GameDay: Nick Saban conversation
December, 1, 2012
12/01/12
2:30
PM ET
By TideNation staff | ESPN.com
Alabama coach Nick Saban talks with Tom Rinaldi about his preparation, pregame speeches and learning to be successful on a consistent basis.
Game of the Week: SEC championship
December, 1, 2012
12/01/12
2:09
PM ET
By ESPN.com staff | ESPN.com
Join our ESPN.com college football experts as they break down the Game of the Week, the SEC title game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Contribute your thoughts and questions beginning at 4 p.m. ET. See you there.
Contribute your thoughts and questions beginning at 4 p.m. ET. See you there.
GameDay: SEC championship picks
December, 1, 2012
12/01/12
1:15
PM ET
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
The College GameDay crew with special guest picker Matt Ryan make their picks for the Georgia-Alabama showdown.
Kirk Herbstreit gives his keys to victory in the SEC championship showdown between Alabama and Georgia.
A tale of two Florida RBs named Henry 
November, 30, 2012
11/30/12
3:52
PM ET
By
Corey Long | ESPN.com
In 1996, former NFL running back Travis Henry was chasing a national single-season record at Frostproof (Fla.) and ripping through the first three rounds of the Class 3A playoffs.
There are some parallels between what Travis Henry did 16 years ago and what Derrick Henry (Yulee, Fla./Yulee) is doing in 2012. While physically they are quite different – Travis Henry was 5-foot-9 and close to 200 pounds while Derrick Henry is roughly 6-3, 248 – they both became larger-than-life figures in small, football-crazy communities.
Frostproof is a community of about 3,000 on the southern edge of Polk County in central Florida. It’s the sort of place where high school football brings everyone together and it seems like a star comes through the area once a decade. Alvin Harper played there in the 80s. USC cornerback Nickell Robey did as well from 2005-2008. The Frostproof Bulldogs have won a couple of football state titles through the years and before the turn of the century they were an automatic lock for the state playoffs.
Travis Henry was different, though. He put a national spotlight on Frostproof as he chased this record held by Ken Hall of Sugar Land, Texas. Most of the time he wasn’t comfortable with the attention placed on the record, his recruitment and his personal life. It was a lot for an 18-year-old to handle. However, there was little doubt of where he was comfortable – the football field – and it was there that his pride for representing Frostproof football shined.
Derrick Henry’s hometown of Yulee is a little bigger with a population of over 11,000, but it’s a little less established in football. The Alabama commit has emerged at a major celebrity in the area just north of Jacksonville. Wherever Henry goes it seems like there’s a pack of fans behind him waiting to cheer his next big run or touchdown.
Much like Travis Henry, Derrick Henry seems a little overwhelmed by the attention, but the coverage of high school football and recruitment has changed so much in 16 years that Derrick Henry has been dealing with the media since he was a freshman. While Derrick Henry might not be comfortable with the attention, he has learned to embrace it like Travis Henry never could.
Both players have eye-popping statistics. Travis Henry finished his senior season with 4,089 yards and 42 touchdowns. Henry has 3,944 yards and 51 touchdowns going into Friday’s playoff game against Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles.
Travis Henry saved his best performances of his senior year for the playoffs. He rushed for 364 yards and a little more than a half in the 3A quarterfinals against Ransom Everglades. In the state semifinals against Pahokee, he needed all 273 yards and five touchdowns to lift Frostproof to a 45-27 victory. In the 3A championship game against Lake Butler (Fla.) Union County, Travis Henry accounted for 328 rushing yards, 65 receiving yards, four touchdowns and three two-point conversions.
But Union County whipped them 67-30.
The game was pretty much out of reach at halftime and by the third quarter Travis Henry’s chase at the national record looked bleak until Union County quarterback Andrew Zow, who led Alabama to an SEC championship and an Orange Bowl victory in 1999, started throwing deep passes in the second half to run up the score. Finally, on Frostproof’s last possession Travis Henry busted off a 60-yard run that gave him the record – something that he said was no consolation for suffering such a large defeat.
