Alabama Football: Tide playing with House Money in Atlanta
Nothing is scarier than this Alabama football team playing with house money in Atlanta. This is the first time that I can think of since the 2008 SEC Championship game when Alabama has been such an underdog going into the SEC Championship game. We know what is at stake for Georgia as they are looking to win their third straight National Championship Game. To this point Georgia has run through the regular season for their third straight undefeated regular season, and on paper seem to be the strongest among teams that are still in playoff contention. Alabama on the other hand as well documented has had anything but an easy path to Atlanta. Now that we are on the eve of the championship game the path that these two SEC powerhouses got to Atlanta don’t matter. There have been some very entertaining games between these the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs over the last decade from regular season matchups, SEC Championship game matchups and of course two National title games.
Of course coming into this game it would appear there is far more pressure for Georgia to win this game as they are looking to achieve history with a third straight National Title Game. Normally Alabama has the same amount of pressure to win the SEC and make the four team playoff, but based on what this team has had to overcome the pressure seems to have subsided a little. We know Nick Saban is a master of using outside things to motivate his team and showing the players the line and the fact that Alabama hasn’t moved from 8 in weeks in the playoff rankings should be more than enough. A majority of the team that lost to Georgia in the 2021 National Title Game have moved on but even that I am sure can be used as motivation. I would expect this Alabama to come into this game light and ready to go. They have nothing to lose and I expect them to play as such.
As we all know beating Georgia is one of the toughest things to do in sports. There is a reason the Bulldogs are a sizeable favorite to not only win the SEC title tomorrow afternoon but raise the trophy come January in Houston. The Alabama football team needs to play a complete game similar to what we saw against LSU and Kentucky. Jalen Milroe can’t have any interceptions, has to be decisive with throwing the ball, and Alabama will have to control the line of scrimmage.
Musts for Alabama Football
Alabama will have to be able to consistently run the ball, and be able to score touchdowns in the red zone. Field goals aren’t going to beat the Bulldogs in Atlanta and nobody knows that more than the Alabama Football coaching staff. Tommy Rees will need to call the game of his life for Alabama to win their 4th straight SEC Championship game over Georgia. Both staffs know each other well and know the other’s tendencies. Alabama knows what areas to try and exploit against Georgia and Kirby Smart knows the exact same about Alabama.
Next. Georgia Offense Poses a Threat. dark
It should be a back-and-forth game for the ages but in the last game of the SEC on CBS Alabama is going to pull out a close 31-27 type of ballgame. From there it will be interesting to see how the rest of Championship Saturday shapes out and if beating the number one team in America is enough to get this Alabama football team back into the playoff after a year off.