Is it finally Georgia's time?

            As Georgia players gather on the Georgia Dome turf for the first time on Saturday, they should stop and look around, and think about something:
            "Ah, so this is what it feels like to be on the inside looking out."
            For a long time - seemingly back to the leather-helmet days, to some - Georgia has been on the outside looking in whenever the discussion was about national title contenders.
            The Bulldogs were in the conversation, but it was almost perfunctory. They were a nice team, they're good, but not quite on that next level.
            Georgia has had one unscheduled but regular opponent for so many years: a hump.
            That hump has been better than Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama and everybody else. Georgia could beat those other teams, but the hump always seemed to prevail.

            By late dinner time Saturday, that may have changed, because for the first time in a long time, Georgia is in the conversation, legitimately and deservedly.
            And yet, since the Bulldogs have had the players to have jumped the hump before and haven't, there's still this little concern.
            "What if the Georgia of Oct. 6 in Columbia shows up? What if the Alabama of 2009 or 2011 shows up? What if Saturday becomes Georgia-Alabama of Sept. 27, 2004 in Athens?"
            So here is where we are with this occasionally baffling program: Don't bet on Georgia in this game.
            After all, it's Alabama. Until further notice, you just don't bet against the Tide and president of the Coaches United for Process and Obsession Association, Nick Saban, until they show that it's time to bet against them.
            They're consistent, fundamental and maintain a hunger despite raging success. Lately, they either get the rings or make you beat them to get the rings.
            Sure, Texas A&M and Johnny Football strode into Tuscaloosa and performed magically in a game where Alabama coaching and strategy was actually questioned in public. Alabama lost at home to a team not in the top 10. Trees in College Station trembled for a few days until nearby bushes told them that Harvey Updyke wasn't allowed out of the state.
            Alabama resumed normalcy by pounding Auburn, and the lack of suspense in that game gave the Tide a chance to prepare for Georgia and rest at the same time.
            And then there's this: don't bet against Georgia in this game.
            Finally, as noted earlier, Georgia is a legitimate player on the national stage, the mental part catching up to the physical part.
            Alabama has the record, but the Tide clearly aren't as dominant as in other championship years, which is fitting, considering their contending competition. LSU played one style, and should have won. A&M played another style and did win. Aaron Murray is no Johnny Football, but he has the feet and athleticism to do some things that'll make Alabama's defense work. And pass defense isn't the Tide's defensive strength.
            And thus, a huge reason to pick Georgia is that the Bulldogs have legitimate confidence, not party line confidence.

            Alabama is very beatable. Georgia is very capable. And the Bulldogs know both.
            In September, I thought South Carolina was a better matchup for Alabama because of the confidence inspired by Steve Spurrier. South Carolina made its title game debut in 2010 and got popped, and now, the thinking was, would be better prepared to enter the game with some swagger. Georgia was still that nice team that was close.
            There's a feeling that the only reason Saban groused - yes, a redundant phrase if ever one existed - about how the loser of this game doesn't get a BCS bid is because that team could be his.
            Why else would he bring it up unless posturing a little bit? Certainly he's not concerned with Georgia's bowl possibility.
            The Bulldogs are playing fast, downhill, smarter and more fundamental than usual, and with confidence that's not just talk. They're now on the same level.

            Stat stuff: rushing offense: Alabama, 22nd, 214.17 yards; Georgia, 39th, 190.08. (not much difference)

            sacks allowed: Alabama, 49th, 1.67 per game, Georgia 56th, 1.83 per game (a draw)
            It means: For all of the talk of offensive line disparities, Georgia's numbers - albeit against lesser defense - compare mighty favorably. UGA OL has performed better than expected, but Murray's decisions are still more questionable at times than they should be.

            Make no mistake, it's been a confusing season for Georgia folks.
            They began their hemming and hawing about an easy SEC schedule, and no good teams from the West. If    Georgia couldn't get something done this season, well, we might as well turn Sanford Stadium into an oversized amphitheatre.
            And just when would Murray live up to the broadcast bozos' hype? Putting his name on a Heisman list was like putting Lindsay Lohan on a "Girl next door" list. Big game, little Aaron.
            Could the offensive line, a position constantly botched in roster management by the Bulldogs, muster up a decent year and keep the backfield healthy?
            Lo and behold, here we are.
            Now, some Georgia fans are shocked, shocked that anybody question the schedule and compare it negatively to the other teams in contention.

            Stat stuff: penalties: Alabama, 7th, 4 pg; Georgia, 89th, 6.8

            penalty yards: Alabama, 8th, 34.33 ypg; Georgia, 61st, 50.75 ypg (not bad for uga)
            It means: The pure numbers, not the rankings, show that Georgia is a smarter team than it's been in the past, with fewer brain-dead 15-yarders. And the Dawgs have been good at brain-dead 15-yarders for awhile.

            It's the same schedule of three months ago, with two non-conference gimmes, Missouri in place of Alabama, and subpar offerings from Tennessee, Kentucky and Auburn.
            While Notre Dame may not be in my top 5 - OK, Notre Dame is not in my top 5 - the Irish did beat nine teams of .500 or better (excluding Pitt, which becomes the 10th with a win Saturday night over South Florida and deserves thanks from Notre Dame for the gag of the year in the Irish's three-overtime win).
            Georgia beat four FBS teams of .500 or better, and escaped Kentucky 29-24.
            Take a look at a variety of website gauging strength of schedule, and of yours truly's top 11 teams and legit contenders, Georgia has pretty much the lowest-rated schedule of the group.
            Sorry.

            That said, the Bulldogs mostly did what people bellowed they had to do. Georgia took care of business, save for one still-antagonizing thumping by South Carolina.
            Georgia did to Florida what Florida did to South Carolina: took advantage of mistakes, pure and simple, and didn't end up out-mistaking the opponent.
            And then, after nearly klutzing in Kentucky, the Bulldogs' collective chest puffed out, there were springs in the steps, and all fields seemed painted red and black and were downhill for Georgia.
            The Bulldogs resumed playing like they did at some stages of the early season: fast, hard, fundamentally, consistently and, again, downhill.

            Stat stuff: The ESPN folks picked Alabama.
            It means: They're using, um, logic by picking the team that's constantly done it over the team that hasn't. David Pollack makes the pick based on who thinks will win, or he has no credibility. That's what predictions are for: credibility, not ass-kissing.

            Debates about Murray, the offensive line and the schedule are legit, and space-consuming.

            Despite wishes to the contrary, yes, this game pretty much comes down to Murray, along with the offensive line and the offensive staff coming up with one or two quality adjustments or tweaks.
            Do you trust A.J. McCarron, who drove the 5-play, 72-yard, 43-second game-winning trip to beat LSU? Or do you trust Murray, who doesn't have much big-game success to put on the resume?
            There's also the chance Murray comes in tight, the result of perhaps overcompensating for what he's heard all season. Frankly, his teammates need to hold him down and tickle him five minutes before they leave the locker room to relax him. Focus and knowledge won't be problems. Tightness might be.
            After that, the teams are even. But Georgia has to make Alabama's defense work more. Alabama will out- execute Georgia, no news flash. Georgia has more big-play potential, which can change momentum. The Bulldogs can make a mistake or two, but it has to be counted by executing the big play, i.e., not dropping a pass, not missing sacks or tackles in the backfield.
            Use Murray's athletic ability, ease him into the offense, make Alabama's defense move around (like testing the speed by using the perimeter, and float the pocket some).
            There are more reasons to pick Alabama than there are Georgia, but for the first time in long time, there are almost as many reasons to pick Georgia. And now that the Bulldogs are on the inside, it's time to pick Georgia.