SEC Championship Game Preview

With a status as a probable BCS title game play-in , its array of ramifications and intangibles, and with most of the nation's eyes focused on it this weekend, Saturday's Southeastern Conference Championship Game between No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia is shaping up as an epic battle in the Georgia Dome. It is also a game that is difficult  to pick, as I have been going back and forth on a possible winner ever since the matchup between Nick Saban's Crimson Tide and Mark Richt's Bulldogs was officially set in stone. 

 

The Bulldogs appear to be playing their best football of the year at the current time, and have one of the most impressive wins of the season, with a win over the Florida Gators under their belts. This was a particularly noteworthy win for the Bulldogs as Richt's teams have often in the past been described as "soft," or at least not built for overly physical games or opponents.  The Bulldogs will have to prove that they can engage in that type of battle once again against the Crimson Tide, while also trying to gain the SEC crown which eluded them last season when they fell short in the championship tilt against the LSU Tigers. 

 

That will be a formidable test for Georgia, as Alabama seems to have regained a swagger that went into hiding during struggles against LSU and Texas A & M.  Of course neither of Bama's last two opponents, Western Carolina and Auburn, proved to be much of a test for the Crimson Tide, both falling 49-0, but the inexplicable upsets of Kansas State and Oregon that paved the way for the Crimson Tide to get squarely back into the national championship picture seems to have breathed new life into this Alabama team.  Although Alabama lost yet another key weapon to injury against Auburn in Kenny Bell, the Tide still seems to be playing with a quicker step and a greater energy level over the course of the past two games and will have most of its main playmakers on offense and defense healthy and focused for this SEC showdown.

 

This game is shaping up to perhaps be one of the most memorable in the history of the SEC title game, as both teams have their sights intensely focused on a possible meeting with No. 1 Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game in Miami. 

Athough it has talented playmakers all over the field defensively, Georgia's fortunes often are dictated by the play of talented but sometimes erratic quarterback Aaron Murray. Although blessed with a great arm and an impressive field presence generally, Murray has also been known to self-destruct with key turnovers at times, and typically against tougher SEC competition. This would prove to be a recipe for disaster against an Alabama defense which has been vulnerable at times this season, but has also had much more success this season in taking the ball away.  The Bulldogs also have a very solid running attack led by a pair of young talents in Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, but I don't think it is an attack that can simply run at will against the Bama defense or wear it out.  Murray will have to make a lot of plays and he must show poise and not wilt against what will likely be a confusing defensive scheme concocted by Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. 

 

Defensively Georgia will likely have to bring more pressure than usual to try to slow down a Bama offense that has been crisp and balanced during its past couple of games and keep that offense off the field as much as possible early to prevent the Tide from perhaps later wearing it down with the running tandem of Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon.

 

Both teams will likely start the game with a few jitters and missteps due to the enormity of the contest and what is at stake for both teams. But unlike the Bulldogs, the Crimson Tide has been pretty much accustomed to such atmospheres and ramifications ever since Saban began his tenure at the Capstone, and the value of that fact cannot be measured. 

 

Games such as this also often come down to turnovers, and although Georgia is playing at a very high and confident level right now, I have a bit more confidence in the Crimson Tide's ability to limit mistakes, penalties and that sort of thing.

 

Ultimately I feel that will be the difference between these two fine teams, as although I have been greatly tempted to pick Georgia to pull off the upset, Alabama's experience in pressure situations will lift it just enough to gain the conference crown and the BCS title game shot at the Fighting Irish.

 

Alabama 20, Georgia 17