Georgia vs. Alabama in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Not bad.

The big storyline entering Saturday's game is whether Alabama is in the College Football Playoff regardless of outcome. Alabama is ninth in the latest CFP rankings and previous history says losing in conference title games may not come with a penalty by the committee. However, Alabama would likely fall out of the at-large mix with a lopsided loss.

Alabama won the first meeting 24-21 back in September, the first of four wins in a row against ranked SEC opponents. But the Tide scuffled through November while Georgia answered the bell with wins against Texas and Georgia Tech.

Here's what you need to know about Saturday's game and who we think will win:

SEC Championship game: Alabama vs Georgia

  • Records: Alabama (10-2), Georgia (11-1)
  • Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m., ABC
  • Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

SEC Championship game predictions

  • Georgia 31, Alabama 24: Did Alabama peak too soon? The Crimson Tide got on a roll that started with their win at Georgia in September, but they didn't look their best in a November loss to Oklahoma and a clunky Iron Bowl win at Auburn. Much like the first matchup, this rematch could come down to the quarterbacks. Ty Simpson won the battle in Round 1. I'll take Gunner Stockton in the sequel, with an assist from Georgia's improving defense. — Blake Toppmeyer
  • Georgia 23, Alabama 16: If it doesn't happen now for Kirby Smart and Georgia, if the Dawgs don't finally, and forcefully eliminate the Alabama problem against a Tide team running on fumes, then what? This isn't the same elite Georgia of years past on either side of the ball, and the Dawgs could have lost three games this season. They also could be unbeaten, but for a strange fourth down decision/play call in September against You Know Who. The Georgia defense dictates this game. ― Matt Hayes
  • Georgia 28, Alabama 14: Alabama hasn't looked like the best team in the SEC since October, if ever. The Tide were the better team in the matchup in Athens earlier this year. But there's no way to look at the team that struggled against South Carolina and LSU, lost to Oklahoma and then barely beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl and think it has a real shot at stopping Georgia's march back to the top the conference. — Paul Myerberg

SEC Championship game betting odds

Odds via BetMGM, as of Dec. 5

  • Spread: Georgia (-2.5)
  • Over/under: 47.5
  • Moneyline: Georgia (-140)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SEC Championship game: Alabama vs. Georgia prediction, keys to game

Reporting by Paul Myerberg, Blake Toppmeyer and Matt Hayes, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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