Georgia has talent and game

Georgia can feel better about their season by beating Bama...

     As good as Alabama fans feel about unexpected success this season Georgia feels as bad. What was supposed to be a banner season has turned into just okay.  Just okay for the Dawgs on paper is 20-9 overall and 9-6 in the SEC. Keep in mind that Georgia  has to play Vandy, Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee twice each season. 9-6 is pretty darn good. Georgia is fighting to finish third in the East.

Alabama has already nailed down the # 1 seed from the West for the SEC Tounament next week. Alabama is likely to play the winner of Vandy vs. LSU game on Thursday. Bama would finally get another shot at Vandy and vindicaton REFGATE. Georgia will play Auburn on Thursday and then advance to play Mississippi State on Friday. This is more than a good draw. It is more like an invitation into the semi-finals. The Tide is going to catch one of three good Eastern teams to reach the semi's. Depending on the tie breakers it will be Georgia, Kentucky, or Vandy.

This is one season where the weakness of the West is going to effect a lot of things. It is hard to see anyone other than Mississippi State or perhaps Arkansas to pull off an upset.  If Ole Miss, LSU, or Auburn wins a game it is going to be a huge upset. In the upper bracket the winner of Thursday game could easily be a favorite over the Tide.

For Bama it becomes a one game season...

For Bama the road to the NCAA is clear. Beat Georgia and hope that the homestanding Commodores knock off Florida. That may happen. I always like hometeams in the SEC. But the Georgia Bulldogs may be better than Alabama. I'll say this - if the NCAA is torn between Bama and Georgia they are going to see one or possibly two games between the candidates.  I still maintain the NCAA is not going to snub the SEC champion even with Co-Champs.

Bama is focused on Georgia. If the Tide doesn't knock off the more talented Dawgs the NIT may be their best bet. So what's going happen on Saturday?  Georgia is coming into Coleman with a more talent. They are also rested. Bama may have better team regardless of the talent level. Key question in my mind is whether Trevor Releford, Tony Mitchell, and JaMiceal Green have rested enough to sustain 40 minutes of all out defense. I think Bama can score enough to win. I'd take Bama in a close one simply because they are at home.

Bama's bench must contribute something more on Saturday...


One thing is clear. Someone needs to come off the Bama bench and contribute. Steele has quit shooting. Hillman won't stop shooting, Eblen can's shoot, and Hankerson hasn't played enought ot know what will happen. Davis has shot pretty well at home. The crowd will give the Tide a lift. If Releford can play full speed when he is in the lineup Bama might be hard to beat. If Tony Mitchell is rested enough to return to outer space where he usually plays the Tide will be all right. Green is going to have more friends than a dumb powerball lottery winner insider. Get the ball to Green. Get the ball to Green again, and keep trying to get the ball to Green. If the Tide does that they win. I like Bama 67-64.

Bill will be on 97.7 The Zone tonight at 8 and on 97.7 The Peach in Clanton at the same time.

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