The Southern Line
Georgia's Gunner Stockton steadies Bulldogs in 20-17 win at Alabama
Gunner Stockton went 18-for-22 and ran for a touchdown as No. 2 Georgia beat Alabama 20-17 to stay unbeaten. Auburn comes to Athens next.
Georgia left Tuscaloosa unbeaten after a 20-17 win over No. 6 Alabama on Saturday, and quarterback Gunner Stockton's composure was a big reason why. USA TODAY Sports described a chaotic game in which Stockton kept the Bulldogs steady. Georgia is now 6-0 and, according to the outlet, expected to move to the top of the Coaches Poll.
Stockton completed 18 of 22 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown, and he also scored on the ground. His key sequence came on the opening possession of the third quarter. He threw a 30-yard ball down the right sideline that Craig Dandridge Jr. caught while falling backward, and two plays later Stockton ran 14 yards for the score that put Georgia back in front. Afterward he told USA TODAY Sports that he tries to stay "calm in the chaos."
The senior now has 29 college games behind him, 21 of them starts, and Georgia has won 18 of those starts. Even so, Kirby Smart told the outlet he is never calm with any quarterback. Safety Khalil Barnes, a Clemson transfer in his first season with Stockton, called him a cold-blooded finisher who never looks rattled by a big moment.
The result was closer than the stat sheet. Georgia outgained Alabama 455 yards to 346 but still needed a late defensive stand. It also got help from a missed pass interference call inside its own 5-yard line, which USA TODAY Sports called egregious. A flag there would have given the Tide a fresh set of downs. Alabama later faced third-and-10 at the Georgia 34, and Smart told defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann to stay aggressive. The Bulldogs blitzed and sacked Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell, which pushed the Tide out of field goal range. Alabama punted and never got the ball back, as Georgia's running game wore down the clock.
This is the sixth time in Smart's 11 seasons in Athens that Georgia has started 6-0. USA TODAY Sports compared this team to the Bulldogs who won back-to-back national titles in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Georgia doesn't have long to enjoy it. A rebuilding Auburn team visits Athens on Saturday, Oct. 17, and then the Bulldogs get their only open date of the season. The market expects a lopsided game. Georgia is favored at -1011 on Novig, one of the venues pricing the matchup, and the best sportsbook price on the Bulldogs is -1300 at Fanatics. More on the matchup is on the Auburn at Georgia odds page.
Alabama has to recover quickly with a road trip to Tennessee. Russell's mobility and poise kept the Tide in Saturday's game even though he has only about a half-dozen college starts. The Tide are favored at -251 on Novig, where the total is 55.5. Fanatics has the best sportsbook price on Alabama at -235. Full numbers are on the Alabama at Tennessee odds page.
USA TODAY Sports also noted that Stockton has been making a point of finding the opposing quarterback for a postgame handshake. Russell waited until Stockton finished his on-field interview so he could congratulate him.
