SEC Championship Game 2023: Early Preview, Predictions for Georgia vs. Alabama
The two titans of the SEC will square off for the second time in three years in the SEC Championship Game.
The Georgia Bulldogs enter Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as the team to beat in college football once again.
Kirby Smart's team owns a 29-game winning streak, a run that began after the 2021 SEC title game loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Alabama took a tougher path to reach Atlanta, as it sat in a vulnerable position after a Week 2 loss to the Texas Longhorns.
Nick Saban's team won 10 straight games and it is alive for the College Football Playoff after its dramatic win over the Auburn Tigers on Saturday.
An Alabama win would throw some chaos into the CFB Playoff conversation, but that may not even happen if UGA plays at its best.
Georgia Looking for 30th Straight Win
1 of 3
Georgia's last loss occurred two years ago in Atlanta against Alabama.
The Bulldogs avenged that defeat in the 2022 CFB Playoff National Championship and they have not played the Crimson Tide since that rematch.
Georgia went undefeated on its title run last season and captured all of its regular-season contests in 2023.
The two-time reigning national champion answered a majority of the questions about it over the last month.
Quarterback Carson Beck evolved in his role in place of the graduated Stetson Bennett, and he has done so with a ton of top-tier talents at his disposal.
Beck and Co. eclipsed the 30-point mark in each of its last seven games. The junior quarterback had at least 250 passing yards in six of those contests.
Beck only had 175 passing yards on Saturday, but that was because the UGA rushing attack thrived against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Kendall Milton's 156 yards led a 262-yard effort on the ground that created some momentum for the ground attack ahead of the Alabama clash.
If UGA is at its best in both aspects of the offense, it will be difficult to beat. Its offense is the dominant unit this season, which is a change from the defense controlling things in the last two seasons.
Alabama Needs Win to Have Playoff Shot
2 of 3
Alabama almost lost its chance to play for the CFB Playoff in Atlanta in the Iron Bowl, but it eked out a win over Auburn with a last-minute heave from Jalen Milroe to Isaiah Bond.
Alabama should be No. 8 in the new CFB Playoff rankings since only one team in front of them lost. That one team was the Ohio State Buckeyes, who lost a one-possession game to the Michigan Wolverines.
The Crimson Tide need a win over UGA to be in the playoff conversation on Selection Sunday.
There is a chance that the final playoff spot could come down to Alabama and the team that beat it in Week 2, Texas.
To beat Georgia, Milroe must be at his best. The Crimson Tide quarterback completed over 65 percent of his passes and threw for multiple touchdowns in each of his last three games.
Milroe's legs could hurt the UGA defense as well, especially if the Bulldogs try to clog the middle of the interior.
Wide receiver Jermaine Burton, a Georgia transfer, could be the key to victory. He is coming off back-to-back 100-yard performances.
Regardless of who steps up, the Crimson Tide need a perfect performance in all areas of their game to win their second SEC title in three years.
Prediction
3 of 3
Georgia 31, Alabama 20
Georgia's offense is the star of the team this season, and that should show on the Atlanta turf.
Saturday's success on the ground should inject more confidence into the offense that it can beat Alabama in every way possible with its offense.
Alabama displayed more flaws throughout the season, and as it did on Saturday, it has had to pull out some close wins.
Georgia looked dominant in a majority of its victories, and if that form holds, it should capture the SEC crown and eliminate a potential chaos scenario in the CFB Playoff.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
