Georgia offense bracing for biggest test from Alabama

ATHENS, GA. >> Georgia’s offense is peaking just in time for its ultimate stress test against Alabama.

The No. 4 Bulldogs (111, No. 4 CFP) scored a combined 111 points in their final two regular-season wins over UMass and Georgia Tech. Georgia stacked an impressive string of eight consecutive quarters without a punt over its final three games.

The challenge for Jake Fromm and the Bulldogs is to keep piling on the points against a stout Alabama defense and keep pace with the powerful Crimson Tide. A high-scoring game may be Georgia’s best path to an upset win and repeat Southeastern Conference championship on Saturday.

Fromm has thrown 24 touchdown passes, including a combined 14 to Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman. Freshman Justin Fields, best known for his running skills, has thrown four touchdown passes.

As usual, No. 1 Alabama (12-0, No. 1 CFP) has relied on strong defense. It is a rematch of last season’s national championship game , a 26-23 overtime win for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama boasts its customary top-six national rankings in scoring defense and total defense. The defense has been overshadowed by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s big year, capped by his five touchdown passes in last week’s 5221 win over Auburn.

Fromm said he sees some of the same players back from the Alabama defense he faced at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in last season’s national championship game. Since Georgia coach Kirby Smart is the former longtime Alabama defensive coordinator, Fromm said the Crimson Tide’s defense also reminds him of the Georgia unit he faces in practice.

“Yeah, they definitely have some returning players,” Fromm said. “And they have some really good players. But schematically they’re doing a lot of similar stuff they last year, very similar to our defense. And I think it’s just kind of very similar to what we see every single day in practice, so hopefully we can be very successful with that.”

One year ago, Fromm was completing his freshman season while relying heavily on senior tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Chubb and Michel became the first Georgia tandem to reach 1,000 yards rushing in the same season.

The success of the running game remains the foundation of Georgia’s offensive success. Smart said he expected more big numbers on the ground even after losing Chubb and Michel to the NFL.