Playoff to the races

Plenty of storylines for CFP

ATLANTA — While basically every traditional power was either stubbing their toes or struggling with inferior opponents, Georgia was obliterating almost everyone in its path.

Tennessee was a contender until the Bulldogs overwhelmed the Vols. LSU ended Alabama’s playoff hopes, and was trounced by Coach Kirby Smart’s juggernaut in the SEC Championship game. Georgia began its season by obliterating Oregon by 46 points.

In a season of upheaval, undefeated Georgia was a constant — the defending national champion who might be even more complete than it was a season ago. It enters the Peach Bowl the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff having allowed the second-fewest points in the country (12.8) and scoring the 11th-most (38.7). It had one game decided by a single possession, an ugly four-point win over SEC also-ran Missouri. Otherwise, the Bulldogs outscored the opposition by an astounding 483-144, and are heavy favorites to become the first repeat champion since Alabama in 2011-12.

It is the major question of the playoff: Can anyone give Georgia, riding a 15-game winning streak, a game? Tennessee couldn’t. LSU couldn’t. Oregon couldn’t. Ohio State, the talented but incomplete fourth seed, will get the first crack on New Year’s Eve at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

As the semifinals near, The Post takes a look at some of the other storylines of the two games:

Buck’ the trend

After 13 games, it’s still hard to know what Ohio State is. Even in its lone loss, the lopsided 45-23 home defeat to Michigan, the Buckeyes seemed like the better team for large stretches. Their defense just gave up too many big plays — five touchdowns of 45 yards or longer. They overwhelmed 10win Penn State on the road and outplayed Notre Dame back on Sept. 3. But Ohio State was also unexceptional for so much of the season, playing down to the competition.

It is playing with house money, as a 6.5-point underdog against Georgia in the Bulldogs’ backyard. Ohio State wasn’t even supposed to reach the playoff after losing to Michigan on Thanksgiving weekend, but USC’s loss to Utah in the Pac-12 title game let the Buckeyes in the back door. Now they will have to play the best 60 minutes of their season against the best team they have faced all year.

Benn’ there, done that

Stetson Bennett is already a legend in Athens, Ga., the one-time walk-on quarterback who led Georgia to its first title since 1980. He made everyone forget about the one-year mismanagement of Justin Fields. Two more wins, and Bennett would be an immortal, the rare quarterback to win two national championships as a starter.

A year ago at this time, there were legitimate concerns whether the native Georgian was good enough, before the 25-yearold signal-caller threw for five touchdowns and 537 yards in last season’s playoff. This fall he was even better, finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Skim Jim

Jim Harbaugh has brought Michigan back to national relevance, leading the Wolverines to consecutive playoff berths. Now, could he head back to the NFL? The rumors are already swirling that teams will have interest in him. There are vacancies in Denver, Indianapolis (where he played) and Carolina, and the NFL Network recently reported that teams are doing their homework on him.

Horns up

TCU wasn’t just unranked in the preseason Associated Press poll. It didn’t receive a single vote. It was picked to finish seventh in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs weren’t supposed to get anywhere close to the playoff, and even after a stunning season that saw them win their league title, the experts don’t expect much out of TCU. It is a 7.5-point underdog to Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl.

Coach Sonny Dykes’ team is considered the worst of the four programs, with five wins by a single score and a number of miraculous comebacks. It is a whopping 18/1 to win it all. Clearly, nobody believes in Cinderella. Then again, TCU didn’t have any believers in August, either.