CFB analyst exposes Kirby Smart's Achilles heel to pick Kalen DeBoer & co. as favorites: "Alabama's gonna be rocking and rolling"

After longtime Roll Tide coach Nick Saban's retirement, Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart has taken over the mantle as the top dog in college football. His No. 2 ranked team will undergo its first test of the season in Tuscaloosa, facing coach Kalen DeBoer's No. 4 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Crimson Tide are underdogs at home for the first time in 17 years but analyst Rick Neuheisel made a huge claim about the home team during a segment of CBS Sports "College Football," pointing out the Bama weapon that could lose Smart the game.

"Alabama's gonna be rocking and rolling," Neuheisel said. "And by the way, they're the most explosive offense I think we've seen this year. 20 plays of 20 plus, this Ryan Williams this freshman receiver is a star, Jeremy Bernard knows the offense he came with DeBoer from Washington, he's their backup receiver."

"As good as Georgia is, and as good as Kirby Smart is, his Achilles heel has been Alabama and I think it remains that way."

Kirby Smart will have to devise a strategy to deal with Bama's explosive offense led by quarterback Jalen Milroe and his favorite target, explosive freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams.

Kirby Smart finally has a chance without his real Achilles heel

Kirby Smart worked under Nick Saban for nine seasons (from 2007–15) and learned the secrets that have made him a modern-day coaching great. Despite being Saban's main challenger during his last few years, Smart had a woeful 1-5 record, only winning the 2022 CFP National Championship game 33-18 against him.

With Saban gone, this is Smart's chance to stamp his authority on this rivalry and elevate the Bulldogs to top-dog status.

During an interview with ESPN, the Georgia coach said that the specter of the former Alabama boss will still be hanging around due to his role as an analyst on ESPN's "College GameDay."

"I feel like he's (Saban) still in it, so I don't really see it as there being a shadow," Smart said. "He's announcing. He's still involved. He's still trying to make things right in our game, with Congress or whomever.

"He ain't going nowhere. This dude loves it, and he is going to be part of it for a long time. The game is better with him in it. I just have so much respect for him. He's just not coaching anymore, and I don't get any more chances to beat him."

Nick Saban will be at the Bryant-Denny with the "College GameDay" crew as his former team faces off against his number one nemesis. Kirby Smart will hope that his presence does not turn out to be a bad sign again as he seeks to conquer his only Achilles heel.