The 2021 college football season comes down to this. Yet another matchup between David and Goliath with a title on the line. The Georgia Bulldogs hunt for their first national championship in 40 years while the Alabama Crimson Tide look to claim their seventh title within the same timeframe and second straight.

How Georgia Got Here — by Doug

Georgia was expected to be in the hunt all year. The Bulldogs finished the previous season winning four straight games, including a win against a great Cincinnati team in the Peach Bowl. Returning 65% of the production among that team, along with the expected growth from a full offseason, Georgia was ranked fifth to start the year. The key worry for Georgia this season at the time would be its Week 1 opponent in Clemson, as well as the potential matchup(s) with Alabama. 

Georgia did win against Clemson, and the defense was dominant. However, it seemed that the problems from the offense remained from last year, including quarterback JT Daniels, who dealt with an undisclosed injury at the time. The one star that did emerge from this was Brock Bowers. Although he didn’t score a touchdown, he did become the main target for JT (and eventually Stetson Bennett, but we’ll get there). Moving along the season, the offense did show up with JT when he was healthy. When he was not healthy, Stetson Bennett took charge and showed command of the offense. Bennett looked way more comfortable, outside of the Arkansas game. Other targets emerged offensively in Ladd McConkey and AD Mitchell. Along with Jermaine Burton, the offense was firing on all cylinders in the passing game. The running game was more of a known entity with the running back by committee approach with Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh, and Kendall Milton all moving the chains efficiently. 

As for the defensive front, Georgia was elite. You’ve heard it all before. I will not go into this further. 

Things were humming along great until the SEC Championship Game against Alabama. From there, the Georgia Bulldogs from 2020 returned. Georgia was unable to generate pressure on Bryce Young or get stops until John Metchie went down with an injury. On offense, the Bulldogs played behind the sticks for most of the game, and, having not experienced that this season, they were rattled. The exact score from 2020 reappeared in 2021. With the playoff berth clinched, many say that Georgia wasn’t as motivated or that the coaching staff held back, but I saw it differently. I saw it as a team that didn’t learn from tape that was out there from previous Alabama games. I saw a team that failed to adjust like they did against Tennessee. I saw a secondary that was considered weak being taken advantage of by a QB that could. 

The loss put Georgia in the Orange Bowl vs. Michigan. Michigan’s offense played directly into Georgia’s strengths, and the Wolverines were unable to generate a running game at all. Michigan playing behind the sticks led to ill-advised throws and the inability to convert on fourth downs. Combine the defensive effort with Stetson Bennett’s best passing game of his career and Georgia waltzed to a 34-11 victory and a rematch with Alabama.

How Alabama Got Here — by Liam Blutman

Alabama fans start their season by dreaming of another title and almost always end their season by going to sleep with another national championship trophy in their arsenal. As another season comes to a close, Alabama fans can taste another title.

The preseason No. 1 team didn’t get here in typical Alabama fashion. Sure, it started that way as the Tide dismantled a top 15 Miami team and then ran through Mercer, but they survived an early scare by beating Florida in the swamp by two points. That’s a score that we look at now and just stare at it blankly. How did this Alabama team almost lose to that Florida team?? College football at its finest. Alabama found its groove by obliterating an Ole Miss team that many suspected would beat Nick Saban’s crew. But then the unthinkable actually happened — Alabama loses.

The Crimson Tide took a trip to College Station and went to war with an underachieving Texas A&M team that was desperate to find any sort of offense. As the clock hit triple zeros, Alabama was on the wrong end of a last second field goal and lost 41-38. That’s not supposed to happen. The college football world was sent into a frenzy, and plenty of doubters stepped up to claim Alabama’s reign was coming to an end… Umm. Yeah, maybe you don’t doubt Alabama again… just a pro tip.

The Tide quickly put that loss behind them as they took on new blood and added W’s to the win column. Mississippi State and Tennessee got put in a blender, but the Tigers of LSU competed tough as Alabama only beat them 20-14. Sitting at 8-1 now and right there in the playoff picture, Bama got a free win against New Mexico State and then held off a pesky Arkansas team in a 42-35 thriller. Bryce Young tossed for 559 yards that night which was the most ever thrown by a Tide QB in a game.

