Alabama will face off against Georgia for the second time this season on Saturday in the SEC Championship Game. It's a potential do-or-die game for the Crimson Tide, which may or may not be included in the College Football Playoff field with a loss.
Alabama got the better of Georgia at the end of September, holding on to a 24-21 win in Athens. Beating the same team twice is no small task, especially one coached by Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs will be well prepared against the Crimson Tide in the rematch, and Kalen DeBoer will have his work cut out for him to best Smart for a third time in two years.
According to senior DT and team captain Tim Keenan, Alabama has one distinct advantage against Georgia that Keenan called a 'mismatch' when speaking with reporters on Monday.
“They’re very sound," Keenan said, via 247's Mike Rodak. "Especially in SEC, the trenches — it kind of gets nasty in there. But it’s definitely gonna be a great battle, like it is always when Alabama and Georgia plays. But we should — I feel like that’s the mismatch of the game.”
Tim Keenan calls the battle in the trenches a 'mismatch' in Alabama's favor
Georgia has one major injury concern that is likely sparking the confidence from Alabama's nose tackle. Starting center Drew Bobo is feared to have suffered a season-ending injury in Georgia's win over Georgia Tech last weekend. That leaves the Bulldogs with a lot of questions - and not a lot of answers - on the interior of their offensive line.
Whoever starts at center among the three options that Smart could go with will be at an obvious disadvantage against the Tide's fifth-year senior nose tackle in Keenan. Georgia's offense, according to Dawn of the Dawg, was night and day different against the Yellow Jackets before and after the injury to Bobo.
Smart had high praise for Keenan on Sunday night during the SEC Championship Game teleconference:
He’s a really strong, stout, physical player," Smart said about Keenan. "Does a great job. Always has. He’s a force to be reckoned with. Really good football player."
Stopping the run will be key for Alabama in the rematch against Georgia. Despite getting the win the first time around, Alabama allowed Georgia to rush for 227 yards. That was early in the season when Gunner Stockton was still getting his feet wet and was not nearly the threat through the air that he has developed into as the year has gone on.
Alabama won't be able to repeat the formula for beating Georgia again if the Bulldogs are able to be that productive on the ground. A mismatch or not, Keenan and the Crimson Tide's defensive front might hold the key to the game.