3 Georgia players who need to be better vs. TCU to win another natty

Georgia needs a few of its key performers to play better vs. TCU in the national championship.

Although Georgia is an overwhelming favorite to beat TCU and repeat as national champions, the Dawgs did not play up to their lofty standard vs. Ohio State until the fourth quarter.

Talent, resiliency, big-game experience and an elite level of execution down the stretch were all contributing factors in the Dawgs being able to overcome the biggest deficit in College Football Playoff history vs. the Buckeyes. While Ohio State played one of its best games of the season, it was still not enough to upset the Dawgs. As far as TCU is concerned, this team is battle-tested.

Georgia may have a few big advantages over TCU, but these three stars will have to play better…

Georgia: 3 players who will need to step up vs. TCU to win another national title

Brock Bowers needs to emerge as the UGA X-factor that TCU has no answer for

Although he did have his moments down the stretch with four catches for 64 yards, including an impressive effort to move the sticks while falling out of bounds, Brock Bowers needs to play like a Mackey Award winner in the national title bout. No, it is not that he played poorly, but rather that he was absent from making big-time plays throughout much of the game. He is a total X-factor.

See, Bowers is one of those playmakers that TCU probably will not have an answer for. He is too fast and too physical for most defenders to be able to contain throughout an entire ballgame. To be frank, it is not strictly about him putting up jaw-dropping numbers, but being an ever-present threat to do something great to keep the aggressive Horned Frogs defense constantly guessing.

With Adonai Mitchell back out there, but Ladd McConkey still not close to 100 percent, it is even more imperative for Bowers to draw the attention of the TCU defense. Yes, he will have to make a few more plays than he did vs. Ohio State, but he needs to draw coverage away from some of the other targets Stetson Bennett IV could look to throw the ball to. Bowers could end this one early.

The stat lines do not matter, but Bowers must make an immediate impact from opening kickoff.