When Georgia football lines up against Alabama Saturday night, it will take on a team that snapped the Bulldogs ’ 29-game winning streak last December and knocked them out of the College Football Playoff.
“It left a bad taste in my mouth,” Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker said.
The Bulldogs, No. 1 in the coaches poll and No. 2 in the AP, carry a more modest four-game winning streak into this weekend's showdown with No. 4 Alabama.
Quarterback Carson Beck said that loss to Alabama made his decision to return to Georgia a quick one in his mind but getting over the game took time — just as it did for other Georgia players.
“It lingered a lot,” linebacker Smael Mondon said. “It lingered a lot with me and I know a lot of other guys. …It kind of fueled a lot of guys throughout the offseason. Kind of gave a lot of guys something to work towards. Not necessarily a rematch vs. Bama, but just the ultimate goal of where we’re trying to get at the end of the season.
The winner certainly bolsters its 12-team playoff resume, but the loser will still have plenty of season left to make its case as postseason worthy.
Why Georgia will beat Alabama
The Bulldogs know how to win and know how to win big games. Georgia is 49-2 in its last 51 games including 19-2 against ranked opponents during that stretch and 7-1 against top 5 opponents.
Georgia’s passing game has yet to truly click and this could be the time after a bye week to see a more confident Carson Beck let it loose. He’s thrown seven touchdowns and zero interceptions, but ranks just 46 th in yards per attempt at 8.3, down from sixth and 9.5 yards last year. He’s 24th nationally in passing efficiency after ranking eighth last season.
The Bulldogs will go up against an Alabama secondary that includes true freshmen Zabien Brown, Jaylan Mbakke and Red Morgan,
“Any pressure we can get on Carson Beck, that’s gonna be critical, as well, because we know how good of a quarterback he is,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “And if he has time to sit back there, he’s gonna find the people, make the throws. He’s extremely accurate and has a lot of experience under his belt to rely on.”
Yes, Georgia won a slog of a game at Kentucky 13-12 in its last time out, but Alabama led South Florida just 14-13 in the third quarter at home and 21-16 with under 7 minutes to go before taking a 42-16 win. The Crimson Tide had 137 total yards in the first half.
Georgia should have chances to get to quarterback Jalen Milroe, who has been sacked five times this season and was sacked four times by Georgia in the SEC championship game last season. The Bulldogs are the only team in the nation to still not give up a touchdown this season.
Why Alabama will beat Georgia
Jalen Milroe and the Alabama offense have shown quick-strike ability and that explosive playmaking could be the difference in this one.
The Crimson Tide have seven plays of 40 or more yards this season compared to four for Georgia’s offense.
Milroe has thrown for multiple touchdowns in every game this season and eight total without an interception while rushing for 156 yards on 36 carries and six touchdowns including two in each game.
Walker said the Bulldogs focus is “keeping him in his trap."
"He’s a good quarterback who has legs and has vision down the field at the same time. That’s the new age of a quarterback to the come to the NFL as well. I feel he has a great presence in the pocket," Walker said. "Getting that pressure and putting it on him, helps the secondary a lot.”
Georgia has allowed just two plays of 20 or more yards — tied with Ohio State for tops in the nation — and leads the nation with just one of 30 or more yards, per cfbstats.com.
"They are an explosive team," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. "We have limited explosives but when those two usually meet head-to-head it can go both ways.”
Slowing down Milroe and wide receiver Ryan Williams (28.5 yards per catch, 4 TDs) is different. Alabama has 13 touchdowns of 20 yards or longer.
“It's extremely challenging against Alabama because every play is a ticking time bomb,” Smart said. “They've got explosive playmakers in backs, receivers and then a quarterback that can extend a play from what against one team might be a four-second play is now an eight-second play. When plays go from four to eight seconds; one of the most explosive plays in all of pro football the last couple of years has been scrambles. There's going to be scrambles. …It's how you manage it, how well and disciplined we play down the field with our eyes."
Georgia, which won’t have preseason All-American guard Tate Ratledge due to an ankle injury, will need to get more out of its running game. It is 84 th nationally at 145.7 yards per game and was held to 3.4 yards per carry against Kentucky.
“Overall, we need to perform better,” guard Dylan Fairchild said. “We need to perform more dominant."
Georgia averaged just 2.5 yards per carry and rushed for a season-low 78 yards against Alabama in the SEC championship game loss last season.
Prediction
Alabama 24, Georgia 23
This game is essentially a toss-up. Georgia has the better defense, but the nod here goes to the Crimson Tide with the home field advantage and the two most dynamic offensive players on the field.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football vs. Alabama: Score prediction, scouting report
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