Number 1 Alabama meets Number 3 Georgia in the College Football Playoff championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Monday 10 January 2022.
The Alabama Crimson Tide (13-1) are looking to win an incredible seventh national championship under coach Nick Saban. They are in the CFP championship game for the sixth time in its eight year history.
Alabama are coming off a 27-6 win over Number 4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl. Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young leads an offense that ranks third in the FBS with 41.4 points per game.
The Georgia Bulldogs (13-1) reasserted its defensive dominance in a 34-11 victory over the Michigan Wolverines in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day. They lead the FBS in scoring defense at 9.6 points per game. Quarterback Stetson Bennett led a big-play offense a month on from losing the SEC Conference Championship game.
This is a rematch which Alabama won 41-24 back on 4 December. This year’s National Championship game is also a rematch of the 2017 CFP Championship game, where the Crimson Tide won 26-23 in overtime.
Interestingly, the Georgia Bulldogs go into this game as the -2.5 favourites with the sportsbooks.
It’s hard to see why after the first meeting, though star receiver John Metchie III is sidelined after suffering a torn ACL in the first half of the SEC Championship. This is Alabama though; they have lots of talents that can be thrown in and do a job.
In the semi-final victory, offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien favoured a run-heavy offence in which Brian Robinson Jr carried the ball 25 times for 198 yards. Trey Sanders had 73 yards from 15 carries.
Robinson Jr was held to 55 yards on 16 carries in the 41-24 victory over Georgia last month, when Young completed 26/44 for 421 yards and 3 touchdowns. Metchie made 6 catches for 97 yards and 1 touchdown in the first half in a game that Jameson Williams stepped up with 184 yards and 1 touchdown on 7 catches. Young completed passes to eight different receivers, six of whom had at least 2 catches.
Stetson Bennett struggled in the last meeting with Alabama, completing 29/48 for 340 yards, 3 touchdowns but 2 interceptions. He had no run support as James Cook only gained 38 yards on 11 carries. Zamir White was held to 27 yards on 7 carries but Kenny McIntosh did offer 32 yards on his 4 carries.
Georgia didn’t get much pressure on Bryce Young in that game, failing to sack the Crimson Tide quarterback. Expect the defence to dial up more pressure this time in order to prevent the freshman having time to find his open receivers time and time again like the first meeting this season.
Whilst I am not expecting a blowout like last time, I still expect Alabama to break the hearts of Georgia fans once again. The Crimson Tide wins a seventh national championship under Nick Saban.
Prediction: Alabama +2.5 is 10/11 with Bet365
