Kirby Smart already knew what would happen vs. Alabama in the SEC Championship Game before it even started
Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs are SEC Champions once again.
Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are once again SEC Champions. However, in this game, the Bulldogs absolutely dominated the Alabama Crimson Tide. In an era when NIL and the Transfer Portal have created more parity, somehow these two teams have still found a way to make the SECCG. Yet this game was unlike others in the past. Smart dominated, and he knew exactly how he was going to flip the game on its head – special teams. Kids, cover your ears, as Smart and Nick Saban don’t care they’re on National TV.
“Apparently, the key for you (Nick Saban) is to play your backup quarterback,” Smart said hours before the game on ESPN to the former Alabama head coach. “That always seemed to work for you. I really think situational football is so important. Third down red area and special teams. Every time we have played in the SEC Championship Game, there has been a monumental special teams play.”
Smart called his shot with the Bulldogs’ special teams, blocking the punt
The Bulldogs likely would have won anyway, even if that blocked punt didn’t happen. However, that is the very moment where the game was flipped on its head. When the Bulldogs blocked the punt and recovered it near the red zone, it signified they were going to do all the little things in that game.
The little things mattered, and they did them all more often and better than Alabama did. Getting that punt there set up a huge touchdown for the Bulldogs, which really opened up the game. Smart called it, and he called it perfectly.
Zachariah Branch also had the big 24-yard punt return, which put the Bulldogs in a great position. Then, the punting unit was huge, too, with seven punts and only one touchback. The field goal unit was great, going 4/4. Every aspect of the Bulldogs’ special teams was great, and that was really what helped them stay in the game and break it open.
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