JessN: Bama @ Georgia preview: SEC’s top power team hosts a hungry Tide

[JessN]

Georgia preview: SEC’s top power team hosts a hungry Tide
by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief
September 25, 2025

When Nick Saban retired from coaching, it was well understood by most that the mantra of tough, physical football would probably – at least in the short-term – be passed to Saban protege Kirby Smart and the Georgia football program. While other SEC teams still play a physical brand of football, it is Smart who has adhered to Saban’s old formulas the longest, and Georgia has done the best job of the other SEC teams at keeping those philosophies alive.

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TideFans.com | By the Fans, For the Fans. - Georgia preview: SEC’s top power team hosts a hungry Tide

When Nick Saban retired from coaching, it was well understood by most that the mantra of tough, physical football would probably – at least in the short-term – be passed to Saban protege Kirby Smar…

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Week 05 Info: #17 Alabama @ #5 Georgia (ABC @ 6:30pm CDT )

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  • Bama @ Georgia preview: SEC’s top power team hosts a hungry Tide
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  • "Pitfall Post" ... (What I'm most worried about)
  • QB | RB | WR | OL | DL | LB | DB | ST
• Week 05 Pickem

 

[BhamToTexas]

Georgia getting both lines is concerning but I don’t think it is that much of a disparity. They are getting credit for the lines strictly based on the rushing stats for and against. We aren’t getting as much credit for the pass blocking or even some of the pressure stats.

I think it boils down to one thing for me. If Ty gets time from our OL we win, if he doesn’t we lose, plain and simple.

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

This one broke my heart a little. I hope we can pull it out. Just need our OL to play above their norm for this one. Maybe that's not too much to ask..

 

[ROCKEE]

Thanks Jess. You are always on an even keel when it comes to BAMA and previewing the upcoming games. Wish we all could be.
RTR!

 

[BamaMoon]

I think Jess is right in line with most of the experts but I was mildly surprised he ranked the OLs and DLs so closely.

This gives me more confidence!

 

[DrollTide]

Georgia by the margin of home field advantage. Sounds reasonable to me.

 

[MikeInBama]

We need to compete and steal a possession. Most of all don't need to turn one loss into multiple with Vandy next week.

 

[davefrat]

I want to see this team come out fired up and ready to fight for 60 minutes.

I would love a win, but a 31-28 loss on the road at GA is respectable.

I really just want to see some toughness and determination in a hostile environment against a top-quality opponent.

 

[BamaNation]

I want to see this team come out fired up and ready to fight for 60 minutes.

I would love a win, but a 31-28 loss on the road at GA is respectable.

I really just want to see some toughness and determination in a hostile environment against a top-quality opponent.

I totally understand what you're saying and I'm not at all throwing shade at you, @davefrat, because I've seen a number of these comments here and elsewhere, but I'm starting to sense an AUbie vibe in our fanbase of "at least we were close" when I see rationalizing a loss as somehow being ok.

I want to see a continuation of the return to joyless murderball we've seen the last couple of games and make "them dawgs" see stars. I was at the 2008 game the last time we were there for a "blackout" game where they thought they were going to destroy us with Stafford. I want to see them blackout and not know what hit them. I'm not sure my heart can take a 31-28 game

 

[davefrat]

I totally understand what you're saying and I'm not at all throwing shade at you, @davefrat, because I've seen a number of these comments here and elsewhere, but I'm starting to sense an AUbie vibe in our fanbase of "at least we were close" when I see rationalizing a loss as somehow being ok.

I want to see a continuation of the return to joyless murderball we've seen the last couple of games and make "them dawgs" see stars. I was at the 2008 game the last time we were there for a "blackout" game. I want to see them blackout and not know what hit them. I'm not sure my heart can take a 31-28 game

I doubt we will ever return to "joyless murderball" under DeBoer, it's just not his style. Even the last two weeks we didn't really exhibit that kind of old-school domination Saban-style.

The way GA responded at Tennessee (and the way GA responded last year in Tuscaloosa) was the way that Saban teams responded.

If we see that from our team this weekend, win or lose, it will be to me a sign of improvement.

I'd love to win the game, but I still don't know what this staff or this team really are right now.

And right now, were I a betting man, my money would be on Kirby and the Dawgs at home.

In my opinion, Kirby is just a better coach than DeBoer and right now GA is a better program than Bama.

Makes me want to puke typing that, but I think it's true.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I doubt we will ever return to "joyless murderball" under DeBoer, it's just not his style. Even the last two weeks we didn't really exhibit that kind of old-school domination Saban-style.

The way GA responded at Tennessee (and the way GA responded last year in Tuscaloosa) was the way that Saban teams responded.

If we see that from our team this weekend, win or lose, it will be to me a sign of improvement.

I'd love to win the game, but I still don't know what this staff or this team really are right now.

And right now, were I a betting man, my money would be on Kirby and the Dawgs at home.

In my opinion, Kirby is just a better coach than DeBoer and right now GA is a better program than Bama.

Makes me want to puke typing that, but I think it's true.

