Every so often, college football delivers a showdown for the ages, and this Saturday is no exception as the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs face off against the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. With conference championships, College Football Playoff hopes, and bragging rights on the line, this top-five SEC clash promises high stakes.
Both teams enter the contest undefeated at 3-0. First-year Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer gears up for his SEC debut, while Georgia’s Kirby Smart, now in his ninth season, looks to improve on his 1-5 record against his former mentor, Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide. Smart’s last visit to Bryant-Denny Stadium was back in 2020.
The spotlight will be on the quarterback duel between two Heisman Trophy contenders: Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Georgia’s Carson Beck. Milroe led the Tide to a 27-24 victory over Georgia in the 2023 SEC Championship Game, derailing the Bulldogs’ three-peat hopes.
Despite Alabama’s impressive 59-2 home record since 2015, Georgia enters as a slight road favorite (-2), riding a 42-game regular-season winning streak. However, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt foresees a nail-biter ending in Alabama’s favor.
Klatt points to the importance of Georgia’s passing game, which has yet to truly ignite. Carson Beck’s average yards per completion (11.5) ranks 69th nationally.
“I’m rolling with the Tide,” Klatt said on “The Joel Klatt Show.” “Milroe will shine, and Alabama wins a close, classic game, 24-21.”
Both teams have strong records after extended preparation: Smart has won 21 straight games with a week or more to prepare, while DeBoer is riding a 10-game streak in similar circumstances. Something will have to give when these two SEC powerhouses collide.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, with ESPN’s “College GameDay” live on-site from 9 a.m. to noon ET.
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