Can the Georgia Bulldogs finally take care of Alabama?

In one of several marquee matchups on this loaded Saturday slate, the Alabama Crimson Tide look to bounce back from a horrendous Week 1 loss to the Florida State Seminoles with a statement win over the Georgia Bulldogs.

The narratives practically write themselves, and they’re pulling in opposite directions. Alabama is the only team that can claim consistent success against Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs, winning six of the last seven meetings, including a thrilling 41-34 victory last season. However, none of those games have taken place in Athens, where Georgia hasn’t lost since 2019. In fact, that defeat is the only home loss the Bulldogs have suffered since Smart’s first season.

On the flip side, Alabama has struggled on the road under Kalen DeBoer, dropping four of their last five games away from Tuscaloosa, including that stunning 31-17 loss to Florida State to open the year.

Still, DeBoer has a knack for getting his teams ready for big stages dating back to his days at Washington. In his final season with the Huskies, he upset Oregon twice and knocked off Texas in the College Football Playoff. Since taking over at Alabama, he’s beaten Georgia once already and delivered a convincing win over LSU in Death Valley. When the lights are brightest, DeBoer’s teams usually deliver — it’s the quieter weeks that have tripped them up.

The quarterback battle adds even more intrigue. Gunner Stockton and Ty Simpson are both impressive first-year starters who could vault themselves into the heart of the Heisman conversation with standout performances on Saturday.

The defenses also raise compelling questions. Georgia and Alabama have been synonymous with elite defense for years, but both units have looked mortal so far — Alabama surrendering 31 points to Florida State and Georgia giving up 41 to Tennessee.

This is a game with massive College Football Playoff implications, and the winner will be in the driver’s seat to represent the SEC in Atlanta. On the latest episode of SportsTalkATL, we break down both teams and give our predictions for who comes out on top between the hedges. You can catch SportsTalkATL on our YouTube channel, with full episodes also available on Fox Local.

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Photo: Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire

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