Nick Saban makes reluctant pick in Alabama-Georgia game on College GameDay
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Nick Saban led Alabama to unprecedented heights during his 17 years on the Crimson Tide sideline. So it bears mentioning that in 2024, his first year on College GameDay, he picked the Tide all 4 times they appeared in the “Saturday Selections” segment.
That hasn’t changed in 2025, either. The Tide’s game vs. Wisconsin was part of Week 3’s segment, with Saban picking the Tide in that one as well.
Alabama vs. Georgia, the Tide’s first visit to Athens since 2015, is a different story. And Saban seemed to waver a bit before making his selection.
“We have a home in Georgia. We have a home in Alabama. I would like to not pick this game because I’d like for neither one of those homes to get vandalized. I’m asking for your help,” Saban joked.
So who was Nick Saban‘s pick to win? “I gotta pick it with my heart, man. Roll Tide.”
The Tide and Bulldogs have played each other 7 times since the Tide’s last trip to Sanford Stadium. Two of those meetings have been in the regular season (2020 and 2024) — both in Tuscaloosa and both ending in Alabama wins.
Alabama has won all 3 meetings between the two programs in the SEC Championship Game. It also defeated Georgia in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game before the Dawgs came out ahead four years later, Kirby Smart‘s only win against Alabama thus far.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
