One of the most anticipated games of the year is finally here, as Alabama and Georgia meet for a College Football Playoff championship. Who will emerge victorious in this high-scoring matchup? We’re about to find out!
The “2021 cfp national championship” is the first look at the upcoming College Football Playoff National Championship.
The Georgia Bulldogs have desired to return to the national championship stage since Tua Tagovailoa and DeVonta Smith shattered their hearts on second-and-26 in 2018.
Georgia has returned four years later. Alabama, unsurprisingly, will be on the other sideline.
Georgia is aiming to capture its first national title since the 1980 season after defeating Michigan 34-11 in the College Football Playoff Semifinal in the Capital One Orange Bowl. The long and agonizing drought has had multiple chapters and several antagonists, but Georgia’s toughest challenge lately has been the squad it will meet on Jan. 10 in Indianapolis.
Alabama has won seven consecutive games versus Georgia, including the CFP title game in overtime, as well as three SEC championship games, the most recent of which was on Dec. 4. Since his arrival from Alabama following the 2015 season, Georgia coach Kirby Smart has dramatically improved his alma school. His failings against Saban, on the other hand, stood out, adding a level of importance to a game that really didn’t require it.
A victory would relieve Smart of the charge that he is incapable of defeating his master and winning the most important games. A defeat, on the other hand, would usher in a long and arduous offseason in Athens. The jokes about Saban living rent-free in Smart’s mind would be unrelenting.
When Alabama’s previous dominance over Georgia is taken out of the equation, the championship game seems to be a very close battle, even one favoring the Bulldogs. Georgia was the obvious No. 1 team for the most of the season, but Alabama seldom shown the immaculate play or flair of the Tide squad that won the national championship in 2020. Alabama prevailed when it counted most, defeating Georgia and Cincinnati by a combined score of 68-30 in Friday’s CFP Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
It’s never simple to beat a team twice in a short period of time. Alabama has a better record in head-to-head matches, but it’s not difficult to build a case for Georgia.
Will this be the year when Georgia finally overcomes its long championship drought? Or will Alabama’s woes for the Bulldogs and their coach continue?
Here’s what to anticipate on Jan. 10 at the CFP national championship.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Georgia Bulldogs, No. 1 vs. No. 3
National Championship of the CFP AT&T is the sponsor of this event. Monday, January 10th, at 8 p.m. ET Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is the location of the game. ESPN and the ESPN App are the only ways to watch. Caesars Sportsbook’s first line: Georgia is a country in the United States (-2)
COACHES ARE
Nick Saban of Alabama: He’s already widely regarded as college football’s best coach, and he’s dominated the BCS and CFP periods like no other. Saban has a record seven national championships, including six with Alabama, and is attempting to win back-to-back championships with the Crimson Tide for the second time (2011 and 2012). He’s 7-2 in national championship games, with both of his defeats coming against Clemson (2016 and 2018 seasons). Saban’s teams have qualified for the College Football Playoff in seven of the last eight years and have won three of the last five BCS crowns. He has a 178-24 record at Alabama and a 269-66-1 career record in the FBS. Saban has a 9-2 record versus Georgia, which is the second-best winning percentage of any coach who has faced the Bulldogs at least five times since 1978. (Urban Meyer went 5-1 against Georgia).
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After a regular season in which they weren’t quite as dominating as usual, the Tide have turned it on at the ideal moment. Both before and after an Oct. 9 defeat against Texas A&M, Alabama’s defense and offensive line were chastised. The Tide struggled to upset ordinary Florida and LSU teams, gave up 35 points to Arkansas, and required a remarkable comeback to force overtime and win Auburn 24-22 in the Iron Bowl. However, in the SEC championship game, they flicked a switch, lighting up a historically superior Georgia defense for 41 scores and 536 yards. The story against Cincinnati was Alabama’s defense, which forced five three-and-outs and just two drives of more than 6 yards (including the first of the game for the Bearcats).
The most recent national championship was in 2020.
Georgia
The Bulldogs opened the season with a 10-3 victory against Clemson, with the defense scoring the lone score (Christopher Smith interception return). For most of the following three months, Smart’s defense was the talk of the country, as Georgia had three shutouts and never allowed more than 17 points in the regular season. Bennett took over for the often injured J.T. Daniels and performed well, while Georgia’s run game dominated opponents behind Zamir White, James Cook, and others. Georgia was never really challenged until the SEC championship game, when it led 10-0 before being outscored 41-14 over the next three quarters. The Bulldogs bounced back from their loss by dominating Michigan in Friday’s semifinal, jumping out to a 17-0 lead at halftime.
