After having what appeared like an off year for them, Alabama has bounced back enough this season to be once again contending for a National Championship. Just like last year though, this game will not be a “gimme” as Georgia will be bringing one of the most exciting running attacks in the country, featuring the duo of seniors, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.
The good news for Crimson Tide Head Coach, Nick Saban, is that his team is going against a Georgia Bulldogs squad led by a former assistant of his, Head Coach, Kirby Smart. Coach Saban just so happens to be 11-0 in games played against his former understudies.
It’s obvious in dissecting this matchup that Coach Smart has built this Bulldogs team in the image of the Tide and that both teams will come out with an extremely similar plan of attack and will also employ a very similar method of executing it. Both teams will run the ball with explosive backs. While the Bulldogs will put the focus on their two stars and Bama will dig into a much deeper but less prolific arsenal, including young quarterback, Jalen Hurts, both teams will find a way to let their ground game set the pace.
Defense Wins Championships
On defense, the Bulldogs will be focused on stopping Hurts from running and making him try to win this game with his arm. Alabama will be stacking the box and doing everything they can to shut down Georgia’s rushing attack and it’s two headed monster but it also can’t forget about quarterback Jake Fromm.
Fromm, a true freshman, came into the season as Georgia’s back up quarterback but took over in week 1 when starter Jacob Eason went down with a knee injury. Since then, he has claimed ownership of the position and has lead the Bulldogs fearlessly the rest of the way. He is clearly the better passer in this game and could be the deciding factor if this game becomes deadlocked in a defensive battle.
The Bulldogs do have some form of an advantage by playing the game in their home state. They should have an edge as far as fans go and it could help with execution when the game reaches its crucial moments. However, it’s hard to compete with a team that is built with such a solid foundation.
In spite of its struggles at points during the season, it is obvious that Alabama is the better team, with the better coach and more experiences in this type of situation. This team has been built from the interior out and even though they may be outclassed in some of the skilled positions, they are definitely prepared to bring their best in any matchup. These facts have most experts picking Bama to win its second title in three consecutive tries, when the two teams meet on Monday night. However, no one will be truly surprised if the Bulldogs were to pull this one out either.
Both programs have shown the fortitude to outlast a long tough season and have come into this game with momentum and desire. It should be a game for the centuries and one that definitely doesn’t disappoint.