The SEC showdown is finally here, as Nick Saban’s Alabama squad squares off against Kirby Smart’s mighty, undefeated Georgia Bulldogs.

The Dawgs carry a 29-game winning streak into Saturday. A win guarantees them a spot in the College Football Playoff. A Crimson Tide victory would help their case, but Bama needs help from one or more of the conference title games on Saturday.

Either way, we’re in for a show. These teams always leave it all on the field, especially when the stakes are this high, so get your mind right.

Here’s what Crimson Tide fans can expect if they travel to the game this weekend. You can also find helpful information on the SEC’s official website. (Note: All times listed below are eastern)

VENUE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

GATES OPEN: 1:30 p.m. (eastern)

KICKOFF: 4:10 p.m. (eastern)

TV: CBS

TICKETS: Sold out

THE GAME | PREDICTION

This is a big one, as usual.

Alabama and Georgia have delivered instant classics in Atlanta during the Nick Saban era, with the winner usually ending up college football’s national champion. Everything is on the line for both teams with so much mystery shrouding the outcome of the looming College Football Playoff selection.

Georgia has one of the top offenses in the country behind steady quarterback Carson Beck and weapons like football cyborg Brock Bowers. Alabama’s defensive secondary led by Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold and superstar freshman safety Caleb Downs will have their hands full.

But so will the Bulldogs’ defense, with Jalen Milroe emerging as one of the best quarterbacks in the country, fresh off of a thrilling last-minute Iron Bowl win on the road with a throw for the ages. He will have to link up with receivers Isaiah Bond and Jermaine Burton, while the Tide running backs like Roydell Williams and Jam Miller step up in case injured starter Jase McClellan can’t go.

The Dawgs are a slight favorite, but few have had answers for Milroe, who continues to improve week by week. Alabama gets stops at crucial points, and Milroe continues to blossom.

Prediction: Alabama 36, Georgia 32

IMPORTANT TIMES (all times eastern)

FRIDAY, DEC. 1

1-7 p.m.

Dr Pepper SEC FanFare open

SATURDAY, DEC. 2

8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Dr. Pepper SEC FanFare open

9 a.m. until noon

ESPN College GameDay

9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

International Plaza Fan Event open

Noon

T-Mobile Concert: Darius Rucker

Noon until 1 p.m.

Marty & McGee

1-3 p.m.

SEC Nation

1:15 p.m.

Georgia pep rally

1:30 p.m.

All gates open

1:45 p.m.

Alabama pep rally

4:10 p.m.

Alabama vs. Georgia kickoff

MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM

Alabama fans have gotten very comfortable in the still-new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which seats 70,000 people. The Tide have since played and won regular season, conference championship and national championship games in the venue. They are 8-0 playing inside the stadium, including this season’s opening win against Miami. AL.com toured the state-of-the-art facility when it opened to give you a heads-up on what you can expect this weekend. Learn more from our tour.

SEC FANFARE / COLLEGE GAMEDAY / SEC NATION / DARIUS RUCKER

SEC FanFare will take place on Friday, December 1 from 1-7 p.m. eastern and Saturday, December 2 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center, Building B.

ESPN “College GameDay” will broadcast live from SEC FanFare on Saturday, December 2, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. eastern.

The SEC Network’s pregame shows “Marty & McGee” and “SEC Nation” will broadcast live from SEC FanFare starting at noon on Saturday.

Admission is free to the public.

SEC Network’s weekly pregame show “SEC Nation” will broadcast at 1-3 p.m. (before moving into Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a third hour right before the game). The show features host Laura Rutledge alongside analysts Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper, Jordan Rodgers and Tim Tebow for a weekly breakdown of the SEC football action to come.

“Marty & McGee” features Marty Smith and Ryan McGee blending Southern lifestyle with college football to bring viewers the latest headlines across the SEC landscape. The show will broadcast live from noon until 1 p.m.

Grammy-winner Darius Rucker will headline the T-Mobile SEC Championship Concert on Dec. 2, ahead of the SEC Championship game. Rucker, whose songs include “Wagon Wheel,” “Alright,” “Beers and Sunshine” and more, will take the stage in Building B of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta during the Dr Pepper SEC FanFare.

The concert kicks off at noon and will be featured live during “Marty & McGee.”

“The Paul Finebaum Show” is set for Friday at 3 p.m. from Finebaum’s set at the GWCC.

All ESPN and SEC Network programming is set up in Building B in the GWCC.

PEP RALLY

Each time will have a pep rally prior to kickoff at SEC FanFare.

Georgia Pep Rally: Sat. 1:15 p.m. eastern

Alabama Pep Rally: Sat. 1:45 p.m. eastern

PARKING & TRAFFIC

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is located at 1 AMB Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Parking opens 4.5 hours before kickoff.

