While the college football scene buzzed with excitement over the Georgia-Alabama game, it ended in a disappointing loss, putting the team at 0-1 in conference play. Although Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and his staff are looking to put it behind them, college football analyst Paul Finebaum has issued a caution for the team’s future.
During his appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Finebaum discussed the Bulldogs and expressed confidence that they will qualify for the expanding college football playoffs. However, he emphasized that they need to address one key area: the importance of starting strong right from the first whistle, as this can lead to closer games, according to On3 Sports.
“They helped their case yesterday in terms of being taken seriously,” Finebaum said. “I say that, not because they were number one or two in the country going in, they were number two, but they looked better than they did against Kentucky and even at times against Clemson offensively. They can’t keep living on the edge, though. They can’t keep starting games slowly.”
It happened in the close call against Kentucky and suffered from some flaws vs. Clemson, and it happened against the Crimson Tide where the Bulldogs were down 28-0 at one point in the second quarter. However, the Georgia football team would come screaming back and even take the lead at one point which brings some positivity for Finebaum.
“Yes, I’m well aware. We all saw the same game,” Finebaum said. “They were down and they were out, but they came back and I think that has to give Kirby Smart hope and faith that this program is going to get on track and make the Playoff.”
The offense struggled significantly, with quarterback Carson Beck starting off with two interceptions. By the end of the night, he tallied 439 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. He was open with the media afterward, admitting how poorly they performed on that side of the ball, according to ESPN.
“The first half, we played terrible,” Beck said. “I don’t think we need to watch the film to go see that we didn’t play our best. You know, that starts with me. I’ve got to be better.”
The rivalry between Georgia and Alabama is well-known, particularly during Nick Saban’s tenure as head coach. However, Saturday’s result felt all too familiar for fans, as the Crimson Tide has now won nine of their last ten matchups.
Defensively, Georgia struggled to contain the dual-threat skills of Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. Coach Smart took significant responsibility for the loss, acknowledging a lack of preparation and admitting they gave their opponents too many opportunities. By the time Georgia mounted a comeback, it was too late.
“It was one hell of a game,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “Obviously, we were not really prepared, and that falls on me in the first half. We didn’t do a great job, especially defensively. We also gave them short fields. With a quarterback like Milroe, it creates a lot of tough times.”
The Bulldogs is now 3-1, but they look to redeem themselves as they take on Auburn next Saturday.
Leave a Reply