The 2nd-ranked Georgia Bulldogs will try to remain undefeated when they head into Jordan-Hare Stadium to face off with the 10th-ranked Auburn Tigers. The SEC brawl is set to get started on Saturday, November 11th at 3:30 p.m. EST. The inner-conference battle can also be seen on CBS for some afternoon football enjoyment. Oddsmakers currently have the Bulldogs as a slight -2.5 favorite and the game’s total sits at 47.
It’s put up or shut up time for the Georgia Bulldogs when they head on the road to face the Auburn Tigers. The College Football Playoff committee has given the Bulldogs plenty of respect. Now, it is time for them to go out and get it from the rest of the nation. Georgia extended its perfect record to 9-0 when it defeated South Carolina this past weekend, 24-10.
The Auburn Tigers may have two losses on their resume’ but they still control their own destiny. If they can beat the Bulldogs this weekend and then find a way to upset Alabama, they will win the SEC and have to be considered in the College Football Playoff race. The Tigers bounced back from their second loss nicely over the past two weeks by beating the Razorbacks and Aggies. As a result, they still only have one loss in SEC play but sit 7-2 overall.
These two programs met up in Athens last year and the Georgia Bulldogs came away victorious to the tune of 13-7. Georgia is 9-2 in its last 11 games against Auburn and has not lost this matchup since 2013. In fact, four of the Bulldogs’ nine head-to-head wins during that stretch have come by one possession. Furthermore, the last two match-ups have been decided by a total of 13 points.
(2) Georgia Bulldogs (9-0)
As of now, there doesn’t appear to be too many weak spots in the Georgia Bulldog’s football program. They have rolled through most of their opponents by 20 points or more. They also sport one of the nation’s strongest defenses that rank in the top-10 in all four major defensive categories. If there is one weakness it would be in the Bulldog’s downfield passing attack.
Quarterback Jake Fromm really didn’t have to do much in the pocket against South Carolina last weekend. He only completed 16passes for 196 yards and two scores. Obviously, Georgia asks the youngster to throw accurately when necessary and let their powerful rushing attack handle the rest. His 2017 stats prove just that. Fromm has completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,459 yards with 15 touchdowns and four picks.
The bread and butter of the Bulldogs’ offense reside out of the backfield. Two agile and powerful tailbacks are a threat to go yard everytime they touch the pigskin. The tandem has toted the rock 230 times for almost 1,600 yards and 17 trips to pay-dirt. Sony Michel and Nick Chubb have to be considered the best one-two punch in the SEC. Last week, Michel ran for 80 plus yards touchdown sprint. Chubb put in some nice work with 102 more yards against the Gamecocks.
Amazingly, only two wideouts really do any damage when Georgia turns to its passing game to move the football down the field. Terry Goodwin and Javon Wims have combined for 43 catches for almost 800 yards with nine scores. Both of these athletes will need to make the most of their opportunities if the Bulldogs hope to stay balanced against Auburn.
The Georgia defense has proven to the college football world that they are a force to be reckoned with in 2017. The front half is one of the best in the nation, surrendering only 89 rushing yards a game (5th). The back half will not be outdone, holding wideouts to only 165 yards through the air (7th). Most importantly, the defense as a whole only allows other teams to put up 11 points a contest on them (3rd).
(10) Auburn Tigers (7-2)
Opposite of the Georgia Bulldogs, the Tigers receiving corps seems to be rounding into form. That bodes well for an Auburn offense that has had little trouble moving the chains via the ground. Like the Bulldogs, the Tigers sport an impressive defense that plays exceptionally well at home. The combination of the three makes this game ripe for the upset on Saturday.
Quarterback Jarrett Stidham isn’t asked to carry the bulk of the offense. Instead, he has been asked to manage the game without costing his school by making mistakes. Even so, that is starting to change as the Auburn passing game has come to life over the past three weeks. So far, Stidham has passed the ball for almost 2,000 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.
There is little doubt that the Tigers prefer to run the ball first then pass it after the opposing defense is softened up. Leading the way is tailbacks, Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson. The duo has combined for almost 1,200 yards and an impressive 21 touchdowns. Johnson leads the team with 868 yards and 15 scores. Pettway has pitched in with another 305 yards and six scores. Apparently, Pettway fractured his scapula in the game against the Razorbacks and will be out for the rest of the year.
When Jarrett Stidham does look down the field, he likes to throw to wideout Ryan Davis. Davis clearly leads the Tigers with 48 catches and also has almost 461 receiving yards and three scores. Teammate Darius Slayton is Auburn’s big-play guy. The speedy wide receiver has only caught 13 passes but they have gone for 401 yards (30 ypc), and three touchdowns. Last week, Davis finished with seven grabs for 80 yards and one touchdown. Slayton turned his two catches for 99 yards and a score.
On defense, the Tigers are allowing just 307 yards per game (14th), 180 passing yards (19th,) and 126.4 yards rushing (24th). They are especially adept at keeping teams off the scoreboard, surrendering only with 16 points per game (9th). Clearly, the Tigers will have an opposing defense that will be their equals in this showdown.
Prediction
Las Vegas has set this line with the Georgia Bulldogs as a slight 2.5 point favorite. That is because of how well the Tigers tend to play at Jordan-Hare Stadium. I believe that this line is pretty accurate because this score could go either way. Still, I really don’t like the over/under 47 because of the strength of these defenses and the flowering Auburn passing game. With that being said, I am suggesting that the Bulldogs have the defense to get them to the SEC Championship and the running game to go with it. Take Georgia and the 2.5 points to win this tightly contested battle by a field goal and remain undefeated until they meet the Crimson Tide for all the marbles. #moneytreesgrow @EriktheHun
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Trends
The Bulldogs are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 road games.
The Under is 20-9 in the Bulldogs last 29 games overall.
The Tigers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
The Over is 6-0 in the Tigers last 6 games overall.
Favorite is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
