Georgia is picked here and there as a national title contender, sometimes even billed as a victor, but more often than not, the Bulldogs’ season ends in disappointment. The last time Alabama closed as a sportsbook underdog was in the 2009 SEC Championship tilt when they upset the overrated Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators.
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The reality is, Georgia actually had a lot of games like this during the Richt era. No. 6 Notre Dame goes to Clemson packing one of the more unbelievable stats of the week: The Irish have won exactly two games against ranked teams on the road since 2005. Sanford Stadium will be rocking and ready to end Alabama’s party. He already has 20 catches for 306 yards and three touchdowns, more than twice as many receptions as the next guy on the list.
You can bet your blackout they would. “That’s the opportunity here”. Alabama, which saw its quest for a ideal season snuffed in a 43-37 loss to fifth-ranked Ole Miss on September 19, finally has settled on Jake Coker at quarterback to provide much needed stability to the Crimson Tide offense.
In addition to the Hogs, we were on the right side with South Carolina (who won by the exact 31-14 score predicted in the preview, as luck would have it), Syracuse, ULM and Vanderbilt, but missed badly with Auburn, Tennessee, and Missouri, who all lost straight up. The last two games between the Tide and the Dawgs were completely different but had the same result: a Tide victory.
Will Bama’s dynasty continue or will Georgia come away with the big W?
The Bulldogs will challenge Alabama for on-field supremacy through “old man” football. Quarterback Greyson Lambert has thrown for 733 yards in four games, just 183 yards per game, placing him in the middle of the pack for SEC teams.
They are viewed as nothing more than caretakers, a pair of quarterbacks who mainly need to get their teams in the right play, avoid big mistakes, and let all those talented players around them shine.
“I’ve talked to Dillon, I know he’s been there and he’s been talking about it a little bit – nothing insane but he’s excited about it”, Alabama senior receiver Richard Mullaney said. Whoever wins, it’s not going to be a blowout. “We had a good practice, and now we’ll review the film and see what we like and what we don’t and start narrowing it down with our preparation”.
The matchups certainly suggest a tight contest.
Georgia’s running game vs. Alabama’s defensive front. The Tide are fourth nationally in rush defense, allowing just 56.75 yards per game. Not only do the Bulldogs counter with the SEC’s second-best rushing offense (257.8 ypg), but Chubb has a chance run down history in this game.
There is no doubt that Tennessee coach Butch Jones has become the league’s worst game manager, even eclipsing a certain LSU coach. And last year’s defense didn’t exactly hold up well against the better offenses of the SEC. “We’re very happy to make the trip”. “If he gets it, he gets it. If he don’t, he don’t”. He was accused of another domestic incident at Alabama and dismissed shortly thereafter.
Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs past the Georgia bench on his way to a touchdown against the Southern University Jaguars during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Do you think Kliff Kingsbury’s team can finish the job and beat Baylor today?
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The Bulldogs haven’t returned to the SEC title game since but a victory on Saturday would strengthen the perception they’re headed in that direction. Chubb is going for his 13th consecutive 100-yard game, which would tie Herschel Walker’s school record. The Aggies’ defense, though improved, has only three interceptions this season, which doesn’t bode well for breaking Prescott’s nation-best streak of 191 passes in a row without a pick.
