Live from the Dome: Favored Bama meets hungry Dogs!

That famous jokester Nick Saban leaves Mark Richt in stitches. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)

That famous jokester Nick Saban leaves Mark Richt in stitches Friday. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)

At the SEC Coaches’ Luncheon at the Hyatt on Friday, emcee Dave Neal asked Nick Saban if it was easier to keep a team motivated as a favorite, or if being an underdog was preferable. Whereupon Mark Richt said, “What does he know about being an underdog?”

Saban’s Crimson Tide is favored today by eight points over Richt’s Bulldogs, but an awful lot of folks — this correspondent included — are picking Georgia. Still, this matchup couldn’t have caught Saban unaware.

“Last summer I was at the lake (Burton, where every  big-name college football coach has a summer house) and I was fooling around in the yard, and two guys rode up on JetSkis,” Saban told Richt at the luncheon. “One of them was your quarterback Aaron Murray and the other was your center (David Andrews). And they said, ‘We’ll see you in the SEC championship game.’ ”

And here both teams are, Alabama ranked No. 2 to Georgia’s No. 2, Alabama favored but not nearly a lock, Georgia trying to seize its biggest football moment in three decades. But you knew all that already. So enough of me talking.

I’ll be here until someone is the 2012 SEC champ, and I’d appreciate it if you’d join the fun and frolic. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.

By Mark Bradley

2,729 comments Add your comment

me

December 1st, 2012
7:18 pm

No bock in the back call. Officials corrupt to the core.
AL OL demnostrating how to hold. Officials corrupt to the core.
AL personal foul in first half with hit on Murray. No call. Officials corrupt to the core.

SnoopyJenkins

December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm

Superior athletes…..on defense???? no way

Roy

December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm

Had UGA got that fumble on the kick off return, and UGA scores, coulda been ballgame.

me

December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm

Other than Olgletree, Dawgs have nothing at LB.

Since Vince

December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm

We are getting shredded

blame game

December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm

ROTATE THAT LINE CMR

kerryb

December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm

We can’t stop the run. They can’t stop the pass.

Tampa Gator

December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm

They are running right at Jarvis Jones on every play and he is getting blown out

phil

December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm

Nothing.

It wouldn’t hurt as much if they’d just break one….

Wow.

December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm

True_Crimson

December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm

Yeldon is chopping down some Tree!

RTR!!!

me

December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm

Offensive line putting a clinic on. How to hold and not get called.

DawgnSeattle

December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm

Another missed tackle by Hilliard, man he’s soft.

Tide Rising

December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm

WOW. A grinding, punishing running game. UGA gonna need some more luck to win this one.

sonofadawg

December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm

What the hell is Grantham doing, he can’t stop the freaking run!!

Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.

December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm

Damn some of those hit look like they HURT for both sides. Is this still what the MIZZOU player calls OLD MAN FOOTBALL?

Jimmy

December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm

This is hard to watch.
Too tense.
I’ve got to put my head under the covers.

Tampa Gator

December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm

John Jenkins finally made a play….been a long time

MenVsBoys

December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm

Ga defensive line is a complete non-factor right now. Can’t tackle, can’t shed their blocker.

nodefense

December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm

Put more men in the box.

SnoopyJenkins

December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm

we need a turnover really bad….

Since Vince

December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm

Recruiting is key…we have no quality depth

Mark Bradley

December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm

Biggest play of the day is this one — third and seven

MenVsBoys

December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm

It’s going to take a turnover.

Jimmy

December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm

They can run and get the first down.

dean

December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm

Grant ham isn’t on the field

Brownies for everyone

December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm

And tide rising your gonna need some luck to get something other than your sister..

me

December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm

#75 on AL with 2 hands of jersey and no holding call.

Mark Bradley

December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm

Stopped. Alabama has to punt

Tampa Gator

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

The SEC title game is better than the Super Bowl……by far…..Georgia really need that….but will Bama go for it

MenVsBoys

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

Will they go for it? I say yes.

Only in Moultrie

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

McCarron wants no part of throwing the ball.

Pigskin

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

Big stop…..watch the fake.

june dog

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

thank you DDDDDD

Tide Rising

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

Georgia finally gets a stop. No worries.

Orange12

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

Watch the fake

blame game

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

Playing stronger

rivercard

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

Uselessness of McCarron isa big difference in this game.

Tampa Gator

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

Why would you ever catch that punt…..wow

Mark Bradley

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

Georgia begins at the 8 with 7:14 to go

Buckhead Bulldog

December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm

We NEEDED that stop! Good job Junkyard Dogs

Since Vince

December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm

Need to score here

Roy

December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm

Good stop by the Defense. It’s all on the O here…get a touchdown and it’s ballgame.

True_Crimson

December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm

Defense has to step up here if they want to win it.

phil

December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm

Up to Murray and the O line now.

We must drive way down the field.

We must.

Now or never, boys!!!

Todd grantham

December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm

Mark, the winner will be the last team to score.

Jimmy

December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm

Really need a drive here.
Come on guys.

playmeortrademe

December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm

Gurley for the next 7 minutes

Tampa Gator

December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm

The Georgia D line just said…..YES WE CAN

Spartacus

December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm

Huge stop by the defense. If GA can somehow drive the field and score here, that might be enough!