SEC Championship: #2 Alabama vs #3 Georgia Preview

There are so many storylines in this year's SEC Championship Game. There was a joke on Twitter about how they should rename the SEC Championship Game the "National Championship Qualifier". For quite a while, that has been the case. And the same can be said about this year. The #2 Alabama Crimson Tide and the #3 Georgia Bulldogs are both 11-1, with a 7-1 record in the SEC.

However, the storylines don't stop at whoever wins will most likely play Notre Dame in the National Championship. We have two Heisman hopeful quarterbacks in AJ McCarron and Aaron Murray competing against each other. We have dominant running back Eddie Lacy against impressive running back Todd Gurley.

The Crimson Tide is led by junior quarterback AJ McCarron. McCarron has had Heisman hope with him all season. He is 178/265, has thrown for 2,507 yards for 25 touchdowns, and only two interceptions. A rather impressive touchdown to interception ratio.
The Bulldogs are led by junior quarterback Aaron Murray, who has also received much Heisman hype. He is 213/320, and has thrown for more yards than McCarron with a total of 3,201 yards. He has thrown 30 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.

But the offense of both teams don't end there. In fact, it's just getting started...

Alabama has two rather impressive running backs. Junior Eddie Lacy is their leading rusher, just eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark. He has also punched the ball into the endzone 14 times. Lacy's backup, freshman TJ Yeldon has 847 yards to his name, and 10 touchdowns. Both players will look to add onto those totals, and put a stomping on the Bulldogs.

 Georgia also has an impressive duo. Freshman Todd Gurley, who has carried the ball 176 times for 1,138 yards and 14 touchdowns. As well as fellow freshman Keith Marshall, who has carried the ball over 100 times for 720 yards and eight touchdowns.

Alabama is averaging 214 rushing yards per game while Georgia isn't too far behind, averaging 190. On paper, these teams look very similar. I guess that could be why they're ranked #2 and #3.

Both teams have a few wide receivers who have impressive numbers as well. Alabama is equip with Amari Cooper, Kenny Bell and Kevin Norwood. Cooper leads in receiving yards, with 767. He also leads in receiving touchdowns with eight. Bell has reeled in 3 touchdowns while Norwood has caught four.

The Bulldogs have Tavarres King, Malcolm Mitchell and Marlon Brown. King leads the group with 704 yards and eight touchdowns. Mitchell has over 500 yards receiving and four touchdowns, while Brown has nearly 500 yards receiving, and also four touchdowns.

Describing the offenses, it looks as if we're in for a high-scoring offensive affair. But as Lee Corso would say, "not so fast my friend!".

Alabama's defense is ranked #1 in the nation for points allowed. Bama allows an average of 9.3 points per game. If you look through their schedule it's amazing how little most teams can score on this defense. Texas A&M is the only team to score more than 17 points on the Crimson Tide, scoring 29 and actually defeating Alabama.

Georgia's defense isn't as tough, but still isn't giving many points up. They are ranked 16th for points allowed, only allowing an average of 17.7. Compared to Alabama's average you can see a difference, but not by much. The Bulldogs only loss comes from South Carolina, who put 35 up on the scoreboard. Although Georgia has given up 44 points to Tennessee, 24 points to Kentucky and 23 points to Buffalo, all teams who aren't known as very impressive teams this season.
If I had to put my money on whether it will be an offensive or defensive game, I'd put it on the game being defensive. And I'd be cautiously optimistic that I'd win the bet. But with these two offenses I'm just not sure. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see anything happen out there Saturday afternoon.
The game will be broadcast on CBS this Saturday afternoon at 4:00 PM ET. Clear your schedule, because we are in for quite a game. And the winner of this game will most likely go on to the National Championship Game and give Notre Dame a run for it's money.

- Matt Lytle

@mattlytle

#15 Texas A&M Aggies at #1 Alabama Crimson Tide Preview

The Crimson Tide are favored in this one by 13.5 points.

