One thing’s for sure when it comes to Monday night’s College Football National Championship game. I don’t believe we will ever see two more similarly built teams than we will with Alabama and Georgia.

In many ways, you could swap the jerseys of each team and the results for each would be the same.

And, chances are that we will never see this matchup again in a National Championship game. In my view, I believe the powers that be will do what they can to prevent a matchup between teams from the same conference in the future. So, this game is shaping up to be one for the ages. I certainly hope it is.

What Kirby Smart has done at Georgia in just two short years is remarkable. This is clearly a different program with a different culture and the work done in making those changes is bearing fruit.

With a marked emphasis on a solid running game on offense, a smothering, run-stopping defense, and an aversion from making game-changing mistakes, both teams are decidedly old school in what makes a winning football team.

When you look at a position-by-position comparison of each team, its difficult to give a big edge to either team in any particular position.

Like most games between two fundamentally sound football teams, I think the winner will be the team that can run more effectively, not turn the ball over, and not give up explosive plays.

There is unbelievable talent on both teams and we’ll see lots of guys that will be getting paid to play on Sundays in the near future.

I don’t know that I have seen a better college football player this year than Georgia’s Roquan Smith. To me, he’s the best player in the nation, regardless of position. Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick in the best defensive back in the nation and Da’Ron Payne is as good as anyone on the defensive front.

On offense, Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Sony Michel might be the best one-two running backs in the country. But, Alabama’s Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough are not far behind.

It’s hard not to be impressed with Georgia’s true freshman quarterback Jake Fromm. Freshmen are not supposed to do what he has been able to do. Alabama’s quarterback Jalen Hurts, and his mediocre passing attack, is seen by some as the weak link on an otherwise loaded team. But, he is the defending SEC offensive player of the year.

But, I think Hurts will prove to be the difference in the game. His ability to create positive plays by running the ball creates headaches for opposing defenses. He doesn’t make many crushing mistakes and has only thrown one interception in 248 passing attempts this year.

This might be Smart’s first national championship game as a head coach, but it certainly will not be his last. Until further notice, any national championship winning team will have to go through Athens. And, will have to contend with the team that resides in Tuscaloosa. One or the other.

In the end though, Smart will have to wait to win his first ring.

Alabama wins in a great game 27-19.