A bus carrying the Alabama football team begins to leave Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after the team arrived Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, in Atlanta for Monday night's NCAA college football championship game against Georgia (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) - The bus ride for Georgia was about an hour from its campus in Athens to the capitol city. Alabama spent less time than that in the air, flying from Tuscaloosa to what has become something of a home away from home for the Crimson Tide.
The Bulldogs and Tide made triumphant returns to Atlanta on Friday, both looking for their second victories of the season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Southeastern Conference rivals play for the College Football Playoff national championship on Monday night.
Between the proximity of the schools and Georgia's long national championship drought, the title game is looking like a tough ticket. The cheapest ones on the resale website StubHub as of Friday night were going for $1,400 each.
The Bulldogs have not won a championship since 1980.
___
For more AP college football coverage: www.collegefootball.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_Top25
Alabama head coach Nick Saban, top, arrives with his team at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, for Monday night's NCAA college football championship game against Georgia. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Associated Press
Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm arrives with the team at a hotel in Atlanta on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. Georgia plays Alabama in the College Football Playoff title game Monday in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
The Associated Press
Georgia football team members arrive at a hotel Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, in Atlanta. Georgia plays Alabama in the College Football Playoff title game Monday in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
The Associated Press
The Atlanta Westin hotel is decorated an image of the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy, Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, in Atlanta. Georgia is to take on Alabama on Monday. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
The Associated Press