Georgia’s opportunity to change the narrative
The last three meetings against Alabama have been painful for Georgia.
In 2023, the Bulldogs’ comeback attempt fell short in a 27-24 loss in the SEC Championship. Last year, the Bulldogs spotted the Crimson Tide 28 points before nearly knocking them off in a 41-34 loss. A little over two months ago, Georgia had an atrocious start in the first half and couldn’t do enough in a 24-21 loss.
While head coach Kirby Smart has owned Georgia Tech, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn and, thus far, Texas, he’s 1-7 against the Crimson Tide and 0-2 against head coach Kalen DeBoer. One way to look at this is that Alabama remains a hurdle for Georgia to overcome
But a team, the Bulldogs can’t think about it like this with Saturday’s marquee SEC Championship matchup on the horizon. This rematch with Alabama is an opportunity for Georgia to change the narrative and start a new streak of their own.
A lot has changed since the Bulldogs’ lone loss of the season to Alabama, too.
Since outlasting Ole Miss 43-35 on Oct. 18, the Bulldogs’ have improved considerably on defense. The third-down issues that plagued Georgia against the Crimson Tide have mostly vanished. In Georgia’s first seven games, teams converted third-down opportunities at a 41.7 percent rate. In the past five games, that number has dropped to 27.9 percent.
Georgia still ranks 16th in the conference with 17 sacks. However, eight sacks came in the first eight games and nine have come over the past four. Georgia’s run game is peaking, having totaled an SEC-best 951 yards in November. The Georgia Tech game aside, the passing attack has been gaining momentum with Zachariah Branch emerging as a game-breaking threat.
Yes, it will hurt by most likely not having center Drew Bobo suit up Saturday. But the Bulldogs still have a whole week to figure out a plan for what has been a an exceptional offensive line. It also earned plenty of experience mixing and matching with all the injuries it endured early in the year.
And with all of the different lineups, the offensive line has only surrendered 17 sacks this season.
Meanwhile, since Alabama’s win over Georgia, the Crimson Tide survived scares from Missouri, South Carolina and Auburn, and suffered a loss to Oklahoma despite out-gaining the Sooners by 194 total yards. The Crimson Tide’s run game hasn’t been consistent all year and its run defense has not been as stout as it was in the Nick Saban years.
Not only can Georgia claim a conference title and likely secure the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff, it has an excellent chance to end the notion that Alabama has Georgia’s number, regardless of who’s coaching the program.
For the Bulldogs, this upcoming meeting against Alabama offers a golden opportunity to forget the recent past and begin something new.
That’s where any and all focus should be.
ICYMI
After the win over Georgia Tech, Smart felt his team would end up in the SEC Championship.
Sunday Reflections: Georgia is back where it belongs, in the SEC Championship.
Blue-chip prospects are making their final plans with National Signing Day nearing.
Smart discussed Georgia’s situation at center.
Cornerback Daniel Harris is planning to enter the transfer portal.