By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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The 124th edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, Saturday is a showdown with national implications.

Overview — The 124th edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, Saturday is a showdown with national implications. Ranked fourth in the most-recent College Football Playoff rankings, Georgia is one of the one-loss teams directly in the mix for a final four bid; a loss, even to a quality opponent like Auburn, would obviously complicate the situation. Going all of the way back to week one, the Tigers have helped shape the national landscape. Trends will continue. They are Oregon’s lone defeat, gave LSU its toughest game and, looking ahead, will finish the regular season hosting Alabama. This has been a very competitive series over the generations, with the Bulldogs narrowly leading the Tigers 59-56-8. The matchup of Georgia’s offensive line, second nationally with just four sacks allowed, versus Auburn’s defensive line, second in the SEC with 64 tackles for loss, awaits as one of the top unit pairings of the entire year.

Why to Watch — At the line of scrimmage, it simply doesn’t get any better than this. Georgia’s offensive line, led by all-everything tackle Andrew Thomas, has been historically good; only run-heavy Air Force has allowed fewer sacks and the Bulldogs rank in the top ten in college football with 5.58 team yards per carry. Auburn’s defensive line, with 6’5”, 315-pound Derrick Brown setting the tone at tackle, is dominant across the board. Brown has been especially-big in big games, Brown had two fumble returns against Florida and two tackles for loss and a sack versus LSU. In addition to being close and competitive, this is a rivalry that has often been unique and unpredictable, with the road team having consistent success. The potential is in place for drama this weekend as the Tigers have already played four one score games, while the Bulldogs have played three.

Keys for Auburn

1. Be Offensively Varied — Though Auburn obviously wants to establishing a between-the-tackles running game, the Tigers, facing an elite Georgia defense, will have be to be unpredictable and versatile. The Bulldogs rank fourth nationally, allowing just 74.6 yards rushing per contest, and are the lone unit in the country to have not yet given up a touchdown on the ground. Correspondingly, it’s absolutely imperative that Auburn find balance. Getting quarterback Bo Nix into a confident groove early will be important. His true freshman season has already come with signature moments, see the opener against Oregon, but the talented Nix has also struggled some in the spotlight. With a completion percentage at just 56.5%, some easy throws early might help him settle in. The Tigers have receivers, see Seth Williams at 16.3 yards per reception, who can make plays after the catch. As is often the case with Gus Malzahn teams, offensive creativity will be important. Look for jet sweeps, possibly using the speed of Anthony Schwartz, and screens and maybe even a trick play or two to keep Georgia guessing. Using Nix’s mobility is another must. His mutli-faceted potential should be a prominent part of the gameplan; anything to cause defensive hesitation.

2. Win With the Front Four — It goes without saying that the spotlight will be directly on the Auburn defensive line in a matchup with Georgia’s famed offensive front. Most believe the Bulldogs have the nation’s premier collection of blockers. The highly-touted Tigers will have an opportunity to prove their worth. Starting with monstrous tackle Derrick Brown, Auburn’s foundation for victory must start at the line of scrimmage. Up front, the focus has to be slowing down Georgia running back D’Andre Swift. A leading part of who the Bulldogs are, the SEC’s second-leading rusher is averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Recently, Swift has shouldered more of an offensive load, carrying the football 23, 21 and 25 times against South Carolina, Kentucky and Florida before the Missouri win. Success against the run would force Georgia into some schematic readjustments. Marlon Davidson and company need to find some way to pressure Jake Fromm. The veteran quarterback has been sacked just four times all season. If the Tigers could get to Fromm even simply to rush his throws, it would allow coordinator Kevin Steele the luxury of options with extra defenders.

