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Alabama an early favorite in championship game against Georgia

Georgia is the first team to play a national championship game in its home state since LSU in 2012 Alabama-LSU in 2012 was last time two teams from the same conference played for the national title. Alabama and Georgia haven't met since 2015 (a Crimson Tide win in Athens). The last time these teams played in Atlanta was the 2012 SEC title game. (Another Alabama win.) From 2004 to 2015, Kirby Smart spent every season but one as a member of Nick Saban's coaching staff.
By Juliakate E Culpepper
Jan 2, 2018

After a 24-6 win over No. 1 Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, Alabama opens as an early favorite over Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship game (8 p.m., Jan. 8, ESPN).

The fourth-ranked Crimson Tide is favored by 4.5 points when the two teams meet in the all-SEC title game on Monday.

Georgia defeated Oklahoma, 54-48, in the Rose Bowl to make the title game at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Since the founding of the College Football Playoff in 2014, Alabama has made four Playoff appearances — three in the title game — and won once in 2016.

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