Nick Saban made his presence felt on College GameDay, and he didn’t hide where he stands on Georgia’s showdown with Alabama.
Appearing on the panel inside Coleman Coliseum - the site change coming after storms forced the show indoors - Saban was in a good mood surrounded by Crimson Tide fans. He took aim at Georgia’s schedule, then backed Alabama to handle business.
“(Georgia has) dominated every team that they’ve played,” Saban said. “They haven’t played anybody, but they will play somebody tonight, and the Tide will dominate.”
That wasn’t the only time Saban addressed the matchup. Later in the broadcast, he looked back on how he handled College GameDay as a head coach, saying he didn’t like players hearing the constant praise and projected wins.
“I used to hate it, Saban said. “ And everybody picks us to win and I know the players are watching that, and I’m wondering if it will affect their psychological disposition … because you (GameDay panel) think they are going to win, and they have to go out and play.”
On Friday’s Pat McAfee Show, though, Saban took a different tone and offered praise for Georgia.
“I think Georgia is one of the most complete teams in the country,” Saban said. “I know they haven’t been tested, but they haven’t been behind, they’ve dominated the competition, which that’s hard to do sometimes when you’re supposed to win and you go out and win like you’re supposed to, and they’ve been able to do that.”
The attention around Saban has only grown as ESPN rolls out its six-part documentary on his career and life. That has also put a spotlight on Kirby Smart, who now holds the distinction of being the winningest SEC coach in history by percentage. In his 11th year at Georgia, Smart has won 85.3% of his games, with Saban second at 84.7%.
The betting market has been moving, too. Georgia opened as a 1.5-point favorite, but the line quickly flipped toward Alabama, a sign the public was leaning to the Tide.
Georgia also had some injury news to manage Friday night. Receiver Isiah Canion was downgraded from questionable to “out.”
That came on top of another setback: Thomas Blackshear, Canion’s primary backup, is also out after suffering a shoulder injury Saturday against Vanderbilt.
Bowens also dealt with an apparent ankle injury in the first half of Georgia’s 38-14 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday, though he returned to the game in the second half.
In Other News...
Georgia Heads To Alabama With A New Problem On Both Sides
Georgias trip to Alabama comes with another layer of concern after the latest SEC injury report showed wide receiver Isiah Canion will miss the matchup, his third straight game out with a leg injury. He is among a group of Georgia players ruled out, and the list also includes Thomas Blackshear and Chauncey Bowens, thinning the Bulldogs depth for one of the biggest games on the schedule.
For a team heading into a hostile road setting, the issue is not just one absence but the accumulation of them. Georgia has to sort through multiple unavailable pieces on both sides of the ball while preparing for an Alabama team that will surely press every weakness, leaving the Bulldogs with little margin for error before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Just Got Extra Fuel Before Its Biggest Alabama Test
The buildup around Georgias meeting with Alabama got a little more pointed this week when the College GameDay crew made its picks for the SEC heavyweight showdown. Three of the four panelists, including Nick Saban and Bryce Young, leaned toward Alabama, adding another layer of outside doubt to a game that already carries major weight in the SEC Championship race and the College Football Playoff picture.
Saturday nights kickoff at 7:30 p.m. EST gives Georgia the chance to answer all of that on the field. A win would give the Bulldogs a major edge in both races, while also offering the kind of resume boost that can define the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Must Now Prepare For An Alabama Twist They Didn't Expect
Georgias preparation for Saturday night just got a little more complicated. Alabama tight end Josh Ford, who broke his arm last week against Mississippi State, is expected to be available against the Bulldogs, adding another layer to a matchup already heavy with SEC stakes. Ford has been an important blocker in Alabamas offense this season, and hes also shown he can matter as a receiver after catching a touchdown against South Carolina.
For Georgia, the timing of that update matters because Alabamas tight end usage can change the feel of a game at the line of scrimmage and in the red zone. The Bulldogs will have to account for Ford at Bryant-Denny Stadium when the teams kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, and any late twist like this can force a defense to adjust its plan on the fly. [Read more 🡒]