Derrick Henry already has a 400-yard game in the 2012 Class 4A playoffs, his third game this season of 400 yards or more. On Friday he’ll need just 146 yards to pass Travis Henry’s season total and the common thinking is he’ll need another 400-yard game for Yulee to hold off the Bolles machine and advance to the state championship game in Orlando.
Travis Henry chose Tennessee over Alabama, and it was announced when the Frostproof principal told the mayor, who told the local papers. Derrick Henry chose Alabama over Tennessee and Georgia on ESPNU’s "College Football Daily." Travis Henry was part of a BCS championship team in 1998. Derrick Henry will be expected to part of at least one BCS championship team while at Alabama. Travis Henry’s NFL career with the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos was productive at times but ultimately overshadowed by mistakes in his personal life. One can only hope Derrick Henry doesn’t fall into the same traps.
However, if you stop in Frostproof and mention Travis Henry’s name, the first thought that comes to the locals’ mind is their memories of the 1996 season. What Derrick Henry has done in 2012 appears to have left the same long-lasting impression to the people of Yulee.
What I'm reading
- Follow four-star offensive lineman Denver Kirkland (Miami, Fla./Booker T. Washington) for a state title.
- Hosting state playoff games means big dollars for local programs.
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#BlueChipBattles: Nov. 30
November, 30, 2012
11/30/12
2:19
PM ET
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comCarl Lawson, Dee Linerand Reuben Foster are still committed to Auburn, but the Tigers' coaching situation could change things for the three ESPN 150 recruits.Auburn bid farewell to head coach Gene Chizik on Sunday. Could the Tigers also be saying goodbye to a trio of ESPN 150 recruits who could take their talents elsewhere?
Each week, RecruitingNation summons its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day.
Here are this week's top battles
, and you can take a shot at ranking the top 10 recruiting battles on SportsNation.SEC: Who will transform tomorrow?
November, 30, 2012
11/30/12
2:03
PM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
A conference title and a trip to the national championship are both on the line Saturday.
For Alabama, one of its top receiving weapons is down. Facing the SEC's No. 2 pass defense, this isn't exactly what coach Nick Saban or his team needed in what is now the biggest game of the season.
But that doesn't mean the Crimson Tide is void of talent at that position. For starters, freshman Amari Cooper has been fantastic this season, catching a team-high 47 passes for 767 yards and eight touchdowns.
However, Georgia knows what Cooper can do and will stop at nothing to neutralize him Saturday. That means someone has to step up with Kenny Bell, arguably Alabama's best deep threat, out. Someone has to take the pressure off Cooper and provide some help for quarterback AJ McCarron.
That person will be junior Kevin Norwood, who has quietly compiled 26 receptions for 395 yards and four touchdowns. He isn't exactly the deep threat that Bell was, but a solid outing from him should help Alabama's offense be the balanced unit it wants to be against Georgia's top-flight defense.
The Tide could get by on running the ball a little more. Running backs Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon have more than proved that they are capable of having the offense run through them. But with a defense like Georgia's, which is playing its best and has allowed an average of 59.3 rushing yards and just 1.9 yards per carry in its past three SEC games, the Tide needs balance.
It needs to be able to go over the top, and it needs Norwood to step up. This offense operates at its best when it can keep the defense guessing with the run and play-action. According to ESPN Stats & Information, McCarron is completing 73.3 percent of his passes off play-action this season. He's thrown 10 touchdown passes off play-action -- twice as many as last season -- and seven of those have come on passes thrown 20 yards or longer.
So if Alabama is going to walk out of the Georgia Dome with a victory, Norwood has to play at a different level, and he will. Cooper will help take some pressure away from him, but Norwood has good speed on the outside, which will help him beat Georgia on a couple of big plays Saturday. He's also tough enough to extend plays and drives when he's draped by defenders.
Norwood has battled a leg injury for most of the season, but he says he's better than ever, which makes him that much more of a problem for Georgia's defense. A healthier Norwood will pierce the defense with critical conversions to keep Alabama moving.
Norwood has been solid to this point, but there's more on his plate this weekend. When his number is repeatedly called, he'll repeatedly step up to get Alabama closer and closer to its second straight trip to the national title game.
