Sec championship game predictions

Notre Dame fans know this from last year against Clemson but its well documented how the regular season loser performs better the second time around. How will Georgia keep their defensive line from being gassed and embarrassed this time around? How do they make up the difference in abilities at quarterback? And how will they get over what seems to be a mental block in terms of putting away Alabama in a game once and for all? Notre Dame speedster returning for another year.

So not only does Saban have the best quarterback in the country but he also has the best defensive player on the field as well. Plus Bennett has always struggled versus Saban. Bennett is in his career against Alabama. Alabama has produced as many professional defensive backs as any football program in the nation, Saban played defensive back in college and the foundation of his greatness is coaching up secondaries.

If not, the Crimson Tide plus the points is the play either way. Both head coaches have made their bones coaching defense and I could see the bright lights of the title game suppressing the scoring in this contest. Please gamble responsibly. Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage.

See Tipico. This one is obviously must see TV. We all thought Alabama had met its match against Auburn in the Iron Bowl last week and like a Phoenix rising from the ashes somehow pulled it off in 4OT. I think the Luck of the Tide ends on Saturday afternoon. I am not saying that Georgia is without flaws, because they have them, but they have less than Alabama. Georgia has not been tested since the season opener against Clemson, and play an Alabama team needing a win to make the CFP.

Alabama has struggled to run the football recently, averaging only 63 YPG rushing on 1. They can't be one-dimensional against a Georgia defense that enters the game as the top-ranked unit in the country and one of the most dominant in modern college football history.

If the Tide are forced to rely solely on the pass, Georgia will be after to pin its ears back against the 12th ranked offensive line in the SEC in pass protection. As dominant as the Georgia Bulldogs have been this season, the regular season will feel empty if they fail to beat Alabama with a win in the SEC Championship game. Meanwhile, Alabama has struggled along both fronts in recent games and come into this game with injuries to key players.

Bryce Young will have the opportunity to lock up the Heisman trophy with a great performance against an all-time great Georgia defense. It could invite Bama to run more of its RPO stuff and take away the passing option, forcing the defending champions to run the ball right into the strength of the defense.

On the flip side, Alabama's defense did a tremendous job of confusing Georgia QB Stetson Bennett in the first game, baiting him into two interceptions. I expect Georgia to put a little less on Bennett's plate in this game. If Georgia can take care of the ball and limit Alabama's big plays, it will win. Smart will finally break through against the master. Remember this name Jack Podlesny. He'll kick a game-winning field goal late. Then get ready to release the hounds as Georgia wins its first national championship in 41 years.

Still, it'll be inside the number. Chip Patterson: Alabama's advantage against Georgia in this rematch evolves from one of the same it had in the SEC Championship Game -- not just at quarterback or head coach, but in the experience that this Crimson Tide team has had during the year. While Georgia steamrolled through its competition only lightly-tested, Alabama had to win in different ways all throughout the back half of the season.

The Crimson Tide have won low-scoring grinders and high-scoring shootouts. They've needed a yard game-tying touchdown drive just to keep their title hopes alive. There are very few game scripts where Alabama will find itself in new territory, and that confidence in being able to overcome any in-game setback is a mental edge that powers my pick. David Cobb : Alabama's back was against the wall when these teams met on Dec. The Crimson Tide turned in a second quarter for the ages and raced to a victory that de-legitimized Georgia's accomplishments during a dominant regular season.

The nature of that loss -- with the Crimson Tide dissecting UGA's celebrated defense -- will motivate the Bulldogs, who will use what they learned to play much better defensively in the rematch. This time, it's Georgia playing with a chip on its shoulder, and that will show as the Bulldogs finally breakthrough for the program's first national championship in over four decades.

Shehan Jeyarajah : Alabama was the first team that was truly able to challenge Georgia downfield, and the results speak for themselves. While Metchie is out, Brooks proved he can be a game-breaking deep threat in the win over Cincinnati.

While Georgia will make changes and have a strong game plan heading into the Dawgs' biggest game in decades, I'm not betting against Saban in an adjustment contest. Jerry Palm : Alabama and Saban know how to do two things well: win championships and beat Georgia.