Alabama vs. Georgia: 3 ways the Crimson Tide can beat the Bulldogs

 The expansion of the College Football Playoff doesn't make this a "must-win" game, but ... it's a must-win for both Georgia and Alabama, albeit for slightly different reasons. For Georgia, this is the first of three massive road tests against top-10 teams that will go a long way toward positioning the team this season.

Alabama's Cullen DeBoer showed prime time that he's the right guy to replace Nick Saban, at least early on, and that he has the combination of an SEC power coach's skills. So, while everything is not ready yet, there are still many, and the losers are very notable failures in their projects.

Where does Alabama stand in this game? Here are the three most important things the Crimson Tide must do to beat Georgia on Saturday night.

A big question for this team heading into DeBoer's first season, including one posed by ESPN analyst Saban himself, is Alabama's 7 pass defense. It lost two big cornerbacks in Kuhl-Ed McKinstry and Terion Arnold and two elite trades in Caleb Downs and Jaylen Key.

Their backups, which include Michigan transfer quarterback Kuhn Sabu, former USC defensive back Domani Jackson, five-star Jalen Mbeck and Zabian Brown, have performed well as defensive coordinator Kane Womack has rotated personnel in the backfield with mixed results. Most of them are excellent: The defense is generally good against the pass, ranks seventh in the nation in total yards allowed and is completing just 52.3 percent of opposing passes while allowing just 6.2 yards per game, the best in the FBS.

Georgia has some pass rushers Baker can throw to, including Dominique Lovett and Arian Smith, but the team has struggled so far with the absences of Brock Bowles and Ladd McConey.

2. Let Milroe loose

It's no secret that Alabama running back Jalen Milroe is a formidable dual threat, but DeBoer uses that mobility a little more aggressively than Saban did at this point last season.

The result boosts the Tide's offense in big games. One of the top kickers in the country, Milro has 156 yards rushing this year.

While Alabama has fine-tuned its explosive performance, Georgia's defense suffocated in nearly every phase and looked vulnerable in limited contact with a mobile quarterback. Kentucky's Brock Vandagriff averaged nearly 8 yards per carry. bear against it.

Milro's game isn't limited to his feet: Five of his eight touchdown passes were 20 yards or more, the best among quarterbacks in the country. But he has the ability to keep Bulldogs scrimmage tacklers a half-step behind a series of improvised runs and the ability to extend plays to distract them and give his receivers much-needed extra time to break. Their cover, that will be his ability.

3. Stop the run

Kirby Smart prefers to build Georgia's offense out of the play, trying to control the line of scrimmage early and use that strength to get open later.

But this strategy may face some problems as no. With running back Roderick Robinson expected to miss the game, running back Tate Rutledge is injured and Alabama's front seven appears poised to jump. Georgia's ground attack struggled against Kentucky, allowing less than 4 yards per carry. carry in a year in which the team averaged 145 yards. match, and ranked only 84th nationally.

The lack of a clear run-blocking scheme may bring back memories of last year's SEC Championship Game, when the Bulldogs allowed just 2.5 yards per carry. Advantage, Alabama.

Fuente : www.si.com/