#1 GEORGIA (12-0) vs #3 ALABAMA (11-1); 4 PM ET; CBS; Atlanta … Batten down the hatches and get ready for battle when arguably the two most talented teams in the country face each other for the SEC title in Atlanta. Interesting, though, that its this year that unbeaten and top-ranked comes into the game as the favorite. Indeed, the Bulldogs appear destined to qualify for the 4-team CFP win or lose. No such comfort zone, though for Alabama, which already has a loss and would be leaving its fate very much up to the CFP committee were they to lose to Georgia.
In fact, it has not been a typical dominating year for Alabama which has more than its normal share of close calls, including last week’s OT win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Still, the Tide has potentially the deepest draft class for 2022, although Alabama may not produce the record number of early picks that we saw in the past 2-3 years. Massive LT Evan Neal (#73, 6-6, 350), however, looks to be a top ten lock, while both veteran ILB Christian Harris (#8, 6-2, 235) and sophomore OLB Will Anderson (#31, 6-4, 235) are mid-first round candidates. Meanwhile, WR Jameson Williams (#1, 6-2, 190) is a rising star in the receiver corps who could also slip into the first round. At the same time, Canadian WR Jon Metchie (#8, 6-0, 195), safety Jordan Battle (#9, 6-0, 210), DTs Phidarian Mathis (#48, 6-3, 310) and D.J. Dale (#94, 6-3, 310), ILB Henry To’oTo’o (#10, 6-1, 225), CBs Jalyn Armour-Davis (#5, 6-0, 190) and Josh Jobe (#28, 6-0, 195), TE Jahleel Billingsley (#19, 6-4, 230) and RB Brian Robinson (#4, 6-0, 225, if healthy) are all solid second day prospects. The Tide’s leader, though, is true sophomore QB Bryce Young (#2, 5-10, 195) who is very much in the Heisman chatter after taking over for Mac Jones, the 15th pick overall at the 2021 draft.
Meanwhile, folks in Georgia keep looking askance at each other wondering whether this is the year they finally get the Alabama monkey off their backs. And if they do, they’ll likely do it primarily with college football’s best defense which has allowed less than 7 points per game this fall. Certainly, almost all of Georgia’s top prospects for the upcoming draft and on that side of the ball. Headlining the defense are rising ILB Nakobe Dean (#17, 6-0, 225) and massive DT Jordan Davis (#99, 6-6, 340), both of whom are currently considered to have top 10-15 potential, while CB Derion Kendrick (#11, 6-0, 195) heads a large group of second-day prospects on the Georgia ‘D’ including DT Devonte Wyatt (#95, 6-3, 315), ILBs Quay walker (#7, 6-3, 240) and Channing Tindall (#41, 6-2, 230) and S Lewis Cine (#16, 6-1, 200).
On the other hand, the Georgia offense might go undrafted this year, although the unit has been scoring close to 40 PPG so far this year. The Bulldawgs have an interesting situation at QB where both Stetson Bennett (#13, 5-11, 190) and J.T. Daniels (#18, 6-2, 210) have been taking snaps this year, although Bennett now appears to be the clear starter. However, he looks more like a CFL type given his size and arm strength. In fact, the one real prospect on the UGA offense is P Jake Camarda, one of the top 2-3 punters in the country who averaged 46.5 yards a pop this year.
