Stephen A. Smith on Rose Bowl: ‘Oklahoma blew this game’

January 1, 2018 Pasadena: Georgia defenders D’Andre Walker and Tyler Clark sack Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield during the second half in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game on Monday, January 1, 2018, in Pasadena.    Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

January 1, 2018 Pasadena: Georgia defenders D’Andre Walker and Tyler Clark sack Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield during the second half in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game on Monday, January 1, 2018, in Pasadena. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

With a Heisman winner leading the offense and a 14-point lead at the half, Stephen A. Smith said the Rose Bowl outcome comes down to an Oklahoma collapse.

On ESPN’s “First Take” on Tuesday, Smith argued that when the time came for Oklahoma to shut down Georgia and walk away with the win, they choked.

“I’m sorry, as much props as I want to give to Georiga, and it’s not like they don’t deserve it, but if you have to pick between the two, it comes down to that. Oklahoma blew this game because you were playing for a national championship, you had a 14-point cushion, you had the lead, you had a high powered offense, Georgia seemed ill equipped to stop them then all of a sudden… you couldn’t handle the pressure when it counted most,” Smith said.

After defeating Oklahoma 54-48 in double-overtime, Georgia advances to the College Football Playoff title game on Monday at 8 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.