For Alabama, one of its top receiving weapons is down. Facing the SEC's No. 2 pass defense, this isn't exactly what coach Nick Saban or his team needed in what is now the biggest game of the season.
But that doesn't mean the Crimson Tide is void of talent at that position. For starters, freshman Amari Cooper has been fantastic this season, catching a team-high 47 passes for 767 yards and eight touchdowns.
However, Georgia knows what Cooper can do and will stop at nothing to neutralize him Saturday. That means someone has to step up with Kenny Bell, arguably Alabama's best deep threat, out. Someone has to take the pressure off Cooper and provide some help for quarterback AJ McCarron.
That person will be junior Kevin Norwood, who has quietly compiled 26 receptions for 395 yards and four touchdowns. He isn't exactly the deep threat that Bell was, but a solid outing from him should help Alabama's offense be the balanced unit it wants to be against Georgia's top-flight defense.
The Tide could get by on running the ball a little more. Running backs Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon have more than proved that they are capable of having the offense run through them. But with a defense like Georgia's, which is playing its best and has allowed an average of 59.3 rushing yards and just 1.9 yards per carry in its past three SEC games, the Tide needs balance.
It needs to be able to go over the top, and it needs Norwood to step up. This offense operates at its best when it can keep the defense guessing with the run and play-action. According to ESPN Stats & Information, McCarron is completing 73.3 percent of his passes off play-action this season. He's thrown 10 touchdown passes off play-action -- twice as many as last season -- and seven of those have come on passes thrown 20 yards or longer.
So if Alabama is going to walk out of the Georgia Dome with a victory, Norwood has to play at a different level, and he will. Cooper will help take some pressure away from him, but Norwood has good speed on the outside, which will help him beat Georgia on a couple of big plays Saturday. He's also tough enough to extend plays and drives when he's draped by defenders.
Norwood has battled a leg injury for most of the season, but he says he's better than ever, which makes him that much more of a problem for Georgia's defense. A healthier Norwood will pierce the defense with critical conversions to keep Alabama moving.
Norwood has been solid to this point, but there's more on his plate this weekend. When his number is repeatedly called, he'll repeatedly step up to get Alabama closer and closer to its second straight trip to the national title game.
DE Tim Williams will delay decision
November, 30, 2012
11/30/12
12:57
PM ET
By
David Helman | ESPN.com
As long as Tim Williams (Baton Rouge, La./University Laboratory) is still playing football, recruiting is going to take a backseat.
That's no surprise for Williams, who listed a state championship for Class 2A UHigh as one of his senior goals all the way back in January, when his first offers began to roll in.
The defensive end, considered Louisiana's No. 2 player and the No. 23 player in the ESPN 150, has a chance to put the Cubs in the state championship game tonight when UHigh travels to Shreveport to face Evangel Christian Academy.
That's no surprise for Williams, who listed a state championship for Class 2A UHigh as one of his senior goals all the way back in January, when his first offers began to roll in.
The defensive end, considered Louisiana's No. 2 player and the No. 23 player in the ESPN 150, has a chance to put the Cubs in the state championship game tonight when UHigh travels to Shreveport to face Evangel Christian Academy.
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SEC Championship, position-by-position
November, 30, 2012
11/30/12
8:30
AM ET
By
David Ching and
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
DawgNation's David Ching and TideNation's Alex Scarborough take a look at Alabama and Georgia position-by-position as Saturday's SEC championship game between the second-ranked Crimson Tide (11-1) and third-ranked Bulldogs (11-1) approaches.
QUARTERBACK
Alabama: It's hard to believe AJ McCarron is only a junior starting in his first SEC Championship. It seems like so long ago that he took over the reins from Greg McElroy and became the first underclassman to start and win the BCS National Championship Game. He learned how to treat big games like any other. The let-it-rip attitude has paid off this season as he ranks No. 2 in the country in passing efficiency while setting a school record for touchdown passes in a season.
Georgia: Junior Aaron Murray has already put together one of the best seasons in school history. Last week he became the first player in SEC history to pass for 3,000-plus yards in three straight seasons and tied Peyton Manning for second in career touchdown passes with 89. The national leader in passing efficiency (177.15), he has thrown 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The big question against Alabama, however, is whether Murray can play loose enough to be effective. He struggled against South Carolina and Florida, with one touchdown and four interceptions.
