Alabama (12-1) vs Georgia (13-1)
When: Monday, January 8th 2018
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Alabama -4/46
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For those of you tired of the SEC winning National Championships – tough. For the ninth time in the last 12 years, an SEC team will take home the title trophy as the Georgia Bulldogs battle the Alabama Crimson Tide on Monday night in Atlanta. The third-seeded Bulldogs are looking to win their first national title since the Herschel Walker-led squad won the 1980 Sugar Bowl over a Joe Paterno-led Penn State squad, while the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide are in a familiar position, seeking their fifth during Nick Saban’s 11-seasons in Tuscaloosa. Alabama had no problems taking care of top-seeded Clemson 24-6 in the semifinals while Georgia outlasted second-seeded Oklahoma 54-48 in double overtime in the Rose Bowl. Alabama leads the nation in rushing defense at 91.8 yards per game and will receive a big test from the Georgia senior duo of Nick Chubb (1,320 yards) and Sony Michel (1,129), who helped carry the Bulldogs against OU. The Crimson Tide limited Clemson to 64 yards on 33 attempts while the Bulldogs racked up up 317 and five rushing scores against Oklahoma. Georgia freshman quarterback Jake Fromm is getting more comfortable in his role and the Tide need to be wary of him. The teams haven’t met since October 3rd, 2015 when Alabama destroyed the Bulldogs 38-10 in Athens.
The Crimson Tide defense has suffered a lot of injuries to the linebacker position, but they always have the depth to withstand adversity. Sophomore LB Anfernee Jennings suffered a knee injury last week against Clemson and will not play Monday. Alabama will do some further linebacker reshuffling with senior Shaun Dion Hamilton (knee) and freshman Dylan Moses (foot) done for the season as well. The defensive line and secondary are terrific and have been carrying this team all season especially junior strong safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (nine career interceptions, four returned for touchdowns). Sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts (808 rushing yards, 2,060 passing yards) is more feared as a runner but has 17 touchdown passes against just once interception as well as No. 1 receiver Calvin Ridley (59 receptions, 935 yards).
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Michel, who averages a healthy eight yards per carry, ran for a 27-yard, game-winning score against Oklahoma for his 16th rushing touchdown of the season, while Chubb has 15 rushing scores and a 6.4 yard average. Fromm has passed for 2,383 yards and 23 touchdowns against only five interceptions while directing an offense that averages 36.3 points per game. Junior inside linebacker Roquan Smith, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, leads the Bulldogs with 124 tackles and 5.5 sacks and had a strong game against Oklahoma. Senior strong safety Dominick Sanders has a team-best four interceptions.
NCAA FOOTBALL ODDS – SCORES – PUBLIC PLAYS
Georgia has a slight edge on offense, but the defense is clearly in Alabama’s favor. The Crimson Tide offense is not flashy, but they get the job done despite the negativity towards Hurts. The Bulldogs will have a slight homefield advantage playing in Atlanta, but the game will come down to coaching. Kirby Smart is not ready to match wits with Nick Saban in a game like this. Between the coaching of Saban and the terrific defense, the Crimson Tide will once again be crowned national champions.
Pick: Alabama -4
TRENDS:
- Crimson Tide are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.
- Crimson Tide are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Crimson Tide are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Crimson Tide are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games on grass.
- Crimson Tide are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Crimson Tide are 1-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Crimson Tide are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in January.
- Crimson Tide are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Crimson Tide are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 conference games.
- Crimson Tide are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
- Crimson Tide are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 bowl games.
- Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
- Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.
- Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games on grass.
- Bulldogs are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Bulldogs are 6-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Bulldogs are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 conference games.
- Bulldogs are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
- Bulldogs are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games after allowing more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Bulldogs are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in January.
- Bulldogs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.
- Bulldogs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Bulldogs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Bulldogs are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Crimson Tide last 4 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Crimson Tide last 6 games in January.
- Under is 4-1 in Crimson Tide last 5 games overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Crimson Tide last 5 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Crimson Tide last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 4-1 in Crimson Tide last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Crimson Tide last 9 games after accumulating less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 19-7-1 in Crimson Tide last 27 neutral site games.
- Under is 5-2 in Crimson Tide last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 5-2 in Crimson Tide last 7 games on grass.
- Over is 10-4 in Crimson Tide last 14 bowl games.
- Over is 4-1 in Bulldogs last 5 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Bulldogs last 5 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Bulldogs last 8 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game.
- Under is 15-5 in Bulldogs last 20 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 19-7 in Bulldogs last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 8-3 in Bulldogs last 11 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Bulldogs last 7 conference games.
- Under is 18-8 in Bulldogs last 26 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 20-9 in Bulldogs last 29 games after allowing more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 19-9 in Bulldogs last 28 games on grass.
- Underdog is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
- Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Road team is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
