Georgia football: Three reasons why the Bulldogs can and will beat Alabama

Calvin Ridley is their only receiver with more than 20 catches

Shutting down Hurts’ running ability is one thing, but if Georgia can’t cover his receivers then he can still beat the Dawgs. The problem is, Ridley is his only reliable target. Ridley has 59 catches for 935 yards with four touchdowns. Numbers that will get him into the NFL. But besides him, no one else has more than 16 receptions. The second leading receiver is Bo Scarbrough, a running back.

Georgia’s weakness on defense might be the secondary, but even that unit is suited to cover Alabama’s receivers. When a quarterback targets one receiver that much more than others, you have to wonder how he’ll perform when he can’t throw to that one guy.

And Georgia has corners who can slow down Ridley. Deandre Baker is a big and physical corner who can keep Ridley off his routes. Malkom Parish can simply hang with Ridley and cover him up. The safeties and nickels are good enough in zone to cover him over the middle.

How will Hurts respond if he can’t run or get the ball to Ridley? Georgia certainly isn’t going to shut out Ridley. But keeping him to less than four catches while containing Hurts to the pocket should decimate their offense.