The Georgia Bulldogs are now two games into the five-game “Murder’s Row” they have in the middle of their schedule. After knocking off two top 15 teams in the Auburn Tigers and Tennessee Vols at home in consecutive weeks, the Bulldogs will be facing their toughest challenge of the 2020 regular season. A road trip to Tuscaloosa is never an easy task, but when it is to face the #2 team in the nation, it is much tougher. And so we have the Georgia vs Alabama preview for you. The matchup between the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide is easily the must-watch game of the weekend and potentially the biggest game of the season.
Georgia Bulldogs vs Alabama Crimson Tide Preview
This will almost certainly be the first of two, maybe even three, meetings of the two teams this season. The two are the favorites to win their divisions, and with the way things are looking, they could both be playoff teams once it is all said and done. Another interesting wrinkle in the game is that Alabama head coach Nick Saban will likely not be on the sideline this weekend following a positive Covid-19 test. Alabama currently sits as a four-point favorite, according to Bovada. The Crimson Tide are also favored by ESPN’s Football Power Index, which gives Alabama a 60.6% chance to win the game.
When Georgia Has The Ball
Georgia’s offense will once again likely be led by Stetson Bennett. While it would not be all that surprising to see Kirby Smart pull a sneaky move by switching quarterbacks without anyone expecting it, it is more likely that he sticks with the guy who has won the first three games of the season. The offense is also expected to be getting junior running back James Cook back after he missed the game against the Vols with a shoulder injury.
Bennett will likely be required to step up and perform at a higher level than he has thus far. But he will have the help of a great group of receivers. George Pickens is always a threat as we saw last year, even if his maturity is sometimes in question. However, one guy has been Bennett’s go-to receiver all season. That receiver is redshirt sophomore, Kearis Jackson. Jackson currently has 19 catches, which is 11 more than Pickens in second, and 300 receiving yards, which is more than 200 more than Pickens has picked up. According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson is also the third-highest rated SEC player and the top-rated SEC receiver so far this season.
This season, Alabama’s defense has definitely not looked quite as formidable as it usually does. Alabama currently has the 44th ranked scoring defense and have given up the 66th most yards per game. That is out of the only 76 FBS teams who have played so far. The defense seems to be a shell of what it usually is. This weaker Alabama Crimson Tide defense will play right into the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs
When Alabama Has The Ball
The other side of the ball will likely be where the game is going to be won or lost. The Georgia defense is among the best the program has seen. And that comes a year after they had the number one scoring defense in the nation. So far this season, Georgia has the 6th best scoring defense with the second least yards per game. That is after playing back to back ranked opponents. The defense will be led by senior safety Richard Lecounte and junior defensive back Eric Stokes in the secondary. Both of those players have already racked up two interceptions each so far this season.
Closer to the line, Azeez Ojulari will be important for the Bulldogs as they look to put pressure on quarterback Mac Jones. Ojulari currently leads the Bulldogs with three sacks so far, more than half of his total from last season already. Georgia currently has 10 sacks overall and will most certainly be looking to knock Jones off of his game by adding to that total.
That will not be an easy task, however. Alabama currently has the top scoring offense in the nation with the third-most yards per game. Jones and his current favorite target, Jaylen Waddle, are not Georgia’s only concern either. Senior running back Najee Harris currently leads the nation in rushing touchdowns with 10 through the first three games. Harris is also averaging 6.7 yards per carry. Luckily, Georgia’s rush defense has been solid so far this season. The Bulldogs have allowed just 38.3 yards per game, which is best in the nation by a good margin. This is helped by the fact that the Bulldogs were able to hold Tennessee to -1 rushing yard in their matchup this past weekend.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this is certainly a game that will have everyone’s attention. The best defense in the nation will be squaring off with one of the best offenses in the nation. It will be a top-three matchup between the two best teams the SEC has to offer. The match-up is almost certainly a preview of the SEC Championship later this year and could be a preview of a potential College Football Playoff game. It should be neck and neck the whole way, making things incredibly interesting even for those who are not invested in either team.
