Georgia Football: 3 reasons the Bulldogs will win 2021 SEC title

1. A team talented enough to beat Alabama

Let’s face it: the biggest stumbling block/measuring stick in Georgia’s path of SEC dominance is Kirby Smart’s former boss Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. These two teams will most likely face off in the 2021 SEC Championship Game, and possibly even the College Football Playoff.

Like every other Saban assistant who has faced him as a head coach, Smart is winless against Alabama. The Crimson Tide finished last year 13-0 and won both the SEC and national championships.

You never count Alabama out, but it’s hard not to take notice of the players that will not be with the team next season. They had 10 players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, including six in the first round.

Mike Griffith of DawgNation made this point concerning the Georgia-Alabama game from last season, a game won by the Tide 41-24:

"Flashback to 2020, and Georgia led Alabama in Tuscaloosa at halftime (24-20) with former walk-on Stetson Bennett at quarterback. The Tide was still at full strength that night, first-round pick Jaylen Waddle complimenting Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith in the receiving corps. There wasn’t THAT much separation between the teams when they met in Bryant-Denny Stadium, outside of the glaring difference in quarterback and receiver play. Certainly, not like when the Tide cruised to a 35-17 halftime lead over Ohio State in the CFP Championship Game en route to the 52-24 blowout."

In the other previous matchups against Alabama, Georgia only lost by a combined total of nine points.

A problem that Georgia had in last year’s game, as well as the other games, was the team not being able to keep up with Alabama in the second half (they scored zero total points on offense).

In 2021, the tables have (slightly) turned, as Georgia will have the better quarterback of the two teams in Daniels, as well as an established group of receivers who can hang with the elite teams in college football.

The improved second-half play was big last year for this Georgia team, especially when JT Daniels took over as starter. In his four games as a starter, Georgia scored 73 points in the second half; in the six games before Daniels started, Georgia scored 76 second-half points.

With the loss of key offensive weapons such as Heisman trophy winner DeVonta Smith, Mac Jones, Jaylen Waddle, and Najee Harris, as well as offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, Alabama will be in a transition period on the offensive side of the ball. Former five-star quarterback Bryce Young will more than likely develop into a star player, but it will be hard to replicate the historic offense ‘Bama had last season.

A dynamic offense and veteran Georgia defense should be enough to get the Dawgs past Alabama this season. If they can get past them in the SEC championship, this Georgia team will have its best chance of running the table in the playoff and claiming the national title.