Can Kalen DeBoer get one other much-needed marquee win over Georgia? Can Kirby Sensible ameliorate a surprisingly dangerous 1-6 all-time file towards Alabama?
These are two of the massive questions that loom over Saturday night time’s sport between No. 17 Alabama and No. 5 Georgia. Alabama already has one loss from its season opener towards Florida State and would love to start out its difficult SEC slate with a win. Georgia is lucky to be 3-0 after a close-call 44-41 additional time win towards Tennessee in its SEC opener. Each groups begin quarterbacks who patiently waited their time — Ty Simpson in Tuscaloosa, Gunner Stockton in Athens — and possess defenses that have not been practically pretty much as good as you’d anticipate primarily based on the names on the entrance of the jersey.
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These two groups generally tend to ship classics every time they meet on the sector. You’ve got the well-known second-and-26 walk-off landing cross within the 2018 nationwide championship sport. Then, the wild comeback the next season when Jalen Hurts took over and beat Georgia within the SEC Championship. And in addition, the 2022 nationwide championship when Sensible beat his mentor Nick Saban for his first title because the Bulldogs coach.
After which there was final 12 months when Ryan Williams delivered one of many best performs you will ever see on an acrobatic catch and run for a game-winning 75-yard landing.
If this 12 months’s version comes even near matching final 12 months’s thriller in Tuscaloosa, we’re in retailer for one of many video games of the season.
Alabama vs. Georgia: Have to know
How does Alabama assault Georgia’s protection: A 12 months in the past, Kalen DeBoer and then-offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan put collectively a masterful first-half offensive gameplan that had Georgia befuddled and overwhelmed. That quick begin the place QB Jalen Milroe appeared unstoppable was crucial given the livid rally the Bulldogs unleashed within the second half. Can DeBoer and new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb cook dinner up some new ideas that Sensible and UGA defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann have not seen earlier than? Tide beginning QB Ty Simpson would not offer you fairly the flexibility from a operating standpoint that Milroe did, however he is a greater passer and he is been on a heater coming into this one. Georgia’s protection, which hasn’t appeared nice thus far this season, might have its palms full Saturday.
Georgia ought to take some pictures downfield: Georgia’s offensive line struggled towards Tennessee, giving up 4 sacks, which might make a program skittish about making an attempt to be aggressive with its vertical passing sport. However going up towards an Alabama protection that hasn’t fared effectively in pressuring the quarterback, the Bulldogs may gain advantage from unleashing Zachariah Department downfield for some massive play possibilities. If this one is something like final 12 months’s Georgia goes to want to maintain tempo offensively in what could possibly be a high-scoring affair. Trusting the offensive line to offer Stockton the time to take action is dangerous, however this can be the matchup to do it.
Tide have to get run sport going: There are a number of causes behind the struggles — from an offensive line that hasn’t lived as much as the hype but to the dearth of a dominant operating again — however there isn’t any query that Alabama’s run sport hasn’t delivered this season. The Tide rank 103rd nationally, averaging solely 123.67 speeding yards per sport. That was particularly an issue towards Florida State when the Tide managed solely 87 speeding yards, appeared one-dimensional offensively and managed to transform solely 6 of 17 third downs. Getting operating again Jam Miller again ought to present a lift, however Alabama could should be inventive to get its operating sport going early.
The place to observe Alabama vs. Georgia stay
Date: Saturday, Sept. 27 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Sanford Stadium — Athens, Georgia
TV: ABC | Reside stream: Fubo (Attempt totally free)
Alabama vs. Georgia prediction, picks
Perhaps it is a sucker decide to imagine the scoring shall be anyplace near what it was a 12 months in the past, however neither protection significantly impresses me and assume each could possibly be ripe to be exploited. I believe Georgia wins however I like taking the factors greater than something. Decide: Over 52.5 factors
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