Lebanon, Tennessee – We at collegefootballfan.com head into the thick of SEC play for our 750th game. We join our good friends from Auburn (3-2, 1-2) when they head to Athens. With Georgia coming off a 20-17 win over Alabama and Auburn coming off a bye week, we think this meeting will be interesting.
There’s a standard for Alabama and a different one for everybody else
Georgia comes off a “controversial” 20-17” win over Alabama, but let’s first say this about that. Only Alabama gets the ink about such a “controversial call.” I witnessed similar interference calls in two game this season already in close games. The same non-call definitely impacted the final scores. I noted one in our Miami-Wake Forest game. Look at other media reports to find a similar comment. Another happened is USC’s 31-23 win over Penn State attended last week. Regarding Penn State, a video of the winning Wisconsin score in the final seconds of that game on September 26 shows Badger WR AJ Harris clearly knocking down a Lion DB. No call! But what media carried on the controversy on for that in the same manner that Alabama received? It’s nowhere in the story line. It definitely influences polling results.
Spotlight on Georgia defense
These pass interference non-calls seem common at least once every game if not more. I just have to say that I never read about a call so described so in depth as the reason why a team lost a game as described by this Associated Press Report: “The second-ranked Bulldogs benefitted from what appeared to be a blown call in a 20-17 victory at No. 2 Alabama on Saturday night. RB Dwight Phillips, Jr. ran for 120 yards, Bo Walker added 69 more and Georgia staked its claim to a top spot in the AP Top 25 poll with its first victory in Tuscaloosa since 2014. But most of the talk afterward was about Southeastern Conference officials declining to throw a flag on Georgia safety KJ Bolden after what appeared to be a clear pass-interference penalty in the end zone…Instead, Bolden sacked Keelon Russell on the next play and forced Alabama to punt.”
SEC! SEC! SEC!
What partisan reporting from a “neutral source?” Coaches get fined or worse as noted by Alabama Head Coach Kalen DeBoer’s lack of comment in the same article, “We can’t put the game in that situation where the officials come into play. We just got to control the things we can control.” For the full article, click here. Talk about media bias. I addition, read Ian Miller’s report on Fox News about SEC media bias here. From the SEC perspective, they will do whatever it takes to get every SEC member into whatever playoff format the NCAA generally settles on.
Auburn at Georgia; Bulldogs on a roll
For the Longest running rivalry in the South since 1892, this game looks well in favor of the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (6-0, 4-0). Despite a close win over Alabama a week ago, there should not be letdown. UGA’s defeated Auburn in their last nine meetings. The only time Auburn defeated HC Kirby Smart came in his second season, 40-17. However, Georgia defeated Auburn that season in the SEC championship, 28-7. Last time the Tigers beat the Bulldogs “between the hedges” came in 2013. From a historical perspective, this game leans to Georgia’s favor.
Auburn making adjustments for No. 1 Georgia?
Auburn (3-2, 1-2) may have a chance if the Dawgs letdown. Or maybe Golesh hits a reset button during the last two weeks with last Saturday’s bye. They didn’t totally collapse in their 24-14 loss at Tennessee. However, Georgia presents a greater challenge. HC Alex Golesh, in his first year with the Tigers coming from South Florida, may have adjusted a game plan with his QB Byrum Brown. He passed for over 3,000 yards and ran for over 800 in two of three seasons when healthy with the USF Bulls.
Thus far, in Brown’s starts at Auburn against three SEC foes, he’s thrown for 570 yards and run for 229 in total (107 vs. Tennessee). He’s thrown for five TDs. He also tossed four INTs. Ran for three TDs, but Florida sacked him seven times in a 43-39 loss. Maybe he has to distribute the ball more among his backs Jeremiah Cobb and Omar Babson. His choices are limited to fewer player options than Smart’s offense uses.
Diverse Dawgs on offense
From a defensive perspective, Golesh has benched leading tackler and All-SEC LB Xavier Atkins for this game. So, LBs Elijah Melendez and Bryce Deas will have to step up big time for AU. Against SEC foes, QB Gunner Stockton has passed for 862 yards, six TDs and two INTs. He spreads his passes among six targets. WRs Craig Dandridge, Talyn Taylor and TE Lawson Luckie among his top three.
Chance Bowens leads in receptions among RBS. He and five others have 100+ yards rushing thus far. Dwight Phillipps leads all. Last week, he totaled 120 yards on 17 carries against Bama. Bowens seems to be the go-to guy near the goal line with three TDs against SEC competition. So, Georgia definitely spreads the ball around to its talented skill players. Seems like a lot for the Tiger defense to look for with one of its key defensive leaders out for this game.
Bulldogs have Tigers by the tails?
We don’t expect a runaway. Auburn will hang tight in the first half. Ball control will be key if they can control the clock to keep UGA’s offense off the field. Will they be able to sustain that in the second half? It seems Auburn’s shallow depth and reliance on Brown will limit their success to upset Georgia. We just think the week off may have given Golesh some time to adjust and insert some new wrinkles going into this one. It probably won’t be enough though to Stop the Dawgs.
