Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) will kick off an awaited rematch against the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2). The winner will be crowned SEC champion and be in a prime position for a College Football Playoff run. In their first meeting of the season, UGA’s bitter foe of the past decade ended the Dawgs’ 33-game home win streak in a 24-21 nail-biter at Sanford Stadium.
Going into the SEC title game, Georgia has looked like the more impressive team, but has lost 10 of the last 11 to the Tide. Kirby Smart is 1-7 against his former team.
RELATED: Georgia could dominate one crucial area Alabama has struggled to control all season
The last 11 times Georgia has played Alabama:
- 2025 — Athens, GA: Alabama 24, Georgia 21
- 2024 — Tuscaloosa, AL: Alabama 41, Georgia 34
- 2023 — Atlanta, GA: Alabama 27, Georgia 24 (SEC Championship)
- 2022 — Indianapolis, IN: Georgia 33, Alabama 18 (National Championship)
- 2021 — Atlanta, GA: Alabama 41, Georgia 24 (SEC Championship)
- 2020 — Tuscaloosa, AL: Alabama 41, Georgia 24
- 2018 — Atlanta, GA: Alabama 35, Georgia 28 (SEC Championship)
- 2018 — Atlanta, GA: Alabama 26, Georgia 23 (National Championship)
- 2015 — Athens, GA: Alabama 38, Georgia 10
- 2012 — Atlanta, GA: Alabama 32, Georgia 28 (SEC Championship)
- 2008 — Athens, GA: Alabama 41, Georgia 30
Georgia is currently a slim 1.5-point favorite in a game that has opinions split.
Paul Finebaum predicts winner of Georgia vs. Alabama SEC Championship Game
Featured on SportsCenter, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum gave his official prediction during a segment of “Paul-In or Paul-Out.”
RELATED: Georgia-Alabama SEC championship gets ESPN’s best commentators
The SEC’s infamous personality is rolling with the Tide, acknowledging the unfortunate trend mentioned above.
“I’m in,” Finebaum said. “I once picked Georgia against Alabama, and a friend of mine said, ‘Don’t ever pick Georgia against Alabama.’ Guys, you know it. The record is pretty supportive of Alabama winning. I think it’s 9 out of the last 10.”
He continued, “Now, some will say, ‘Yeah, but weren’t most of those with Nick Saban?’ One of those losses was with Nick Saban,” Finebaum said. “But do I need to remind you that Kalen DeBoer is 2-0 against Kirby Smart? Nobody is 2-0 against Kirby Smart.”
Even with UGA’s slight edge, many have taken a similar approach of trusting Alabama against Georgia until shown otherwise.
Saturday, Kirby and the Dawgs will have another shot to get the Bama monkey off their back.
