Alabama Football: Who has best shot to dethrone the Crimson Tide?
Georgia got back into the thick of the playoff hunt with a 36-17 win over Florida in Jacksonville a week ago, a bounce-back performance from a disappointing showing in Baton Rouge the game prior. The Bulldogs control their own playoff destiny, and if they can get past Kentucky in Lexington this weekend, all roads lead to a rematch in Atlanta with Alabama, with the winner moving on to the playoff.
The Bulldogs represent the biggest threat to Alabama’s reign atop the SEC, snatching away the SEC title last season, and coming oh-so-close to defeating the Crimson Tide in last season’s national championship game, succumbing in overtime after blowing a 13-0 halftime lead.
Kirby Smart has awakened the sleeping recruiting giant in Athens, and he has the Bulldogs recruiting at Alabama-like levels, hauling in the nation’s top class last February. Smart has Georgia ahead of schedule in year three, and his teams are only going to get better going forward.
How they can win
The Bulldogs are eager to get another crack at Alabama, feeling like Alabama took what was theirs last season in Atlanta. Jake Fromm wasn’t afraid of the moment as a freshman, playing beyond his years and almost leading Georgia to the title. He’s a year older now, and has a plethora of weapons on the outside led by Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman.
Kirby Smart also knows better than anyone the inner workings of a Nick Saban defense, and how to exploit that offensively.
Georgia’s defense has struggled on standard downs, but they have been excellent on passing downs, and have a legit secondary that could make life tough for Alabama’s receivers. Junior DeAndre Baker is one of the best corners in the country, and he has led a Georgia passing defense that is ninth in the country in yards allowed.
Why they won’t
The problem with Georgia this year is they are much softer in the middle than they were a year ago without Roquan Smith. The ‘Dawgs have been susceptible to the ground game this season, giving up 140 yards-per-game, which ranks 43rd in the nation. They’ve struggled to handle bigger and physical offensive lines like Alabama’s.
If they have to commit an extra man in the box to stop Damien Harris, Najee Harris, and Josh Jacobs, then that leaves Georgia vulnerable on the back end against a litany of talented receivers, and a QB who can deliver throws into the tightest of windows.
They’ve also struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, ranking 120th in the nation at just over a sack per game. Give a QB of Tua’s caliber time, and he’ll find holes in even the strongest of defensive backfields.