It isn’t surprising to be predicted to lose when playing the two-time defending national champions in their home state. Unless, of course, you’re Alabama football.

For just the fourth time since 2010, Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide will be an underdog heading into a game, this one an SEC title game against the Georgia Bulldogs. With a spot in the College Football Playoff at stake, pundits have begun publishing what they think about who will reign supreme over college football’s toughest conference.

“This is one of the most competitive best venues in college football (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), and we’re obviously playing one of the best teams in college football, if not the best team in college football,” Saban said on Monday. ” … You don’t get an opportunity to play against a team who’s won 29 straight games very often, which speaks to their quality but it also speaks to the challenge and the opportunity that our team has in preparing for a team like this.”

Good thing Saban’s “rat poison” is for positive and negative statements, because the national media are bullish on the Tide’s chances.

Both Heath Dinich and Adam Rittenberg sided with UGA. Dinich sided with Georgia’s offense, 31-21, while Rittenberg likes the defensive matchup for the Bulldogs, 28-20.

All four chose Georgia by varying margins: 34-27, 34-24, 37-23, 27-20.

They picked Georgia with the points (-5.5) and liked the odds of Jermaine Burton having over 60.5 receiving yards (-115) and Georgia running back Kendall Milton to score a touchdown (+110).

In his YouTube show, the On3 insider was one of the few pundits to pick the Tide.

Barrett Sallee is going with Georgia (-6).

The site’s prediction algorithm forecasted a closer matchup than other models, giving UGA a 28-25 victory.

I made seven preseason predictions on Sept. 1. Five of six have come true. The last one is related to this weekend and I’ll stick with it: Alabama reclaims SEC crown from Georiga, makes College Football Playoff.

“A rematch nearly two years in the making will happen on Dec. 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Get ready for discourse about the true kings of college football and recaps of classic battles. In my prediction, Alabama’s one prior loss will put it on the College Football Playoff bubble. But Saban beating Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs will get Alabama another shot at a national title.”

Pick: Alabama 27, Georgia 24

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].