CFP Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl (Friday, Dec. 31)
Georgia Bulldogs over Michigan Wolverines
Once again, we’re dealing with two teams who will finish ahead of Tennessee football in the top 25 regardless of what happens. However, just like the other College Football Playoff game, every other factor favors the Vols rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Like Alabama, Georgia losing this game won’t cost any recruiting edge they have over UT in Kirby Smart. They have too much of a lock on their region, so they’ll continue to secure historically great recruiting classes and dominate with them.
However, the Michigan Wolverines are a recruiting threat if they win. Jim Harbaugh doesn’t have the same infrastructure in the upper Midwest, so he recruits the SEC areas heavily. Beating UGA will give him more credibility when recruiting down there. As a result, Vol fans should want to eliminate Michigan as a recruiting foe more than Georgia.
Then there’s the quality loss factor again. Tennessee football has lost to four New Years Six and two CFP teams. If those CFP teams both win their games, then UT truly looks like a team that navigated a brutal schedule to 7-5 under Josh Heupel. Oh, and then there’s the SEC pride of two teams from there once again playing for the national title.