Joel Klatt Reveals Surprising Admission After Alabama's Win Over Georgia in Week 5

Georgia-Alabama proved to be worth the hype in Week 5 of college football action. The two have met in extremely important circumstances over the last few years, including the 2021 national championship and the 2023 SEChampionship. While a title wasn't on the line Saturday, the energy surrounding the game certainly felt similar.

The No. 2 Bulldogs were a narrow one-point favorite just ahead of kickoff. Georgia had won 42 straight regular-season games with its last overall loss coming to Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide in the SEC title game in Dec. 2023.

There was plenty of motivation for Kirby Smart's Bulldogs, but it was Kalen DeBoer and No. 4 Alabama that got off to a blazing start, building a 28-0 lead by the second quarter. Star quarterback Jalen Milroe had already accounted for four touchdowns by the time the Tide went into the half with a 30-7 lead.

But, as championship caliber teams do, Georgia returned to the field with vengeance in the second half. While Milroe and company struggled against the adjustments made by the Bulldogs' defense, UGA quarterback Carson Beck began to pick apart the young secondary of the Crimson Tide.

Astonishingly, Georgia held a 34-33 lead with just over two minutes remaining. That margin didn't hold for long, though, as Milroe found star freshman receiver Ryan Williams for a 75-yard touchdown that ultimately sealed the game in Tuscaloosa.

The challenge now is evaluating the two powerhouses following a game that will be remembered in SEC lore forever. Did Alabama take its foot off the gas, or did Georgia significantly outplay the Tide in the final 30 minutes?

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt believes the latter is true.

'To be quite honest, it's actually a pretty obvious conclusion," he said on "The Joel Klatt Show." "Now it might not be obvious to everybody, but to me, it kind of stood out as I'm evaluating this game, and that is I feel better about Georgia than I do about Alabama coming away from that game."

Klatt expressed concern for Alabama's pass defense. The group allowed 439 yards and three touchdowns to Beck, the majority of the yardage coming in the second half surge. The Tide did force their hand with three interceptions on the night, though, including the game-sealing interception in the final minute.

Georgia's defensive stand in the second half also stood out to Klatt. Alabama scored 11 points in the second half after putting up 30 in the first two quarters. The Tide didn't score a touchdown until the lengthy pass to Williams with just over two minutes remaining.

Looking ahead, both teams will face top tier competition in the coming weeks. Georgia, now No. 5, will visit No. 2 Texas (Oct. 19), No. 12 Ole Miss (Nov. 9) and welcome No. 4 Tennessee (Nov. 16).

Alabama, crowned No. 1, will visit Tennessee (Oct. 19) and play No. 9 Missouri at home (Oct. 26) before traveling to No. 13 LSU (Oct. 26).

The SEC championship race will look much differently this season, as the top two teams in conference play will meet in Atlanta for the SEC title.

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