Who plays in the Orange Bowl this year? Teams, dates, schedule of CFP semi-finals 2021

The semi-finals of the College Football League have been set, and perhaps the more exciting matchup of the two will take place at the Orange Bowl.

Michigan and Georgia entered a rocky season looking to break through to take the show’s first national title since 1997 and 1980. Both teams were unsuccessful in that final stretch, though they did. face each other in completely different ways.

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The Bulldogs have enjoyed considerable success against their corn and green counterparts, winning the recent SEC championship in 2017 and becoming the conference title game in 2018 and 2021. It won 6-2 in the last six games of the new year (including what is now known as the Peach Bowl in 2006) since 2000. The Bulldogs have also been on the national championship game stage, losing to Alabama No. 4 in heartbreaking 2018 CFP championship game.

Would Bulldogs fans prefer that heartbreak to the scarcity of big games under Michigan in recent years? The Wolverines won their first Big Ten title this season since being named co-champions in 2004 alongside Iowa. They beat their biggest rival of the season, Ohio State, for the first time since 2011. It was also the last time Michigan won the new year, when they beat Virginia Tech in the 2012 Sugar Bowl by 23- 20. Their last New Year’s win before that? Win 35-34 in extra time against Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl.

Needless to say, these teams will have no shortage of motivation to head into this Orange Bowl game. Here’s how you can watch these acclaimed shows deal with their frustrations with each other:

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When is the Orange Bowl 2021?

• Day: December 31
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV broadcast: ESPN
• Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)

The 2021 Orange Bowl, one of two College Soccer semifinals this season, will begin on Friday, December 31 (exact time is yet to be determined). This year’s Orange Bowl winner will advance to the national championship game, where it will face off against the Cotton Bowl winner between No.1 Alabama and No.4 Cincinnati. The national championship match will take place at 8:00 p.m. Monday, January 10.

Who plays in the Orange Bowl 2021?

Orange Bowl 2021 will have 2 Michigan seeds (12-1) and 3 Georgia seeds (12-1). The Wolverines earned the right to play in the Orange Bowl after beating No. 2 Ohio State in Week 13 and No. 13 Iowa in championship week, respectively. The Bulldogs lost their SEC championship match with then-No. 3 Alabama, becoming the first team in the playoff era to lose the final weekend and remain in the top four. Their season-long dominance helped them qualify for the playoffs, despite that defeat.

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Things to know about Michigan and Georgia

Defense superiority

Two of college football’s best defenses will go head-to-head at Hard Rock Stadium on December 31. Georgia has been hailed as a unit generation all year, but the Wolverines are certainly not sloppy. shot. Here are their stats for both the season and the national standings after the championship weekend:

Play similar midfield

In addition to their superior defense, Michigan and Georgia also have similar midfield play to Cade McNamara and Stetson Bennett, respectively. No player has lit up opposition defenses in 2021, but most have been efficient and careful when passing the ball to the receiver. Bennett had a tough match with then-No. 3 Alabama, threw two interceptions. However, if Kirby Smart decides to keep his frontrunner as starter, here’s how he goes up against McNamara:

Fastener

Despite being two of college football’s top shows, Michigan and Georgia have only met twice in their history, not since 1965. Michigan won the first game. in 1957 when the 10th-placed Wolverines beat the underrated Bulldogs 26-0. Georgia returned the favor a few years later, when the No. 10 Bulldogs beat seventh-placed Michigan 15-7. Both matches took place in Ann Arbor, Mich.

So: Who wins the rubber match?

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Orange Bowl Odds

Georgia opens as the favorite 7.5 points over Michigan, according to FanDuel. Over/under is fixed at 43.5 points.

Where will the Orange Bowl be played in 2021?

The Orange Bowl will be held at its usual home stadium, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The stadium first opened in 1987, having hosted the Orange Bowl since the 1996 season. There is no limit to fan attendance this season.

New Year’s 6 bowl match schedule 2021

All six New Year’s Bowl matches this year are televised on ESPN.