It is expected that two injured Alabama Crimson Tide offensive starters will be unable to play in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama will likely be without Josh Cuevas and Jam Miller. At least two more Alabama starters are not expected to be 100%: Parker Brailsford and Germie Bernard. Alabama's running back group has also been thinned by an injury to Kevin Riley.
Late in college football seasons, no teams are without injured and not fully healthy players. Every season takes a toll.
Georgia healthier than the Alabama Crimson Tide
The Georgia Bulldogs may be healthier than the Crimson Tide, but the Dawgs have one major injury problem. It is believed that starting center Drew Bobo has a broken foot. Bobo missed the Charlotte game with a hand injury. Bobo incurred an ankle or foot injury in the second quarter against Georgia Tech. Georgia message boards say he has a broken foot and is out not just for Saturday, but for the rest of Georgia's season.
Malachi Tolliver replaced Bobo against Georgia Tech. Without Bobo, the Bulldogs did not achieve the early rushing success they had against the Yellow Jackets. Georgia fans are hoping one of three other center options will take charge in this week's practices. One option is true freshman Cortez Smith. Whoever is Kirby Smart's best option at center to replace Bobo will be a step down.
It would seem that an excellent team, deep in roster talent like the Bulldogs, could absorb the loss of one offensive starter. Trevor Michael, writing for Dawn of the Dawg, explains why that may not be the case. "Georgia was dominating the Yellow Jackets in the run game before Bobo's injury. Nate Frazier nearly ran for 100 yards in the first half alone, and it didn't look like there was anything Georgia Tech could do to stop them. But Bobo's injury turned the tide in this game because Georgia's offense couldn't move the ball through the air or on the ground once he was sidelined."
Without Bobo, the Georgia offense struggled against Georgia Tech, which has the No. 94 defense, based on Brian Fremeau's Defensive Efficiency Ratings. In the same rating, the Alabama Crimson Tide defense is No. 10.
It appears that, despite Alabama having more key injuries, Georgia has the bigger injury problem in the SEC Championship Game.