Alabama vs. Georgia: Preview, Prediction for 2018 College Football Championship
The wait is over for the biggest game of the college football season.
The No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs will face off in the fourth College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Alabama is no stranger to the big stage, as it has won four national championships in eight years under head coach Nick Saban. A fifth trophy with the team would tie Saban with Paul "Bear" Bryant for most won by a head coach with six after he also won one with LSU in 2003.
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The resurgent Bulldogs have moved back into the national spotlight in head coach Kirby Smart's second season, and they are in search of their first national title since 1980.
Date: Monday, January 8
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
Game Will Be Won in the Trenches
Alabama and Georgia contain similar strengths on the interior.
The Crimson Tide have a dominant front seven on defense led by defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne and linebacker Mack Wilson. Alabama's offensive line is no joke either as it is led by second-team All-American Bradley Bozeman and third-team All-American Jonah Williams.
Georgia has found success in the ground game thanks to an offensive line led by senior left tackle Isaiah Wynn and freshman right tackle Andrew Thomas.
Defensively, the Bulldogs receive plenty of praise for the play of linebackers Roquan Smith and Lorenzo Carter, but they also have a strong defensive line anchored by Jonathan Ledbetter and John Atkins.
The first offensive line to properly handle the threat of the opposing front seven could set its team up for victory. Since a close game is expected, any inch of momentum gained will be critical.
Georgia's offensive line has the tougher head-to-head task since Alabama's front seven is so imposing. If the Bulldogs can absorb the initial pressure from the defensive line, they will allow their running backs to move away from the line of scrimmage and potentially pop a big play.
Alabama will be tested in a different regard, as its blocking schemes have to be executed properly in order to prevent the blitzes from Georgia's linebackers affecting quarterback Jalen Hurts. If the Crimson Tide can shut down the threat of the Georgia front seven, it could allow Hurts to have a big game with his arm and legs.
Running Backs Poised for Success
Earning the upper hand on the line will be important for both teams because the biggest impact players on each roster are at running back.
Georgia running backs Sony Michel and Nick Chubb have 2,449 combined rushing yards and produced 48 percent of the Bulldogs' touchdowns.
Running back Damien Harris of Alabama is 17 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark, while Hurts has scampered for 808 yards. Bo Scarbrough is also an asset at running back, as he's gained 573 yards on the ground.
Both teams also relied on their running games to advance to the national championship game. Georgia had 317 rushing yards in the Rose Bowl, while Alabama picked up 141 yards on the ground in the Sugar Bowl.
The game plans of the SEC powers will rely heavily on the running backs, but they will each use a different style to get by the opposing defense. Chubb and Michel will attempt to pound the ball through the middle of the Alabama defensive line, while Hurts adds an extra element to Alabama's attack with his ability to elude defenders in the pocket.
There's a chance both teams could find success on the ground, but the timing of the big plays from the stars in the backfield will be vital.
If Georgia Goes Ahead, It Must Punish Alabama
The one team you don't want to leave around entering the fourth quarter is Alabama.
Georgia has the talent on its roster to run the Crimson Tide defense to the ground and open up a multiple-score advantage.
The Bulldogs don't have to worry about their stars getting tired since they have two standout running backs in Chubb and Michel. With that in mind, the Bulldogs should try to push the tempo to wear down Alabama's front seven.
Quarterback Jake Fromm will be tasked to make a few throws in key situations, and if he picks out his receivers and opens up the Crimson Tide secondary, the Bulldogs could march down the field with ease.
If everything goes right for the Bulldogs in the first half, they must use the third quarter to finish off Alabama. If the Crimson Tide lurk around in a close game, they'll use their big-game experience to force turnovers and possibly spur a title-winning comeback.
Prediction: Alabama 21, Georgia 17
Alabama's front seven will be too much for Georgia to handle, and second-half adjustments by the Bulldogs will come too late with the Crimson Tide ahead by double digits at halftime.
Georgia's points will come through Chubb and Michel in the second half, but it will fall just short of knocking off the Crimson Tide.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
All statistics obtained from ESPN.com.
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