Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Georgia backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, wearing each other's jerseys in this file photo, are confident the Bulldogs will repeat as SEC champs.

Former Georgia stars Nick Chubb, Sony Michel predict Bulldogs beat Alabama

Posted 6 months ago

ATHENS — Former Georgia running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel believe the Bulldogs can and will beat Alabama in the SEC Championship game on Dec. 1.

The SEC Nation set was on the UGA campus leading into the 4 p.m. SEC Network game between Georgia and UMass on Saturday. Several features and analysis were centered on the No. 5-ranked Bulldogs.

Pretty interesting graphic from @SECNetwork on today’s SEC Nation from UGA campus on #Georgia backs D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield pic.twitter.com/B2MIxCLB0h

— Mike Griffith (@MikeGriffith32) November 17, 2018

Chubb and Michel were surprise guests Saturday morning, and both were asked for a prediction on the Georgia-Alabama matchup.

“Georgia is going to come out on top, because it’s revenge season,” said the school’s No. 3- all-time leading rusher Michel, now a running back for the New England Patriots. “Yes Alabama has a great team, great defense, all-around team, but Georgia has a great team, also.”

Chubb, UGA’s No. 2 all-time leading rusher and the starting running back for the Cleveland Browns, agreed.

“We just have a bad taste in our mouth from last year, and I know Coach (Kirby) Smart will bring it up to guys how it went down last year,” Chubb said. “The guys haven’t forgot, and I think they’ll go in there and play the hardest game they’ve played all year and win.”

Chubb and Michel set an NCAA record for most yards by a duo with 8,382 yards during their careers together with the Bulldogs, which culminated with an SEC title and runner-up finish in the College Football Playoff Championship Game.

Michel said he watches the team regularly on Saturdays.

“Every time it’s game day, I’m right in front of the TV,” Michel said. “I see a group of young guys playing with each other, trusting the process and trusting what Coach is telling them.”

Chubb said he takes great satisfaction in seeing how the Bulldogs backs have grown and improved this season.

“It’s their time to shine, Swift and Holyfield are killing it,” Chubb said. “It’s very special, and it’s a great place to be to be a running back here at Georgia.”

Michel said last season’s mindset has carried over, and that was the advice given when the Bulldogs’ run game had its struggles earlier in the season.

“We were trying to tell them that this team goes as the running back goes, and that was our mindset last year, and it carried over to this year,” Michel said. “As the running back goes, the team is going to go.”