Alabama to win SEC title game

          If you read this blog a lot, as you should, you know I missed on my prediction about who would play in college football’s national championship game. I might still get part of it right.

          I called Kansas State falling out of the number one spot in the polls, but I had them losing to Texas, not Baylor.

I sort of thought Notre Dame might make it to the title game, but the more I really studied things, the more clear it became that Southern California would upset Notre Dame. Then USC lost its starting quarterback and that was that. Things became as clear as mud.

          That’s my excuse, anyway. Best I can do for now.

          This weekend, Alabama plays Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game, what is now a national semi-final elimination game.

          I believe, as I did in August, that Alabama will play for the national title in January. Thus, the prediction here is that Alabama will beat Georgia in what should be a terrific game. These teams have similar strengths and few weaknesses. Expect a slugfest, an old fashioned SEC heart pounder.

          I don’t believe Georgia has enough firepower to beat the Alabama defense, but the Crimson Tide can’t make mistakes on either offense or defense. A few turnovers by the ‘Bama offense, the kind of thing that happened in the loss to Texas A&M a few weeks ago, would be all Georgia needs. A big play or two by Georgia’s offense due to Alabama defensive miscues could do the same thing.

          This is will be like a fight between the two best bullies in the neighborhood, a real backyard slobber knocker. The winner will fight another bully in another backyard.

          The pick here is Alabama over Georgia, partially because it seems as though Alabama’s defensive front will be able to slow down Georgia’s excellent running game just enough to force the Bulldogs to pass in obvious situations. It says here that Alabama’s defensive front will be able to put enough pressure on the passing pocket to force Georgia mistakes.

          Georgia’s defensive front will have to both stop Alabama’s inside running game and contain the Tide’s edge rushing. The Bulldogs’ defensive middle might jam things between the guards, but the Crimson Tide will find the edges to be available for profit. This is a great match, Alabama’s offensive front and Georgia’s defensive front.

          We do not expect to see the same mistakes in the Alabama passing game that cost it the win against Texas A&M. It was ‘Bama’s passing that ultimately beat LSU in the 2011 national championship game and again when the teams met this year. We think Alabama’s passing game could be the deciding factor again in this game.

          Don’t ask me the score in this one. Just look for Alabama to win.

 

          Thanks for reading.