh game this season with at least 50 rushing yards, and six of those have come in his last seven games.
TCU had some success bottling up Donovan Edwards at times, but he still finished with 119 yards on 23 carries, including a 54-yarder on the first play of the game. Michigan finished with 186 yards rushing.
Like Michigan, Georgia also has a big and physical offensive line. The Bulldogs should find success running against TCU, and McIntosh will benefit.
McIntosh also had a big game as a receiver, catching five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. It was his sixth game with 29 receiving yards or more this season.
McIntosh’s big games as a receiver have also coincided with Bennett’s. McIntosh has recorded at least 50 receiving yards in three of Georgia’s four games against ranked opponents.
McIntosh has hauled in 42 receptions for 505 yards and two touchdowns this season. He's a natural pass-catcher who can turn a screen into a big play or split out wide and run routes at receiver.
He has averaged three receptions for 36 yards per game this season, so an average game would get the job done here.
Brock Bowers 50+ Receiving Yards (-240)
I had Bowers scoring a touchdown last week, and it was the only leg that missed on my parlay. That probably means he scores this week.
Given Bowers’ talent, I don’t have a problem going back to him. However, I'm targeting his receiving yards this time.
Bowers caught four passes for 64 yards last week, increasing his season total to 56 receptions for 790 yards and an average of 56.4 per game. Bowers cleared at least 50 yards in both games this postseason and in seven of his 14 total games this season.
Georgia’s other star tight end, Darnell Washington, suffered a lower leg injury in the first quarter last week and missed the rest of the game. Head coach Kirby Smart said he's hopeful that Washington plays, but as of now, his status is still unclear. If Washington is out, that could mean a few extra targets for Bowers.
TCU gave up five catches for 68 yards to Michigan tight ends Luke Schoonmaker and Colston Loveland last week. It will have similar difficulty stopping Bowers in the National Championship.
Quentin Johnston 80+ Receiving Yards (-125)
Johnston’s line was listed at 70.5 last week, and he only needed one play to clear it. Johnston took a crossing route, made Michigan cornerback DJ Turner miss and raced for a 76-yard touchdown. He finished with five catches for 160 yards on the day.
Meanwhile, Georgia had a hard time defending Ohio State’s No. 1 receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr., who finished with five catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
Georgia also allowed eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown to Emeka Egbuka and five catches for 71 yards to Julian Fleming.
As a result, Johnston’s line is higher this week, but I still expect him to clear it. Johnston has four games with 80 yards, and he cleared 100 in all of them. That includes each of his past two games in which he has 302 receiving yards combined.
Georgia has allowed 300 passing yards in each of its past two games. Monday could be the third straight game, particularly if TCU is playing from behind.
If Max Duggan is forced to throw to come back, he's going to take shots down the field. His first read will be his No. 1 receiver.
Pick: TCU-Georgia Same Game Parlay |
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