Earlier in the week, I explained why each team could win the national championship.

Today, we settle up and decide.

Alabama vs. Georgia, who wins? That’s something we’ve been hotly debating all week.

Connor O’Gara, senior national columnist: I know I shouldn’t do it, but I’m going to. All year, I felt that Georgia was the best team in the country. From top to bottom, I felt like the Dawgs were the most balanced, most dynamic team in America. Even against Alabama, I think we get a good reminder of that.

Yes, I understand that Nick Saban is 11-0 against his former assistants. What suggests that Kirby Smart will be different? Well, his team is different. None of those previous assistants had the talent and coaching that Georgia does. That was evident when the Dawgs rallied back from a 31-14 deficit against the nation’s most potent offense. That was another example of why Georgia can win any kind of game.

I think this game winds up being somewhere in between what the Sugar Bowl was and what the Rose Bowl was. In other words, I don’t think we see a shootout, nor do I think we see a defensive slugfest. Both of these coaches will make the right adjustments at half to prevent one side from being completely dominated.

All signs point to this one point a down-to-the-wire thriller just like the past two title games. I know it’s not a popular pick, but I’ll take the Dawgs not only to cover, but to win on a late Rodrigo Blankenship field goal. Georgia 31, Alabama 28.

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Clint Lamb, Alabama beat reporter: This game doesn’t just have immediate implications. It could very well dictate which direction each team goes moving forward.

The question is whether the apprentice is ready to take the reigns from his former master? That’s possible, but I think we’re still a year away.

Alabama’s run defense is the best in the country. They’re playing like it, too.

The only time we’ve seen Georgia’s offense — as a whole — visibly frustrated was back in Week 11 against Auburn. They only managed to rush for 46 yards on 32 carries with no explosive plays, and they were blown out (40-17) as a result.

Asking Jake Fromm to win this game is a losing recipe. But it’s the only way the Bulldogs have a shot. Alabama 27, Georgia 17.

Michael Bratton, news editor: I’m going to go ahead and call it now, Alabama and Nick Saban’s SEC dynasty ends Monday night.

I was initially leaning toward Alabama’s overall experience being the deciding factor in my decision, as the Tide have played in the past two National Championship Games and have the more experienced quarterback, but I’m picking Georgia to win this game, which in my mind will signal the changing of the guard in the league between Saban’s program to Kirby Smart and Georgia.

Putting experience aside, I actually think Fromm is a better quarterback than Jalen Hurts. I don’t expect Georgia to have nearly as much success in this game as they had against Oklahoma — the Sooners’ defense is a joke — but I think they’ll do enough to secure a close win. While I did lose some respect for Georgia’s defense following their semifinal performance, I believe they have the players necessary to hold this Alabama offense below 21 points.

The best chance for Alabama to win is to come out and dominate the line of scrimmage for four quarters. Judging by recent performances dating to the Iron Bowl, I’m not sure they are capable of managing that against UGA. Ever since Nick Chubb and Sony Michel announced their return, this Georgia team feels like a team of destiny. Should Georgia win, I think it will be the tipping point that leads to the demise of Alabama’s SEC reign with the Dawgs seizing the throne as the league’s most dominant force heading into 2018.

Georgia 24 Alabama 20.

Jon Cooper, director of operations: This is a tough one. I think the difference will be Hurts’ legs and Alabama’s ability to slow down the running game.

I’m not buying the freshman talk about Fromm; he’s going to play well. But Alabama’s defense was downright angry against Clemson, and they’ll need to bring that same fire and thunder against UGA’s rushing attack. This game should be more of a historical SEC clash — low-scoring and conservative.

The QBs who beat Alabama and Nick Saban are usually mobile, and although Fromm can move around in the pocket and is more mobile than Jacob Eason, that’s not really his game. He’ll have to make big plays downfield in order for Georgia to keep close.

Alabama 24, Georgia 21.

Jim Tomlin, bowl expert: Alabama’s defense looked healthy, hungry and ornery in the Crimson Tide’s Sugar Bowl victory over Clemson. Georgia’s offense looked like a million bucks against Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.

One of these things has to give. This game comes down to whether Alabama’s D can stop Georgia, especially the Bulldogs’ running game.

Alabama allowed opponents to rush for 150 or more yards three times in a four-game span to end the regular season. That sounds worrisome for Bama fans, but the Crimson Tide never gave up more than 3.6 yards a carry in any game this season, and the Tide took full advantage of the one-month break between the regular-season finale and the Sugar Bowl to shut down Clemson. Georgia has had at least 4.3 yards per carry in every game this season — with one notable exception, a 1.4-yard average in the Nov. 11 loss to Auburn.

So, which will prevail? I’m sticking with the old saying about defense winning championships. The master, Nick Saban, has the edge over former pupil Kirby Smart. For now. Alabama 23, Georgia 17.

Chris Wright, executive editor: As I wrote earlier in the week, both teams are full capable of winning the national title. I made the case for each because I truly believe each could win.

I can see Sony Michel and Javon Wims having big games. I can see Mecole Hardman returning a kickoff for a TD. I can see Rodrigo Blankenship drilling another 50-yarder. I can see Jalen Hurts finally connecting on a deep ball and Bo Scarbrough finding a seam and taking one the distance. I can see Minkah Fitzpatrick making a game-changing play.

I can see Georgia, with similar parts and creativity, borrowing Auburn’s game plan. But I’ll still be a bit more surprised if Georgia is the one dancing at the end.

The biggest reason? I don’t entirely believe Georgia’s offensive line will hold up. And there’s no way the Dawgs are scoring multiple TDs on long runs. Methodical typically doesn’t work against Alabama.

I trust Saban in big games. I’d trust him even more if his team were as healthy Monday as it was last Monday. Anfernee Jennings, who forced a key interception against Clemson, and Lester Cotton are out.

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But this Alabama senior class has won 52 games, more than any other class in college history. These players have been here. They believe they belong here.

And in case anybody has forgotten, Alabama is pretty good in the revenge game.

Smart is right; Alabama is not as invincible as previous editions, but it’ll be good enough Monday night to lift the trophy for the fifth time since Saban arrived.

Alabama 31, Georgia 24.

COMING MONDAY: Matt Hinton’s Ultimate National Championship Game Preview

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