Win, lose, or tie today vs. Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, I think Georgia will get into the College Football Playoff. It’s because of that old saw, “body of work.”
Should UGA realize their goal of an SEC championship, then Bulldog head coach Kirby Smart will follow in the footsteps of Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher and be only the second assistant of Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban to defeat their former boss. But that’s not the biggest possibility coming out of today’s game. It’s the prospect of UGA continuing its legendary season.
And there’s a sense of urgency, too, what with player migration via the transfer portal and head coaches spinning on the coaching carousel. Georgia needs to cash in now–an undefeated regular season, SEC championship, and a national championship. Who knows when that trifecta might be realized again? Of course, many UGA fans hope for a very different outcome: 2021 is just the beginning of a Dawg Nation Dynasty.
If that happens, then the Bulldogs will take that mantle away from the Crimson Tide. And either way–Tide rolling or Dawg’s biting–the nation is in store for a gridiron fight galore–two premier programs trading jabs and throwing haymakers, perhaps reminiscent of that masterpiece played in 2018 when ‘Bama beat Georgia in OT to win a national championship, 26-23.
This year, defense led the Bulldogs to the conference championship, and (no doubt) defense will lead them to the next level. It’s led by senior linebacker Channing Tindall (57 total tackles/29 solo tackles/4 sacks), junior linebacker Nakobe Dean (56 total tackles/26 solo/5 sacks), senior linebacker Quay Walker (47 total tackles/27 solo tackles/1.5 sacks), and junior safety Lewis Cine (54 total tackles/26 solo tackles/8 passes defended).
That top-ranked defense will face its toughest test against Alabama’s senior running back Brian Robinson Jr. (1,016 yards rushing, 14 TDs), junior wide receiver Jameson Williams (1,261 yards receiving, 13 TDs), and Heisman trophy candidate sophomore quarterback Bryce Young (3,901 yards passing/40 TDs/4 INTs).
What a game it’s likely to be! And you can watch all the action starting at 3:30p Eastern on CBS-TV.
