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
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