Georgia offensive tackle John Theus (71) is shown in action against Southern in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Athens , Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Read more
Parrish provides early spark for Bulldogs Lambert sharp again as Georgia downs Southern Chubb within one game of tying Herschel
The Georgia Bulldogs know before each Southeastern Conference football season that they will play Eastern Division counterparts such as South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida, and they know they face Auburn annually out of the West.
Only one team rotates from year to year in the league's cross-divisional scheduling format, and that team for Georgia in 2015 is Alabama. The No. 8 Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0) will host the No. 13 Crimson Tide (3-1, 0-1) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday for an anticipated clash that will be televised by CBS.
"It's going to be a great game," Georgia sophomore tailback Nick Chubb said moments after rushing for 131 yards and two touchdowns this past weekend in a 48-6 trampling of Championship Series opponent Southern. "When I was in high school, these two teams played for the SEC championship, and it was a close game. Fortunately, I've got some hours off to get some rest, but it's going to be a great game."
Georgia was a two-point favorite Sunday, marking the first time since the 2009 SEC title game that the Crimson Tide have been underdogs, a span of 72 games.
Saturday will be the first regular-season meeting between Alabama and Georgia since 2008, and it's the first time they've collided since the 2012 SEC title game. Alabama prevailed 32-28 in what's considered the best and most dramatic of the 23 league championship contests before going on to rout Notre Dame 42-14 in the BCS title game.
Georgia senior left tackle John Theus was the starting right tackle as a freshman in the 2012 SEC title game, which ended with Georgia on the Crimson Tide's 5-yard line.
"Sometimes you think about just how close we were and how crazy that game was," Theus said Saturday, "but I don't think it adds any fuel to the fire in this game. This game this week is just another game where we've got to win to get to where we want to go. We're definitely going to try and bring our best game, but I don't think the 2012 game will be motivation for us.
"I don't think we need motivation. Our guys will work hard enough as it is to prepare for it."
Georgia coach Mark Richt said it may be worth taking a look at the tape from the 2012 meeting, though. Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart heads the inside linebackers this season, as he did three years ago, while current Alabama defensive backs Cyrus Jones and Geno Smith played in that game.
The Crimson Tide thumped the University of Louisiana at Monroe 34-0 on Saturday. Georgia beat ULM 51-14 in the opener.
ULM safety Tre' Hunter said Saturday night that the Crimson Tide offense is more versatile than Georgia's, while Warhawks receiver Ajalen Holley said both defenses pose problems.
"When it comes to running the ball, I feel like we could be on the edge a little better against Alabama," Holley told reporters in Tuscaloosa. "When it comes to Georgia, we couldn't, because they're a faster outside defense. When it comes to getting downhill, I feel like Alabama is better at filling the gap than Georgia is, because they're bigger."
Saturday will not be the first big-name opponent Georgia starting quarterback Greyson Lambert will have challenged. Lambert was Virginia's starting quarterback a year ago and faced the likes of UCLA and Florida State.
It will, however, be the first showdown of nationally ranked teams in which Lambert has competed.
"People are going to want to say this and that about it," Lambert said, "but right now it's the next game on our schedule."
Odds and ends
Richt and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer made a hospital visit Sunday to see Southern receiver Devon Gales, who suffered a spinal cord injury Saturday. Freshman cornerback Rico McGraw did not play against Southern, and Richt did not disclose his status for this week.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.