Who is your preferred opponent in SEC championship

[Joefus]

Texas is rounding into form here lately. I think if they continue to grow into who everyone thought they were early in the season I’d like very much to NOT play them

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Texas is rounding into form here lately. I think if they continue to grow into who everyone thought they were early in the season I’d like very much to NOT play them

Not likely. A LOT would have to happen for them to make it to Atlanta as a participant...

 

[Elefantman]

My choice is none of the above. I wish they would get rid of this unnecessary game.

 

[day-day]

Texas A&M or Ole Miss. As others have said, something new. I’m sick of Georgia and a rematch favors them anyway.

And it’s nothing to do with thinking we’d have a better chance against A&M or OM either. Both are really good. Texas is still out there and would be a big match up. Huge ratings. I’d say of who is still alive:

1. Texas A&M
2. Ole Miss
3. Texas
4. Georgia

Oklahoma really isn’t a choice because we play them and if we beat them, they are eliminated at that point.

Why would a rematch favor Georgia?

 

[Bama Lee]

Whoever makes it in there, they should be very worried about playing us!

 

[Bazza]

Same as always for me......Bama!

 

[92tide]

Texas is rounding into form here lately. I think if they continue to grow into who everyone thought they were early in the season I’d like very much to NOT play them

they head to athens soon, so we'll see what they have

 

[Joefus]

they head to athens soon, so we'll see what they have

Few things make me happier than Kirby after a loss

 

[bamafan76]

Doesn’t matter as long as the Tide comes away with the W.

 

[bamamc1]

None of the above. Need to do away with this. All it can accomplish is getting people hurt before the playoffs.

 

[thunderz7]

Anyone we haven't already played.

 

[Smoovee7]

I agree with bamamc1. Id rather not play in it and rest for the CFP. I understand how important being SEC champs has been historically (Bama fan since 1985) but in this new age of college football its a tough call. Being SEC champs is great but getting injuries and being bounced out in the playoffs due to players not suiting up is tough call to make.

 

[81usaf92]

The weird thing is that I have a feeling Texas is about to throw a wrench in the whole thing and beat both Georgia and aTm. They probably have the best defensive talent in the SEC let alone one in the nation, and their offense has improved as the season has progressed.

I think we match up better vs Georgia than everyone else, and probably worse against the two Texas teams. But in a weird way not making it might be the best case scenario but that suggests we lose to either Oklahoma or Auburn. Beating Oklahoma all but guarantees us a home field spot in the playoffs, beating both probably guarantees us a bye no matter what happens in the SECCG.

 

[CB4]

Why would a rematch favor Georgia?

Generally speaking, you’re correct that “playing a team the second time” doesn’t favor the previous game’s loser. In most cases the previous winner prevails, although it is usually a much closer contest. The thing you have to take in consideration is, in many of those “rematch”’ situations (example NFL playoffs) the previous winner usually has the home field advantage via better record or victory in the previous game.

I think what @TideEngineer08 is pointing to is that the game is in Atlanta. The last couple times we’ve played them there, the place is probably 65-35 (or greater) UGA fans. And while we have in most cases prevailed, with one big exception, it does offer a distinct home field advantage for UGA.

From a matchup standpoint, I actually would prefer UGA **if** it was a truly neutral site. It isn’t.

IMO just getting to Atlanta is a huge accomplishment. I told my wife last night after listening to the game (on YTTV so I listened to radio broadcast) that this a “good football team, not a “great” or even exceptional team. Too many weaknesses which we have all discussed. However, being 8-1 at this point after losing the first game then having to negotiate basically “murders row” of a conference schedule this is better than I expected.

At this point, “we are who are”. I’ll take a trip to Atlanta regardless of who we play and a spot in the 12 team playoff. Beyond that is icing on the cake.

 

[81usaf92]

Generally speaking, you’re correct that “playing a team the second time” doesn’t favor the previous game’s loser. In most cases the previous winner prevails, although it is usually a much closer contest. The thing you have to take in consideration is, in many of those “rematch”’ situations (example NFL playoffs) the previous winner usually has the home field advantage via better record or victory in the previous game.

I think what @TideEngineer08 is pointing to is that the game is in Atlanta. The last couple times we’ve played them there, the place is probably 65-35 (or greater) UGA fans. And while we have in most cases prevailed, with one big exception, it does offer a distinct home field advantage for UGA.

From a matchup standpoint, I actually would prefer UGA **if** it was a truly neutral site. It isn’t.

IMO just getting to Atlanta is a huge accomplishment. I told my wife last night after listening to the game (on YTTV so I listened to radio broadcast) that this a “good football team, not a “great” or even exceptional team. Too many weaknesses which we have all discussed. However, being 8-1 at this point after losing the first game then having to negotiate basically “murders row” of a conference schedule this is better than I expected.

