Odds of Georgia victory over Alabama increase with Nick Saban absence from sideline

Georgia plays in SEC Champ game vs. Alabama 12/1/18 - Atlanta - Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (4) returns an Alabama kickoff to 26 during the first half. The University of Georgia Bulldogs played the Alabama Crimson Tide in a NCAA college football game for the Southeastern Conference Championship Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM (BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM)

October 15, 2020 at 7:21 p.m. UTC

By Mike Griffith

ATHENS — Few coaches in history have towered over a program like Alabama’s Nick Saban, and that perception certainly has an impact on how many feel the Tide will fare without Saban on the sideline.

Saban won’t be on the sideline coaching No. 2 Alabama (3-0) when it plays host to No. 3 Georgia (3-0) at 8 p.m. on Saturday (TV: CBS) in Tuscaloosa on account of his Wednesday COVID-19 diagnosis.