At this point, all the talk was about Alabama vs. Georgia and how the Bulldogs could end Alabama’s trip to the playoff with a win in the SEC title game. But everybody seemed to forget that Auburn was waiting for its crack at the crimson and white. Everybody seemed to forget that the Iron Bowl is an unpredictable rollercoaster ride that has the ability to change the landscape of the entire college football world, every single season. And what do you know? Auburn held a 10-0 lead in the fourth quarter, and Alabama’s electric offense could not generate anything against a stingy Auburn secondary. Enter Ja’Corey Brooks. The stud freshman receiver caught a TD with 24 seconds remaining and sent the Iron Bowl to overtime! After some back and forth in OT, we ended up seeing Alabama escape defeat by winning the lame two-point off and walking out of Jordan-Hare with a 24-22 victory in 4OT. Unbelievable.

It wasn’t an easy road but Alabama found its way to the SEC Championship to take on Georgia in a highly-anticipated clash. The Bulldogs held a 3-0 lead after a quarter, and many people were continuing to crown Georgia’s defense as the greatest of all time. 24, there’s that number again. The Tide put up 24 on the “GOAT” defense in the second quarter and took a lead that they wouldn’t look back on. They silenced the haters with a phenomenal 41-24 win and clinched the top seed in the playoff. Another tremendous season for Nick Saban.

And now we’re here. Alabama put Cincinnati to bed in a dominant 27-6 semifinal win, and Georgia embarrassed Michigan in the other playoff game. The stage is set. Tide. Bulldogs. Alabama. Georgia. Who will take the crown?

Keys to the Game for Georgia — by Brian Olson

1. Get pressure — Bryce Young has a 44 QBR when under pressure, compared to a 90 QBR when he has a clean pocket. That was one of the problems that Georgia had in the SEC title game when Bryce Young completely dismantled UGA’s defense for 421 yards and three touchdowns. Georgia’s uber-talented d-line needs to do what it did to everyone all year and make Bryce Young’s life hell.

2. Establish the run game — Getting the running game going will take some of the pressure off Stetson Bennett’s arm. It’s clear that Georgia is not used to its quarterback throwing it more than 30 times a game, and using its talented stable of running backs will allow the passing game to open up and give Stetson the ability to find his targets.

3. Keep the pace — You don’t want to fall behind in any matchup, much less against Alabama. Falling behind by 10-14 points and forcing Stetson Bennett to be put in a position he’s not used to is not a recipe for success. It’s important for Georgia to either be in the lead or keep it in single digits and keep the game plan what it is.

Keys to the Game for Alabama — by Joshua Ray Amiling

1. Bryce Young – Hands down the most important player and key for Alabama is its Heisman-winning quarterback. Young was not spectacular in the semifinal against Cincinnati, but he did not have to be. In this game against Georgia, the chances that the Crimson Tide will be able to establish a punishing run game are low, so once again they will rely on Young’s arm and escapability to lead them to victory. For that to happen, Young will need the second key or it will be a long day against Georgia’s defensive line. 

2. Offensive line play – There might be shuffling around of the line after injuries sustained against Cincinnati. Right guard Emil Ekiyor Jr. suffered a dislocated shoulder and right tackle Chris Owens hurt his ankle, but both have been at practices and appear to be game-time decisions. Potential replacements could be five-star freshman J.C. Latham for Ekiyor, and a combination of either redshirt sophomore Amari Kight or sophomore Damieon George Jr. could slot in for Owens. In the SEC title game, while no sacks were allowed, there were several times where the Bulldogs caused serious pressure on the pocket. This potentially rebuilt line will have to hold on for just enough time to give Young space to breathe or things could turn south in a hurry. 

