Rece Davis explains why emphasizing Alabama's growth in 2023 matters
Imagining Alabama in the SEC Championship with a possibility to play for a College Football Playoff would have been hard to believe in September.
Since losing to Texas in Week 2, the Crimson Tide have ripped off 10 consecutive wins and aren’t looking to slow down in the face of the new kings of college football. While he didn’t make a prediction for the game, ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis explained what has changed for Alabama during that three month stretch, and why it’s important for Alabama ahead of Saturday’s SEC Championship game.
“I think because of the dynastic nature of what they’ve accomplished over the last 16-17 years — this is a little bit of a different kind of team. They grew,” Davis said ahead of the SEC title game. “I’ve used the analogy that typically when Alabama comes out of fall practice and starts the season, the team will stay stagnant or they will get worse, but the room that they have growth is typically not a lot.
“There are rough edges to file away there, and there may be some individual positions that have to grow a little bit, but basically, they’re pretty stout this year. There was a lot of room to grow and the good news for them is that they grew a lot and now they have an opportunity — at least an opportunity — to play for a conference championship.”
As Alabama grew, so did quarterback Jalen Milroe. After getting benched following the Texas loss, the Crimson Tide almost suffered a season-defining loss against USF the following week. Ever since, Milroe has been lights out, and in turn, so has Alabama.
As a sort of cherry on the top for Milroe’s coming out party that was the 2023 regular season — he saved what will ultimately be his most remembered moment for last. In last weekend’s Iron Bowl, Auburn forced Alabama into a 4th & 31 situation with goal to go — and with all the time in the world to do so, Milroe connected to wideout Isaiah Bond in the back right side of the end zone for the improbable game-winning touchdown completion.
After everything Alabama has been through this season, they’re hitting their stride at the perfect time — but still, they remain underdogs to Georgia in the SEC Championship.
“This is probably disappointing for people outside, or who like to root against Alabama because they were pretty sure they were done after Texas and USF,” Davis continued. “But it’s I think it’s interesting because they are unlikely underdogs. It’s only the fourth time since 2010 that they’ve not been favored in a game — all of them against Georgia — but are 2-1 in those games.”
Kickoff between Alabama and Georgia is set for 4 p.m. ET live on CBS. The Bulldogs are 5.5-point betting favorites over the Crimson Tide entering game day, according to Vegas Insider. The over/under total is set at 55.5 points.