Georgia versus Alabama. In less than a week, college football fans will get a rematch of the SEC championship and the 2018 national championship game. Georgia had an undefeated regular season only to be blown out in the SEC Championship by an Alabama team that everyone thought was having a down year. Alabama got shocked by Texas A&M in the regular season but showed up when it mattered and made it into the playoffs by beating the top ranked defense in the country in the SEC Championship game.
Kirby Smart has never been able to beat Saban, but maybe this is the year. Maybe the SEC Championship was a blip. A result of a flu that tore through the starters and left much to be desired on the field. Maybe.
It will come down to a former walk on quarterback who has proven to be the best quarterback to lead Georgia to the promise land versus a Heisman winner who has led Bama to a spot in the national championship game despite a "down year". Let's face it, Alabama doesn't have down years. They have less than spectacular years which ultimately still leads to a national championship.
So the question remains, who will win? Georgia is a 3 point favorite to win but that doesn't necessarily mean anything considering they were favored to win the SEC Championship in which they lost 41-24. Do I believe that Georgia will win? It's yet to be decided but what I do know is that it will not look remotely like it did on December 4th. Georgia looked like Georgia again against 2nd ranked Michigan in the CFP. They were back to a stifling defense that allowed an average of 6 points a game all season and their offense looked poised and full of talent.
Alabama's defense has left much to be desired as far as their former defenses go, but that doesn't mean they aren't talented. Will Anderson led the nation in tackles for loss and will seek to do much of the same on Monday night with a particular focus on getting Stetson Bennett on the turf. The Tide made quick work of Cincinnati, the first Group of Five team to make it into the CFP, winning 27-6. They were dominant from the beginning and will try to find the same level of control in Indy on Monday night.
It will be hard to do with Georgia and Jordan Davis looking to forget what happened in December and remind everyone who dominated all year long. Nakobe Dean and the rest of Georgia's front seven are considered by most to be the best defensive unit ever. Stetson Bennett has proven to be worthy of leading this offense with help from Pickens, Bowers, Cook, White and more. The Georgia secondary is the only real weakness on this team and will have to play the games of their life to take the title.
Brian Robinson had over 200 yards rushing in the first playoff game but don't expect to see him do that against this front seven. If Alabama is going to win, it's all in Bryce Young's hands. They will have to continue to be explosive downfield in order to keep their offense from being stifled as Georgia's defense has every reason to be pissed off. This won't be another 20 point blow out, of that I am sure.
Now will Georgia be able to turn a 20 point blowout into a National Championship victory?? Only Monday night can tell. Can Alabama win back to back titles? Ok, lets be honest it's Saban, they can do anything they want BUT if Georgia plays like Georgia, they have a good chance to pull off the upset. Is 2022 the next 1980? Either way, it better be a good game.
Comments