Two evenly matched football teams will do battle in Sanford Stadium on Saturday night. The Alabama Crimson Tide might have a slight advantage due to a Georgia injury and the Dawgs being unsettled on the right side of their offensive line. Georgia has more than a slight advantage in its home crowd.
Three games of stats for each team can be misleading due to a too small sample of data. Even so, one stat stands out as a danger sign for the Crimson Tide. Opponents convert on third down against the Georgia defense only 27.5% of the time. The same stat for the Alabama Crimson Tide defense is 45.95%. Across the FBS, Georgia ranks No. 28 for this key game determinant. Alabama ranks No. 121. If ESPN's Strength of Schedule calculation is correct, the Bulldogs have played a tougher schedule than the Crimson Tide.
Early-season stats are clues, but not definitive. Let's consider six factors, three for each team, that can determine the game's winner. Not included are broad factors that influence every football game, such as controlling the line of scrimmage and winning the turnover battle.