Alabama vs. Georgia: 3 position battles that’ll decide National Championship Game

2. Alabama OLB Will Anderson vs. Georgia OT Warren McClendon

One advantage Georgia has had this year has been the great play of its offensive line. Most notably, the two book-end tackles of Jamaree Salyer and Warren McClendon were a huge reason the Dawgs kept the vaunted Michigan pass rush of Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo at bay in the Orange Bowl. McClendon will be tasked with keeping Will Anderson out of the backfield again.

Because Anderson typically lines up over the right tackle, that means it will be McClendon’s job to keep college football’s best pass-rusher from wreaking havoc on Stetson Bennett and the Georgia passing game. Though Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding could move his best chest piece around, it will be McClendon, and maybe Salyer, who will have to keep Anderson contained.

1. Alabama WR Jameson Williams vs. Georgia CB Derion Kendrick

Georgia surely remembers what Jameson Williams did to them in the receiving game in the SEC Championship Game. He burnt the Dawgs secondary like toast repeatedly. While Georgia will have had time to adjust accordingly in the back-end of its defense, this is an area of weakness, or better yet, inexperience for the Dawgs. Ultimately, they will need Derion Kendrick to slow down Williams.

The former Clemson player had an incredible game with his two-interception performance vs. Michigan in the Orange Bowl. Though Williams will probably get his anyway in this game, not having John Metchie playing opposite of Williams in the national title bout does help Georgia out a bit. Of course, it means other receivers like Slade Bolden will have to step up in Metchie’s absence.

What ever team wins two of these three key position battles will almost certainly win the playoff.

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