College Football Preview: #3 Georgia vs. #2 Alabama
A rematch of last season's SEC Championship with a lot on the line.
It’s labeled as a legitimate rivalry within the Southeastern Conference and while it does not have a legendary rivalry name, the series between Alabama and Georgia in recent years has gained plenty of merit. Every since head coach Kirby Smart landed on the sidelines of #3 Georgia (3-0, 3-0 in SEC) in 2016, the program has gradually narrowed the gap on what has been the premier program in the SEC since the Nick Saban era began in 2007.
Speaking of Saban, thanks to the ongoing crisis in this country that is COVID-19, #2 Alabama (3-0, 3-0) will be without their well-decorated coach due to Saban testing positive for the disease. While Saban is quarantined and away from the team temporarily, the program will look to offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian to run the show. The matchup will still have plenty of importance as the winner here is possibly the odds on favorite to win the entire SEC at season’s end. Let’s preview the matchup.
Network: CBS
Time: Saturday, October 17th, 8:00 PM EST
Georgia Analysis
The Stetson Bennett (689 yards, five TDs, 0 INTs) experiment in Athens has gone quite well after just two and a half games. So far, the junior quarterback has helped the Bulldogs avoid an upset in the season opener, outplayed one of the top dual threats in the country, and helped steady the ship once again to overcome another upset minded SEC opponent. Bennett is not flashy and will probably never be a Heisman hopeful but to be quite candid about it all, the Bulldogs don’t need him to be. Things are considerably easier for Bennett when he has a running game that averages 172.0 rushing yards per game to compliment him. Sophomore running back Zamir White is the lead back and leads the team with 209 yards and four touchdowns on the season. But the Bulldogs can legitimately go four deep at the running back position and is able to wear down a lot of defenses.
Receiver George Pickens (eight catches, 87 yards, two TDs) is top receiver for the Bulldogs because of his size, speed and special skill set but if you’ve watched enough Georgia games this season, you will notice that Kearis Jackson (19/300/1) has taken his play to the next level and has quietly been one of the best playmakers in the conference this season.
Smart’s calling card is his defensive excellence and in his back pocket is one of the best defensive units in all of college football. The unit so far is second in all of FBS in total defense and fifth in scoring defense. They are fresh off a performance against #18 Tennessee in which they dominated a very talented Volunteers offensive line and held their offense to just 214 total yards and recorded five sacks and three turnovers. Safety Richard LeCounte III (eight tackles, 2 INTs) keeps things in order for the defense while linebacker Azeez Ojulari is (12 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles) is on his way to an All-SEC campaign.
Alabama Analysis
There may not actually be one weakness on the Alabama offense. For starters, they’re tops in all of college football in scoring (51.0 ppg). Plus they have the leading rusher in the SEC (Najee Harris, 347 yards, 10 TDs), a QB who is third in the SEC in passing yards (Mac Jones, 1,101 yards, 8 TDs, 1 INT), and a pair of receivers who are third and fifth in the SEC in receiving yards respectively (Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith). If that does not do much for you, their third best receiver, John Metchie, averages 27.1 yards per reception with a couple of touchdowns under his belt.
The defensive side of the ball has been ‘ok’ at best this season. It’s hard to overlook their play last week against Ole Miss. A 63-48 shootout that Alabama won but saw the defense allow 647 yards, six touchdowns, and 31 first downs. There are definitely stars in certain spots on the defense, preferably linebacker Dylan Moses (23 tackles, three tackles for loss), and corner Patrick Surtain II (eight tackles, one pass deflection). But there are a number of questions that still remain on a unit that is still trying to catch their footing with a number of new starters.
Prediction
There is a legitimate chance that not having the appearance of Saban on the sidelines can play a significant role in Alabama’s performance in this one. It is for sure going be a quieter atmosphere at Bryant-Denny Stadium with roughly 20,000 fans expected in attendance.
But regardless of opponent, Alabama is always a well-coached team that requires a complete game from beginning to end to defeat. So not having Saban around may not be as detrimental as some believe. With offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian already calling the shots on offense, if that side of the ball is playing to their potential, Georgia will have their hands full.
Georgia’s methodical approach on offense can control the clock and physically wear down Alabama’s defense. It’s odd to say but that may play into the hands of Alabama. Because their defense has shown enough struggles against uptempo offenses to be considered a liability at times against that scheme. Ball control will be one thing for Georgia but so is completing drives and scoring touchdowns, not field goals.
Georgia’s secondary is really good but they have not been tested the way Alabama will do so. If Alabama is able to establish the tone on offense, it will force Georgia out of their comfort zone a bit. This is a tough game to call and usually games such as this come down to one critical mistake or two. Alabama has beaten Georgia in each of the last five meetings dating back to 2008. Some teams just clearly know how to beat the other.
***UPDATE, October 17th, 12:21 PM EST: Alabama head coach Nick Saban has been cleared to coach after three consecutive negative tests for COVID-19***