In previous eras of college football, like when formulas determined the national championship matchup or during the last decade when only four teams made the playoff, a game like this Saturday’s clash between No. 2 Georgia and fourth-ranked Alabama might have served as a de facto elimination game.
However, with the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams this season, teams from the sport’s four powerhouse conferences have a bit more breathing room when pursuing national title hopes.
That said, the stakes for Saturday’s showdown between these two undefeated Southeastern Conference rivals remain high (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Alabama (3-0) finds itself as a home underdog for the first time since 2007, according to ESPN. Historically the SEC’s dominant force under former coach Nick Saban, Alabama now has its first big chance under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer to prove it’s still a legitimate title contender. Similarly, this season’s Georgia team is also looking to affirm its standing as a championship threat.
Although Georgia (3-0) has won two national titles under Kirby Smart, a former Saban assistant, and opened the season with two blowout wins, outscoring their first two opponents 81-6, they narrowly escaped Kentucky last week with a 13-12 victory. The close call dropped them one spot in the rankings.
Georgia’s quarterback, Carson Beck, in his second year as a starter, has yet to throw an interception and has led the Bulldogs to score every time they’ve been inside their opponent’s 20-yard line. However, the Bulldogs have shown vulnerabilities, including a 74th-ranked third-down conversion rate, an 81st-ranked third-down defense, and a tendency to rack up penalties.
Alabama, despite its own struggles with penalties and fumbles, boasts the country’s fifth-best passing defense. This could be key in slowing down Beck, particularly with standout defensive back Keon Sabb, who has already recorded three interceptions in as many games this season.
Alabama has dominated this rivalry in recent years, winning eight of the last nine meetings since 2008.