1. Jalen Milroe and Carson Beck – The two quarterbacks will have a huge role in who wins Saturday night. Milroe was sensational in the Crimson Tide’s 42-10 rout of Wisconsin, once again throwing for and running for multiple touchdowns. Containment from Georgia’s defensive front is essential to victory. Milroe is a consistent threat and a big play maker. Beck struggled for much of the night in Georgia’s 13-12 victory over Kentucky in Lexington. But he made some critical throws down the stretch, as the Bulldogs prevailed over the Wildcats. He must be accurate, avoid the turnovers and be a field general for Georgia to best Bama.

2. Trenches – Football games are most often won or lost in the trenches. Especially in the trenches. And it’s no surprise that the top two programs in college football have been better than any team in the game on the lines of scrimmage during their incredible runs of success. Who dishes the blows? Who counterpunches more effectively? On arguably the most important drive in Georgia football history, leading Alabama 19-18 midway through the fourth quarter of the national championship game in Indianapolis on 1/10/22, the Bulldogs offensive line was tougher and more physical. Georgia went 62 yards, all on the ground with Zamir White and James Cook running, until the dump off to Brock Bowers to put the Dogs up eight following Jack Podlesny’s extra point. It was Georgia’s night, the 33-18 triumph clinching the first of back to back national championships for Kirby Smart’s program.

3. 1976 – Many Georgia fans, still to this day, rave that the most electric atmosphere ever in Athens came in 1976 Between the Hedges when the undefeated Bulldogs beat five time reigning SEC champion Alabama 21-0. The personal stories from die-hard Dawg faithful who were part of the magnificent mayhem ring like sweet music to the ears of the Georgia faithful. The tracks got packed early in the week. The Alabama team got no sleep the night before due to horn honking and ringing phones at the great Leroy Dukes famed Ramada Inn and Frog Pond Lounge. In the euphoria afterwards, there was a victory celebration to rival any Athens had ever seen – including extensive streaking (it was a craze in the ‘70s) and Greek parties that overflowed to such a degree that Milledge Avenue had to be shut down. The Bulldogs went on to a 10-1 regular season and the 1976 SEC Championship, ending the Crimson Tide’s run of five straight.

4. 1984 – The first Georgia-Alabama game I remember came in 1984 in Birmingham. It was the first meeting since 1974, and the Bulldogs prevailed 24-14. The hero of the day was Andre “Pulpwood” Smith. The freshman fullback scored a pair of long runs off identical dive plays to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead. Supertoe Kevin Butler booted a field goal to give the Dogs a 17-0 lead at Legion Field. But Bama battled back, drawing within three at 17-14. The Bulldogs delivered the knockout blow on a Todd Williams scoring pass to Herman Archie. The star of the day was Pulpwood. A one-year wonder with an epic nickname, those two runs secured a place in Red and Black lore. Ask any Georgia fan who remembers that day, what’s the first thing you think of from that victory in ‘84 over Bama? No doubt, the answer is “Pulpwood.”

5. 2002 – Georgia and Alabama met in Tuscaloosa for just the sixth time ever in 2002. For decades, the Crimson Tide played a lot of their high profile games (like the aforementioned 1984 Georgia-Bama battle) in Birmingham. Georgia had never won in T-Town. But the Bulldogs of 2002 found a way. Billy Bennett hit the go-ahead field goal and Thomas Davis sealed the game with an interception. This victory improved the Bulldogs to 5-0, and combined with a win over Tennessee in Athens the next week, helped propel Georgia to the program’s first SEC crown in 20 years.