​Georgia football defensive tackle Elijah Griffin was speaking figuratively about the challenge that awaits in the No. 2 Bulldogs’ showdown against No. 7 Alabama but it was fitting for a game week that’s turned into much more than just a battle of unbeatens.“We’re super excited,” he said. “We don’t back down from any challenges. We run to the storm. We don’t run away from it. We’re definitely 100 percent ready in my opinion.”The matchup itself between teams that played for the SEC championship last December in Atlanta and look very much like College Football Playoff contenders is compelling enough.Georgia has the second best odds (+550) to win the national title and Alabama is tied for sixth (+1100) by BetMGM.The teams’ preparations came with the forecast of a tropical storm expected to turn into a hurricane that could impact conditions for Saturday’s game if not when the game will be played.Bad weather could make things messy for the nation’s two highest scoring offenses.Georgia is averaging 51.4 points per game and Alabama 49.6.“They’ve got an extremely physical football team,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “They’re playing really high-level football right now. …Really hard to defend because you don’t feel like there’s a play they don’t have. They’ve got all of them, in terms of plays you have to stop.”Georgia vs. Alabama predictionsGeorgia-Alabama has produced many high-stakes games in Smart’s time at Georgia including for the national championship in 2017 (won by Alabama) and 2021 (won by Georgia).Now Alabama seems to be hitting its stride in Kalen DeBoer’s third season.The Crimson Tide were picked to finish sixth in the SEC in the preseason, but are clicking with first-year starting quarterback Keelon Russell.“Quarterback is playing amazing for them,” Smart said. “Guy is really talented, fun to watch, and you’ve seen the growth just from the first game all the way through. The talent this guy has is pretty incredible, and they have great scheme around him.”Alabama followed a 50-36 home win against Florida State by taking it to South Carolina 49-18 and drilling then No. 16 Mississippi State 56-23 last Saturday in Starkville.Now the Crimson Tide go up against a Georgia team it beat in Athens 24-21 last season but lost 28-7 in the SEC title game.“They are going to be our toughest challenge by far up to this point,” DeBoer said. “Coach Smart….this season, just doing an amazing job from just jumping on top of teams and you know see him get after people in the first half and just stay in the course and sustain it all all game long.”Georgia vs. Alabama scouting reportWhy Georgia has an advantage: Gunner Stockton is third in the nation in passing efficiency and 4-0 in true road games in his career as a starter. Only a September, 2025 overtime win at Tennessee came against a ranked opponent, but Stockton has completed 68.2% of his passes with 6 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in those road gam