GEORGIA
Georgia has been knocking at the door to become the SEC team that finally dethrones Alabama on the field but the Bulldogs have come up just short of doing so in recent seasons. Will that time ever come or have the Bulldogs missed their window?
Depending on who you ask, you’ll get different answers to that question but in a recent AL.com article featuring five bold predictions for the 2019 football season, Georgia was picked to defeat Alabama in the 2019 SEC Championship Game.
During his Wednesday appearance at the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Kirby Smart was asked to share his reaction to that column while a guest on WJOX 94.5 FM radio show “The Roundtable.” His response didn’t disappoint.
“I’ll tell you what, that’s the only way we’ve been able to beat them so far,” Smart replied after losing to Alabama in consecutive seasons.
He then offered up his honest response to the article.
“Nah, I don’t get into the predictions,” Smart said. “I think they sell, I think it’s great for the media and it’s great for the offseason for everybody to talk about but our predictions are we’ve got to go practice, play good and get a good football team/product on the field. That’s what we are working on right now.”
At least the Bulldog coach took a moment to show his personality before snapping back into coach mode.
King Kirby, emperor of the East, sic um!
Wow, feeling good about winning the east?
Should a fan feel better about not winning their division??
That prediction originated in Alabama? I bet whoever wrote that column is very popular over that way.
Controversy = more clicks
Well it’s supposed to be bold predictions. Picking Bama to beat UGA and win the SEC again isn’t bold…
Kirby has came very close twice, should have won the first but the officials got in the way. Both times it was with far less talent. Kirby has clearly shown that he can coach with Saban.
The talent gap is closing and that means Kirby’s chances are getting better.
Tissue?
bamatard
everybody knows you need a kotex, not a tissue
Still crying?
Tim,
2017/2018 NC game I would give the talent advantage to bama, better by 4-5 players.
2018 SECCG – I say UGA and bama were close to even with talent. On paper Bama had a talent advantage but I didn’t see it on the field until Walker went out.
BAMA still holds the talent advantage over UGA, especially on the D-Line! Just look at the Draft few weeks ago!Clemson had an outstanding D-line.
This past season bama was well represented in the NFL draft, no debate there.
Remember, UGA’s starters in 2018/2019 were 65%-70% freshmen/sophomores. So you are comparing semi-ripe apples vs ripe apples. My statement was that UGA and Bama are very, very close with the talent each put on the field. That is a spot-on assessment.
Some of the analysts are predicting UGA to have 3 1st round picks in 2020 – Fromm, Swift and Thomas. Also predicting that UGA gets 4 O-linemen drafted – Thomas, Wilson, Cleveland, Kindley. Add in some other guys that could get drafted if they have a strong 2019 season – Herrian, Woerner and Holloman. Who knows on the transfer from Miami, Cager’s measurables sound like a prototypical NFL WR.
UGA could have 6-8 offensive players drafted next season. On defense Reid probably gets drafted. Good seasons by Marshall and others could lead to them getting drafted. With good fortune UGA has 7-10 players drafted in 2020, with multiple players going in the 1st round.
Back to the SECCG game – bama definitely had the better D-line but UGA’s O-line was equally good. In the 2017/2018 NC game bama’s d-line dominated UGA, that was not the case in the SECCG. In the 2017/2018 NC game bama’s secondary won the battle against UGA’s passing attack, in the SECCG that was not the case. UGA’s secondary held bama’s loaded WR corp to draw in the SECCG. Fromm had by far the best game of the QB’s that played, Go back and check the stats, Fromm had an incredible game. Had UGA won Fromm is the hands down MVP of the game.
Hurts had a couple of spectacular plays that were aided by a Walker being hurt and the botched fake punt (field position.) Kudo’s to Hurts for losing his starting job, making himself better while not the starter and then coming off the bench to be the hero of the game.
In the 2017/2018 NC game UGA played a great game, maybe even overachieved in the 1st half. Very reminiscence of UGA’s effort tin the 2012 SECCG. But, in the end bama came from behind to win by executing a methodical game plan and winning personnel match-ups. In the 2018 SECCG the difference was a terrible fake punt call and Walker’s absence in the 2nd half.
YEAH! RIGHT!!!! Georgia has NEVER lost a game that the Refs didn’t interfere…NEVER!!!!!! BWHAhahAhahahHhahahhhahahah
First of all, I obviously hope that Florida is the team that gets this done. But if not, I’m pulling for Alabama against all comers. Why? I think that one more NC will hasten the retirement of N. Saban, and I won’t have to look at his face anymore.
I think you’re right, another NC will hasten Saban’s retirement.