Georgia vs. Notre Dame Sugar Bowl score prediction: Insider's CFP Round 2 preview feat. Riley Leonard, Malaki Starks, Mykel Williams and more

The second half of the college football quarterfinals offers the most compelling games. The winner of the last game could well end up in the title contest on January 20th.

Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Notre Dame preview

Georgia received a first-round bye after beating Texas in the SEC title game, but it was a costly victory. Notre Dame thumped Indiana last week and moves into the quarterfinals feeling emboldened.

Quarterback Carson Beck struggled throughout the season and often put his team in a hole early in games, yet more often than not he helped Georgia rebound to victory. He went down with an elbow injury during the SEC title game, and he has since been ruled out for the rest of the College Football Playoff.

Carson Beck - Source: Imagn

I was told early on that the injury is serious and it will be a while before Beck, who had surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament on his throwing arm, is throwing the ball.

Despite playing just three games in 2021 and potentially being eligible for another college season, Beck has decided to enter the draft. Considering his poor play this season plus the injury, it was a surprising decision.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard played well against Indiana, but Georgia puts an NFL defense on the field, and he’ll have to step up his game. Leonard showed a lot of improvement in the second half of the season and started to turn from an athlete throwing the ball to a passer.

Riley Leonard - Source: Imagn

Yet with first-round pass rushers Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams breathing down his neck and defensive back Malaki Starks, another early selection at the top of the draft, looking to pick off his passes, this will be a game unlike any other Leonard has experienced.

The Irish ran the ball well against Indiana, which gave Leonard some comfort, but the offensive line may be hard-pressed to stop the Georgia defensive line, which goes six deep.

Flip that around, and the Georgia offensive line, which struggled all season, has a decided advantage over the Notre Dame defensive line.

Factor in that the Irish lost one of its best players on the line, Rylie Mills, to a knee injury against Indiana, and it could be a long night for Notre Dame. They will have to mix it up and pressure fill-in quarterback Gunner Stockton the way they harassed Kurtis Rourke last week.

Rylie Mills - Source: Imagn

For Notre Dame to stand a chance in this game, Leonard must be near perfect.

The Irish defense must also be opportunistic and dare Stockton to beat them through the air. The latter will be easier than the former, but it won’t be enough.

FINAL: Georgia 35, Notre Dame 21