Alabama’s win gives Bulldogs another shot at the SEC’s powerhouse

Here’s a look back at the last meeting between Georgia and Alabama - in the national championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium earlier this year.

Alabama beat LSU 29-0 Saturday night. The losing Tigers defeated Georgia 36-16 on Oct. 13.

That may not body well for the Bulldogs when they face the Crimson Tide in the Dec. 1 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

But Georgia is happy for another shot at Alabama after losing 26-23 in overtime in last season’s College Football Playoff national championship game.

The Crimson Tide also edged the Bulldogs 32-28 in the 2012 SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome.

Georgia has three more games this season, hosting Auburn, Massachusetts and Georgia Tech, before facing Alabama again.

The Bulldogs earned the East title by beating Kentucky 34-17 Saturday and the Crimson Tide clinched the SEC West by humbling LSU in Baton Rouge, La.

Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdown passes and ran 44 yards for a score as Alabama stayed unbeaten.

Tagovailoa took the field wearing a brace on right knee, threw his first interception of the season late in the first half and also played into the fourth quarter for the first time this season. None of those developments proved consequential. He was 25-of-42 passing for 295 yards and moved as well as well as he needed to, particularly when he sprinted up the middle of the field or his long TD run in the third quarter to give Alabama (9-0, 6-0 SEC) a 22-0 lead.

Tagovailoa limped off the field after that play, went into the medical tent for some treatment and rode a stationary bike on the sideline, but returned for the next series.

Alabama led 16-0 by halftime and forced LSU punts on the Tigers' first nine possessions. LSU drove to the Alabama 15 on its tenth series early in the fourth quarter, only to miss a field goal with 10:45 to go.

Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow completed 18 of 35 passes for 184 yards. He was sacked five times and had a pass intercepted in the end zone late in the back by linebacker Mack Wilson.

Alabama nose guard Quinnen Williams finished with 2 1/2 sacks. Linebackers Anfernee Jennings and Christian Miller each had one. The Tigers were helpless to relieve pressure on Burrow with the running game, held to 12 yards all game.

Alabama finished with a 576-196 advantage in total yards.

Damien Harris rushed for 107 yards on 19 carries, including his 1-yard TD run, for Alabama. Najee Harris gained 83 yards on the ground.

Jerry Jeudy caught eight passes for 103 yards and Irv Smith Jr. had four catches for 64 yards.

Henry Ruggs III caught four passes for 55 yards and scored the first touchdown of the game, but injured his left leg late in the second quarter.