3. Field goal kicking – Kicker Will Reichard was a perfect 14-14 last season and was seen as a Lou Groza Award snub. This season, he has gone a respectable 18-23. However, four of his five misses have come from 40 yards and beyond. On his misses, he has been all over, with balls either looking wide off his foot or coming up short. Alabama’s history of shaky kicking could be returning at the worst time, or Reichard could regain his 2020 form and come up clutch for the Crimson Tide.

Bets of the Game — by Andrew Dutkievic

Alabama Team Total O24.5 (-115): Bet your mortgage on this team total. Don’t actually do this. I don’t want to be held responsible for your wife nagging you about you betting six figures on a team to score at least 25 points in a football game. In all seriousness, this feels like a joke of a line. Alabama in a national title game against a team that it just put up 41 points on just over a month ago? The Tide have failed to score less than 24 points only once this season, and even in a game that felt incomplete for the offense in the Cotton Bowl, I find it very hard to believe that a three-headed monster in Bryce Young, Jameson Williams, and Brian Robinson Jr. won’t eclipse 25 points in the national title game. 

Score in first 5½ minutes – Yes (-110): The biggest stars shine the brightest when the lights are on. With that said, I expect fireworks right from kickoff. Georgia is on a revenge mission, and Alabama still has firepower. Regardless of who receives the ball first, I expect a quick score within five minutes. 

First Half Point Total O26 (-110): Same reason as previously mentioned, I expect both offensive coordinators to unleash their playbooks early, especially with both teams refreshed and coming with high momentum. While both teams have elite defenses, the College Football Playoff is notorious for being the stage of offense to show out. It would not surprise me one bit to see a 21-17 or 17-14 score at the half.

Interesting NFL Draft Prospects to Watch — by Andrew Wilson

Not only are we getting to view the best two teams in the nation for the final game of the college football season, but this is also the final chance for some NFL draft prospects to get on-field reps in a competitive setting before the beginning of their pre-draft processes. Both of these teams have some incredibly talented prospects, but there are two, in particular, I am going to watch especially in this game, as should you.

Phidarian Mathis; IDL, Alabama. 6’4’’ 312 lbs

Although the more talked about interior lineman is on the opposing Bulldogs, Phidarian Mathis has been the significantly more productive of the two. From the inside, Mathis has gotten nine sacks for the Crimson Tide. Many people haven’t heard his name because of both who is also on that defensive front seven with Will Anderson, and because the main interior guy last year was now New England Patriot Christian Barmore. The ability to get to the quarterback is very important for a 3-tech player, and Mathis checks all of the boxes as a pass-rusher. I truly believe Mathis is one of the biggest sleepers in this draft, and people are going to know his name within his first few years in the league. Look for Mathis to disrupt the Georgia offense and get to Stetson Bennett at least once. 

Nakobe Dean; LB, Georgia. 6’0’’ 225 lbs

Another one of my favorite players in this draft class, Nakobe Dean is an athletic freak in the middle of the field, flying around making plays on every down. Dean isn’t a sleeper at all, but I feel like people still aren’t talking about him enough. The potential top-20 pick is someone you should want as your NFL team’s linebacker for the next 10 years.

Players to Watch —

Georgia:

RB James Cook (Doug) — Cook has been a mismatch for Alabama before. Last year, he caught a deep pass from Stetson Bennett for a touchdown. He also was the leading receiver in the Orange Bowl. Alabama’s linebackers are suspect in the passing game, so he will definitely be a focus outside of Brock Bowers.

TE Brock Bowers (Andrew Wilson) — Alabama couldn’t contain the best tight end in the nation in the SEC Championship Game, letting Bowers go for 10 receptions, 139 receiving yards, and a touchdown. Georgia is going to need a big play from Bowers to put some points on the board in this game where we probably won’t see as many as compared to the SECCG.

QB Stetson Bennett (Brian Olson) — It’s a David vs. Goliath matchup at the quarterback position. On one hand you have the highly touted, five-star Heisman-winning quarterback in Bryce Young, and on the other you have former walk-on, scout team, JUCO transfer in Stetson Bennett. It’s no accident, however, that Stetson Bennett is starting a national championship game. He’s done what he’s needed to do and made the throws when needed to keep the high-powered machine on the right track. Playing mistake free football will be the difference for Bennett. If he can do that, the Dawgs have a chance to win.