And there's nothing wrong with saying that, because Kirby's been at UGA exponentially longer than DeBoer at Alabama. It would be one thing if they both started around the same time at their respective schools but they didn't. Smart has had a 10+ year head start on DeBoer. However, I think Smart has peaked with UGA with his two B2B NC's. There's been a steady decline of their program since then. They're not "bad" or "mediocre", but they're not dominant either. If they were dominant, they would have blown out Tennessee rather than going to OT with them. They're still a physical team, they're going to play hard nosed football, but I don't think Kirby will ever field another team like he had when he won B2B titles. Those days, IMO, are gone for him. I think he'll follow the path of Dabo Swinney and the further away he gets from those titles the more you'll see UGA regress back to what UGA has historically been. And that's a solid team that will always have the talent to compete.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

And there's nothing wrong with saying that, because Kirby's been at UGA exponentially longer than DeBoer at Alabama. It would be one thing if they both started around the same time at their respective schools but they didn't. Smart has had a 10+ year head start on DeBoer. However, I think Smart has peaked with UGA with his two B2B NC's. There's been a steady decline of their program since then. They're not "bad" or "mediocre", but they're not dominant either. If they were dominant, they would have blown out Tennessee rather than going to OT with them. They're still a physical team, they're going to paly hard nosed football, but I don't think Kirby will ever field another team like he had when he won B2B titles. Those days, IMO, are gone for him. I think he'll follow the path of Dabo Swinney and the further away he gets from those titles the more you'll see UGA regress back to what UGA has historically been. And that's a solid team that will always have the talent to compete.

This right here is why I love this board. Rational, well thought out opinion. Here in Atlanta we get uga homers that think kirby is the greatest coach in the history of sports and is totally original in his coaching philosophy and style. They barely acknowledge he once had a boss. These uga homers think their team dominated every game they have ever played. Even when they lose, they still dominated.

 

[Bama9001]

Strangely, after reading Jess's article, I have more confidence heading into this game. Seems a couple groups could have gone the other way and the case (aguably) for them going the other way was there. The strengths and weaknesses of the teams indicate an important, but slight, edge to Bama.

The way it's shaking out I pretty much agree with everyone else...if the OL gives TS time, and TS delivers the ball, we win. However, I think we'll need Keenan to give us 20+ championship level snaps on the defensive side to set the table for the offense. Everyone else just needs to be calm and collected and play their A game.

Bama 34 UGA 24

 

[davefrat]

And there's nothing wrong with saying that, because Kirby's been at UGA exponentially longer than DeBoer at Alabama. It would be one thing if they both started around the same time at their respective schools but they didn't. Smart has had a 10+ year head start on DeBoer. However, I think Smart has peaked with UGA with his two B2B NC's. There's been a steady decline of their program since then. They're not "bad" or "mediocre", but they're not dominant either. If they were dominant, they would have blown out Tennessee rather than going to OT with them. They're still a physical team, they're going to play hard nosed football, but I don't think Kirby will ever field another team like he had when he won B2B titles. Those days, IMO, are gone for him. I think he'll follow the path of Dabo Swinney and the further away he gets from those titles the more you'll see UGA regress back to what UGA has historically been. And that's a solid team that will always have the talent to compete.

Could be.

I just think that right now Kirby is a better head coach and UGA is a more solid program.

Doesn't mean we can't beat them tomorrow...doesn't mean DeBoer can't surpass Kirby as a coach...doesn't mean we can't reassert ourselves as the dominant team in the SEC.

Hopefully we can set ourselves on a path to do all those things tomorrow.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Could be.

I just think that right now Kirby is a better head coach and UGA is a more solid program.

Doesn't mean we can't beat them tomorrow...doesn't mean DeBoer can't surpass Kirby as a coach...doesn't mean we can't reassert ourselves as the dominant team in the SEC.

Hopefully we can set ourselves on a path to do all those things tomorrow.

Oh, I'm not arguing that. But again, one program has a coach who's been there a decade and the other program has a coach in his second year. It's an apple to oranges comparison. We have no idea if we were to reverse the situations whether a program under DeBoer for 10 years is better or worse than a program under Smart in his second year. Stability is a big deal. You've got one coach whose philosophy and recruiting have been entrenched for a decade and the other coach whose philosophy and recruiting is only in year two.

 

[davefrat]

Oh, I'm not arguing that. But again, one program has a coach who's been there a decade and the other program has a coach in his second year. It's an apple to oranges comparison. We have no idea if we were to reverse the situations whether a program under DeBoer for 10 years is better or worse than a program under Smart in his second year. Stability is a big deal. You've got one coach whose philosophy and recruiting have been entrenched for a decade and the other coach whose philosophy and recruiting is only in year two.

Kirby went 8-5 in his first season at GA.

Kirby took his team within one insane play of winning the NC in his second year at GA.

We shall see how DeBoer fairs in year 2.

 

[tideindc]

Unless I’m mistaken, we’ve yet to play well on the road ag anyone in the SEC under DeBoer. That’s the biggest question…can he prepare the team to not collapse in a hostile environment.

 

[Cruiser]

Unless I’m mistaken, we’ve yet to play well on the road ag anyone in the SEC under DeBoer. That’s the biggest question…can he prepare the team to not collapse in a hostile environment.

We destroyed LSU; but that is the the outlier

 

[Cruiser]

Georgia getting both lines is concerning but I don’t think it is that much of a disparity. They are getting credit for the lines strictly based on the rushing stats for and against. We aren’t getting as much credit for the pass blocking or even some of the pressure stats.

I think it boils down to one thing for me. If Ty gets time from our OL we win, if he doesn’t we lose, plain and simple.

You can expect Kirby to attack Ty early; he knows Ty's confidence is key to the game. Early sacks or pressure leading to 3 and outs will test him and get the crowd going.
Roll Tide!

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

I want to see a continuation of the return to joyless murderball we've seen the last couple of games and make "them dawgs" see stars. I was at the 2008 game the last time we were there for a "blackout" game where they thought they were going to destroy us with Stafford. I want to see them blackout and not know what hit them. I'm not sure my heart can take a 31-28 game

This!