The Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs are set to meet on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta for yet another SEC title game clash and the second meeting of the season between the two powerhouses.
Of course, the Tide went into Athens for the first time in a decade early this season and were able to handle the Dawgs, bringing Kirby Smart’s record against Alabama to an unsightly 1-7 ahead of yet another showdown.
Both teams are a whole lot different than they were at the start of the year though, and the reality is the Tide winning the first time — or any of the prior history for that matter — does not really make much of a difference in what the final result will be.
The stakes are clear, and though they are not nearly as high as the last Alabama vs. Georgia SEC Championship two years ago, there is still a whole lot on the line.
Two years ago, Jalen Milroe’s Tide defeated Carson Beck’s Bulldogs to knock an undefeated Georgia out of the College Football Playoff and instead put Alabama in to face Michigan in the Rose Bowl during what would be the final game of Nick Saban’s career.
Barring a blowout Alabama loss though, the expanded playoff now makes the actual stakes here more than likely the two teams battling for seeding and a first round bye in the field, a bye each team desperately needs given the litany of injuries each is dealing with.
The Tide are likely going to be missing key offensive pieces including starting running back Jam Miller and breakout star tight end Josh Cuevas, not to mention the imposing presence of LT Overton on the defensive line.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will be missing star center Drew Bobo along with running back Bo Walker with several other players questionable as well.
The reality around this time of the season is that everyone is beaten up and dealing with injuries, however both Alabama and Georgia in particular limp into this game particularly hobbled and each could use the extra time off that a first round bye would bring.
As for who will be on the field, Alabama’s offense has been really missing a gear down the stretch as Ty Simpson has cooled off from his torrid middle of the season stretch. Georgia’s defense and pass rush in particular has seemingly gotten better since the last matchup as well, and needless to say will be hungry to finally slay the Crimson colored dragon.
For as much of a challenge as going into Athens was this year, this may be the biggest challenge yet of Kalen DeBoer’s tenure at Alabama.
If his team can pass it, DeBoer will have an 11 win season and his first-ever SEC title. If not, Sunday’s final selection gets a bit interesting, and even in a best case it will be a road playoff game in two weeks against a quality opponent.
It should be another absolutely epic chapter in the legendary rivalry book these two programs have written over the last couple of decades.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
