A SEC battle neither team can afford to lose takes place on Saturday when the Georgia Bulldogs visit the Auburn Tigers. The Dawgs snapped back from a tough loss to Alabama with a dominant win over Kentucky last week. Meanwhile, Auburn is coming off a bye having lost two straight tough road games. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on October 11 from Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. and will air on ABC.
Georgia at Auburn Preview
In the past we’ve seen Georgia boast one of the top defenses in the country. And while the unit is strong this season, there are some cracks. In a two-game stretch a few weeks ago, the Dawgs surrendered nearly 900 total yards and 65 points to Tennessee and Alabama. For the season the group allows an average of 313.2 yards and 18.4 points.
Some normalcy returned to the Bulldogs in last week’s 35-14 win over Kentucky. The defense allowed just 270 yards and forced a pair of turnovers while holding the Wildcats to 3 of 11 on third downs. The offense churned out 428 yards and Gunner Stockton threw a TD pass and ran for two more scores. Stockton has accounted for 11 TDs this season (6 pass, 5 rush).
- UGA earned its first payout of the season covering the 20-point spread on the college football betting line in last week’s win over Kentucky.
- With at least one giveaway in each of their last four games, Georgia has a minus-2 turnover differential for the season.
- The Dawgs are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games as a road favorite.
The bye came at a good time for the Tigers giving them a chance to recover from two devastating road losses. They entered their Week 4 matchup with then No. 11 Oklahoma at 3-0 and grabbed a fourth quarter lead only to squander it. A week later the offense managed just 177 total yards in a 16-10 loss to then No. 9 Texas AM. “Nobody wants to hear, nor do I, that we’re close,” coach Hugh Freeze said.
After averaging 37 points in three non-conference wins, Jackson Arnold and the offense has had a rude reception in the SEC. The Tigers totaled 27 points in their last two games with Arnold sacked 14 times in those games. Auburn totaled 464 yards in those games averaging 3.7 yards per play.
- The Tigers have allowed 21 sacks, the most in the FBS.
- With a 33.9 percent third-down conversion rate, Auburn is 118th nationally.
- Auburn is 4-0 SU and 2-2 ATS in their last four home games.
- Auburn ranks 109th in the FBS in total offense and 115th in passing offense.
Georgia at Auburn Predictions
Auburn’s inability to produce against strong defensive teams and the willingness of Kirby Smart to let Gunner Stockton take more chances with the Georgia offense leads me to believe the Dawgs have the upper hand. Things can get out of control in rivalry games, but Georgia is the stronger team on both sides of the ball and dominating the trenches will help the Dawgs to a cover win.
Georgia at Auburn Betting Tips
- Georgia opened -3 in college football odds and -171 on the moneyline.
- Their win over Texas A & M last season ended Auburn’s 9-game losing streak when playing as a home underdog.
- The Tigers are +152 on the moneyline.
- The total came in at 46.5, the lowest in any game for each team this season.
- Auburn cashed the UNDER in four straight games.
Georgia at Auburn Head to Head and Key Stats
- Georgia has won the last eight head-to-head meetings, six of them by double-digits.
- The Dawgs failed to cover the lofty spread in the last two matchups but is 6-2 ATS during their current series winning streak.
- The teams played UNDER the total in six of the past eight meetings.
- Auburn has just three wins in the series since 2010 with all of them coming at home.
