Georgia’s return to Athens comes with a kickoff that feels out of sync with the size of the matchup.
Fresh off a 20-17 win at Alabama - their first in Tuscaloosa since 2007 - the Bulldogs now turn quickly to Auburn for their first rivalry game of the season. Georgia is still unbeaten, still in position for a run at a third straight SEC Championship, and still looking like a team built for the College Football Playoff. But there’s no long victory lap waiting for them.
The Bulldogs and Tigers are set for a 3:30 p.m. EST kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Sanford Stadium.
It will be Georgia’s fifth home game of the year, and once again it won’t be a night game in Athens. With four SEC matchups involving ranked teams before the next AP Poll update, there were games that looked more natural for the primetime window, but neither of the SEC’s night slots went to Georgia-Auburn.
Instead, Vanderbilt-Arkansas and Oklahoma-Kentucky got the late starts. Georgia-Auburn would have made a stronger national-stage attraction than either of those games, but that’s not how the schedule shook out.
At least the Bulldogs avoided a downgrade to the SEC Network. This one will air on ESPN, and it can also be streamed through the ESPN app and Fubo TV.
The betting line reflects what most would expect after Georgia’s hot start. The Bulldogs are an 18.5-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the over-under set at 49.5 points.
Georgia is 5-1 against the spread after beating Alabama as an underdog, and the only slip came two weeks ago when Vanderbilt just barely covered. Auburn, meanwhile, is only 1-4 against the spread.
Georgia also enters the game with a likely move to No. 1 in the country after Texas lost to Oklahoma this weekend. That new spot brings a little more weight with it, especially with teams around the country wanting to be the ones to knock the Bulldogs off the top.
The timing doesn’t exactly help, either. Georgia is only a week away from a bye, and it could use it after the injuries that have piled up. Still, the Bulldogs can’t afford to look past Auburn, a team that has given them problems in recent years despite its struggles.
In Other News...
Georgia Is No. 1 But The Real Test Starts Now
Georgias rise to No. 1 in the latest AP Poll came on the heels of a statement win over Alabama and Texas loss to Oklahoma, a combination that pushed the Bulldogs to the top of the rankings with 66 of 70 first-place votes. Notre Dame, Miami and Indiana picked up the other votes, even without the same kind of marquee wins on their rsums, but Georgias spot at the summit comes with a familiar catch: being the target is usually harder than getting there.
The Bulldogs are still the SECs last unbeaten team, and the calendar is not about to make things easier with five conference games left. The road ahead includes a trip to Ole Miss and a home date with Missouri, matchups that could shape Georgias path to the SEC Championship Game and determine how long the No. 1 label stays on the teams chest. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Defense Just Sent A Clear Message In The Alabama Win
Georgias win over Alabama had the feel of a statement game from the start, but the defense made sure it stayed that way. The Bulldogs came away with a 20-17 victory after keeping the Crimson Tide to 17 points, a sharp turn from the explosive pace Alabama had shown earlier this season. Linebacker Chris Cole and safety Khalil Barnes pointed to the physical edge of Georgias preparation and the units defensive focus as big reasons the group looked so locked in when it mattered most.
The second half is where Georgia really separated itself, allowing only three points after halftime and nothing at all in the final quarter. Barnes said the defense was ready because of the way the team practiced during the week, and the performance backed that up on Saturday. For Georgia, it was more than just getting a win over a heavyweight opponent. It was a reminder that this defense can still set the tone when the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Just Took A Huge Step Back Toward The Top
Georgias win over Alabama did more than add another marquee result to the rsum. It also reshuffled the top of the college football picture, with Texas losing to Oklahoma and South Carolina knocking off Florida, creating the kind of weekend that can send a team surging straight to the front of the AP Top 25 discussion.
For Kirby Smarts program, the timing matters almost as much as the victory itself. The Bulldogs are positioned for a return to the top of the poll after building the kind of profile that gets rewarded in October, and the ripple effects from around the country only strengthened that case as the latest rankings take shape. [Read more 🡒]