Time to Bounce Back

It has taken an entire week to be able to muster up the desire to talk about Georgia football. Let's just go ahead and say it, last week was terrible. I honestly don't think there is one thing to come out of that game that could be seen as a positive. Everything this team has done all year melted away, and what was left was a blunder-filled catastrophe.

Ok, now let's move on.

Georgia is 9-1. Ranked 7th in the nation. We have won the SEC East and we still control our own destiny to make the College Football Playoff.

I'm sure you have heard a similar stat at some point in the last few days, but since 2006, do you know how many National Champions finished the season without a loss?

2

Alabama in 2009 and Auburn in 2010.

In every year of the college football playoff the eventual national champion has lost a game, and every year that loss has been not only to a mediocre team, but it has been at home.

So, it is with a little perspective that we turn our attention away from last week's embarrassment and we look towards making a little history.

Since the SEC split into divisions in 1992, Georgia has never gone undefeated in the SEC East. A win against Kentucky tomorrow would break that streak.

And despite Georgia being a big favorite, tomorrow's game is going to be a real test for the Dawgs. The biggest reason Georgia lost to Auburn was their inability to stop the run. Kentucky is going to want to run the ball. Now the Cats don't have the offensive line that Auburn does, but it will still be a test for a Georgia defense that was completely terrible stopping the run a week ago.

Offensively, this week provides another opportunity for growth. The running game struggled against Auburn and the pass protection completely broke down. Georgia needs to prove that it has figured some things out in practice this week.

I think the biggest disappointment last week was the lack of discipline. Too many penalties, mental mistakes, and turnovers. Georgia needs to come out tomorrow and play like the team they have been all year, and not like the team that wet the bed last week.

There is no reason to think this is going to be a close game, but if for whatever reason Georgia hasn't put the game away before the fourth quarter, Sanford Stadium is going to be insanely tense tomorrow evening.

I think the seniors pull us through on Senior night, but it's going to be closer than the betting line.

Georgia 34  Kentucky 20

Go Dawgs!

Deepest Rivalry, Biggest Stakes

In all my years of watching Georgia football, I can't remember a bigger game that could have little to no meaning. As Georgia travels down I-85 to take on Auburn tomorrow afternoon, the top-ranked Dawgs will find themselves matched up with another Top 10 team in November. That is supposed to mean it's the biggest game of the season.

In reality, tomorrow is a very big game, but not as big as it might seem. I'm not really a fan of the "What If" game when it comes to college football. There are just too many teams involved and too many variables to be able to really figure out what any win or loss will mean by the end of the month.

Because of their amazing start to the season, Georgia has already clinched the SEC East. They are the number one team in the nation, and that won't change if the Dawgs keep winning.

So what is on the line tomorrow?

Both everything, and nothing.

Everything because this team is perfect so far this season, so their perfect season is on the line. The number one ranking is on the line. The ability to control their own destiny is on the line. Just like any rivalry game, pride is also on the line.

Nothing is on the line though when it comes to the college football playoff. The reality of tomorrow's game is that Georgia will still be in the SEC title game on December 2nd, and if they win that game, they will be in the playoff. Period.

Now there has been a lot of talk about Georgia losing a close game to Alabama and still making the playoff. Again, this is where my head starts to hurt because who knows if Georgia would still get in at this point, but one thing is for sure. A loss at Auburn would mean that Georgia would have to win the SEC title to make the playoff, there would be no back-door route.

Now, as far as the game itself, Auburn is the best team Georgia has faced this season by far. Their front 7 on defense is one of the best in the nation, and their up-tempo offense can get rolling and put a lot of points on the board.

We have watched Georgia dominate teams this season, but I wouldn't bank on this game being that easy. Auburn is good enough to play four quarters with Georgia, and the reason that so many people are unsure about what that might look like for Georgia. The Dawgs have done nothing this season to make me think they would fold under pressure, but outside of the Notre Dame game, the Dawgs haven't really been put under pressure.

I think this game is going to come down to Auburn's offense and Georgia's defense. I think Georgia can score on Auburn's defense, because they have given up points to teams that are far less talented than Georgia. Each of the last four teams Auburn has played has scored in the 20's. Georgia has only given up 20 points once this season, and that was Missouri. The game will come down to whether or not Auburn can score enough to be in this game in the fourth quarter.

I'm not a cocky fan at all, but when Georgia took a 21-0 lead on Florida a couple of weeks ago, I relaxed because I knew the game was over. Georgia has an elite defense, and Florida's offense could have stayed on that field for a month and they wouldn't have scored 21 points. Auburn is better than Florida, but I don't think they are good enough.

Georgia 31   Auburn 20

Glory, Glory