Alabama:

S Jordan Battle (Liam Blutman) — Jordan Battle, go show us something. The 6’1”, 210-pound safety is a thrill to watch. In 14 games this season, he has totaled 80 total tackles, snagged three interceptions and took two of those back for six. Battle possesses such great knowledge, and you can see that in every rep he takes. He’s quick, tough, and versatile. Monday night presents a tremendous opportunity for him to rise up draft boards with a strong performance. When Georgia throws the ball, look for Battle’s high-level instincts and athleticism to pop as he flies to the ball and makes big time plays. And when Georgia runs it, you know Battle will be looking to make a key tackle and limit the Bulldogs’ excellent ground game. I think Battle is tremendous in pass coverage, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he records an interception in the National Championship Game!

WR Ja’Corey Brooks (Joshua Ray Amiling) — Brooks has come up big for Alabama, whether it was his game-tying touchdown in the waning moments of regulation against Auburn or his back breaking 44-yard score near the end of the first half against Cincinnati that ended any hopes of an upset. With veteran John Metchie III out, the five-star freshman Brooks has stepped into a bigger role and will have to be enough of a threat to draw enough attention away from star Jameson Williams.

WR Jameson Williams (Andrew Dutkievic) — Someone who has already shredded Georgia’s secondary just over a month ago in the SEC Championship Game, Jameson Williams will be widely expected to have an encore performance. Eclipsing 120 receiving yards in six of the last nine games, along with averaging 20.1 yards per reception for the season, it is no wonder why his Heisman-winning quarterback trusts the best wideout in the SEC so much. Coming off an underwhelming performance against one of the best secondaries in the country in Cincinnati, it would not surprise me to see Jameson Williams go berserk once again against a Georgia secondary that looked hapless the last time these teams met.

Score Predictions —

Doug — Georgia 35, Alabama 31. Head says Alabama, wallet says Alabama, heart says Georgia. Going with my heart here.

Liam Blutman — Alabama 27, Georgia 17. Picking against Nick Saban is a mistake that many make way too often. Look, I either sink or swim with King Saban. We’ll be sure to float thanks to a prolific performance from the Alabama defense that is highlighted by a Jordan Battle interception. King Saban adds another ring and thanks rat poison for fueling another championship.

Joshua Ray Amiling — Alabama 42, Georgia 31. The recent history of this game will be a blueprint for how this game will play out. It will be close after the first half, and maybe into the third quarter. But at some point, the Crimson Tide will erupt and crush the Bulldogs in a tidal wave to put the game away.

Andrew Dutkievic — Alabama 34, Georgia 27. It will be close but no cigar for Georgia in this game. While this would be the perfect opportunity for Kirby Smart to overturn the narrative and beat his mentor, it is hard to believe that within a span of a month that the Dawgs have improved by 17 points to beat Alabama. The Crimson Tide have still been a juggernaut as usual this season, and while the secondary can be prone to mistakes especially with Josh Jobe unavailable, Georgia will put up a fighting chance against its familiar foes. That said, it would not be a surprise if Georgia fans experienced the same pain that was suffered in 2018. If you peeped at the betting section, make sure to smash Alabama ML +110.

Andrew Wilson — Alabama 24, Georgia 18. Do I think Georgia is 17 points worse than Alabama like the SEC Championship Game? No, but I don’t think the Bulldogs are three points better as the spread assumes. The semifinal games told me more about Cincinnati and Michigan than the participants in this game. We knew Cincy had the secondary to slow down Bryce Young, and we knew Michigan didn’t really have the offense to contend with Georgia. What we do know is Nick Saban doesn’t lose to Kirby Smart, and I don’t see that trend changing tonight.

Brian Olson — Alabama 31, Georgia 24. I hate doing this. I really do. I want to see Georgia get over that hump so bad. But there’s something about Nick Saban against Georgia that just doesn’t give me much confidence. I think they win a close one late. Again.