QUARTERBACK
Alabama: It's hard to believe AJ McCarron is only a junior starting in his first SEC Championship. It seems like so long ago that he took over the reins from Greg McElroy and became the first underclassman to start and win the BCS National Championship Game. He learned how to treat big games like any other. The let-it-rip attitude has paid off this season as he ranks No. 2 in the country in passing efficiency while setting a school record for touchdown passes in a season.
Georgia: Junior Aaron Murray has already put together one of the best seasons in school history. Last week he became the first player in SEC history to pass for 3,000-plus yards in three straight seasons and tied Peyton Manning for second in career touchdown passes with 89. The national leader in passing efficiency (177.15), he has thrown 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The big question against Alabama, however, is whether Murray can play loose enough to be effective. He struggled against South Carolina and Florida, with one touchdown and four interceptions.
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Trenches will decide SEC title game
November, 30, 2012
11/30/12
8:00
AM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Games in the SEC are often decided up the middle -- in the trenches, over the center and into the heart of it all.
Saturday's matchup between No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia likely will be no different, as the Crimson Tide's offensive line, arguably the best in the country, battles with the Bulldogs defensive front that is equal parts size and skill.
Alabama center Barrett Jones has gone through four seasons of SEC battles. He has gone head-to-head with the best from LSU, Arkansas and Florida. But the biggest challenge he has ever faced might have come from a former teammate during practice. Terrence Cody, the former Alabama nose guard with the apt nickname of Mount Cody, was terror on centers and guards in his two seasons in Tuscaloosa.
This weekend Jones will face a nose guard similar to the former 6-foot-5, 365-pound All-American. He might not be a mountain, but John Jenkins is surely a load. The 6-foot-3, 351-pound senior has helped Georgia to a top-25 defense.
"He's hard to block," UA coach Nick Saban explained. "Any time you play an odd defense, a 3-4 defense and can't block the nose guard, makes it hard to run a lot of plays. He reminds me a lot of Cody when we had him here."
Jones doesn't compare well to anyone in Alabama's past, perhaps because he has played so many positions. But nevertheless, Georgia coach Mark Richt is aware of the defending Outland Trophy winner's presence at center.
"He's a fantastic player, obviously," Richt said of Jones. "You know, very versatile. All of a sudden he's playing center when he was playing some tackle in the past. To have a guy like that, a senior leader, up front, right where you need him, right down the middle, is huge.
"No doubt, he's got the ability to block a big man like [Jenkins] because he's a big man himself. A lot of centers aren't quite as big as he is. I think it's going to be an advantage for him to have a better chance to man up against a big nose guard like that."
But Jones is defined by more than his size, said Saban.
"He's an extremely smart player," Saban explained. "This is his first year playing center, but he's done a really good job for us. His efficiency as a blocker, whoever he's had to block, has been really good for us this year."
The Jones-Jenkins matchup is the focus, but the entire line is filled with intrigue. When Jenkins goes out, he is spelled by another 350-plus pound nose guard -- Kwame Gaethers.
Saturday's matchup between No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia likely will be no different, as the Crimson Tide's offensive line, arguably the best in the country, battles with the Bulldogs defensive front that is equal parts size and skill.
[+] Enlarge
Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesBlocking John Jenkins will be a key for Alabama getting its running game going.
Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesBlocking John Jenkins will be a key for Alabama getting its running game going.This weekend Jones will face a nose guard similar to the former 6-foot-5, 365-pound All-American. He might not be a mountain, but John Jenkins is surely a load. The 6-foot-3, 351-pound senior has helped Georgia to a top-25 defense.
"He's hard to block," UA coach Nick Saban explained. "Any time you play an odd defense, a 3-4 defense and can't block the nose guard, makes it hard to run a lot of plays. He reminds me a lot of Cody when we had him here."
Jones doesn't compare well to anyone in Alabama's past, perhaps because he has played so many positions. But nevertheless, Georgia coach Mark Richt is aware of the defending Outland Trophy winner's presence at center.
