The Georgia Bulldogs are pitted as underdogs against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Saturday's SEC Championship (4 p.m., CBS; News 95.5 and AM-750 WSB) in Atlanta.

Larger odds may be stacked against Kirby Smart on becoming the first former assistant to defeat Alabama’s Nick Saban as a head coach.

» More: Alabama-Georgia recent game history

In 13 games against former assistants, Saban is a remarkable 13-0. In those games, Saban teams have outscored opponents an outlandish 498-157.

Before being named Georgia’s head coach before the 2016 season, Smart spent 10 years on a Saban coaching staff at Alabama, LSU and the Miami Dolphins.

Smart is the sixth assistant to come up short against the former boss.

The list of former pupils also includes Derek Dooley (Tennessee), Jim McElwain (Colorado State, Florida), Will Muschamp (Florida), Mark Dantonio (Michigan State), and Jimbo Fisher (Florida State, Texas A&M).

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Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key meet after the Bulldogs won 44-42 over the Yellow Jackets in eight overtimes at Sanford Stadium on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Athens. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

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Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller