Dawgs and Tigers
Georgia, Auburn meet for likely berth in CFP
KEYS FOR AUBURN
Sharp Stidham. QB Jarrett Stidham was exceptional in the teams’ first meeting, a
40-17 Auburn victory on Nov.
11. The Baylor transfer completed 16 of 23 for 214 yards and three TDs in the blowout on the Plains, and if he can approach that level of efficiency to complement durable TB Kerryon Johnson, the Auburn offense should have enough balance to do damage against the stingy Bulldogs again. Defensive excellence. Looking back at that Nov. 11 game, the most striking number was Georgia’s meager rushing output — 46 yards on 32 carries, with the tailback tandem of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel managing 48 yards and a score on 20 attempts. Auburn can take away either the run or the pass (it just held Alabama to 103 yards through the air), and a strong day from the Tiger defense is needed in this one.
KEYS FOR GEORGIA
Savor the second chance. Usually when a team gets thumped in a rivalry game, it has to simmer for a year before getting a shot a payback. Georgia only had to wait three weeks to see Auburn again. The Bulldogs paid dearly for their worst game of the season with a lopsided loss, but in the end their situation didn’t change a ton. They can still make the playoff with a victory, and that’s something for Kirby Smart’s team to appreciate. Improve on the ground. Freshman QB Jake Fromm did about as well as could be expected the first time around against the Tigers, completing 13 of 28 for 184 yards and a TD. That sort of line is usually good enough to complement Georgia’s rushing attack, but the ground game was silenced. The Bulldogs need to get Chubb and Michel going, and even one big play — neither had a rush of longer than 7 yards in the first meeting — could prove to be a spark.
PREDICTION
Auburn 27-21. It’s hard to say Auburn is the best team in the country when it lost to a one-loss Clemson earlier in the year. But it’s perfectly fair to say Gus Malzahn’s bunch had the best November of anyone after collecting victories over Georgia and Alabama. The Tigers are coming off a major high after a decisive Iron Bowl victory, and Georgia will be motivated to atone for its regular-season disaster against Auburn. This will be closer, but a well-rounded offense gives Auburn the edge.