I think this one could definitely be a lot closer than what the experts are saying. Yes, Bama is loaded with talent in every single position. But Texas A&M has quite a few playmakers as well. Of course, the game is being played in Bryant-Denny Stadium, which gives the Crimson Tide an advantage.

Freshman TJ Yeldon has rushed for over 700 yards this season.

I did a simulation of this game on NCAA Football 13, and I've got to say, my XBox loves itself some Alabama. In the simulation Bama double Texas A&M's score, winning 42-21. AJ McCarron threw four touchdowns, and Eddie Lacy ran in two touchdowns. TJ Yeldon didn't even get a carry. That won't happen.

The Aggies are ranked 10th in the nation for rushing yards in a game. Alabama is ranked 24th. But Bama has quite an impressive duo of running backs. Eddie Lacy and TJ Yeldon are two amazing running backs that know how to get it done on the ground. Yeldon has over 700 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. Lacy has 679 yards and 8 touchdowns. Both will definitely be a factor this Saturday at 3:30.

However, like I said before, the Aggies are ranked higher for rushing yards per game. That's because of two players. One, their senior running back Ben Malena. Malena has over 600 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns. Two, their FRESHMAN quarterback Johnny  Manziel. Manziel is a dual-threat quarterback, passing for over 2,500 yards and 16 touchdowns, and rushing for over 900 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Freshman QB Johnny Manziel has impressed this season.

Defense is a big key to this game. Alabama is only allowing nine points a game on average. Texas A&M is allowing about 21. If the Aggies defense can't shut down this high powered Alabama offense, they aren't going to win this game. The Aggies will also have to find a way to do something that most teams haven't been able to do this year...score points on Alabama! But if there is a player that can do it, it very well could be Manziel. He has been very impressive thus far.

This is a game that although one team is favored by quite a few points, I think it could go either way. If the offenses click, we could see a very high scoring game. Then again, if the defenses click, we may see a low scoring, one or two touchdown game. This is one I definitely won't be missing. If you are a fan of hard hitting college football, I encourage you to tune in to CBS at 3:30 to check this one out. You won't regret it.

Off topic a little, I am going to go on record saying that two players in this game will be up for the Heisman in a few years. And both are freshman. Johnny Manziel and TJ Yeldon. Both have had an amazing year and will continue to impress for years to come.

- Matt Lytle

@mattlytle

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide at #5 LSU Tigers Preview

Not twelve months ago, the whole world saw one SEC team totally dismantle another on the biggest stage in all of college football.

On Saturday, November 3rd, Alabama will try to repeat the results of that historic night while LSU has a chance at redemption. The score was 21-0 as Alabama embarrassed LSU before 78,000+ fans. Having to recruit new talent in many of the same markets, LSU literally cannot afford to lose this game. In the South, SEC football is not just a game, it is a way of life, and should LSU get beat again, Les Miles is going to have a tough sell to the high school kid that is considering both schools. With a record of 7-1, a loss will drop them out of contention for the SEC West and will seal a spot in the SEC Championship game for Alabama. 

The match-ups between these two SEC West rivals have become legendary over the past couple of years. Always featuring two stout defenses, the games never lack drama or good hard-nosed football. The setting will be a tough one for Alabama as they travel to Baton Rouge, which is historically a very tough place to play. Add in just over 92,000 rabid Tiger fans, and it can be a pretty intimidating place to play for any squad...except...Alabama... Led by head coach Nick Saban and his revolving cast of NFL prospects, you can certainly expect that the Crimson Tide will be ready to play. While Alabama lacks the tough wins that they typically have in their holster, they have beaten everyone that has been placed in front of them. With a record of 8-0, don't expect much to be different in this game. While LSU is a tough adversary, the middle of their defense is soft and they lack the ability to compete offensively against the Alabama defense (which hasn't given up more than 14 points since November, 19th, 2011). Don't look for the outcome to be much different in this game as the Tide will roll again, to a tune of 18-7. (LINE Alabama covers -9)

- The Sports Messiah