I don't usually (ever) start these threads, but there wasn't a thread, and doggonit I want one now.

So here it is, the grand finale to another interesting season of college football. UCF has already claimed the National Championship, but there's still plenty to play for in this game, I feel.

Who we got?

We got your University of Georgia Bulldogs!



This is Kirby Smart, aka "recruiter extraordinaire" aka "Young Lion." In Kirby Smart's 2nd season of returning to his Alma Mater, his team has made it to the big game ahead of schedule. Smart has introduced some new blood through recruiting, but mostly he has re-energized and re-shaped his inherited players, and was able to retain Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Davin Bellamy, Lorenzo Carter, and Dominick Sanders for their senior years.

In an early season fluke, Georgia's 5 star QB Jacob Eason went down with an injury prior to the much-hyped @ Notre Dame, and freshman Jake Fromm got the start. Could a true Freshman handle the pressure? Turns out, yes he could. But could he win a season full of games against (admittedly SEC-e) competition? Turns out, yes he could. But what about squaring the record against Auburn, the only team to beat (the crap out of) them during the season, in an SEC conference championship rematch? Yep. But what about Baker Mayfield's Okla.....ok, obviously the answer is yes.

"But can true freshman Jake Fromm handle Nick Saban's legendary Crimson Tide in the National title game?" Hell if I know.

Georgia's got Roquan "He's everywhere you want him to be" Smith. He's fast. He's strong. He just doesn't miss tackles. I heard he wrestled a bear for fun in Anchorage. Roquan is the centerpiece in a very kirby-esque defense that just doesn't have many weaknesses.

Georgia's got Nisony MiChubb. If you don't watch much college football, just pretend Chubb and Sony are Ingram and Kamara. There are 3 more startable rb's behind them, but this is getting long.

In the evil corner, we got your Alabama Crimson Tide!



This is Nick Saban. He'll be playing the role of Old Lion, and serial winner. He gets this view a lot. He's got a lot of rangs. Nick really wants one more rang to knock that bear (bryant) off his back.

Alabama has had a bit of a down year. They squeaked into the playoffs by the skin of Ohio State's teeth. This borderline-eligible playoff contender then preceded to beat the absolute **** out of the #1 ranked and returning championship team Clemson Tigers. So, it's fair to say they're a better than decent team.

Alabama has a great defense. Then they have a great defense that sits on the bench waiting for the other great defense to maybe get hurt so great defense #2 can get on the field. And they probably have a #3 great defense that I'm not aware of. Nobody really knows.

They have Jalen Hurts. Is he an Elway? No. What is he? He's a very mobile quarterback that can throw or play running back in a pinch. In short, he's exactly what Alabama needs him to be. He's the thing I've been scared of Alabama picking up for several years. And now we get to play him. Yay.

Alabama has a double threat at running back themselves. They may not get the headlines of Chubb and Sony outside the state of Alabama, but Damien Harris and Bo Scarborough can devastate you in a hurry, especially playing for a team that has made a profession out of running footballs down people's gullets.

They got Calvin Ridley. Yes, Georgia has his brother Riley Ridley, but according to my calculations it would take 23 Riley's to equal one Calvin. Calvin is good. Really really good. Calvin is trying to continue the tradition of Alabama sending one scary-ass receiver to the NFL every few years.

Here's a link listing the players Alabama will likely be sending to the NFL in 2018. It's scary and extensive.


Conclusion:

Really, this game was fated to happen. Saban and Kirby had to have this showdown, so every team that didn't make it to the championship this year:



From what I understand, Saban has never lost to one of his former assistants. And yet, Kirby has never lost to Saban. We seem to have a stalemate!

Saban and Kirby can read each other's minds, so they'll probably each have to coach from inside of a faraday cage.

I have read a lot of predictions for the outcome of this game, but the one I think we can all agree with the most is Mr. T's:

I’m just here for the Kendrick Lamar concert

Going to come down to kickers

How is Bama -3.5? Feel like it should be the other way around. Uga has been the better team all year except for the one game where auburn smashed them.

I'd imagine the same way they were a slight favorite over Clemson, despite everybody and their brother thinking Clemson held the edge. I suck at betting, so I won't pretend to have the answer. My gut says that having Saban gives you the same point improvement as home field advantage.

don't mind AUGUY, his jimmies are hellarustled by this matchup

Gotta root for jawja in this one, or an asteroid strike. Trump will be there after all.

Never forget

Stat	Rank GA	Value GA		Rank AL	Value AL
Total Offense	31	440.3		27	449.7
Rushing Offense	8	267.4		10	255.8
Passing Offense	109	172.9		91	193.9
Team Passing Efficiency	7	159.44		8	159.09
Scoring Offense	17	36.3		12	37.9
Total Defense	6	289.5		1	252.4
Rushing Defense	20	121.9		1	91.8
Passing Yards Allowed	8	167.6		3	160.6
Team Passing Efficiency Defense	13	112.33		1	95.81
Scoring Defense	5	15.7		1	11.1
Turnover Margin	35	0.36		T-5	1
3rd Down Conversion Pct	9	0.46		45	0.421
4th Down Conversion Pct	41	0.583		1	0.824
3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense	25	0.337		26	0.338
4th Down Conversion Pct Defense	4	0.25		T-11	0.368
Red Zone Offense	T-4	0.962		T-42	0.873
Red Zone Defense	T-34	0.8		13	0.733
Net Punting	5	42.27		28	39.8
Punt Returns	35	9.58		58	7.97
Kickoff Returns	10	24.87		T-40	22
First Downs Offense	41	284		35	291
First Downs Defense	18	214		5	193
Fewest Penalties Per Game	82	6.36		T-28	4.92
Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game	75	55		T-22	40.62
Time of Possession	19	32:00:00		67	30:01:00

lol

No (obvious reasons) and NO (because I'll be there also!)

I'm more worried about the weather at this point.

False title imo, UCF are already the National Champions.

Take one for your country you p***y

Now that there's an OP, mmm hmm.

Great. Now, I have to worry about getting grabbed by Donald Trump.

The only clear difference make in this game is Fromm > Hurts.

Fromm is elite at handing the ball off. If you want a basic game manager he's your guy but good luck if he has to try making a play to win the game.

Fromm is like the bottom of my list of stuff to worry about

How tall is Kirby anyway, like 5'8"?

Statistically, Alabama edges Georgia out in most everything except 3rd downs and special teams, I believe.

This game will likely (obviously) hinge on turnovers, penalties, and special teams, with Bama having the edge in the first 2 and GA in the third.

Georgia will have to strike a fine line between not being too direct offensively, and not succumbing to FPS.

And yes, we will be camping a returner under every field goal attempt.

In the stats you posted I didn't see much meaningful difference. They look very similar.

Neither is going to be able to run like they usually do. That kind of game probably favors Bama. The game will turn on who can pass usefully. Fromm makes fewer mistakes than Hurts, but his problem is that he doesn't have much to throw at. Those guys are mostly in there to block downfield and they won't have much to do against Bama.

Hope it comes down to kickers and Bama fails miserably at that.