AP Top 25 rankings give Georgia its first Top 10 foe in Alabama

ATHENS — Georgia will have its first Top 10 game of the season this week, as the Bulldogs travel to Alabama to take on the Crimson Tide.

Georgia is ranked No. 2 in the Week 6 AP Top 25 rankings. Alabama comes in at No. 6.

Georgia is No. 2 in this week’s Coaches Poll, while the Crimson Tide are No. 7

Both teams won Saturday. Alabama went on the road and dominated No. 17 Mississippi State 56-23. Quarterback Keelon Russell dazzled, throwing for 285 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another.

As for Georgia, the Bulldogs beat Vanderbilt 38-14. Like Russell and Alabama, quarterback Gunner Stockton was the best player on the field for UGA, as he threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns.

“Vanderbilt presents a lot of problems defensively, and they brought some guys in unorthodox positions,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “They had some timely pressure calls. Gunner took advantage of those, and he didn’t make the catastrophic mistake. The close one there on the almost safety/touchdown play, not like he had no way to get out of that. He had nothing he could do, and he still saved us.”

Georgia will be looking for its first win in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, since 2007, which was Nick Saban’s first season with the Crimson Tide.

The Bulldogs split their two games against Kalen DeBoer’s team last season. Georgia lost 24-21 during the regular season before beating Alabama 28-7 in the SEC championship game.

Both teams enter Saturday’s game with unbeaten records. That will not be the case at the end of the game.