They say revenge is a dish best served cold. Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart and his talented roster are angry and ready to serve this dish to Nick Saban and his Alabama Crimson Tide.
And let’s not beat about the bush because Georgia wants to serve it cold— freezing cold.
There is no doubting that Georgia and its fans are still hurting from that SEC Championship game, and rightly so. The Dawgs went into the SEC decider as overwhelming favorites, demonstrating the stoutest defense as the SEC and probably college football has ever seen.
But yet this defense did not live up to its hard-edged reputation and recorded zero sacks against Bryce Young.
While not the single most important statistic, it is helpful to compare that Auburn sacked Bryce Young seven times in the first half alone of the Iron Bowl. And this is a Georgia team that has recorded 45 sacks in the season so far. So instantly, it was evident that something was amiss with the Georgia defense.
So what and how does Georgia get revenge over that painful SEC Championship game?
1. Georgia football needs to build off Orange Bowl momentum
The Bulldogs had momentum going into the SEC Championship game but did not use it to their advantage.
Momentum is everything in sports, giving teams confidence, team cohesion and a genuine belief in their ability to overcome the next challenge. How many times has one event during a game swung momentum in favor of the team that wins the game.
While the defeat to Alabama slowed momentum, there is no doubt that the impressive slaying of Michigan swings momentum back in favor of Georgia.
There isn’t a better way to progress to the national championship game than by nullifying and dismantling the Wolverines, which was the hottest ticket in town and the name n everybody’s lips going into the Orange Bowl. This Michigan team was on the crest of a wave led by Heisman finalist Aidan Hutchinson and a quarterback who finally lived up to the Big Blue hype, Cade McNamara.
Yet the Dawtgs contained both as Georgia ran out of Miami with a 34-11 victory. An impressive win and reminded the college football world that Georgia football is an excellent team.
2. Georgia football is mad.
Let’s not underplay this — the Georgia players and coaching staff are angry.
Angry at their performance in the SEC Championship game, mad at the level of criticism leveled at them, and mad that they succumbed to, of all teams — the Crimson Tide.
If this anger can be corralled and harnessed correctly, there is no better mindset than being full-blown mad. Best of all? Georgia has almost an immediate opportunity to get revenge for that defeat.
How many times does a team have to wait a year to get their revenge? Not this time, Georgia had to wait a little over a month, and during that time, you can bet that Smart and company will be reminding his team just what they can achieve by doing what they should have done, what their talent should have allowed them to do in the SEC Championship game?
The opportunity to gain immortality in Athens is a compelling proposition. This factor is huge for the Dawgs — massive.
Can lightning really strike twice?
Listen to any commentator of the game worth their salt, and they will all say how difficult it is to beat the same team twice in short succession. First, the teams have just met, so there is little time to create something new. And if you do miracle up a new play, are you going to use it in the key moments of a championship game? No, frankly.
Secondly, the SEC Championship game was a must-win situation for Alabama. In that game, Georgia had a safety net, and it showed. This time around, there is no net. Both teams have to go at it, knock out punch for knock out punch.
The 2018 National Championship game went into overtime, and it would not be surprising if this game were similarly close. Both teams will look to nullify the threats which hurt them most last time around. So history points us to a tighter game.
Tight in the fourth quarter, and it is anybody’s game. Either coach would accept it being close going into the fourth quarter as they naturally have faith inter the team’s abilities. It’s time for Georgia football players to step up and take what is theirs.
Time will tell if Georgia can overcome the SEC Championship game defeat to secure the National Championship title. We will find out on Monday. But an angry Bulldog is not to be reckoned with, and the signs are that the Bulldogs can use this defeat to propel themselves to avenge against the Alabama Crimson Tide.