At this point, “we are who are”. I’ll take a trip to Atlanta regardless of who we play and a spot in the 12 team playoff. Beyond that is icing on the cake.

Georgia hasn’t beaten us in the state of Georgia since 2003.

08- Athens
12: Ga Dome
15: Athens
17: Ga Dome
18: Ga Dome
21: Ga Dome
23: Ga Dome
25: Athens

Their wins since then (2007 in Tuscaloosa) (21 in Indianapolis)

 

[Jay Hughes]

Generally speaking, you’re correct that “playing a team the second time” doesn’t favor the previous game’s loser. In most cases the previous winner prevails, although it is usually a much closer contest. The thing you have to take in consideration is, in many of those “rematch”’ situations (example NFL playoffs) the previous winner usually has the home field advantage via better record or victory in the previous game.

I think what @TideEngineer08 is pointing to is that the game is in Atlanta. The last couple times we’ve played them there, the place is probably 65-35 (or greater) UGA fans. And while we have in most cases prevailed, with one big exception, it does offer a distinct home field advantage for UGA.

From a matchup standpoint, I actually would prefer UGA **if** it was a truly neutral site. It isn’t.

IMO just getting to Atlanta is a huge accomplishment. I told my wife last night after listening to the game (on YTTV so I listened to radio broadcast) that this a “good football team, not a “great” or even exceptional team. Too many weaknesses which we have all discussed. However, being 8-1 at this point after losing the first game then having to negotiate basically “murders row” of a conference schedule this is better than I expected.

At this point, “we are who are”. I’ll take a trip to Atlanta regardless of who we play and a spot in the 12 team playoff. Beyond that is icing on the cake.

With CFB being what it is now, I am not sure we will see teams be “great” in the same way they once were. The portal and NIL has definitely had an impact on the depth of the “great” teams. With that being considered, I do believe Bama is a “great” team when compared to all the other current teams. Everything is relative.

RTR

 

[81usaf92]

I think what @TideEngineer08 is pointing to is that the game is in Atlanta. The last couple times we’ve played them there, the place is probably 65-35 (or greater) UGA fans. And while we have in most cases prevailed, with one big exception, it does offer a distinct home field advantage for UGA.

Well also consider Bama fans have been priced out with massive trips across the country from 2008-2023 compared to Georgia fans just starting in 2017. I mean Georgia has only crossed the Mississippi River twice (2017 Rose and 2022 NC) since 2017 for a big game whereas Bama has crossed it in 2009 (Rose), three cowboy kickoffs (2012,2015, and 2016), (2015 cotton), (Phoenix in 2015), (Santa Clara 2018), (2020 Rose), (2021 Cotton), and (2023 Rose). Basically the 2015 in itself was probably a small fortune that no Georgia fan has ever experienced in their current run. I mean if you went to all of 2015 games you went to Dallas twice, Atlanta, and Phoenix. Thats not even counting going to Athens, College Station, Auburn, and Starkville as true road games.

My point is that Georgia’s home field advantage is far less of them being closer to Atlanta and far more about Alabama fans picking what games they want to go to in December and January because of their budget.

 

[TideEngineer08]

Why would a rematch favor Georgia?

The last time we had to play them a second time in a season, they beat us. And in fact that’s the only time they’ve beaten us in the past 20 years.

I look back at the 2011 season and us getting a rematch with LSU and we won the second game after losing the first. Georgia has seemingly improved since our first meeting and we’ve regressed over the last few weeks (even if we’ve yet to lose since then). Finally, even if we did beat them, they shut us out in that second half.

I’m not saying I think we’d lose for certain, I’m simply saying looking at it as neutrally as I possibly can, I’d favor them in a rematch.

 

[64 Grad]

Are we a lock to get in the game? Any opponent can beat this team based on last nights and other performances. I pencil in Georgia and A&M as likely winners over Bama. Right now there are several teams in the country that can beat Alabama.

 

[81usaf92]

The last time we had to play them a second time in a season, they beat us. And in fact that’s the only time they’ve beaten us in the past 20 years.

I look back at the 2011 season and us getting a rematch with LSU and we won the second game after losing the first. Georgia has seemingly improved since our first meeting and we’ve regressed over the last few weeks (even if we’ve yet to lose since then). Finally, even if we did beat them, they shut us out in that second half.

I’m not saying I think we’d lose for certain, I’m simply saying looking at it as neutrally as I possibly can, I’d favor them in a rematch.

2011 LSU was more of the wrong team winning the first game

2021 Georgia… Georgia was the better team in both matchups but Bryce was down both of his main targets in the second game


Most rematches that go the opposite way than the first game usually are cases where the wrong team won the first game and has the full attention of the right team the next match.

8 times the SEC Championship Game was a rematch between teams that played in the regular season… Only once was there a split (2001 LSU and Tennessee)