ATLANTA — No. 1 Georgia can extend its all-time SEC record for consecutive wins to 30 on Saturday in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but the toughest test of the Bulldogs dynasty yet waits in No. 8 Alabama. This will be a 60-minute battle between a program looking to extend its reign of dominance and one that has, on this rare occasion, fallen just outside of the upper-most rung of the college football hierarchy.
Despite its pristine record, Georgia has come out on the right side of some close calls. It needed a late Brock Bowers touchdown to escape the clutches of Auburn earlier this season. The win over Ohio State in last year’s Peach Bowl national semifinal came down to a missed Buckeyes field goal in the waning seconds. It topped an average Missouri team last season in one of the sloppiest games of the Kirby Smart era.
The big one, however was the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship against Alabama. That thriller came down to the wire before Bowers and former defensive back Kelee Ringo iced the game away for the Bulldogs’ first national title since 1980. The Tide were led by Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, Biletnikoff Award winner Jameson Williams stretching the field deep, fellow 1,000-yard receiver John Metchie III helping him out and 1,300-yard back Brian Robinson taking the handoffs.
Current quarterback Jalen Milroe is more than just an effective quarterback, but he’s no Bryce Young. The wide receivers aren’t close to the 2021 group, and this year’s running back-by-committee approach pales in comparison to what they had two seasons ago.
The one thing that the 2023 Crimson Tide team has that the 2021 version didn’t: Desperation.
The Crimson Tide dynasty may feel like a thing of the past, but a win over Georgia…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2023-sec-championship-game-pick-odds-will-transformed-alabama-challenge-georgias-quest-for-three-peat/
Author : Barrett Sallee
Publish date : 2023-11-29 18:44:41
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