The college season is entering its very hot phase, and we have had wild days. Who will move into the playoffs? What happens on the coaching carousel? And who are the best players in the upcoming draft? Five theses.
Alabama vs. Georgia is the anticipated final
The biggest duel next weekend will be the SEC Championship Game. The mega-duel between defending champion Alabama and the still unbeaten Georgia. Although the two teams are currently “only” ranked 1 (Georgia) and 3 (Alabama) by the playoff committee, hardly anyone doubts that these two teams are the two best and most complete teams in college football from top to bottom.
For the third time in four years, these two teams face each other in the SEC finals, Alabama has always lived up to its role as favorites. The duel this year has changed the omens. Georgia is the favorite, Alabama has its back to the wall.
Georgia is the only team that can already be sure of its playoff participation. The Bulldogs have so far played the competition to the ground and simply left out the almost traditional, unnecessary defeat under Head Coach Kirby Smart this year. In the event of a defeat, you would slide down to 4th place at most.
The great strength of the team is their elite defense. Jordan Davis and Co. are well on their way to becoming one of the best college units of all time. They only allow six points per game. Only Tennessee and Kentucky could score two touchdowns against this defense in one game. In eight out of twelve games, the opponent scored no more than seven points.
In all positions, Georgia’s Defense is filled with former top recruits who will soon be making the NFL unsafe. How much they can put their stamp on a game was shown by the game at rival Florida: With a score of 3-0, the defense made three turnovers, including one pick six. Only 2 minutes later it was 24-0 and the game was over.
Offensive everything revolves around the running game. Like last season, Smart and Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken fell in love with the former walk-on Stetson Bennett again and put JT Daniels, the essentially talented quarterback, on the bench. Daniels was at least the starter at the beginning of the season, but a minor injury gave Bennett the chance that he didn’t miss with this almost legendary defense in his back.
In the passing game, however – as in the previous year – there isn’t too much going on, but an armada of high-class running backs is waiting for their touches. Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh, Kendall Milton – the list is long. Georgia has already run a total of 28 touchdowns this season without a single running back having to run over 700 yards.
Since the offense gets a lot of ball possession opportunities from their defense, they always get more than enough points in the end. However, if the defense fails to suffocate the opponent, it will be exciting to see whether Bennett can also do his part for the success.
Alabama vs. Georgia 2021 – it couldn’t be better!
To do this, Alabama’s offense will have to deliver something. After a hot start to the season, it has cooled down a lot. Against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, Nick Saban’s team remained without points for the entire first half, the Crimson Tide has not happened since 2000.
In particular, Bama’s O-Line shows weaknesses that a blocking unit in Tuscaloosa has not seen for almost a decade. The running game has been asleep for weeks and quarterback Bryce Young has little time left in the pocket. Georgia’s Passr rushers around Nakobe Dean are already licking their fingers.
It can be expected, however, that Nick Saban and Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien will find a way to buy Young a little more time. Rollouts, moving the pocket and many RPOs can be expected on Saturday. With some time to throw, Young is perhaps the best quarternback in college football. And in John Metchie and especially Jamison Williams he has two very dangerous weapons at his side. If this offense finds its groove early on and turns this game into a shootout, I would put my money on Young rather than Bennett.
For Young, this game should also determine his Heisman ambitions. If he can beat this dominant defense, he is certain of the most important individual award in college football. If he weakens, he opens the door to the candidates behind him such as Ohio States CJ Stroud, Kenny Pickett or Kenneth Walker.
And: Alabama has to win. If the team loses, it will be very, very difficult to slip into fourth place in the playoffs. Against Auburn, Bama just jumped off the playoffs in the 4th overtime. So you can deal with pressure. But is that enough against this over-defense?
Georgia versus Alabama – it should be epic again. Alabama has to win, Georgia can eliminate perhaps the biggest title competitor before the playoffs. Georgia’s dominant defense against Saban, Young and Co – it couldn’t be better!
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