Two weeks ago, the SEC Championship Game was solidified. Alabama clinched the SEC West title with a 49 to 21 victory over Kentucky that morning. Georgia stamped the SEC East crown with a 52 to 17 win over Ole Miss later that night. Since then, we’ve watched both teams make history. Alabama defeated Chattanooga to mark their 16th consecutive 10 win season – an NCAA record. This past Saturday, they defeated in-state nemesis Auburn in the Iron Bowl to secure their 13th consecutive 11 win season. Georgia tied the SEC record for consecutive conference wins (27) after a throttling of rival Tennessee.

Over the coming days, there’ll be plenty of speculation about who the better team is, game predictions, and banter. While that’s all fun and a large part about what makes these games special, I’d like to take a peak into the area where each team has a weakness and how the other team can exploit those. When teams of this caliber are engaged in battle, matchups will always be the name of the game. There’s no shortage of NFL level talent for both teams in all three facets of the game.

Who excels in the creativity – or, realizing they don’t have to be overly creative – will be the victor.  Sometimes, less is more. Undoubtedly, there’s a feeling out process coaches and players go through in the beginning of these contests, but once the nerves are out and the opening scripts are out of material, we’ll see who adjusts best. Making the necessary changes or having the gumption to stay with what is successful and not overthinking the moment will be paramount.

Key Matchups

Georgia OL vs Alabama DL (Strength vs Strength)

Georgia’s offensive line is arguably the best in the nation as a unit. However, if there is a weak spot, it’s at left tackle. Projected first round pick Amarius Mims has returned to the line up at right tackle and has re-announced himself to be in the form we saw from the Ohio State game in last year’s College Football Playoff that had the draft community buzzing. On the interior, Georgia features the best center in the country in Sedrick Van Pran. Alabama’s features an EDGE duo of Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell that is the best in the country. IDL/EDGE hybrid Justin Eboigbe has been a key cog to the engine of the Alabama defense and thrusted himself up draft boards. Nose tackle Tim Kennan III has become a stalwart in the middle of one of the nation’s very best defenses. The depth of the Alabama front is something Georgia hasn’t yet faced. Georgia’s offensive line is unquestionably the best that Alabama has seen despite having faced Texas and LSU.

The kicker in this matchup is Georgia’s QB and OC. Offensive Coordinator Mike Bobo has been exceptional at dialing up plays that are both quick hitting and also highly efficient. Carson Beck has proven to be the ideal trigger man for that style of play. Beck has the quickest time to throw in the country at 2.37 seconds. So, while Georgia’s offensive line is without a doubt exceptional, they don’t have to hold blocks as long. Alabama is also the first top 20 defense the Bulldogs will have to face this year. Alabama has four NFL quality defensive backs in the back end that should be able to slow down the vaunted time to throw even if it’s just a smidge. This is where we’ll get to see arguably the best offensive line and best pass rush in America engage – I fully expect the winner of this battle to have a much improved chance of victory.

Alabama Tackling in Space vs Georgia Quick Game & Misdirection (Weakness vs Strength)

Admittedly, this facet of Alabama’s defense has visibly improved since their loss to Texas Week 2, but still remains a question mark and certainly posses a serious challenge. In the Texas game, Steve Sarkisian did an incredible job at attacking the base structure of Alabama’s defense. Nick Saban and Kevin Steele are both creatures of habit, but more importantly principle (as is Kirby Smart). They don’t make many changes with out necessity. By attacking the flats with the quick passing game, Texas not only slowed the game down for their quarterback: they effectively eliminated most pass rush situations, forced linebackers to run and cover a lot of grass, dared defensive backs to get off blocks, and maybe most of all, stayed ahead of the chains and chewed clock.

Again, while Alabama has seemingly made the necessary adjustments since that game, it hasn’t been visibly structural. Whether through identification/communication, personnel changes (namely linebacker), or just pure desire and gumption, they’ve turned the corner. Against South Florida, Ole Miss, Tennessee, & LSU – all of which rank in the top 18 in total offense in the country, they’ve not only been great tackling in space, they’ve not given up more 28 points in those contests. The issues that plagued them in their only defeat have been improved, but Georgia would be remiss if they didn’t test just how improved it is. I’d except a heavy does of Ladd McConkey quick game early, then building off those concepts to find mismatches in space such a Brock Bowers and Oscar Delp. Both teams must enforce their will here to succeed come game time.

Alabama Vertical Passing Game vs Georgia Pass Rush (Strength vs Weakness)

Alabama Quarterback Jalen Milroe has improved as much as any player in college football over the course of this season. One of the most glaring improvements has been in the vertical passing game. He always showed flashes, but at College Station against Texas A&M, he elevated this aspect of his game and never looked back. Now, at 11-1 and in the SEC Championship game, Milroe sits at the 2nd highest yards per attempt in the NCAA – only behind Heisman front runner Jayden Daniels. Milroe also has the longest time to throw in the country at 3.48 seconds. Some of that time is due to improvements along the offensive line, some of it is due to his freakish athletic ability, & some would say it’s due to teams sacrificing a pass rusher to spy him.

Regardless, Milroe mainly has time to throw, and when he does, great things happen. Milroe is 3rd in the country in passing efficiency, 5th in the country in yards per completion, and only a 2.53 INT%. Alabama WR Jermaine Burton is 2nd in the NCAA with 22.7 yards per reception. TE Amari Niblack is averaging 17 yards per reception & WR Isaiah Bond is averaging 14 yards per reception. While I think Georgia’s DB’s are extremely impressive, rangy, and instinctive players, history tells us no one can cover all areas of the field for long consistently. It’ll be on a Georgia pass rush that isn’t bad by any means, but also isn’t dominant to elevate their game to another level. Sack numbers can be misleading, so they shouldn’t be used as a negative against Georgia as they’re very disruptive. They most certainly have the talent to have a stellar showing and undoubtedly have the coaching to do so. Defensive Coordinator Glenn Schumann is a mastermind of deploying simulated pressures and confusing offensive lineman and quarterbacks alike. This will be a battle to monitor for all four quarters.

Synopsis
As always, there’s several factors that will determine the outcome of the game. There’s no one area that will ever win or lose you a ball game. Turnovers, special teams, 3rd down conversions, 4th down attempts, game management, officiating, and potential injuries will all affect the outcome. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles in this sport. You need a multitude of things to go you way. It will no doubt be a sixty minute affair. Even still, I expect the team that can win these three battles to be the team that emerges victorious in the Mercedes-Benz Dome come Saturday.