3. Get an Early Lead — The entire complexity of a game can change based on which side gets off to a faster start. Saturday, Auburn has to hit the ground running. As the team with the true freshman quarterback, and the dominant defensive line, an initial advantage would play both to the Tigers’ questions and answers. Nix, though his poise was on clear display in the Oregon triumph, would likely be more effective playing from ahead and Auburn’s front, being able to focus on rushing the passer, would be most impactful against a Georgia offense simply trying to catch-up. Emotion and momentum are also always critical factors. At home, Auburn could use a rowdy home crowd the magnify all circumstances. Jordan-Hare Stadium can be one of the toughest places to play in all of college football. If the Tigers are rocking early, the scene would undoubtedly follow suit. There is a lot out in front of Auburn, who two top five teams coming to the Plains. The Tigers must play like it.

Keys for Georgia

1. Stop the Run — What Georgia has been able to do in run defense this season is quite remarkable. Not only to the Bulldogs have a top five unit in that important defensive category, they have yet to allow a rushing touchdown; no other defense in the country has even allowed just one. If current trends continue, it may prove difficult for Auburn to put points on the board. At the very least, it would put extra pressure on true freshman signal caller Bo NIx. Part of what has made Georgia so effective defensively is strong performances at every level. From Tyler Clark along the line to Tae Crowder in the middle of the field to even J.R. Reed and Richard LeCounte in the secondary, there has been a comprehensive physicality to the Bulldogs’ brand. How much of a load JaTarvious Whitlow is able to handle for the Tigers remains to be seen, but, whoever lines up in the backfield, Georgia must make slowing down Auburn’s rushing attack priority number one. For arguably the SEC’s top defense, a group with two shutouts in conference play, that ability has been the key to its overall success.

2. Third Down Proficiency — A big reason for Georgia’s win over Florida was the performance of the Bulldogs on third downs offensively. Georgia was 12-of-18 in such situations in Jacksonville, with quarterback Jake Fromm doing his best work. Currently, the Bulldogs have the SEC’s third-ranked third down offense at 46.7%, while Auburn has the league’s second-ranked third down defense at 31.1%; something will have to give. The pressure will be on Fromm here. He has been clutch throughout his career and will need to continue to be in a hostile road environment. Whether finding Lawrence Cager on the perimeter or Demetris Robertson in the slot, Fromm must be efficient in the passing game when it matters most. Giving up over 221 yards passing per game, there may be opportunities for Fromm to move the football through the air against the Tiger defense. If Cager is completely healthy, he will largely be the playmaker to watch. A veteran Miami-transfer, he has developed into a go-to option of sorts for Fromm downfield.

3. Success on Special Teams — There is a long history of the kicking and punting games being important in this series, an area where Georgia needs to thrive. Individually, kicker Rodrigo Blankenship remains a luxury the likes of which very few teams have; in a contest that could prove to be a defensive battle, his ability, and leg strength, has the potential to be invaluable. You can’t leave points off the board, especially on the road. In terms of flipping field position, punter Jake Camarda has been quite good. Forcing a true freshman quarterback to go the duration of the field is an important advantage to maintain. Keep an eye on the return game. The Bulldogs will have to keep Auburn’s dynamic specialist Christian Tutt, 13.6 yards per attempt, in check. That said, the Tigers somehow rank last in the SEC, allowing 21.9 yards per punt return. This might be a game where Tyler Simmons or Dominick Blaylock can get loose.

Position Advantages

Quarterback: Georgia — There is a very real moxie to Auburn’s Bo Nix, but Jake Fromm has long been one of the nation’s best at his position for Georgia. This, given the respective styles of the two players, is a fascinating positional pairing. Fromm’s efficiency, and ability to protect the football, are two of his most important traits. Nix seems to have a flair for the dramatic, though some volatility can follow.

Running Back: Georgia — Both D’Andre Swift and JaTarvious Whitlow have been two of the top running backs in the SEC. Auburn’s Whitlow hasn’t been fully healthy in recent weeks and how much he can do remains to be seen. Swift is closing in on another 1,000-yard season and is the focal point of the Georgia offense. Keep an eye on reserves like Brian Herrien and Kam Martin.

