Auburn’s profile gives Georgia a few obvious paths to control the game, but the Tigers also arrive with enough awkward, messy football to keep things interesting.
Start with the trenches. Georgia sits 7th in the country in tackles for loss allowed, while Auburn is 124th in team tackles for loss.
With the holes created by the offensive line in Tuscaloosa, there’s a real chance for a big rushing day for the Bulldogs. Auburn is also without its best sack and pressure player, Xavier Atkins, after his suspension, which only tilts the matchup further.
Georgia’s offense has also become much steadier on third down. The Bulldogs have climbed from 39% in 2024 to 44% last season and now sit at 55% in 2026, and that has come against defenses like Oklahoma and Alabama.
Auburn’s defense is solid in that area, allowing opponents to convert 32% of the time, but that matters less if Georgia keeps staying ahead of the chains. Gunner Stockton is completing over 78% of his throws on first down with 10 scores, and if that continues, some of the trouble never gets a chance to show up.
The red zone numbers can also be misleading. Georgia is somehow ranked 110th in red zone defense, but the Bulldogs are tied for first in the SEC in fewest red zone attempts allowed.
Auburn is just behind Oklahoma for the fewest red zone trips in the SEC, and Macondawg already said they are last in red zone success. In other words, if Auburn never gets close, the ranking stops mattering.
Still, there are real reasons for caution. Georgia has won 9 straight in the series, and no team has ever won 10 in a row.
UGA also had a 9-game streak when the teams met in Columbus in 1932, and that did not go our way. This Georgia team is bruised and battered, only 7 days removed from a tough, physical Alabama game, while Auburn comes in off an off week with plenty of time to study film and scheme.
The turnover picture is another warning sign. Georgia put the ball on the ground 4 times and recovered all of them, which is the kind of break that doesn’t usually hold up forever. If the Bulldogs get loose with the ball and hand Auburn free possessions, a spread that should be 20-plus points can turn into a tight game fast.
There’s also the issue of tempo, or really the lack of it. Georgia is 8th in the SEC and 56th nationally in time of possession, mostly because the offense has been explosive and scored quickly, plus some games where the backups had trouble on both sides of the ball.
Auburn is even worse, sitting 133rd nationally and 15th in the SEC. The Tigers have punted 20 times and forced only 21 punts from opponents, while Georgia has punted 16 times and forced 39.
Auburn has also struggled in turnover margin, which means Mike Bobo could end up with plenty of offensive chances.
And if Georgia is looking for the one Auburn player most worth taking away, it starts with Byrum Brown. Brown is the leading passer and throws about 32 times a game, but he’s also Auburn’s leading rusher with 16 carries per game, about twice as many as the next guy, and 4 rushing scores. He can beat you with the pass, the scramble, or when he keeps it himself, and that makes him the Tiger the Bulldogs need to focus on.
In Other News...
Alabama Finally Responded After Raylen Wilson Postgame Confrontation
Georgias win at Bryant-Denny Stadium was already a big postgame moment, but it quickly turned into something else when a confrontation with linebacker Raylen Wilson was caught on video and spread across social media. Alabama later identified the fan involved and took action, a response that brought some closure to an incident that never should have followed the game into the tunnel area.
Kirby Smart had already pointed to Wilsons composure in the moment, a steady response from a player who had every reason to be rattled by the exchange. Alabama also condemned the behavior as unacceptable, and the episode now stands as another reminder of how quickly emotions can spill over after a high-profile SEC matchup, especially when the cameras keep rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Gunner Stockton Faces A Bigger Test As Georgia's Backfield Thins
Gunner Stockton is one of the names getting early Heisman buzz, but the more immediate concern for Georgia is the shape of its backfield as the schedule keeps getting tougher. The Bulldogs have leaned on Stockton to steady the offense, and his upcoming matchup now comes with added importance because the people around him may not be as plentiful as before.
For Georgia, that changes the equation in a hurry. A thinner backfield can put more on the quarterbacks plate, especially when the defense knows the game plan may have to be trimmed and every possession matters. Stockton has already put himself in the national conversation, but this next stretch will say a lot about how well he can carry it when the margins get tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Secondary Suddenly Has A Bigger Auburn Concern Than Fans Expected
Georgias secondary got a little more complicated heading into Auburn week when the Bulldogs released an updated injury report that pushed safety KJ Bolden to doubtful. Georgia has dealt with absences elsewhere on the roster as well, but Boldens status stands out because it comes against an Auburn team the Bulldogs will want to handle cleanly on the back end. Even with the uncertainty, Georgia does have ways to shuffle pieces around in the defensive backfield if needed.
The bigger issue now is simply waiting for the next round of availability updates as the SEC continues to release injury reports before kickoff. Georgia will have to keep preparing for multiple scenarios, especially if Bolden cannot go, since the staff may need to adjust the secondary on short notice. For a defense that wants stability entering a rivalry game, the timing is not ideal. [Read more 🡒]