3 players who could be X-Factors for Alabama Football against Georgia

In marquee matchups like Alabama Football's tilt with Georgia on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, the games typically come down to just a few plays. Such is the case when two evenly matched teams take the field.

The Crimson Tide has long been used to having an overwhelming talent advantage against most teams on its schedule, but Kirby Smart has built Georga in Alabama's image, and the Bulldogs are every bit as talented, top to bottom.

This game will come down to a handful of plays, and be decided by which team steps up when the moment comes and there's a big play to be made. It will also be decided by which team avoids the devastating mistake at a crucial time.

In last season's SEC Championship Game, it was Georgia that made the one big mistake that swung the game in Alabama's favor when they fumbled a reverse and Alabama recovered deep in Bulldog territory. Alabama only managed a field goal out of it, but that field goal was ultimately the difference in a 27-24 Tide win.

That fumble was recovered by Georgia transfer Trezmen Marshall, a player that not many on either side expected to make a game-changing play.

When the Tide steps on to Saban Field on Saturday night, look for these three players to step up as potential X-Factors that lead to a Crimson Tide victory.

X-Factors

3. C.J. Dippre or Josh Cuevas

Georgia is going to do everything it can to take away the deep outside shots that Jalen Milroe likes so much. The Bulldogs will play a lot of Cover 2 with two deep safeties to try and prevent freshman Ryan Williams or Washington transfer Germie Bernard from getting free for a homerun ball.

Smart's defense will also likely employ a spy on Milroe at all times to try and limit his ability as a runner. At times last year, the Bulldogs even had two spies on Milroe on a single play. They are well aware of how devastating Milroe is as a runner, particularly when plays break down and he makes something out of nothing.

We haven't seen a lot of it in the first three games, but I expect Alabama to do something that will be unexpected by anyone watching the game: attack the short and intermediate area of the field through the air, a facet that has been an Achilles Heel for Milroe since he won the starting job.

C.J. Dippre is a talented tight end who has been waiting for a moment to breakout. He can be the safety valve for Milroe in the middle of the field. Washington transfer Josh Cuevas could be as well, and he made his first big splash as a member of the Crimson Tide with a 37-yard touchdown reception to put the game away in Madison.

With the safeties backed up and cheating toward the boundaries, the middle of the field should be open. You can also run your tight ends or slot receivers up the seam to take advantage of the open space there, too. Georgia has athletic and talented linebackers and safeties who can cover, but this is a matchup I like for Alabama in this game if they are able to take advantage of it.

2. Kendrick Law

I called for a Kendrick Law breakout game against Wisconsin, but he was once again not utilized as a pass-catcher or runner. He was lauded by the coaching staff for his blocking on the perimeter, however, and he laid some monster hits on poor Wisconsin defenders:

Whether he catches another pass this season or not, it's clear that Law is an integral part of this offense because of his ability as a downfield blocker. Simply put, however, Law is far too talented to only be used in that capacity.

He can be electric with the ball in his hands, and might be the fastest player on the whole team. I expect we will see more of Law's real role in the offense this weekend that the coaching staff has hidden through the first three games. I expect some pop passes and reverses to get Law the ball in space, especially if Georgia is playing 2-high.

I think the sledding could be tough for Alabama's outside receivers, but the Bulldogs are ripe for the picking from the slot. Look for Law to take advantage and hit on a couple of big plays to get things rolling for the Tide offense.

If Dippre and/or Cuevas can make some plays, and Law can make Georgia pay, then it will force the Bulldogs to get more aggressive closer to the line-of-scrimmage, particularly if Alabama can run the ball effectively, which could lead to a knockout punch down the field to Williams, Bernard, or Prentice to shut the door.

1. Jihaad Campbell

Calling arguably Alabama's best linebacker an X-Factor might seem a bit curious. He's a guy Alabama absolutely needs to play well in order to win this game, so why is he listed here?

With Qua Russaw's status for Saturday up in the air, I wouldn't be surprised to see Kane Wommack throw out a wrinkle defensively. Instead of more snaps for Que Robinson at WOLF - or Keanu Koht or redshirt freshman Yhonzae Pierre - I think Wommack might deploy Campbell at WOLF for a lot of snaps.

Campbell can set the edge and he is a gifted pass rusher who could wreck Georgia's offensive gameplan. Alabama has the versatility on defense to do this because of how good senior Justin Jefferson has looked at the Mike in the snaps he played.

Before getting ejected for a questionable targeting call against USF, Jefferson was all over the field and totaled 10 tackles in just 20 defensive snaps. Regardless of Russaw's health, I think finding creative ways to get Lawson, Campbell, and Jefferson on the field together would be smart; I think those three are absolutely among the best 11 on the defense.

Whether at WOLF or in his traditional spot at Mike, look for Campbell to come up with some big plays for the Crimson Tide.

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