— Monday, January 10th Georgia Bulldogs @ Alabama Crimson Tide
The rematch is here as the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-1) face the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (13-1) in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Last month Alabama won the SEC Championship 41-24 against a previously unbeaten Georgia team. The kickoff on Monday is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and the contest will air on ESPN.
Alabama leads the all-time series 42-25-4, and they have won seven in a row against Georgia. That win streak includes three SEC Championship Games and a College Football Playoff Championship. The last time Georgia beat Alabama was in 2007, and the winner has scored at least 26 points in each of the last 12 matchups.
Heisman Winner Looking for Big Game
Alabama is 8-6 ATS, and the total is 7-7 in their 14 games. They have covered in two straight with a 21-point win over Cincinnati in the semifinals and winning outright as an underdog against Georgia. Alabama ranks fourth in the nation at 42.5 ppg while the offense ranks sixth in yardage (495.0) and the defense ranks seventh in yards allowed (304.6)
Heisman winner Bryce Young has 4,503 yards on the season with 46 touchdowns and only five interceptions. His streak of nine straight games with at least 300 yards passing ended when he went 17-of-28 for 181 yards against Cincinnati on New Year’s Eve. Young torched Georgia for 421 yards and three touchdowns in the SEC Championships, and he has at least two touchdown passes in all 14 games this season.
Running back Brian Robinson Jr. had a monster game against Cincinnati with 204 yards on 26 carries. He had 55 yards on 16 carries against Georgia in the first game as the Tide ran for 115 yards against a team that previously allowed just 75 per game. On the season, Robinson has 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Trey Sanders has 309 yards and one score.
Wideout Jameson Williams is a special talent, and he has 75 catches for 1,507 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season. John Metchie III leads Alabama with 96 catches, and he’s scored eight times with 1,142 yards. Georgia had no answer for Williams in Atlanta as the junior caught seven passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns and Metchie had 97 yards and a score.
Georgia Seeking Revenge
Georgia is 9-5 ATS this season, and the under is 8-6 in their 14 games. They easily covered against Michigan in the semifinal, and except for the Alabama loss, they have held every opponent to 17 points or less this season. The Bulldogs rank top five in every major defensive category allowing 9.5 ppg, 82.2 rush ypg, 172.2 pass ypg, and 254.4 total ypg.
Quarterback Stetson Bennett IV has 2,638 yards this season with 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 64 percent completion rate. Bennett was impressive against Michigan in the semifinal with 313 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He had three touchdowns and 340 yards against Alabama in December but also threw two interceptions and was sacked three times.
Zamir White leads the rushing attack with 772 yards and ten touchdowns. He was shut down by Alabama in Atlanta with 27 yards on seven carries, and he’s scored just once in the last five games. White ran 12 times for 34 yards against Michigan while James Cook had six carries for 32 yards.
Tight end Brock Bowers was great against Alabama in the first game with ten catches for 139 yards and a touchdown while also scoring against Michigan. He leads the Bulldogs with 52 catches for 846 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. Ladd McConkey and Jermaine Burton both have five touchdown catches, while George Pickens returned to action the last two games after tearing his ACL in the spring.
Betting Analysis
- Alabama Crimson Tide +2.5 (-110). Money line +115
- Georgia Bulldogs -2.5 (-110). Money line -135
- Total Points: 52.5 Over -110. Under -110
Georgia is 57-10 since Kirby Smart took over as head coach but 0-4 against his mentor Nick Saban and Alabama. For Georgia to end a 41-year championship drought, they have to get to Young, force turnovers, and control the clock. The Tide have proven over the years that’s easier said than done.
Betting Pick: Alabama 2.5 (-110)
Keep up with your latest NCAAF news coverage and betting pick previews at NJSportsbookReview.com.