Pass-Catchers: Auburn — Bo Nix has playmaking options in Seth Williams, Anthony Schwartz and Eli Stove. Williams ranks fifth in the SEC with eight touchdown receptions. Georgia remade unit has been coming on, with Lawrence Cager, who is recovering from injury, and other young talents emerging.

Offensive Line: Georgia — There isn’t a better unit in the country up front than Georgia. Led by stars Andrew Thomas at tackle and Solomon Kindley at guard, Sam Pittman’s Bulldogs are big and physical and dominant in pass protection and run blocking alike. The numbers clearly and overwhelmingly reflect that. Auburn has a top-tier tackle in Prince Tega Wanogho, a player still improving.

Defensive Line: Auburn — Good luck finding another linemen in college football quite like Auburn’s Derrick Brown. The 6’5” tackle is dominant and disruptive and, at nearly 320 pounds, athletic. He has four sacks for the Tigers, though Marlon Davidson leads the team with 5.5. Relatively quietly, versatile lineman Tyler Clark continues to be a force at the line of scrimmage for Georgia.

Linebackers: Georgia — The depth Georgia has is impressive, names like Monty Rice, Tae Crowder and Azeez Ojulari, among other young and rising standouts. Rice and Crowder have combined for 99 total tackles. K.J. Britt is one of the experienced defensive leaders for Auburn and covers a lot of space.

Secondary: Georgia — At safety, Georgia has one of the top tandems in the country in J.R. Reed and Richard LeCounte, two savvy defenders who have seen it all. They make the Bulldogs go. The fiesty Eric Stokes has also really come on at corner. Hybrid Jeremiah Dinson, for Auburn, is one of the SEC’s most unique talents. He has 61 total tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss roaming mostly near the line of scrimmage.

Special Teams: Georgia — Veteran kicker Rodrigo Blankenship is a leader for Georgia, a distinction he has earned. Blankenship puts the Bulldogs in scoring position just about as soon as they cross midfield. Christian Tutt is a big play specialist to watch for Auburn in the return game.

Coaching: Georgia — Kirby Smart keeps on keeping on in Athens and, again, has Georgia in the running for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Gus Malzahn, who, like Smart, has lost in a national championship game, has done good work for Auburn this fall. Defensive coordinators Dan Lanning and Kevin Steele will be in the spotlight in this one.

Intangibles: Auburn — The pressure is clearly on Georgia, ranked fourth in the recent playoff poll. Furthermore, not only does Auburn have an edge in terms of homefield advantage, the Tigers have to be quite comfortable in close games by now and should be battle-tested after having played at both LSU and Florida. Auburn is also coming off a bye week.

Players to Watch

Georgia: J.R. Reed, S — Facing a team that wants to run the football downhill, along with a true freshman quarterback, Reed has the opportunity to be a real x-factor on Saturday. He is at home aiding in run defense near the line of scrimmage, but is also a proven playmaker in space. Reed’s turnover against Notre Dame was one of the signature moments in that win. In what could be a low-scoring contest where clutch moments will be defining ones and turnovers might be critical, Reed checks all of the boxes.

Auburn: Derrick Brown, DT — Very few players have been able to win consistently in the trenches against Georgia. Brown has that ability. If he can clog rushing lanes for D’Andre Swift and/or find a way to pressure Jake Fromm, a big part of the game tilts in the Tigers’ favor. Brown is a rare tackle who demands constant double teams, meaning he may directly and indirectly create chances for others up front.

Final Thoughts

There is always the element of surprise lurking when it comes to Auburn vs Georgia. The past, which goes back to 1892 in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, is simple proof. On paper, however, this looks like a line-of-scrimmage game, one deliberate in pace and production. Both defenses are capable of controlling the contest, especially once the field gets shorter. In crunch time, Jake Fromm is a proven commodity, not far removed from one of the best games of his career. In what should be a tight contest throughout, the Bulldogs have the more accomplished and experienced quarterback and offensive line, advantages which just might ultimately be the difference. Georgia 24, Auburn 16