"He's a fantastic player, obviously," Richt said of Jones. "You know, very versatile. All of a sudden he's playing center when he was playing some tackle in the past. To have a guy like that, a senior leader, up front, right where you need him, right down the middle, is huge.
"No doubt, he's got the ability to block a big man like [Jenkins] because he's a big man himself. A lot of centers aren't quite as big as he is. I think it's going to be an advantage for him to have a better chance to man up against a big nose guard like that."
But Jones is defined by more than his size, said Saban.
"He's an extremely smart player," Saban explained. "This is his first year playing center, but he's done a really good job for us. His efficiency as a blocker, whoever he's had to block, has been really good for us this year."
The Jones-Jenkins matchup is the focus, but the entire line is filled with intrigue. When Jenkins goes out, he is spelled by another 350-plus pound nose guard -- Kwame Gaethers.
Michigan had parted ways with offensive line commit David Dawson (Detroit/Cass Tech) a short time ago for planning a visit to Florida. The two parties spoke tonight, however, and Michigan is once again recruiting the No. 1 guard in the country.
"I spoke to Coach [Brady] Hoke tonight and he said they are re-offering me," Dawson said. "We had a heart to heart, and I don't want to put everything out there but I was dealing with some things and I might have jumped the gun a little bit.
"We talked about everything and he said that if I want to be there they have a place for me."
"I spoke to Coach [Brady] Hoke tonight and he said they are re-offering me," Dawson said. "We had a heart to heart, and I don't want to put everything out there but I was dealing with some things and I might have jumped the gun a little bit.
"We talked about everything and he said that if I want to be there they have a place for me."
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Take Two: Gurley or Yeldon?
November, 29, 2012
11/29/12
5:17
PM ET
By
Chris Low and
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
SEC bloggers Chris Low and Edward Aschoff will occasionally give their takes on a burning question facing the league. We'll both have strong opinions, but not necessarily the same view. We'll let you decide which blogger is right.
Two of the best freshman running backs in college football will be on display Saturday in the SEC championship game when Alabama and Georgia square off at 4 p.m. ET in the Georgia Dome. Today's Take Two topic: Who would you take first -- the Bulldogs' Todd Gurley or the Crimson Tide's T.J. Yeldon?
Take 1: Edward Aschoff
There's no question that Gurley has been the SEC's best rookie running back. In fact, it's not really close. Gurley got things going early in Georgia's opener with his 100 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries. He also returned a kickoff 100 yards for another score. Since then, Gurley has rushed for at least 100 yards in six other games. That makes seven on the season, which is four more than Yeldon. He also has four multi-touchdown games, compared to Yeldon's two. Gurley is averaging 6.5 yards per carry, leads all SEC running backs with 1,138 yards, and is tied for first among league running backs with 14 touchdowns. By the way, like Yeldon, he's having to share carries, but that hasn't hampered his production. And unlike Yeldon, he isn't doing all of this with a fantastic offensive line. His line was almost stitched together before the season, yet Gurley has consistently been not just the SEC's best freshman back, but the league's best back overall with his ability to hit the home-run play and grind out the tough, extra yards.
Take 2: Chris Low
First off, I'd like to opt for the easy way out here and take both guys. I'm a big fan of Gurley and what he's accomplished this season, but Yeldon is more explosive, more versatile and more of a threat no matter what the down and distance. He's already surpassed the freshman rushing totals of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson at Alabama, and still has two games remaining. Yeldon has rushed for 847 yards and scored 11 touchdowns, including one on a 28-yard screen pass to beat LSU this month. He's averaging 6.6 yards per carry, which is tops among the league's rushing leaders. As good as he is in space at making defenders miss and turning shorter gains into bigger gains, he's just as good at running between the tackles and getting the tough yards. The 6-2, 216-pound Yeldon leads the team with 22 rushes of 12 yards or longer this season, and has three 100-yard rushing games. Even though he's only caught 10 passes this season, he's an excellent receiver, and you can bet that Alabama will look to get the ball to him out of the backfield even more down the road. In short, Yeldon is a do-it-all type of player and the type of player that makes everybody else around him a little better.
