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Georgia first half vs. Alabama goes down as one of the worst of Kirby Smart era
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Georgia trailed Alabama by a massive and somewhat unprecedented number at the halftime of Saturday’s top-5 showdown in Tuscaloosa.
The fourth-ranked Crimson Tide were nearly flawless in the first half, scoring touchdowns on their first 4 possessions and recording a safety late to take a 30-7 lead into the break. That sent Georgia to the locker room facing a deficit for the second consecutive week. (The Bulldogs trailed Kentucky 6-3 at the half last week in Lexington.)
In the last 5 years, Georgia has trailed at the half in a game only 12 previous times previous (17% of all games).
Saturday’s game marked the first since 2016 in which Georgia has trailed at the half in consecutive games. That season, by the way, was the first in the Kirby Smart era.
The 23-point deficit was also the largest halftime deficit Georgia has faced in a game since Sept. 24, 2016, when a Hugh Freeze-led Ole Miss team led the Dawgs 31-0 at the halftime break.
In so many ways, Georgia looked uncharacteristic. The Bulldogs were struggling mightily to set the edge on Alabama’s early possessions. They couldn’t confuse the picture for Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe when he dropped back to pass. Georgia muffed a punt in the final minute of the half. And Georgia quarterback Carson Beck looked like he was seeing ghosts.
Alabama ran for 156 yards in the first half, with Milroe going for 106 and 2 scores on 9 carries. Milroe also completed 18 of his 21 passes for 199 yards and a score. It was a masterclass in play-calling from Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan.
Beck threw 2 interceptions and nearly threw a third. He was called for intentional grounding late in the half to avoid taking a safety — but the penalty resulted in a safety anyway. Alabama nearly doubled Georgia’s time of possession and ran 39 plays to Georgia’s 28.
Given the pageantry surrounding the game and all the hype that went into the pregame billing, it was about as nightmarish a start as possible for the Bulldogs.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
