Alabama Football: Three bold predictions for the SEC Championship

1. Alabama Football: Amari Niblack has more receiving yards than Brock Bowers

This is about as bold as a bold prediction can get. Brock Bowers is one of the best tight ends in college football history, and is firmly established as a key component of Georgia’s offensive game plan. I think Alabama will have a good plan for Bowers and has athletes that are capable of staying with him. Even on a bad day, Bowers will likely have significantly more targets and receptions than Alabama tight end Amari Niblack.

However, Niblack has proven himself as a big-play threat at tight end. He averages 17 yards per reception and has recorded seven catches of 20+ yards. He is a matchup nightmare, and if he can generate a couple explosive plays in this game I think this prediction can come to fruition.

2. Alabama Football: Jam Miller notches a new career-high

Alabama starting running back Jase McClellan will likely miss the SEC Championship with a foot injury, which means senior Roydell Williams and sophomore Jam Miller will see increased roles in the Alabama offense.

Miller has shown lots of burst and potential in his spot reps over the past two seasons. He set a career-high with 77 rushing yards against Chattanooga two weeks ago, and his career-high against FBS competition is 63 yards against Vanderbilt last season.

Jam Miller could have a big day and eclipse both of those numbers against Georgia.

3. Alabama Football: Defense records at least three sacks

Led by edge rushers Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell along with interior defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe, the Alabama defense has pressured quarterbacks all season. The Crimson Tide is in the top-10 nationally and tied for second in the SEC with 36 sacks.

On the flip side, Georgia has only allowed 10 sacks all season, and is the fifth-best team in the country at protecting the quarterback. The Bulldogs allowed a season-high three sacks against Missouri, but have only given up one sack in three games since then. Outside of Mizzou, only South Carolina and Vanderbilt have recorded more than one sack against Georgia with two apiece.

The key to Georgia’s highly efficient offense has been its ability to protect Carson Beck. Beck has been able to operate from clean pockets, and the Bulldogs have largely avoided negative plays.

If the Alabama defense can throw a wrench in that script, Beck and the Georgia offense will be made to function outside of their comfort zone.