Good Friday afternoon, Dawg fans!! We’ve made it to conference championship weekend, and once again it’s the Dawgs versus the Tide in Atlanta for the SEC crown. Georgia heads into this one at No. 3 in the latest CFP rankings following a gritty 16–9 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Alabama sits at No. 9 after their close 27–20 victory over the Auburn Tigers. Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 4:00 p.m. ET on ABC.
First off, the SEC Championship still means something, and it’s an absolute honor to have the opportunity to sit atop this conference. I get the worries about injuries while other teams sit at home resting up for the playoffs (when they really should be playing “play-in games” tomorrow, but that’s a discussion for another time). But this game means a ton to the Dawgs and should mean just as much to the entire fan base, especially when the opponent is Alabama. If we lose more key guys, it’ll be unfortunate, but as Coach Smart says, “next man up, it’s football.”
Alright, let’s dive in. Georgia’s success in this one all comes down to how well they can pressure Ty Simpson. In the first meeting earlier this year, the Dawgs’ non-existent pass rush let Simpson sit in the pocket for what felt like days, carving up the secondary, especially in the first half. He finished that half with 192 yards on 23 attempts and two touchdowns, and Alabama went a perfect 8-for-8 on third down. Georgia regrouped in the second half and nearly stole it after holding the Tide to just three points.
I bring all of that up to make one thing clear: Georgia cannot start slow and dig itself a first-half hole too deep to climb out of. The good news? This team has made major strides on both sides of the ball since that first matchup, especially in the pass rush. Georgia had nine sacks in November, more than the eight they had from August through October combined. Simpson and the Tide offense have struggled to connect on deep shots recently, thanks to increased pressure. Georgia has to keep that going and avoid giving up explosives.
On offense, it all starts with winning in the trenches. The absence of Drew Bobo is going to matter. He’s been rock-solid at center, not just during the play, but with pre-snap recognition that helps Gunner Stockton make the right checks. Redshirt freshman Malachi Toliver will get the start in Bobo’s place, and it’s a tall task against a physical Alabama defensive line. He’s had all week to prepare mentally and physically, and it’s on him and the rest of the O-line to set the tone.
If that unit does set the tone, I’d pound the rock until Alabama proves they can stop it. Nate Frazier has been one of the best running backs in college football in the second half of the season, and there’s no reason to go away from the hot hand. As for Gunner Stockton, he just needs to play with the moxy we’ve all come to love. Yes, he looked a little shaky at times last week against Tech, but I doubt Georgia entered that game planning to be explosive offensively. Now is the moment for Stockton to let it rip and get the ball to his playmakers, especially Zachariah Branch. Georgia has as much, if not more, offensive firepower than Alabama. It’s time for Mike Bobo to dial it up, and for the Dawgs’ offense to execute.
Prediction: UGA- 31 Bama- 21
Yep, you read that right, I’ve got the Dawgs winning by two possessions. Why? Because they should. Many of us have watched both teams closely all season, and the one that’s consistently improved is Georgia. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve been here before as the better team and still found a way to lose, but not this time. It’s time to finish the job and take down the Tide.
The keys are simple: pressure Ty Simpson, don’t give up deep shots, dominate the trenches, and on offense… let your nuts hang. Man, I’m ready to run through a brick wall after writing this.
Hope everyone has an incredible rest of their Friday and enjoys an electric weekend of college football. As always, GO DAWGS!!!
