ULTIMATE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW ULTIMATE COLLEGEFOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIPPREVIEW ULTIMATECOLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFCHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW It's an all-SEC CFP title game. Georgia is looking for its first title since 1980 but will have to go through Alabama, which is playing in its third straight championship game.

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For the second time in seven seasons, college football will have an all-SEC national championship game. In 2011, Alabama dominated LSU to claim the BCS title. Now, it's SEC champion Georgia facing Alabama in the Bulldogs' backyard in Atlanta. The game features teams strikingly similar in their makeup. They'll both play elite defense and rely on their running games and trench play. Much of the pregame drama will center on Nick Saban and his former pupil and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.

HOW THEY STACK UP Based on efficiency ratings, the teams are uncannily similar. The semifinal matchups had at least one disparity per matchup, but not here.

ALABAMA GEORGIA Overall 92.9 Overall 92.4 Offense 88.2 Defense 88.7 Defense 87.9 Offense 86.4 Special Teams 53.8 Special Teams 54 These two are alike in many ways. Both will rely on stout, controlling defenses and efficient, run-centered offenses.

MATCHUP THAT MATTERS ALA: Christian Miller, LB vs. UGA: Nick Chubb, RB

Team yardsafter contact 1.7 Rush YPGallowed (team) 94.1 2.55 Yards aftercontact 44 Careertouchdowns The return to health of Alabama's linebacker corps has been an important factor at the end of the season and will be again after the Tide lost Anfernee Jennings against Clemson. Miller is one of those who returned from injury. That group will be tested against Georgia's running game. Chubb averages 2.55 yards after initial hits, while Alabama's defense is allowing the most yards after contact in the past three seasons.

RECRUITING ON ROSTER Alabama is college football's best recruiting program, but under Kirby Smart, Georgia is gaining on it. The Bulldogs have the most five-star prospects of any team in the playoff this season. The Tide, on the other hand, have built great depth through an incredible run of top-ranked classes in five of the past six years.

ALABAMA 23 GEORGIA 16

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