You’d be splitting hairs trying to find advantages and disadvantages between these two programs, because as it stands, they are the two best teams in the entire SEC.

But after going back through the tape and digging into the advanced analytics, I think there are three things Georgia has to accomplish if it wants any real chance of leaving Tuscaloosa with a win this weekend.

So, here are the three keys for the Georgia Bulldogs to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday.

Make Keelon Russell think for one extra second

Number one for me: force Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell to hesitate. Make him think for an additional second.

Early in the season, you could tell Russell was winning a ton with his athleticism. He’s one of the best athletes on the field in any game he plays, and he can create when a play breaks down. But a lot of the time, he is not trusting what he’s seeing downfield. That’s a problem against this Georgia defense, which is known for disguising coverages and making quarterbacks second-guess themselves.

And frankly, the numbers back it up. Even with a lower pressure rate, the Bulldogs’ sack numbers are up from last season. I really do believe if Georgia can make Russell hold the ball one beat longer, especially if Alabama keeps landing in third-and-long situations. It’s going to stifle the Crimson Tide offense. Doing that alone already puts Georgia in a really good position to win.

Boring is the game plan for Kirby Smart

The second key is to be methodical offensively. As boring as it may be, a ton of screens and getting the playmakers the football in space is going to be critical in this one.

Alabama runs a ton of zone. That’s the base of its defense, and the best way to beat zone is to dink and dunk your way down the field. I keep thinking back to Gunner Stockton against Texas last season. He hit the hole every single time, took the profit, and didn’t force vertical shots that weren’t there. That approach takes the air out of the building, and that matters a hell of a lot more when you’re the road team.

Make Alabama one-dimensional

Flip back to the Crimson Tide offense, because the third key belongs to the Georgia defense: make Alabama one-dimensional. Take away that improved rushing attack. Maybe even force a fumble, because Daniel Hill has had some issues holding onto the football.

And you may say, Tegan, our offensive line is better than their defensive line. I don’t know that for a fact. What has Alabama’s offensive line shown you against a high-level defensive front for you to feel confident it’s going to push this Georgia front-seven around every single snap? I haven’t seen it.

Now, to be clear, I will admit Russell is the best player on that Alabama offense. But if Georgia takes the run game away and puts more pressure on him, it’s asking a young quarterback to carry everything himself. Basically, he would need to produce the kind of performance Trinidad Chambliss put up against Georgia in the College Football Playoff.

If the Bulldogs make Alabama one-dimensional and the only way the Crimson Tide win is with that type of performance from their quarterback, I’ll live with that 10 times out of 10, even knowing the last result wasn’t what you wanted.

The final verdict

This is not a game where one team is clearly better than the other, and I’m not going to pretend it is. But the path for Georgia is clear. Rattle Russell, stay patient against the zone, and take away the run.

If the Bulldogs check all three of those boxes, I absolutely think they have a fantastic chance to win this football game. And if I knew for a fact they’d accomplish all three on Saturday, I would guarantee a Georgia win.