UGA and Falcons prepare for battle against conference rivals
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UGA head coach Kirby Smart is ready to go against his former team once again. Photo: Michael Hickey/Getty Images
What better way to close out September than with two big time rivalry games for both the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Falcons.
State of play: UGA is heading to Tuscaloosa to face the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday night and the Falcons are hosting the much hated New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Zoom in: Alabama and Georgia have been the unquestioned kings of the SEC for the past decade with either team winning nine of the past 10 conference championships. Bama has seven and UGA has two.
Yes, but: There's only one throne and more often than not, Georgia has come up short reaching for it. The Dawgs have lost eight of their past 10 against the Crimson Tide including last year's SEC Championship.
- However, one of those wins was for a national title in 2021, which was UGA's first since 1980.
The intrigue: One key person missing from this year's rivalry is former Alabama head coach (and Smart's old boss) Nick Saban, who retired after last season.
- Smart went 1-5 against Saban but enjoys a clean slate against Bama in this next era of the rivalry.
The odds: UGA is a two-point favorite, according to ESPN Bet. Kickoff is at 7:30pm on ABC.
Falcons vs. Saints
After dropping their first two home games of the season, the Falcons are looking for their first win in Atlanta at the hands of the New Orleans Saints.
Between the lines: If the Falcons want to win the division or even reach the playoffs, defending their home turf is a priority. This is also Atlanta's first division game of the season.
What to know: The Saints have gotten off to a surprising 2-1 start and scored more than 40 points in their first two games.
- Atlanta hasn't hit the 40-point mark since 2020, when they beat the Raiders 43-6 in Week 12.
What we're watching: Can Atlanta unlock its offense and support a defense that's only given up four touchdowns so far this season?
How to watch: The game starts Sunday at 1pm on Fox.
Burnt ends
On Saturday, Georgia State hosts Georgia Southern at 3:30pm to determine who's the real GSU and Mercer takes on Wofford at 1:30pm.
- Georgia Tech is off this week.