(Photo: Clutchpoints)
Saturday Spotlight
(2) Georgia Bulldogs at (4) Alabama Crimson Tid
Georgia: The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for them. Yes, they could hold on and win that game against the Kentucky Wildcats, but it wasn’t the prettiest game just as I said last week against the Philadelphia Eagles when they played the Saints. They didn’t look the best, but they were better when they had to be and I can apply that same analysis with this team too. One thing I can say is when you’re the best team in your sport, people will circle you on their calendars and you will get everybody’s best efforts when they play you. This is a group that has won 42 consecutive regular-season games. What exactly was Kentucky able to do against this elite football team? They were able to establish their running game just enough to control the tempo of the game which kept the game competitive. Look back at week one against the Clemson Tigers and how their ground game was shut down before it could get started. Kentucky wasn’t the greatest, but they didn’t shy away from what they wanted to do. You won’t look perfect in every single game, but a win is a win. One thing I can say that the Georgia Bulldogs miss is Brock Bowers in the red zone. He created so many mismatches across the board and he was used in so many ways such as jet sweeps, and screen passes and they’d flank him wide on the perimeter. It’s tough to replace a dominant, yet versatile presence. I can also say they miss Ladd McConkey as well. The offense is still potent, but it lacks the explosiveness it did a year ago. No matter what, this team will be there when it’s all said and done. Tonight, they will battle a team they’re all too familiar with.
Alabama: As expected, they were the talk of so many conversations before the season started. Nick Saban retired after a dominant run with the program and to replace him, they hired Kalen DeBoer. Of course, you saw the chatter: He will never do what Nick did and some even called it a bad hire. One, nobody can ever replicate what Coach Saban did. He is the greatest college football coach of all time and his walking away from the game was his choice, plus, he had nothing left to prove in my eyes. His legacy is already cemented. The best piece of advice I can offer Kalen is to do things himself. Be the coach that you know you can be and continue to build the trust of your players in you. They handled their business against Western Kentucky and got a challenge from South Florida, but were able to pull away. Then, they handled business in Madison against the Wisconsin Badgers in their first road game of the year. Jalen Milroe is a Heisman candidate in my eyes and has been one of the best Quarterbacks in the country this season. In fact, he’s picked up where he left off last year. Jalen can beat you with his arm from the pocket, makes the passes with a moving pocket and the best part of his game is the ability to scramble and extend plays himself. He truly is the key that makes this offensive engine go. Most importantly, he is playing turnover-free football which goes a long way. While it may be a new chapter in Tuscaloosa, the Alabama Crimson Tide are still winning football games nonetheless. I said this Thursday in a preview and I’ll repeat it again here. You play who you play and beat who you beat. They’ve been strong on both sides of the ball. They’ll return to the field tonight and welcome a rival to town.
Georgia X-Factor: Malaki Starks– I’ve been a fan these last few years and I’ve watched him grow as a player. Malaki is the jack of all trades for this Georgia defense. He can play in the box, covers the ground in the passing game and hetackles in the open field. When I watch him, I see that great closing speed as he can track the ball just as center fielders do on the baseball field and he can move downhill to bring down the ball carrier such as a Linebacker. Malaki brings that intensity to the defense and I can’t wait to see him play on Sundays.
Alabama X-Factor: Kobe Prentice– This is another one of Milroe’s weapons. Kobe is a veteran on this offense and has climbed the ladder each year since stepping foot in Tuscaloosa. This is the third down specialist of the offense, I’m talking about the guy who’s the chain mover. The guy who can make those tough catches in traffic over the middle. I expect Kobe to get his share of targets tonight.
Final Thoughts: I’ve been waiting for this one and it’s finally here! These two have seen quite a bit of each other over the years. Georgia has dominated since 2021 and has lost only two games. Guess who those two losses came to? Alabama! This is a huge game for the Tide and DeBoer who’s searching for that signature win as Head Coach of the Tide. The key for the Bulldogs is to keep Milroe from getting free and creative. He’s throwing from the pocket all game and not extending with his feet. For Alabama, the ground attack must be clicking early on and often. Pound away and hammer as often as possible. Settle in and don’t try to win the game within the first five minutes. Ultimately, the Georgia offense will be a bit more methodical and yes, they’ll take a few hits, but I know the Alabama secondary has question marks and that’s where they’ll be hit. I like the Bulldogs tonight in Tuscaloosa on the road.
Prediction: Georgia 29, Alabama 21
