‘Extremely confident’ Alabama offense needs Bryce Young magic against dominant Georgia defense

By Mike Griffith

November 30, 2021 at 10:31 am EST

Travon Walker Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker (44) and Georgia inside linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) during the Bulldogs' game with Missouri in Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (Photo by Tony Walsh)

By Mike Griffith

November 30, 2021 at 10:31 am EST

Nick Saban opened his case for Alabama to upset No. 1-ranked Georgia with a very simple premise of the Crimson Tide not beating itself.

It’s a given Heisman Trophy candidate Bryce Young will also need to make some plays from his quarterback position along the way.

Alabama (11-1) sets out to defend its SEC and CFP Championships at 4 p.m. on Saturday when it faces Georgia (12-0) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The Bulldogs, led by sixth-year head coach and former Saban assistant Kirby Smart, feature a historically dominant defense that’s allowing just 6.92 points per game — less than half of the second-best scoring defense in the nation (Clemson, 15.0).

“I think the fact they have like nine different players that have 4 1/2 tackles for loss, one guy has 8 1/2, and they have five different players that have multiple sacks,” Saban noted, asked about 345-pound Georgia All-American nose tackle Jordan Davis.