Two of the best freshman running backs in college football will be on display Saturday in the SEC championship game when Alabama and Georgia square off at 4 p.m. ET in the Georgia Dome. Today's Take Two topic: Who would you take first -- the Bulldogs' Todd Gurley or the Crimson Tide's T.J. Yeldon?
Take 1: Edward Aschoff
There's no question that Gurley has been the SEC's best rookie running back. In fact, it's not really close. Gurley got things going early in Georgia's opener with his 100 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries. He also returned a kickoff 100 yards for another score. Since then, Gurley has rushed for at least 100 yards in six other games. That makes seven on the season, which is four more than Yeldon. He also has four multi-touchdown games, compared to Yeldon's two. Gurley is averaging 6.5 yards per carry, leads all SEC running backs with 1,138 yards, and is tied for first among league running backs with 14 touchdowns. By the way, like Yeldon, he's having to share carries, but that hasn't hampered his production. And unlike Yeldon, he isn't doing all of this with a fantastic offensive line. His line was almost stitched together before the season, yet Gurley has consistently been not just the SEC's best freshman back, but the league's best back overall with his ability to hit the home-run play and grind out the tough, extra yards.
Take 2: Chris Low
First off, I'd like to opt for the easy way out here and take both guys. I'm a big fan of Gurley and what he's accomplished this season, but Yeldon is more explosive, more versatile and more of a threat no matter what the down and distance. He's already surpassed the freshman rushing totals of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson at Alabama, and still has two games remaining. Yeldon has rushed for 847 yards and scored 11 touchdowns, including one on a 28-yard screen pass to beat LSU this month. He's averaging 6.6 yards per carry, which is tops among the league's rushing leaders. As good as he is in space at making defenders miss and turning shorter gains into bigger gains, he's just as good at running between the tackles and getting the tough yards. The 6-2, 216-pound Yeldon leads the team with 22 rushes of 12 yards or longer this season, and has three 100-yard rushing games. Even though he's only caught 10 passes this season, he's an excellent receiver, and you can bet that Alabama will look to get the ball to him out of the backfield even more down the road. In short, Yeldon is a do-it-all type of player and the type of player that makes everybody else around him a little better.
ESPN.com bloggers Chris Low and Edward Aschoff preview the SEC championship game 
between Alabama and Georgia.
between Alabama and Georgia.Chris Low breaks down the SEC championship game matchup between Alabama and Georgia.
I believe someone supposedly very wise once said just a week ago that they remember what you do in November.
Well, I'm sure Chris will remember exactly what I did this November. And it wasn't pretty if you weren't on Team Edward.
After Chris and I had a couple of tight weeks, I blew this bad boy wide open when I added two more games to my total after going 8-1 over the weekend to extend my lead to seven games with an impressive 100-12 (.893) record. I missed on Florida-Florida State, but I don't think anyone other than Will Muschamp really knows what the Gators will do week in and week out.
Although my dear friend Cary pleaded with me to pick his Gators last week to guarantee I'd go a perfect 9-0. I guess we know who the real "expert" is because he was spot on with his prediction.
Still, I'm just happy I'm not in Chris' boat, which is currently leaking and has a Jaws-size great white circling it. After an ugly weekend that saw him go 6-3, Chris now sits with a record of 93-19 (.830). We both dropped the ball on Florida, but Chris also picked Mississippi State over Ole Miss and Clemson over South Carolina. I understand the Mississippi State pick, because the Rebels had lost three straight. But Clemson over South Carolina? Chris must have been sipping that Tiger Kool-Aid supplied by ACC blogger Heather Dinich and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney before he made that pick.
I mean, did he not see that defensive effort coming? Rookie mistake, Mr. Low.
And with that, I've all but clinched the picks title as we head into the SEC championship game and then bowl season. In two words: It's over.
Someone should coach the vet up on his picks for next year before he allows something like this to happen again.
