Kirby Smart on ailing Alabama offense: They're not recruiting players who can't play in the SEC

While many people might think Alabama’s close-call against Auburn in the Iron Bowl guarantees Georgia a victory in the SEC Championship game, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is not fooled by Alabama’s bad offensive performance on Saturday night. In Sunday’s SEC Championship game teleconference, Smart said he is aware of just how dangerous the Crimson Tide are on offense.

“I know the type of quarterback that we’re up against. I know the skill at receivers that we’re up against, the running backs they have, the tight ends, the O-line. They’re not recruiting players that can’t play in the SEC over there. So they’ve got a tremendous staff and a tremendous offense,” Smart said.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban was overjoyed with the Iron Bowl victory

Alabama head coach Nick Saban was gushing with excitement once his team finally completed a 24-22 comeback that took his team four overtimes to win the game.

“I can’t tell you,” Saban told CBS reporter Jamie Erdahl after chuckling. “I can’t put it into words. I mean for the guys to keep fighting like they did and to have the 90-yard something drive to tie the game up to get it to overtime. I tell you what. The players — I was so proud of the way they competed in the game and fought. We said that’s what we wanted to do at halftime and I couldn’t be prouder of them. It was unbelievable.”

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is still, Bryce Young. He’s been a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy for much of the college football season. He still tossed a stone-cold dagger with 24 seconds left in the Iron Bowl to tie it at 10-10. The Alabama offense had one of its worst performances in the past decade under Nick Saban, so Georgia shouldn’t bet on that happening in back-to-back games. Kirby Smart is not letting the bad game fool him and he knows the Alabama offense is loaded with a number of weapons at all the skill positions.

Georgia wide receiver George Pickens returns

During their regular-season finale against Georgia Tech, the Bulldogs got their best receiver back in the lineup, George Pickens. He tore his ACL last spring, one of many Georgia wideouts to suffer the injury in the past year. His return is a major boost to the Bulldogs’ passing attack. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart recently spoke about his star receiver’s return. “Well first, I’m just glad of the effort George has been putting into getting back,” Smart said. “He’s worked really hard. We know guys on the team that have had ACLs. It’s a mental injury as much as it is a physical injury. It’s taxing, and it’s draining to sit there and watch all of your friends play in the spring and play the spring game and then go play in the fall. And you’re sitting there doing rehab all the time.”

Georgia and Alabama face-off in the SEC Championship game on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. EST from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh and Ashton Pollard also contributed to this report.