Gameday parking, including advance passes, and RV parking is available. You can purchase on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium website.

The stadium offers two rideshare drop-off and pick-up locations near the stadium. Rideshare Zone 1 is located on Northside Drive, in front of Georgia World Congress Center – Building C. Fans exiting Gate 1 are encouraged to follow the wayfinding signs along the Northside Drive sidewalk towards Georgia World Congress Center – Building C.

Rideshare Zone 2 is located on the Centennial Olympic Park Drive sidewalk near State Farm Arena. Fans exiting Gates 2, 3, and 4 are encouraged to follow the wayfinding signs from the stadium gates to Rideshare Zone 2 near State Farm Arena.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (MARTA)

Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s location provides convenient public transportation options to get to and from the stadium.

MARTA, the city’s rail and bus system, provides two stops at the doorstep of the stadium (GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station and Vine City).

Near Gate 1 – Take the Pedestrian Bridge over Northside Drive to access the Vine City Station.

Near Gates 2, 3, or 4 – Access the GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station near State Farm Arena.

The preferred station for arrival and departure is the GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station near State Farm Arena.

Learn more about MARTA.

TAILGATING

Tailgating is permitted in The Home Depot Backyard (HDBY) and M Lot. Read the full parking and tailgate guidelines.

CLEAR BAG POLICY

Fans can carry the following style and size bag, package, or container at stadium plaza areas, stadium gates, or when approaching queue lines of fans awaiting entry into the stadium:

• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12.”
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
• Small clutch bags, no larger than 4.5 x 6.5, with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bag options.
• Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at a gate designated for this purpose.

Learn more.

WILL CALL

Will call is located at the stadium box office adjacent to Gate 1. Will call opens two hours prior to gate opening. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. eastern.

FAN FIRST CONCESSIONS / NO CASH ALLOWED

Mercedes-Benz Stadium will make a lot of folks happy this weekend with their “Fan First Pricing” concept, which continues to apply to every item at every event at the venue. And prices have dropped on some items folks. Other stadiums, take note! Learn about this and other dining options, including the Fan First food truck.

To speed transactions and shorten wait times, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a cashless facility. The venue no longer accepts cash inside the stadium, requiring payment with a card or mobile payment services such as Apple Pay.

Cash-to-card kiosks will be available around the stadium for those who prefer not to use their cards or who prefer to carry cash. Guests can feed the cash into the machine and obtain a pre-paid debit card with the same amount with no transaction fee. These cards can be utilized as any other pre-paid debit card or credit card within and outside the stadium. Learn more.

Cash-to-Card Kiosk locations are:

Field Level: Outside of Delta Sky 360 Club and outside Mercedes-Benz Club

100 LEVEL: Team Store, SECTION 122

200 Level: Section 229

300 Concourse: Section 332

Digital, contactless payment is currently accepted at all concession stands.

POM-POM/SHAKER POLICY

Fans will not be allowed to bring in pom-poms/shakers with a stick handle. Only those with a paddle handle will be permitted.

WEATHER

Friday: Cloudy skies with a high near 60 and a 60 percent chance fo rain, followed by cloudy skies with an overnight low around 56 and a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm with a high near 66, followed by more rain and an overnight low around 59.

Sunday: Showers with a high near 68, followed by cloudy skies with an overnight low around 48 and a 60 percent chance of rain.

— The National Weather Service

TWITTER

Stay up to date before, during and after the game by following AL.com’s Nick Alvarez, Matt Stahl, Patrick Greenfield, Ben Flanagan, aldotcomTide or aldotcomSports on Twitter.

LINKS YOU WILL LOVE

Alabama football then and now: Where the 2009 SEC Championship Game stars are today

Ranking Alabama’s SEC Championship Games under Nick Saban

SEC Championship Game to remain in Atlanta through 2031, league announces

Saban: If Alabama beats Georgia in SEC championship, Tide should make College Football Playoff

Alabama bowl projections: What if the Tide doesn’t make the College Football Playoff?

How a 2:30 a.m. phone call set up Alabama’s Dallas Turner to have his best season

AL.com college football staff picks for Week 14 of 2023

What makes this College Football Playoff race so weird

Goodman: For Alabama’s playoff hopes, the fix is in

BAMMERS PODCAST

Perfect for the road trip: The Bammers podcast just wrapped its third season, taking you even deeper inside the hearts and minds of Crimson Tide fans. Listen to nearly 30 episodes that cover a variety of topics including Sidewalk Alumni, The Shula Years, RV Culture, Women who Love Alabama Football, How Alabama Fans Cope with Losing and much more. Subscribe on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Sticher, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Listen to every episode!