Tide’s ultimate challenge: Can the Dawgs be stopped?
The Alabama offense faces a defense far superior to Auburn. Can the Tide get on the right track to spoil the Dawgs party?
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Will Anderson has been getting some deserved Heisman buzz. He’ll have to deliver a Heisman-like performance on Saturday.
November was quite a month for the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. They posted a perfect 4-0 record, disposing of LSU, New Mexico State, Arkansas, and rival Auburn, and outside of the contest against the Aggies, games have been tight, giving the Bama faithful a constant and collective heart attack week after week. The stretch was highlighted by last week’s 4 overtime 24-22 come from behind thriller at Auburn. The Tide sits at 11-1, ranked 3rd in the CFP rankings and Bama seeks to defend their SEC title on Saturday, yet standing in the way are the top-ranked and unbeaten Georgia Bulldogs. Simply put, few are giving the Tide a chance against Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs, and for the first time since 2015, Bama finds itself playing the underdog role. However, Alabama is still Alabama and the Tide will not just “rollover” and allow UGA to take its title without a fight.
Outside of the first 3 and a half quarters against Auburn last week, Bama’s offense has been brilliant all season and will need their best effort against a dominant Dawg defense. Offensively, the Tide ranks 7th nationally gaining an average of 492 yards and 42.2 points per game. Quarterback Bryce Young had his Heisman moment last week when he led a last-minute 97-yard scoring drive against the Tigers that sent the game into overtime, and he will look to direct a more consistent effort on Saturday. The sophomore gunslinger is completing 68% of his passes for a touchdown to interception ratio of 40-4. Senior tailback Brian Robinson Jr. has what is being labeled as a lower-body injury and may not be available for the title game. Taking his place in a suddenly depleted running back room is sophomore Trey Sanders, who has carried the ball only 50 times for a 4.4 average per carry and has 2 touchdowns on the season. Junior receivers Jameson Williams (13 touchdowns, averaging 20.7 yards per catch) and John Metchie III (7 touchdowns, averaging 11.6 yards per catch) have had terrific seasons so far and will need their best game on Saturday as well. Steady junior placekicker Will Reichard has hit on 14 of 18 attempts with a long of 51 yards. The issue offensively has been the inconsistent play of a young line, who looked terrific two weeks ago against Arkansas, yet struggled mightily last week against Auburn, allowing 7 sacks of Young and creating very few holes for the backs to run through. Tide fans are hoping for a Hogs effort over a Tigers effort on Saturday.
Defensively, the Tide played its best game last week against Auburn and will need a similar effort against the Dawgs. Superstar sophomore Will Anderson (14.5 sacks on the season) leads a unit that, similar to the offensive line, has been plagued by inconsistency. The unit ranks 7th nationally, giving up 294 yards and 19.9 points per game. The secondary had a terrific game against Auburn and will look to build on last week’s momentum in Atlanta.
Standing in the way of a conference championship repeat are a veteran and deep Georgia Bulldogs, who are led by one of the best defenses in the history of college football. The unit ranks first nationally, giving up 230 yards and an insane 6.92 points per game. Tennessee scored a season-high 17 points against the Dawgs, and the defense has posted 3 shutouts on the season. UGA is led by monster 6-6 330 pound senior noseguard Jordan Davis, who has been eating up blockers and backs all season and has been mentioned as a worthy Heisman Trophy candidate. The linebacking corps, led by junior Nakobe Dean, senior Robert Beal, and senior Channing Tindall, has dominated all year and has the ability to rush the passer as well as drop into coverage. Beal and Tindall lead the team with 4.5 sacks each. The secondary is strong, yet hasn’t been tested by the likes of Young and company.
Offensively, senior walk-on quarterback Stetson Bennett (completing 65% of his passes for 21 touchdowns against 5 interceptions) leads a unit that has been overshadowed by the defense but is still strong. The offense ranks 27th nationally averaging 40.7 points and 442 yards per game. Leading a solid ground game is junior Zamir White, who averages 5.4 yards per carry and has 10 touchdowns on the season. Senior James Cook has been equally effective, averaging 6.5 yards per carry and has scored 7 touchdowns. Freshman tight end Brock Bowers leads the team with 37 receptions, averaging 17.6 yards per catch and has hauled in 10 touchdowns. Junior standout receiver George Pickens looks to return to action after missing much of the season with an injury. Junior placekicker Jack Podlensky has had a solid season, hitting on 17 of 21 field-goal attempts with a long of 46 yards.
I have a feeling Saban is quietly confident about this one.
This game will be a unique challenge for Alabama, as the Tide has not been an underdog for 6 years. Ironically, the last time Bama was an underdog was against the Georgia Bulldogs, and the Tide responded by pounding the Dawgs on a rainy October afternoon in Athens, 38-10. The key to this year’s game will be the Alabama line’s ability to give Young the opportunity to test the Georgia secondary. If UGA can shut down the Tide run game and get pressure on Young with their front 4, the potent Alabama offense could repeat last week’s poor performance against Auburn and the chance for an upset win would be limited. Can Alabama’s defense shut down the UGA ground game and limit the Dawg’s big-play ability, thus giving the Tide offense more opportunities to put points on the board?
Alabama has won six straight in the series, and two of the last three meetings between these squads have been classics, resulting in a national title win (2017) and conference championship (2018) for the Tide (Bama topped Georgia last season in Tuscaloosa, 41-24). Dawg Nation has been dying for the opportunity presented in Atlanta tomorrow, yet it won’t be easy as Alabama is battle-tested. Can the Tide move the ball against the Dawg D and make UGA uncomfortable for the first time since its narrow 10-3 September victory over Clemson? Here’s saying that Bama will have more offensive success than any other team against the Dawgs this year, yet it will not be enough. Georgia’s ultimate goal of defeating the Tide is finally achieved on Saturday.
#1 Georgia 27
#3 Alabama 17
The week got away from the crew, but we can’t wait for today’s game. Here are the picks from the rest of the staff:
Bossman Slim:
#1 Georgia 31
#3 Alabama 24
The Hammer:
#1 Georgia 27
#3 Alabama 20
The Waco Kid:
#1 Georgia 38
#3 Alabama 42