The rivalry between Alabama and Georgia continues on Saturday as the Bulldogs host the Crimson Tide. While Georgia has been thriving, Alabama has been struggling, with the Bulldogs being seen as the favorites to win the game. One person who knows how to win with Alabama, former head coach Nick Saban, however, believes that his former team have a chance to win.
The former Crimson Tide coach, who won multiple titles with the team, is now an analyst for ESPN. During College Game Day, Saban suggested that quarterback Ty Simpson could be a massive factor for Bama coming into the storied rivalry game.
“I think the big difference [for Alabama] is Ty Simpson is playing with confidence, but I think one of the most important things playing against Georgia is you’ve got to be able to establish the run so that you have balance on offense, you can’t let them tee off, they can’t get you in third-and-long. This is going to be one of the most challenging things because Georgia is so good and prides themselves on stopping the run,” he said.
Nick Saban on @CollegeGameDay: “I think the big difference [for Alabama] is Ty Simpson is playing with confidence, but I think one of the most important things playing against Georgia is you’ve got to be able to establish the run so that you have balance on offense, you can’t let…
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) September 27, 2025
The ESPN analyst also noted that the Crimson Tide have improved, especially Simpson. He added that Georgia has been very good at not giving up the big plays, which will be the key to the game. The Bulldogs are especially good at defending the third-and-down, and Saban noted that as long as the Crimson Tide does not go third-and-long, they can win.
Nick Saban Only College Game Day Analyst To Pick Alabama To Win Vs. Georgia
The “College GameDay” crew was made to pick which team they believed would win the big game between Alabama and Georgia, and almost all of them, including Pat McAfee, Desmond Howard and LaVar Arrington, all picked Georgia. Meanwhile, Kirk Herbstreit did not pick as he was calling the game, leaving only Nick Saban to choose Alabama.
While Georgia is the favorite, oddsmakers at Las Vegas just put the Bulldogs at a 2.5-point advantage, which means that this could be close, and Alabama actually has a chance. The Crimson Tide dominated Georgia last year and may be looking for a repeat, while Georgia currently has a 33-game home winning streak, which means something has to give.
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