CFP championship: Matchups that will decide ‘Bama-Georgia II

The last time No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia played, things could not have gone much better for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama dropped 41 points on the Bulldogs, more than double the nexthighest total they have allowed this season, in the Southeastern Conference title game on Dec. 4. Bryce Young shredded Georgia’s otherwise dominant defense for 421 yards passing, essentially locking up the Heisman Trophy.

So it’s back to the drawing board for Georgia and just run it back for ‘Bama, right?

“I don’t think you do everything the same, but I also don’t think you can make a lot of changes that the players are not going to go out and be able to play and execute with confidence,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said earlier this week.

Both teams are expecting a few new wrinkles — within reason.

“They’re not going to change up and go all Arkansas on us,” Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett said. “They’re not going to do that. They’re going to be Alabama. And we’re going to be Georgia. And we’re going to see who executes better.”

Arkansas was one of four SEC teams that lost to both Georgia and Alabama this season.

Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman, along with ESPN analysts Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic, help break down the matchups that could determine BulldogsCrimson Tide II.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT WILL?

Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. is the best defensive player in the country. The sophomore has 17.5 sacks among 33.5 tackles for loss. Both totals lead major college football.

Georgia should feel good about its offensive tackles, especially left tackle Jamaree Salyer, who was key in shutting down Michigan star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson in the semifinals.

But Anderson presents a different kind of challenge.

“The thing I like about Alabama is all the different things they do with him,” Pittman said.

Defensive coordinator Pete Golding likes to use Anderson on stunts and slants to get him attacking different parts of the line of scrimmage.

“I think he’s best when he’s on the move,” Cubelic said.

Anderson is a gamewrecker on an Alabama defense that’s a little underrated, and it will take a team effort by Georgia to neutralize him.

ATTACKING ALABAMA’S CORNERS

The Tide have shown some vulnerabilities in their secondary all season, and then senior cornerback Josh Jobe was lost for the playoff with a foot injury.