For this SEC championship week special edition of Prestipino’s Picks, I will be previewing Alabama’s conference title game showdown with Georgia and breaking down the latest rankings dropped Tuesday by the College Football Playoff Ranking Committee.
SEC Championship: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 3 Georgia: Dec. 6, 3 p.m. CT.
It’s Groundhog Day. The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs will meet once again to crown an SEC champion at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
“This game definitely holds a lot of weight,” defensive lineman Tim Keenan III said. “We’re used to playing in big-time moments, especially being here at Alabama where every week is kind of like an SEC Championship because you know we get everybody’s best game.”
While Georgia is fighting to lock up a first round bye, the Crimson Tide is looking to win to guarantee its spot in the College Football Playoff field. Ranked No. 9, Alabama could get jumped by other teams on the bubble if it were to lose the game, but jumping Notre Dame in the most recent rankings certainly provides a cushion.
“The debate between Notre Dame and Alabama over the past three weeks has been one of the strongest debates we’ve had in the room in the last two years that I’ve been a member of the committee,” CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek said. “Alabama went on the road in a rivalry game and looked really good.”
Winning the conference will require quite the undertaking from the Crimson Tide, as it looks to beat Georgia for the second time this season.
“We’ve got to understand that this isn’t the same team that we played a couple months ago,” quarterback Ty Simpson said. “They’ve found a new identity. They’ve got it rolling. We got to go in and understand that our mindset doesn’t need to change, that this is going to be a heavyweight fight.”
A key on the offensive side of the ball will be Alabama’s improved rushing attack. The Crimson Tide could not run the ball in the team’s last meeting, but there has been a noticeable improvement from the country’s 103rd rated rushing offense. The health of running back Jam Miller will be critical to the team’s success, but the tailback was seen on crutches after leaving last week’s game early. Expect running back Daniel Hill to be featured often on Saturday.
Keenan said that, on the defensive side of the ball, he and his teammates need to trust their “keys.” He noted that the unit is “focused on the small things” this week and expects a “great game.”
At the end of the day this game could come down to what it came down to in the team’s last meeting, third and fourth down. The team went 13-19 on third down on Sept. 27, constantly moving the chains and giving itself more opportunities to score.
“Ty Simpson showed up just as he has all season. When you needed him on third and fourth down, he made it happen,” On3’s Andy Staples said. “That’s why it’s hard to pick against Alabama knowing that he’s there and can do that.”
The old adage says it’s tough to beat the same team twice, but Alabama will narrowly get it done and will leave no doubt as to whether or not it should get to play for a national title.
“We’re going to make sure we handle business on our own end and not leave it up to the committee to make decisions for us,” Keenan said.
Prediction: Alabama 21, Georgia 20
Where to watch: ABC