1980 was the last time he won a national championship.
KEY PERFORMERS
RB, Alabama Brian Robinson Jr. is a young man that has a lot of
Bowl season, which includes the College Football Playoff, is upon us after a chaotic regular season. Everything you need to know is right here. Preview of the CFP » | Schedule » | Takeaways » Every bowl game has its own cast of characters and tales. Fiesta > Fiesta » Fiesta » Fiesta » Fiesta » Fiesta » Fiesta » Fiesta » Fi
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All 32 CFP teams are ranked.
Robinson definitely benefitted from the additional recuperation before the CFP semifinal after struggling with a lower leg issue late in the season. He pounced on Cincinnati early and frequently, rushing for 134 yards on 17 runs in the first half and 204 yards on 26 carries for the game. Robinson gained 55 running yards on 16 runs in the SEC championship game versus Georgia, but he was instrumental in protecting quarterback Bryce Young. Alabama’s attack will be incredibly difficult to stop if the fifth-year senior can find more running space this time against Georgia. Despite the presence of other runners, Robinson is the team’s primary back, with 179 more carries than any other player.
QB Stetson Bennett IV (Georgia)
For most of his career, the former walk-on has faced criticism, and it reached a fever pitch after the SEC championship game defeat to Alabama. Bennett threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns against Alabama, but two interceptions, including one in the red zone, lost him the game. But he bounced back in a big manner against Michigan on Friday, throwing for 313 yards and three touchdowns while completing 67 percent of his passes. Bennett demonstrated rapid release, accuracy, and sound decision-making, as well as well placed deep throws to Jermaine Burton, James Cook, and others.
play
2:15
Georgia’s defense forces three turnovers and Stetson Bennett throws three touchdowns to put the Bulldogs in the CFP national title game.
Alabama’s wide receivers against. Georgia’s secondary is a game to watch.
Other, comparable matchups exist, such as Georgia’s defensive front versus Alabama’s offensive line, but after the SEC championship game, all attention will be on the perimeter. Young rumbled Georgia’s defense for 421 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 16.2 yards per pass and connecting with Jameson Williams for 67 and 55-yard scoring throws. Williams will be under more scrutiny since John Metchie tore his ACL in the game and will miss the national championship. Metchie had six catches for 97 yards and a score. Ja’Corey Brooks and Slade Bolden, who combined for 97 yards and two scores against Cincinnati, will play a bigger role in the future. Georgia’s secondary isn’t the defense’s strongest point, and it’s been plagued by injuries all season. In the semifinal, Derion Kendrick, a Clemson transfer, had two interceptions against Michigan. After missing the second half versus Michigan due to a targeting penalty, Christopher Smith will be eligible.
X FACTORS
2 Related
Brock Bowers, Georgia tight end: The 6-foot-4, 230-pound rookie is a matchup nightmare for defenses, especially one as good as Alabama’s. He had an immediate impact versus Michigan, catching three passes for 51 yards and a score on the first drive. Bennett’s favorite target, Bowers, ended with five catches for 55 yards. In the SEC championship game against Alabama, he led Georgia with 10 receptions for 139 yards and a score, and he will be at the top of defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s scouting report.
Alabama’s linebacker Will Anderson Jr.: Georgia must identify Anderson and keep him out of the pocket if Bennett is to repeat his semifinal heroics. The term “lives in the backfield” is often used to describe a wide receiver, but it also applies to Anderson, who added two more sacks to his national-leading total of 17.5 against Cincinnati. Anderson has 34.5 tackles for loss to lead the country, and he has 98 total stops to rank second on the squad. In the SEC championship, the sophomore got a sack and two tackles for loss. Jamaree Salyer and Warren McClendon, Georgia tackles, must find a way to contain No. 31.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the first College Football Playoff National Championship?
How can I watch the national championship?
A: Unfortunately, there is no official way to watch the NCAA Tournament live. The only option would be going onto a streaming service like DirecTV Now or NBC Sports Live Extra and trying to find your specific channel that broadcasts it.
How can I watch the Alabama Georgia game?
A: If you have an Apple TV, Xbox One or Playstation 4 you can watch the game on these platforms. However, if you are not able to use one of these then there is a number of websites that live streaming Alabama Georgia football game 2019 from different locations in the United States.
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- cfb championship 2021
- 2020 national championship
- college football playoff
