After one of the greatest Rose Bowls ever played and utter domination by Alabama in the other semifinal, our National Championship Game matchup is set.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart worked for Nick Saban from 2007-2015 at Alabama before earning the head job at his alma mater. Smart has taken the Bulldogs to the doorstep of a national title in just his second season at Georgia, but he'll face his toughest test yet in taking on his former boss.

Saban is currently 11-0 coaching in games against his former assistants, outscoring them 427-111 in those matchups.

Will the Bulldogs be able to buck that trend and win their first national championship since 1980, or will Nick Saban win his fifth national championship in his last nine years at Alabama?

Georgia Offense vs Alabama Defense

Georgia ran for an obnoxious 10.87 yards per carry in a thrilling double-overtime win against Oklahoma in the semifinals, but Nick Chubb and Sony Michel will face a much tougher test in this Crimson Tide defense.

Alabama took advantage of a month to heal and prepare for Clemson, as they totally bottled up the Tigers' running game allowing only 3.67 yards per carry. The Bulldogs' backfield is definitely more talented than Clemson's, but Saban and the Tide's defense will stack the box and force their freshman quarterback Jake Fromm to beat them through the air.

Fromm was solid, but unspectacular, in the win over the Sooners, throwing for 210 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions on 6.19 yards per attempt. Alabama boasts the nation's sixth-ranked pass defense, according to S&P+, and Fromm will need to show the poise he played with down the stretch in the Rose Bowl once again if the Bulldogs want to claim the national title.

Alabama Offense vs Georgia Defense

Alabama's offense wasn't really able to move the ball at all against Clemson, gaining only 3.95 yards per play, and this Georgia defense will present them with similar challenges on Monday night (Jan. 8).

The Bulldogs' rushing defense is ranked ninth in the nation in Bill Connelly's S&P+ metric, but the Sooners' first-ranked rushing offense ran for 7.13 yards per carry against them in the Rose Bowl.

Alabama comes into the National Championship Game with the 12th-ranked rushing offense, but they may have even more talent running the ball than Oklahoma did.

If Roquan Smith and the rest of Georgia's run defense can follow a similar defensive gameplan to Alabama's and force Jalen Hurts to make passes down the field, a battle of young quarterbacks could decide this year's national champion.

TV Schedule

Monday, January 8 at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN

Prediction

Las Vegas oddsmakers have made Alabama a four-point favorite in this game, and I agree that they should come into the National Championship Game as the favorite to take down Georgia. However, if Georgia is successful in slowing down the Tide's rushing attack, I've lost a bit of confidence in Jalen Hurts' ability to win the game with his arm.

With all that said, Nick Saban's 11-0 record against former assistants is just too strong of a trend to bet against, and he'll cement Alabama as the greatest dynasty in college football history by hoisting the national championship trophy once again.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED