On the one hand, the eternal subscribers to the great classic: the Crimson Tide of Alabama, with six appearances and three conquests in the last seven years. On the other hand, the Georgia Bulldogs, in search of a first coronation since 1980. The national football championship in the NCAA promises a colossal shock tonight in Indianapolis.
• Read also: NFL: Colts’ epic collapse
• Read also: Raiders playoff following crazy duel with Chargers
Georgia has a long wait, but it still isn’t the Great Famine, and the program is far from the latest. The defense was by far the best in the country last season with an average of 9.6 points conceded per game.
Not for nothing that the Bulldogs are favorites in this game by a meager three-point margin.
Since Kirby Smart left his mentor Nick Saban in 2015, with whom he had worked in Alabama for eight years, he has never been able to defeat his pet peeve.
The powerful Crimson Tide have won the last seven encounters, including one overtime victory at the 2017 national championship and three in the SEC conference finals (the last of which in December by a score of 41-24). Smart, for its part, is 0-4 once morest its former boss.
Photo AFP
Ja’Corey Brooks and Jameson Williams of Crimson Tide
However, his defense made three shutouts in the last campaign and allowed no more than 17 points in the regular season, before the recent collapse once morest the Alabama team. However, this unit regained its true colors in the semifinals once morest the Michigan team, in an unequivocal 34-11 victory.
Georgia’s offense is looked down upon by many as the defense has taken over, but it still registered 38.8 points per game. Since quarterback Stetson Bennett took over from JT Daniels, the results have been more convincing.
A different team
For his part, Saban claims seven national titles, including six in Alabama. He will try to clinch two titles in a row for the first time since the championships of 2011 and 2012, question of cementing his legend even more.
The current Crimson Tide is by no means the most dominant formation of the Saban era. Snatch wins over Florida, LSU, Arkansas and Auburn, in addition to a surprise loss to Texas A&M, have shown signs of mortality.
Except in their last two critical games once morest Georgia in the SEC championship and once morest Cincinnati in the national semifinals, Alabama has dominated 68-30. The defense may not be the best of days, but its offense is. formidable with the third highest average of points scored (41.4).
Quarterback Bryce Young, in his first season as a starter, broke team records with 46 touchdown passes and 4,503 yards. And precisely, once morest Georgia, he was smoking the entire game with 421 yards and three touchdowns, for an astronomical average of 16.2 yards per completed pass.
Georgia’s brutal defense rarely misstated or a chronic inability to resolve a rival like Tide? This is one of the big questions accompanying this duel at the top.
30 Alabama (C) 23 Georgia
Whether it’s players who will quickly find takers in the next NFL Draft or talent that will emerge in the years to come, the National Championship is full of young people who will play a key role in the flow of the game. Here are a few that are worth watching.
James Cook
The Bulldogs’ traditionally solid ground offense may be led by Zamir White (772 rushing yards, 10 TDs), but James Cook is the jack-of-all-trades. In addition to a similar production by the rush (651 yards, seven touchdowns), the fourth-year player – and brother of Vikings forward Dalvin Cook – added 25 receptions for 269 yards and four touchdowns. It excels at many forms of plotting.
Brock Bowers
The young Georgia tight end is set to be a draft star in a few years, and already in his debut season, he’s impressed with 52 receptions for 846 yards and 12 touchdowns. Georgia’s attack is one of the few to make it to the national final without a real dominant wide-winger. Bowers will therefore play an important role in filling this gap. He excels following the catch.
Travon Walker
Walker is a defensive end capable of playing both indoors and outdoors. Its aptitude to counter the race is not denied. His six loss tackles this season show he can live in the backfield. However, it should not be believed that it might not affect Bryce Young and the aerial game. With five quarterback sacks and 19 presses, he’s instrumental in Georgia’s formidable defensive front.
Jordan Davis
He’s the 6’6 ”, 340-pound hunk at the heart of the Bulldogs’ defensive line, the kind of bully who blows up the pocket. He became only the third player to inherit the Outland Trophy, awarded to best lineman, and the Bednarik Trophy, awarded to best defensive player. To give an idea, the only ones to have achieved such a feat are Ndamukong Suh (2009) and Aaron Donald (2013).
Nakobe Dean
If he has a game similar to the one he had in the semifinals once morest Michigan, his already high odds for the next draft will explode. Dean will be a coveted first-round linebacker. He has exceptional flair and a speed that allows him to cross the court from one end to the other to make the tackle. His 68 tackles, six quarterback sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles demonstrate his versatility.
Jameson Williams
It is arguably the most dangerous weapon in the Tide’s air arsenal, especially knowing that John Metchie is on the sidelines. Williams had given Georgia a headache in the conference final with long touchdowns of 67 and 55 yards. His average of 20.1 yards per reception shows just how much of a constant threat he is to make the big play. Others like Slade Bolden will have to make up for Metchie’s loss.
Brian Robinson
Robinson may not have garnered as much attention this season as Najee Harris had before him in the Crimson Tide backfield, but his 204-yard performance once morest Cincinnati in the semifinals shows he doesn’t. should not be taken lightly. This will be a whole different command, however, once morest Georgia’s defensive front. He was also limited to 55 yards on 16 carries in the last duel.
Evan Neal
Of the many players in this duel who will be selected in the first round of the next NFL Draft, tackle Evan Neal should be the first to hear his name resonate. A sturdy 6’7 ”, 350lb guy, he will be one of the keys to the main battle in this game: that of the Alabama offensive line once morest the Georgia defensive line. The Tide’s attacking line is dealing with a few injuries, and Neal, in good health, will have to insure.
Will Anderson Jr.
In his sophomore year, Anderson exploded with 17.5 quarterback sacks, an NCAA-high. The outside linebacker also dominated with 34.5 tackles for a loss, a colossal total! If he’s that dominant once morest Georgia, quarterback Stetson Bennett will need to have the lightning quickdraw. Along with Christian Harris and Henry To’oTo’o, Anderson and the linebacker squad will be a headache for Georgia.
Jordan Battle
The biggest defensive gap, for both Georgia and Alabama, lies in the two tertiaries of these opponents. On the Crimson Tide side, the marauder Jordan Battle is however a player to watch. He also scored a touchdown on an interception in the last duel once morest Georgia, one of his three interceptions this season. He should be one of the first marauders drafted.
