SEC vs SEC: National Championship Preview
The problem with watching two teams that already played each other about a month ago is that mentally, you’re prepared for a dull slog.
And however much Atlanta might dress it up to be otherwise, that’s what it feels like.
So on Monday night – when Georgia faces Alabama in a replay of last month’s SEC Championship Game, it’s going to be difficult to get excited. Especially if you’re an Auburn fan, who’s confused about which team they want to fail MORE.
Georgia’s a three-point favorite in Vegas, by the way.
SO WHAT DO ALABAMA HAVE TO DO TO WIN ‘SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NO.2’?
- Play better on the offensive line: Alabama’s offensive line performance against Cincinnati was honestly pretty easy. As soon as you turned on the TV, you could see how outmatched the Bearcats were going to be against the offensive line. On the first drive, they gave Brian Robinson the ball, who crushed all and sundry. Alabama was a 10-3 leader until 1.45 to go into the second quarter, and the 17-3 half-time lead made it look inevitable. Cincinnati didn’t ‘hang around’, so much as get through and make good plays. They also had two sacks and 6 tackles for loss – which means that they DID get through the offensive line. And for all the brilliance of the SEC Championship Game, the Tide’s offensive line when blitzed in that second half couldn’t deal with it. Thankfully for Saban, the lead was already out of control by half-time.
- Let Bryce be Bryce: Kirby Smart’s not going to give Bryce Young the time in the pocket that he did in the first half of Game 1 last month. If he does, Young’s going to be put up more videogame numbers, and Alabama will walk away with the Natty. But if Georgia scourges Alabama’s offensive line like they have done to 12 of the 14 opponents that it’s played this year, then Young will have to be clever about throwing the ball away, or getting the ball out like lightning to Williams. It will be interesting to see if Young freelances a bit more than he usually does (and whether he can!).
- Receiving Playmakers, receiving playmakers, receiving playmakers: John Metchie’s injury wasn’t a factor against Cincy, but it sure as hell will be one against Georgia. We should see Jameson Williams get the ball a bunch, but Ja’Corey Brooks is the sort of player who will also give a secondary fits. Slade Bolden will continue to be a bigger factor, and we could see more Jahleel Billingsley than we’ve seen this season (he’s averaged 1.7 catches all year long). O’Brien used six different receivers in the semi-final, and don’t be surprised if that’s more this year.
- Play at lightning speed: Michigan couldn’t do this, but when you want to exhaust big, fat, muscly players like Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt, speed kills. Alabama did this in the first half of the SEC Championship Game. So why don’t do it again on Monday?
- Get more from Henry To’oto’o: There’s no point in us telling you how great Will Anderson is, because Anderson is going No.1 in the 2023 NFL Draft – and that’s even if he took a year-long vacation in Hawaii for the 2022 season. But it’s not secret that Alabama fans have thought his linebacker friend To’oTo’o hasn’t been brilliant this year – even if he leads the team in tackles. Over the last three games, we’ve seen ‘TT”s production drop from 9-to-7-to-5 tackles, and he will need to improve. Here’s why: Georgia is going to double-team Anderson in an effort to cut him out of the game. Which means another member of linebacking unit is going to have to step up so that they can negate James Cook and Georgia’s change-of-pace running game.
WHAT GEORGIA HAS TO DO TO WIN
- GET THE BALL TO BOWERS: Brock Bowers is unplayable. He had his best game in the SEC Championship Game (10 receptions, 139 yards) and had another 5 receptions for 55 against Michigan. He reminds this writer of Jimmy Graham and Mike Gesicki in terms of giving defenders match-up problems, and he’s been ‘right place, right time’ for a quarterback with the Stetson Bennett-accurate-but-limited arm. I don’t understand why – then- Georgia doesn’t throw the ball to Bowers 15-20 times instead of 10. If he’s your best receiver, then use him YOUR BEST WEAPON. And if he’s double-teamed like a basketball player, then someone like Jermaine Burton or George Pickens will be able to cause havoc. But Bowers HAS to be the No.1 receiver.
- GIVE THE BALL TO JAMES COOK: This shouldn’t hard to work out, Kirby. Your best player offensively isn’t called Stetson, or George, or even Brock (although he comes close), it’s James. James is a younger Alvin Kamara, with track-speed out of the backfield, and he’s got good mittens on him. Get an offensive line to push out Anderson, give Cook even a small window, and he can shoot that and make a 5 yard game a 15-yard gain in a hurry. In the last two games his 8 catches have gone for 140 yards and a TD. This isn’t too hard, let Zeus descend from Mount Olympus and punch a hole or two, and let Lighting be lightning.
- STOP WILL ANDERSON: As we mentioned in our Alabama segment, Will Anderson is the best player in the country, and will be the No.1 player taken in the 2023 Draft. But he’s a sacking and tackling machine, and on the edge, he can destroy [checks notes] anything he’s up against. So here’s the deal: Georgia needs to double-team Anderson to death. Or hold him (they won’t call it on you every time). And yes, we know that Alabama’s front has so many weapons on it, but Anderson’s the biggest and baddest.
- BLITZ, BLITZ BLITZ: To use a line from utterly-realistic ‘Remember The Titans’: “BLITZ ALL NIGHT”. In the SEC Championship Game Dan Lanning for some inexpicable reason decided to play zone defense (or whatever it was) and not particularly pressure Young in the first half. Young promptly ripped the Bulldogs a new one. The second half, Lanning’s gameplan changed, and Young was far, far more uncomfortable. Against Michigan, Georgia started hammer and tongs early, and by half-time, the game was over. So the answer? Blitz, blitz, blitz. It worked for Auburn, so why can’t it work for a far better defensive line?
PREDICTION: Finally, Georgia wins one. Georgia 31, Alabama 28.