David Pollack picks Georgia to beat Alabama

In a loaded Week 5 slate, No. 17 Alabama versus No. 5 Georgia is the headline matchup. On the See Ball Get Ball podcast, college football expert David Pollack made his pick for the marquee showdown.

“I got Georgia, 31-28,” Pollack said. “I think it’s going to be close. I think it’s really pick ’em game, but the pass rush for Georgia is going to have to play better. And when they get there, they’re going to have to get Simpson on the ground. Both of them, when they get to the quarterbacks, they better get them on the ground, because they’re both really good athletes that can scramble and make plays.”

After Week 1, most analysts would’ve predicted Georgia to easily handle the Crimson Tide. Alabama suffered a season-opening 31-17 loss to Florida State. It was a shocking outcome, considering the Seminoles went 2-10 last season.

Alas, as the season has progressed, FSU has continued to look like a formidable foe. Moreover, Alabama’s proven it is not the subpar team that many fans seemed to think it was after Week 1.

In Week 3, the Crimson Tide dominated Wisconsin in an emphatic 38-14 win. While the victory was impressive, Alabama doesn’t have as nearly as good a win this season as Georgia’s 44-41 victory over Tennessee in Week 3.

It was a slugfest between the two SEC powerhouses, but Georgia ultimately emerged victorious in overtime after Tennessee’s kicker missed a game-winning field-goal attempt at the end of regulation. In the win, Georgia QB Gunner Stockton put on a show, completing 23-of-his-31 pass attempts for 304 yards and two touchdowns, without throwing an interception.

Alas, as Pollack mentioned, Stockton won’t be the only talented quarterback in Sanford Stadium this Saturday. Alabama QB Ty Simpson has been spectacular this season, completing 71.9% of his pass attempts for 862 total yards and nine touchdowns, while throwing no interceptions.

He also has one rushing touchdown. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart knows it won’t be easy to slow down Simpson on Saturday.

“I would say he’s probably the hottest quarterback right now in all of college football,” Smart said of Simpson. “His two last outings I don’t know if I’ve seen an incompletion that the ball does not hit the ground.

“He’s been accurate. He’s been quick with the ball. They’re really hard to defend because of their skill. They’ve got tremendous skill receivers, backs, tight ends, but you’ve got to have a trigger guy to get those guys the ball and they do.”

Alabama and Georgia will square off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game will air live on ABC.