Alabama-Georgia Preview Capsule

The most pivotal games in college football today are sequestered in two geographic pockets.

The Crimson Tide went on to crush Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game, but the real national title game played out in the Georgia Dome a month earlier.

Uthman: Let’s start in Athens.

Here are the games to watch on TV this week, and yes, they are loaded with Big 12 games because, well, there are a lot of intriguing games in our fine conference.

For the first time in 72 games, the Crimson Tide will not be the favored team in a college football matchup.

Bennett’s big leg: Down 25-24 before the fourth quarter against Alabama in 2002, the score stayed the same until 38 seconds remained in the game.

Alabama went into the half up 31-0. “I think he has reacted well”.

He’s really gotten it together the past two games – one of them against Southern University – throwing five touchdowns.

Of course, this might be the toughest defense he faces all season.

The Bulldogs have only three senior defensive starters this year – Ganus, nose tackle Chris Mayes and outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins – with Ganus in his first season after playing three years at UAB. But nobody else has Nick Chubb. Cupcake games against MTSU and ULM have featured pass-heavy gameplans created to further the development of quarterback Jake Coker and a young receiving corps. If he can avoid turning the ball over, Georgia has the edge in this one. Aside from last week’s close game against Louisville, Clemson has only played Wofford and Appalachian State. Have they ever thought of putting Henry in the wildcat? Things haven’t gone as planned in Fayetteville or Knoxville, but both teams have a chance for redemption here.

I’m not sure they don’t match up pretty well with Ole Miss, who isn’t a power running team that you figure would trouble the Gators and put a gag in the mouth of The Swamp’s most faithful. Considering the success he’s had, C.J. Prosise’s rapid transition from receiver to runner is one of the more remarkable individual stories in the sport this season. They didn’t pick up for me this week, but I did gather a few tidbits on their weekend.

Florida and Ole Miss have both already shown serious sack this year, and games betwixt teams that have sack usually end up as entertaining fare. It has a thankless task on Saturday night in Death Valley.

Kelly, who started his career at Clemson, could be the SEC’s most talented quarterback. His best attribute in this game might be his ability to freeze the Notre Dame defense by being a running threat.

Going into Saturday’s justifiably hyped 2:30 game, to be broadcast on WHNT News 19 and preceded by our noon pregame special, Georgia is 4-0 and ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press poll. “It’s gotten to where now, everyone is just waiting to see how they’re going to trip themselves up this time”. “We were going to beat them”. All that stands between Mississippi State and being undefeated is that missed field goal against LSU. The Bulldogs’ secondary has done a good job so far, albeit against less-aerial opponents.

Golly then surely it must be because of that guy who got kicked off the team and got a second chance at Alabama where he… got kicked off the team. “Anything I can do I think can get our team to refocus and do things right”.

That’s why Banter is calling for Alabama to pull the upset.

I know what you’re really asking, though: Why is Alabama trying to pass so much? Will it? It all depends on whether Patrick Mahomes can hold up the entire game. You’re kidding, right? Ask 97 percent of the fans in the country: Would you take six SEC division titles, two SEC Championships and three BCS bowls over 15 years?

This is October’s first Saturday in one of the country’s best college towns.