Georgia (13-1) vs Alabama (13-1)
When: Monday, January 10th 2022
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium,
Indianapolis, IN
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Georgia -1/52
The stage is set with a familiar rivalry that I know a lot of people are getting sick and tired of. It’s an All-SEC National Championship game this coming Monday from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis between the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide. Each team has played one game since Alabama routed the Bulldogs 41-24 in last month’s SEC title game. The Tide knocked off Cincinnati 27-6 in its CFP semifinal while the Bulldogs destroyed Michigan 34-11. Former Nick Saban assistant at Alabama, Kirby Smart, is trying to beat the Crimson Tide for the first time. He is 0-for-4 so far including a 26-23 double-overtime loss in the 2017 championship game. Despite the record and blowout loss to Bama last month, the Bulldogs are currently 3-point favorites to knock off the Tide.
The Crimson Tide are defending champions and are looking for their fourth title in the eight years since the playoffs started. Saban has won six championships at Alabama and one with LSU. The offense was on fire in the SEC title game, handing Georgia their first loss and more than doubling anything the Bulldogs defense had allowed all season. Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young passed for 421 yards and three touchdowns and Jameson Williams had seven receptions for 184 yards and two scores in that one. A 24-22 quadruple-overtime comeback win over Auburn on Nov. 27 is a game everyone can look back on and ask ‘what if’. Georgia is looking to win the title for the first time since Herschel Walker led the 1980 team to an undefeated 12-0 season. The underdog is 7-1 against the spread in the past eight meetings.
Georgia’s 34-11 over Michigan in the Orange Bowl was the school’s largest margin over victory over a Top 10 team in 80 years. Michigan was one of the top rushing teams in the country but was held to 91 yards on 27 carries. Award winners Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean lead a unit that has allowed an FBS low 12 touchdowns this season and scored three itself. They held the Wolverines to just 328 total yards and also forced three turnovers. The Bulldogs controlled the contest and the Wolverines scored their lone touchdown with 4:25 remaining. Georgia has held eight opponents to seven or fewer points this season. Quarterback Stetson Bennett bounced back from a rough SEC title game by throwing for 313 yards and three scores with no picks vs. Michigan. Georgia is 7-2 against the spread in its last 9 bowl games.
#CFPlayoff championship game #FreePick between @AlabamaFTBL and @GeorgiaFootball pic.twitter.com/KmP8Pl949u
— UltimateCapper.com (@ucapper) January 10, 2022
Saban is 25-1 all-time against his former assistant coaches with the lone loss coming this season to Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M. Saban’s streak of being favored in 21 straight bowls or playoff games will come to an end with Georgia being 3-point favorites. Saban is 7-2 SU all-time in national title games with both losses coming to Clemson. The Tide were 13.5-point favorites in their Cotton Bowl win over Cincinnati. Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 204 yards and Young threw for three scores. Luke Fickell’s Bearcats were the only undefeated team in the country, but were no match for the Tide. Alabama is loaded with deep threats including Williams, Slade Bolden, and Ja’Corey Brooks. Young ended the season with 4,503 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, while Will Anderson, Jr. paced the defense with 17.5 sacks.
We’ve seen what Alabama did to Georgia’s dominant defense a month ago and I don’t know why the Bulldogs are favored. Former Saban assistants just don’t beat him and Smart is 0-4. The Bama offense will be too much for Georgia.
Pick: Alabama +3
