University of Georgia

Nick Saban: 'Georgia is a very, very good team'

By Mike Griffith, DawgNation
By Mike Griffith, DawgNation

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama football coach Nick Saban has pushed the chips all in on playing the Georgia football program in the SEC Championship Game.

The No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide (12-0, 8-0 SEC) has made a case for itself as one of the greatest teams in college football history.

Alabama is the first team to open a season with 12 wins of 20 points or more, and it has done so with the SEC as competitive as ever, with six teams ranked in the Top 20 and Texas A&M looking in at No. 22.

Saban, while recognizing the regular-season feat, makes it clear that the ultimate legacy of this Crimson Tide team is still to be determined.

“I think the SEC is a very good league, for the team to go undefeated is quite an accomplishment,” Saban said. “But it really doesn’t mean anything if we can’t take advantage of the opportunity that we have next week in the SEC Championship Game, and obviously Georgia is a very, very good team.”

Alabama plays the Bulldogs at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, a return to the site of the Tide’s 26-23 overtime win over Georgia in the College Football Playoff Championship Game last January.

The No. 5-ranked Bulldogs (11-1, 7-1) have worked to replace several key pieces that led them to a near victory over the Tide, most notably SEC Defensive Player o the Year Roquan Smith.

Georgia has been somewhat susceptible against the run against quality opponents, and that’s likely why oddsmakers installed Alabama as a 10 1/2-point favorite on Sunday.

Still, within hours, the betting line had swelled up to 13 1/2, bettors likely envisioning another Tua Tagovailoa air show.

The sophomore from Hawaii is all but a Heisman Trophy lock.

Tagovailoa is coming off a school-record six-touchdown performance in a 52-21 win over Auburn last Saturday, and he leads the nation with a scorching 212.5 pas efficiency rating rooted in his 36-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

“He’s got an elite arm talent,  he’s really fast, he’s got really good wide receivers around him, he’s got powerful backs, and he’s got a talented tight end and a great offensive line, and he knows where to go with the ball,” said Georgia football coach Kirby Smart, a former Alabama defensive coordinator under Saban.

“He’s got great vision downfield, he’s got the ability to look off safeties, he can throw the touch pass, he can throw bullets, he’s really good at the RPO game.,’ Smart said. “And then on top of all that, he can run. So he’s a lot to take in.”

Saban, meanwhile, puts Georgia at the top of the list the Tide will play this season, implying the Bulldogs will be the biggest hurdle between Alabama and a place in history.

“They’ve got some really impressive wins, (and) they’re ranked very highly in a lot of categories,” Saban said, “and this will be the most challenging game that we have all year.”

This article was written by Mike Griffith, DawgNation.

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WSB-TV COVERAGE PLANS

Get the latest Dawgs news coverage Saturday at 10 a.m. on Channel 2's Bulldogs Game Day. WSB Sports Director Zach Klein brings you exclusive interviews and insider information to get you prepared for the SEC Championship.

Then, you'll hear from the players and coaches after the SEC Championship game on the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11.

WSB RADIO COVERAGE PLANS

News 95-5 & AM-750 WSB is the exclusive home of Georgia Football! WSB is the ONLY place to hear every play of the SEC Championship with the Voice of the Dawgs Scott Howard and UGA All American Eric Zeier.

Before the Dawgs face Alabama for the SEC Title, News 95-5 & AM-750 is the only place for in depth pre-game analysis from UGA legends Eric Zeier and Kevin Butler. The tailgate show starts at noon to get you ready for SEC Championship Game on the Home of the Dawgs -- News 95-5 & AM-750 WSB.

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