On to our lone pick:
ALABAMA VS GEORGIA
Edward Aschoff: These teams mirror each other in style. Both love to pummel opponents with their running games, but aren't afraid to beat teams over the top with their passing games. Georgia might have the most NFL talent on the defensive side of the ball, but the Crimson Tide will walk into the Georgia Dome with the nation's No. 1 statistical defense. Neither team has been perfect and while Georgia is playing its best ball of the season, Alabama still has some defensive weaknesses the Bulldogs could exploit. But when it comes down to it, Nick Saban teams just prepare differently. The Tide is on a mission to make its third national championship in four years, and it'll wear the Dawgs down in the second half. ... Alabama 28, Georgia 17
Chris Low: No matter how hard you try, it’s difficult to get the version of Georgia that lost by four touchdowns to South Carolina earlier this season out of your mind. There’s no doubt the Bulldogs are playing at a different level right now, but this is also a more dialed-in Alabama team thanks to the loss to Texas A&M a few weeks ago. For a change, we’ll actually have an SEC championship game that’s decided in the fourth quarter, but the Crimson Tide will put the game in the hands of their veteran offensive line and move a step closer to their third national championship in the last four years. ... Alabama 27, Georgia 21
Well, I'm sure Chris will remember exactly what I did this November. And it wasn't pretty if you weren't on Team Edward.
After Chris and I had a couple of tight weeks, I blew this bad boy wide open when I added two more games to my total after going 8-1 over the weekend to extend my lead to seven games with an impressive 100-12 (.893) record. I missed on Florida-Florida State, but I don't think anyone other than Will Muschamp really knows what the Gators will do week in and week out.
Although my dear friend Cary pleaded with me to pick his Gators last week to guarantee I'd go a perfect 9-0. I guess we know who the real "expert" is because he was spot on with his prediction.
Still, I'm just happy I'm not in Chris' boat, which is currently leaking and has a Jaws-size great white circling it. After an ugly weekend that saw him go 6-3, Chris now sits with a record of 93-19 (.830). We both dropped the ball on Florida, but Chris also picked Mississippi State over Ole Miss and Clemson over South Carolina. I understand the Mississippi State pick, because the Rebels had lost three straight. But Clemson over South Carolina? Chris must have been sipping that Tiger Kool-Aid supplied by ACC blogger Heather Dinich and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney before he made that pick.
I mean, did he not see that defensive effort coming? Rookie mistake, Mr. Low.
And with that, I've all but clinched the picks title as we head into the SEC championship game and then bowl season. In two words: It's over.
Someone should coach the vet up on his picks for next year before he allows something like this to happen again.
On to our lone pick:
ALABAMA VS GEORGIA
Edward Aschoff: These teams mirror each other in style. Both love to pummel opponents with their running games, but aren't afraid to beat teams over the top with their passing games. Georgia might have the most NFL talent on the defensive side of the ball, but the Crimson Tide will walk into the Georgia Dome with the nation's No. 1 statistical defense. Neither team has been perfect and while Georgia is playing its best ball of the season, Alabama still has some defensive weaknesses the Bulldogs could exploit. But when it comes down to it, Nick Saban teams just prepare differently. The Tide is on a mission to make its third national championship in four years, and it'll wear the Dawgs down in the second half. ... Alabama 28, Georgia 17
Chris Low: No matter how hard you try, it’s difficult to get the version of Georgia that lost by four touchdowns to South Carolina earlier this season out of your mind. There’s no doubt the Bulldogs are playing at a different level right now, but this is also a more dialed-in Alabama team thanks to the loss to Texas A&M a few weeks ago. For a change, we’ll actually have an SEC championship game that’s decided in the fourth quarter, but the Crimson Tide will put the game in the hands of their veteran offensive line and move a step closer to their third national championship in the last four years. ... Alabama 27, Georgia 21
ABOUT TIDE NATION
Greg Ostendorf
Greg Ostendorf joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering University of Alabama football and basketball recruiting at the Tuscaloosa News and Rivals.com. Ostendorf graduated from the University of Alabama and currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Email him at gsostendorf.espn@gmail.com.
Alex Scarborough
Alex Scarborough joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering University of Alabama athletics and high school football for The Tuscaloosa News. He currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Email him at alexscarborough.espn@gmail.com.