Kirby Smart: Georgia-Alabama is a ‘brand’ game, makes no changes to injury report

ATHENS — Georgia coach Kirby Smart has not updated the Bulldogs’ injury report — leading touchdown guard Chauncey Bowens remains listed as “out” (see below).

But Smart made an appearance on ESPN and made a rare admission in acknowledging the importance of Georgia’s game against Alabama at 7:30 Saturday night.

Smart, who typically downplays the idea of ​​one SEC game being bigger than another, called the upcoming SEC showdown a “brand” game.

“So much is invested in this game and there’s another one next week, so we’re trying to keep our guys up to speed,” Smart said during his appearance on ESPN with Pat McAfee. “Yeah, it’s important, yeah, it’s a heck of an opportunity on the national stage, a branding game – for the branding of both teams.

“We think we’re a physical team, they’re a physical team, let’s go figure it out and see who’s the most physical or the most ready right now.”

Georgia (5-0, 3-0 SEC) opened the week as a 1.5-point favorite, but the line quickly swung in favor of the Crimson Tide (5-0, 3-0), who was a 1.5-point favorite Thursday night, according to the Fan Duel Sports Book.

“You play these games that are really tough and physical, you never know which way it’s going to go,” Smart said. “We both have to get better if we want to get where we want to go, and the only way to get better is to play against good people.”

Smart also said that this type of play energizes him.

“I’m really excited about this game,” Smart said. “I think they’re a much improved team and an extremely physical team.”

Smart said he was optimistic that the weather for the game would not be as affected by Hurricane Isaias as feared.

The Category 2 hurricane could approach Category 3 strength, but CNN reports it is likely to weaken before making landfall early Saturday morning, bringing up to 15 inches of rain along the coastline.

The Thursday night forecast for Saturday’s game calls for windy weather with showers and a chance of thunderstorms with temperatures in the low 60s.

“You study other games that people have played in those conditions,” Smart said of preparing for the conditions. “It’s looking a little less windy and rainy than expected, but who knows, that could change.

“I think both teams have an identity that allows them to compete in that kind of weather and compete, but (both teams) can also be really explosive and make shots, and that’s the beauty of it. Both defenses have their hands full.”

Georgia Injury Report

Alabama Injury Report