Greg McElroy predicts SEC Championship between Alabama, Georgia

For the fifth time since 2012, No. 4 Georgia and No. 10 Alabama will collide in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday. The Crimson Tide have won all four of the prior meetings in that time-frame.

This year’s matchup however will mark the first in the event between Kirby Smart and Kalen DeBoer. Since DeBoer took over at Alabama following Nick Saban‘s retirement in 2024, he is 2-0 against Georgia with a 41-34 win last season and a 24-21 win earlier this year on Sept. 27.

Ahead of Saturday’s matchup, ESPN‘s Greg McElroy officially made his prediction on the latest edition of the ‘Always College Football’ podcast. The Alabama alum is rolling with the Tide to win their 10th SEC Championship of the 21st century.

“We have yet another top-10 matchup between two teams where this pairing, this matchup has kind of defined the highest level of competition for the better part of a decade in college football,” McElroy said. “For Kirby Smart and Georgia, this game offers a chance of redemption. A solidification of their standing as the premier program in the Southeastern Conference, despite the blemish on their record that was inflicted by this very Alabama team earlier in the season.”

Greg McElroy believes Alabama’s ‘desperation and opportunistic defense’ gives it the edge

“And for Alabama under Kalen DeBoer, it’s his second year,” McElroy continued. “This game is an opportunity to validate a new era in proving that Alabama‘s dominance is more institutional rather than surrounding one individual, with that individual being Nick Saban. So massive game here for Kalen DeBoer.”

“I still think Alabama‘s desperation and opportunistic defense gives them the edge in this game. I think they bring home the SEC Championship for Kalen DeBoer.”

In this season’s matchup between the SEC’s two premier programs, Alabama took an early 14-0 lead thanks to two touchdown passes from quarterback Ty Simpson. Georgia then spent the remainder of the game attempting to play catch up, which it was unable to do. Following the disappointing loss, the Bulldogs did not suffer another the remainder of the season. This includes victories over No. 5 Ole Miss and No. 10 Texas to punch their eighth SEC Championship appearance of the Kirby Smart era (3-4).

Alabama did suffer another loss following the Georgia win, which came on Nov. 15 to No. 11 Oklahoma. A win over Georgia on Saturday would be massive for its College Football Playoff resume, as no three-loss team has earned an at-large bid to the CFP in the 12-team era.