Few "analysts" have had it right with Georgia's QB - no mention of his year - and why a team will win this championship

          There was a gap between the NFL games on Sunday, and the phone rang.

          It was Kirby Smart.

          (It didn’t ring, and he doesn’t know my number).

          “Sup?” Kirby asked.

          Not much. Just got back from a food run, letting the dogs out, getting set to watch New Orleans-Carolina.

          “Whaddaya got?” he asked.

          Don’t call me “Loran,” dammit, I’ll hang up.

          (Didn’t hang up, call didn’t exist, conversation was in my head and on this screen).

          Georgia and Alabama are even. We know that. Media coverage goes back and forth amid its hyperbole and redundancy, but the reality is that while history may be different, these teams are evenly matched.

          Different strengths, different consistencies and inconsistencies, that all balance things out.

          Georgia has better running backs, but people are in too much of a comfort zone about the offensive line. It wasn’t ready for Auburn’s pressure in the first game, got better in the second and Auburn wasn’t as good.

          Alabama will come harder, and smarter.

          Jalen Hurts is an experienced sophomore, Jake Fromm an experienced freshman. Their numbers this year are pretty similar.

          Alabama is better because it’s been here, and confidence makes a difference. Confidence from experience, not confidence from mere “we’re here, we’re good, get over it” confidence.

          The Tide are proven on this stage, the Bulldogs are not. Tis a fact.

          I want this game to be over for a variety of reasons – Lord have mercy, yes – and high on the list of reasons is that I’m exhausted hearing about the teacher and student, the unbeaten teacher against his students.

          Stop it, TVcomtwits and media. It’s a note, not a story.

          Nick Saban beats whoever. Alabama players beat whoever. Who coached any of them or older players in the past doesn’t freakin’ matter.

          If Alabama wins, it’s because Jalen Hurts played his best game of the season and Georgia made a mistake somewhere or the bad Georgia showed up and had too many dumb penalties.

          It’s about players, and Alabama’s are more used to this stage. Saban is unbeaten against his old assistants because he had the better team every time.

          And neither has shown enough personality to make this an entertaining story. They haven’t said anything memorable about the fact, and they won’t.

          Move on.

          Higher on that list of reasons for joy at triple zeroes regards Fromm.

          Moreso, the surprise of “analysts” and Fromm and Georgia “bringing him along” and “being a game manager” and “they’re not giving him more than he can handle” and all that other garbage.

          Wake up, people. Fromm is smarter than those analyzing him. Good grief. I guess somebody’s gotta have those TV jobs. And proving that having played a game doesn’t really make you smarter about a game.

          Fromm, if his head coach will let him, is going to be the key to the game.

          He has to have better protection than he’s gotten, but he simply has to look downfield some, and he simply has to run some.

          Fromm is more than what “analysts” say. He can make more throws than the “analysts” seem to believe. And he can move.

          Fromm’s legs will have a bigger impact in this game than people think, even if Jalen Hurts’ legs move faster and get him to a destination quicker.

          Georgia’s defense will fluster Hurts more than Alabama’s will fluster Fromm.

          And here’s a thought: at least one backup quarterback will make an appearance in this game, because those defenses will be coming at the QBs. One offensive line is without a starter, the other offensive line needs improvement in pass blocking.

          Georgia’s offensive game plan has been clenched, and the potential for some unclenching tonight to be the difference is huge.

          Pump fake short, throw long.

          Use the tight ends as, ya know, receiving targets, and move them up in progressions.

          Second half, run Fromm more, especially if the run game is decent, because that’s when a defense gets more focused to stop one thing and allows something else to open up.

          If you try a gimmick play, throw short or take off. We’ve seen some flea-flickers and RB/WR passes get stuffed recently because of waiting too long to throw or run.

          And, Kirbs, I hope you put in your playbook the play Oklahoma scored with late in the first half, in short yardage and long yardage. Use it moderately early, if you did.

          People forgot what they saw in the Rose Bowl in a haze of joy.

          Georgia got lucky with some bad Oklahoma defense on about four plays. Otherwise, the Sooners’ run D was fairly respectable, considering what people expected. The breaks – and holes - Georgia got in that game will be nonexistent in this game.

          UGA’s run game will be slowed, and the Bulldogs will have to adjust rather than force it. Expect D’Andre Swift to be of impact this time, as opposed to the Oklahoma game.

          You almost wonder if Georgia might have worked on some funky stuff in December to prepare for playing Alabama. Wouldn’t be a bit surprised.

          All the norms are in place, starting with up front. Georgia has to be disciplined against Jalen Hurts, and I’m thinking Roquan Smith will have a four-quarter game rather than a second-half game.

          And Georgia’s secondary is high on the “what will win/lose this game?” for somebody.

          Let’s go back to the last meeting, and what ended up winning the game.

          Georgia started the slide with Mark Richt’s fairly typical –and unfortunate – time management and use of timeouts.

          Alabama started on its 45 with 5:24 left. On third and 5, with everybody lined up properly and the Tide in no hurry, Georgia blew a defensive timeout, with 4:01 left.

          Ohhhh, coaches. You can get five yards back, you can’t get a timeout back. Take a penalty or go into a prevent, and save that timeout.

          Just when folks thought Alabama was going to run, run, run, it happened.

          A Georgia cornerback flinched, for no reason, and Amari Cooper got wide open for a 45-yard touchdown pass, and a 32-28 lead with 3:15 left.

          Alabama’s cornerbacks don’t flinch.

          Georgia rushed itself, and went three and out in less than a minute. Shortly thereafter, the Bulldogs were out of timeouts.

          They took over on their 15 with 1:08 left, and moved gloriously downfield, using tight end Arthur Lynch a lot.

          We know what happened when Georgia got real close, to the 8.

          Dear Jake Fromm, should the same situation arise, spike the gawdblessed ball. They won’t take away your scholarship, they won’t put Jacob Eason in, and you will probably win a national championship on a better playcall than what Aaron Murray was given on that day in 2012.

          And there it is. If Georgia lets him, Jake Fromm will be the reason the Bulldogs celebrate in Atlanta.

          Yes, he’s that good. Some of us having been telling people that for months (go read Loughdmouthings all season). Now, they can shut up for awhile.

          Georgia 31, Alabama 24.