Third-ranked Georgia is a significant betting favorite against No. 2 Michigan in Friday night’s College Football Playoff semifinal game. The odds suggest that the Bulldogs are likely headed for the national championship game, but don’t be surprised if the Wolverines end up pulling off the upset.

Georgia is favored by 7.5 points at most sportsbooks because of its dominant 2021 regular season. Prior to their 41-24 defeat at the hands of No. 1 Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, the Bulldogs had established themselves as the best team in the country.

On the way to a 12-0 record, Georgia recorded three shutouts and 10 wins by 24 points or more. The Bulldogs beat their opponents by an average score of 41-7, allowing just 230.4 yards per game.

Then Alabama came along and blew out Georgia, moving the ball with ease against the nation’s top defense. The Bulldogs were held to just 3.6 yards per rush, and quarterback Stetson Bennett threw a pair of interceptions.

Michigan doesn’t have the same offensive firepower as Alabama. The Wolverines, however, present a tougher challenge than anyone Georgia faced before its conference title disaster.

Georgia is fifth in the nation with 41 sacks. Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara has only been sacked seven times this season.

With 223.8 rushing yards per game, Michigan ranks second among Power Five schools. Hassan Haskins leads the Wolverines with 1,288 yards on the ground. Blake Corum, who has rushed for 939 yards on 6.7 yards per attempt, was limited by an ankle injury in the last month of the season but appears to be healthy in time for the playoff game.

Michigan’s only loss is a 37-33 defeat against Michigan State, which started the season with eight straight wins. The Wolverines blew a 30-14, second-half lead in that contest.

Michigan won its next five games, including an impressive 42-27 victory over then-No. 2 Ohio State and a 42-3 drubbing of Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Wolverines averaged 47.8 points in their last three games.

Jim Harbaugh’s team ranks 12th in total defense and fourth in scoring defense in the FBS. Georgia is second and first in the respective defensive categories.

Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson became a Heisman Trophy finalist because of his 14 sacks and 58 total tackles and could be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean has a team-high five sacks and two interceptions. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis is considered Georgia’s most important defensive player.

Unlike the first CFP semifinal game between Alabama and Cincinnati, the Orange Bowl is not easy to predict. Michigan is good enough on both sides of the football to cover the 7.5-point spread and potentially find a way to win outright.

Prediction: Michigan over Georgia, 24-20

Jim Harbaugh Michigan
Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines watches the action during a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 18, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. Stacy Revere/Getty Images
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