Scouting the 2020 Sugar Bowl: Baylor Bears vs. Georgia Bulldogs

Once again, the Georgia Bulldogs finds itself as the bridesmaids of the SEC after failing to win the conference title, this time losing out to the LSU Tigers.  Meanwhile, the Baylor Bears lost a pair of disappointing games to the Oklahoma Sooners, including a fatal collapse late in the regular season.  The headline of the 2020 Sugar Bowl is going to be the players who won’t be participating. 

At the time of posting, two of the three top players on my board – Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson – won’t be playing in the Sugar Bowl.  Running back D’Andre Swift will likely join them on the sidelines.  It’s also a distinct possibility this could be the final game for Baylor head coach Matt Rhule, who is being courted by several NFL teams.

With that in mind, the most exciting match-up in this game now turns to Baylor receiver Denzel Mims against the Georgia duo of Richard LeCounte and J.R. Reed. 

Related: Looking for more college football analysis? Be sure to head over to our NFL Draft section, featuring myself and the rest of the PFN Staff.

While I have Mims graded as a 5th/6th round pick, I expect he’ll move a round or two north on the board in the lead up to the draft.  I’m told the big receiver will run much faster than anyone expects during the combine, possibly in the 4.3’s, and his stock will take off. 

J.R. Reed is a hard-hitting safety that knocks the stuffing out of opponents but plays to one speed.  Reed is faster and has much better ball skills but will struggle matching up against Mims physically.