Alabama may be the underdog in Athens on Saturday night. Disappointed Tide fans who haven't yet forgiven the team for a disastrous Week 1 performance may be approaching the game against Georgia expecting to lose.
Those fans - and the Las Vegas oddsmakers - have it wrong, though. Because when it comes to Alabama-Georgia, the Crimson Tide is the one that knocks. For as dominant as Georgia has been in the Kirby Smart era, and to be sure, they've been the most consistent program in the country over the last five years, they still check under their bed at night for Alabama.
Alabama is the monster in their closet. Alabama is the bully waiting around the corner to steal their lunch money. Alabama remains the monkey on Smart's back.
Alabama has been an underdog in five consecutive matchups against Georgia, including Saturday night at Sanford Stadium. The Tide has prevailed in three of the previous four. And as much as they will whine about it when it's said out loud, they know the one win in their last 10 tries against big bad Alabama has a Jameson Williams-sized asterik next to it.
Oddsmakers can list Alabama as the underdog all they want. But when the two teams take the field on Saturday night between the hedges, the confidence should be on the Tide's sideline as the favorite. There should be no fear. When the gates are locked and the battle ensues, Georgia will realize that they are locked in there with Alabama - not the other way around.
Alabama has a chance to end yet another Georgia streak
Georgia comes in to Saturday night sporting yet another streak that Alabama will try to break. The Bulldogs have won 33 consecutive games at home, dating all the way back to the 2019 season. All streaks eventually come to an end, and there's no more fitting way for this one to end than at the hands of the Crimson Tide.
Last season, Georgia arrived in Tuscaloosa having won 42 consecutive regular-season games. That came to an end as Kalen DeBoer's Tide topped Smart's Bulldogs 41-34 in one of the games of the year in college football.
Rewinding to one year previously from there, Alabama and Georgia met in the 2023 SEC Championship Game with the Bulldogs having won 29 consecutive games and back-to-back National Championships. The Tide put an end to that, too, with a 27-24 win in Atlanta.
Georgia is the unruly child. Alabama is the Dad with a belt. Georgia is the loud, drunk guy at the bar. Alabama is the bouncer. Georgia is a dreamer. Alabama is reality. Georgia is the imitation. Alabama is the original.
Every time the Bulldogs seem to outgrow their britches, the Crimson Tide is there to humble them. Georgia is riding high with a sparkling 3-0 record after a comeback win over Tennessee in Knoxville. Any preseason doubt was replaced with a normal recent refrain: the Bulldogs appear to be the SEC favorites today.
But Georgia can't get comfortable. They can't rest on their laurels and enjoy what's been built in Athens. Because there's a knock on the door, and they know who is waiting on the other side.