Dawgs’ day
were stymied by their own mistakes, also including a blocked field goal, and they had no answer for a Georgia team eager to make up for its embarrassing 40-17 defeat on the Plains.
“They flipped the script on us from the last game,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said.
Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and freshman D’Andre Swift provided a much more effective running game, which opened up things for the young quarterback. Fromm completed 16 of 22 passes for 183 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown to Isaac Nauta in the second quarter and a 6-yarder to Terry Godwin with just over 13 minutes remaining that essentially sealed Georgia’s victory.
Swift finished off the Bulldogs’ rout by breaking loose for a 64-yard touchdown run with 10:34 to play.
The Bulldogs struggled to an 8-5 mark in Smart’s first season, but the former Georgia defensive back insisted he was establishing a culture that would return his alma mater to national prominence.
It happened in Year 2. Georgia, which was No. 6 in the latest College Football Playoff ranking, will surely move into the top four after its dominating performance against the Tigers. The Bulldogs likely will head to either the Rose or Sugar bowl to play in a semifinal playoff game.
Auburn, which was ranked second in the playoff poll, could wind up returning to Atlanta on New Year’s Day for the Peach Bowl.
Swift rushed for 88 yards, Chubb had 77 and Michel added 45 before he left the game in the third quarter with what is believed to be a minor knee injury. In the first game, Chubb was held to 27 and Michel 21 their lowest outputs of the season.