Whether it’s Kalen DeBoer or Nick Saban, Alabama is still a threat! Even the fierce Georgia Bulldogs have to watch out. Sure, there might be some doubts with DeBoer stepping into Saban’s shoes, but let’s not forget—Saban’s championship-worthy roster is still in play. So, winning a few games in a row might not be that tough for DeBoer. At least, that’s what most experts are saying!

Even on last month’s episode of ‘First Take,’ Stephen A. Smith mentioned, “He’s [DeBoer] under immense pressure. But it’s not to win a championship this year—it’s to maintain an elevated level of relevancy.” And you can’t blame him. Saban’s nine SEC titles and six national championships have created an almost mythical status for the Alabama program. Even though Kirby Smart’s Georgia is looking strong, it seems like the ‘Roll Tide’ spirit is here to stay.

Smith doubled down on this sentiment during Wednesday’s show, saying Georgia’s biggest threat this season is—no brainer—“Alabama.” He confidently stated, “The great Nick Saban is gone, but Kalen DeBoer is no scrub.” True that! DeBoer is now one of the best offensive-minded coaches in the SEC, with a Heisman-worthy quarterback, Jalen Milroe, under his wing. Plus, DeBoer’s win-loss record of 104-12 means he’s won 90% of his games as head coach. Impressive, right?

And let’s not forget, Alabama’s roster alone is a threat to Smart’s Bulldogs. As Smith pointed out, “Kirby Smart, since the start of the 2020 season, what is Georgia’s record against Alabama? 1 and 3, including two losses in the SEC title game. What is Kirby Smart’s record lifetime against Alabama? 1 and 5.” Now, that’s a tough record to argue with, and it’s clear many experts agree, that Georgia vs. Alabama is going to be a tough one on the former.

Can DeBoer fill Saban’s shoes against Georgia?

Nick Saban spent a whopping 17 years with the Crimson Tide, leading the team to over a decade of trophies. Now that he’s officially retired as of January, Alabama is turning to Kalen DeBoer to keep the momentum going. While DeBoer might not achieve all of Saban’s legendary feats in his first season, he’s still expected to pose a serious challenge to other teams, especially their rivals—the Bulldogs.

It’s not just Stephen A. Smith who’s cautious but optimistic about DeBoer’s chances. Last week on the ‘Crain & Company’ show, analyst Clint Lamb broke down Alabama’s tough matchups and predicted a possible one-win, two-loss outcome against their strongest opponents. He said, “A lot of people are going to assume Georgia, and I think that’s pretty fair… but I also think it’s possible that Alabama can get the win at home against Georgia early in the season.”

Meanwhile, CFB expert David Pollack also weighed in, speaking on OutKick last month. He believes Alabama could edge out Georgia under DeBoer, especially with the home-field advantage. Pollack pointed out that Georgia faces some of their toughest games away from home, adding, “You’ve got to go to Texas, you’ve got to go to Alabama… it’s tougher to take on these opponents on the road.” Looks like many positives are on DeBoer’s way now. So, can his new era live up to the hype?