Alabama at Georgia picks made by College GameDay podcast

Predictions for Saturday’s monster showdown between Alabama and Georgia are in from the College GameDay Podcast. All three are in sync when it comes to who is going to win. Rece Davis, Ryan McGee, and Pete Thamel are going with Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs. However, all three provided different outlooks.

McGee harped on the road struggles for Kalen DeBoer in recent times. Between last season and the opener against Florida State, there are five Alabama losses away from Tuscaloosa on the resume. And walking into a place where 33 straight games have resulted in a Georgia win, McGee only sees one outcome.

“He can’t win on the road,” McGee said. “Until his teams prove to me they can win any game on the road, let alone going between the hedges. I think this is Georgia and it might not be that close.”

Davis pushed back on the narrative against DeBoer, pointing toward some of his successes at Washington. The College GameDay host expects Alabama to wind up playing well and maybe restore some faith in what’s to come this season. However, he still picks against them.

“Kalen DeBoer has not won on the road at Alabama,” Davis said. “He’s won at Oregon. He’s won in front of a pro-Texas crowd in the Sugar Bowl against Texas. I think Alabama plays great. I think Alabama plays well enough to win but doesn’t. I’m going to take Georgia to win the game. But I think most of the questions about Alabama will be erased.”

Last but not least, Thamel predicts a bit of a defensive battle. Maybe unusual given how much conversation around the two quarterbacks — Ty Simpson and Gunnar Stockton. But Thamel believes a “slog” will break out in Athens. You have to believe Smart will be quite comfortable in such game compared to the offensive-minded DeBoer.

“I think it is close but I think Georgia wins,” Thamel said. “I think it’s low scoring and I think it’s going to end up being a good old-fashioned slog. I’m going to take Georgia in a 20-13-type game.”

GameDay will not be on the scene, opting for Penn State vs. Oregon in State College. Still, there might not be a game in college football with more on the line than this one. Georgia will walk onto the field favored and Daivs, McGee, and Thamel expect them to walk off as winners.