Across the Ball: Three key matchups for the SEC Championship

Here are three matchups to watch for Georgia as it enters Saturday’s SEC Championship against Alabama.

Georgia’s run game vs. Alabama’s front seven

It’s rather wild to see Alabama ranked eighth in the SEC in allowing 124.3 rushing yards per game. Nevertheless, good running teams have had their way with the Tide. Tennessee ran for 142 yards, Missouri combined for 163 rushing yards and Vanderbilt totaled 135 rushing yards. Although it possessed the ball for only 24:24, Georgia ran for 227 yards against Alabama.

Last week, Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels scrambled around for 108 yards. Perhaps Gunner Stockton gets even more involved in the ground game this week. Yet in that first meeting, Chauncey Bowens carried the ball 12 times for 119 yards and a touchdown. With Nate Frazier playing his best ball, Georgia will look to stress Alabama out at the line of scrimmage. 

Georgia’s pass rush vs Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson

Simpson looked like the Heisman front-runner against Georgia in the first go-around. He had all day in the pocket to throw and scrambled when needed. The Bulldogs only recorded eight sacks in their first eight games, with zero coming against the Crimson Tide. In their last four games, they’ve totaled nine sacks.

In recent weeks Simpson has felt more pressure and hasn’t produced the same output as he did early in the season. Needless to say, Georgia can definitely change the trajectory of this game by disrupting Simpson’s rhythm in the pocket. If Simpson is comfortable, not much will change in this phase of the game.

Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb vs. Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann

This is more like across the field, but this matchup is vital given how Grubb’s offense out-schemed the Bulldogs in September. Alabama converted 13 of 19 third-down opportunities, mainly because the Crimson Tide moved the ball effectively on first and second down.

With a lot more film on Alabama, Schumann will have plenty to work with as an improved Georgia defense looks to avenge its worst game of the season.

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