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[su_spacer size=”40″] For the 119th time, Georgia and Auburn renew acquaintances on the gridiron this Saturday in the loveliest village on the plains. Both the Bulldogs and Tigers are in the midst of disappointing and underwhelming seasons. Both aim for a victory to set up a potentially strong close to the season and take the all-time series lead.
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1. Georgia’s Gotta Run
[su_spacer size=”40″] At halftime of the Bulldogs loss to Florida, Georgia coach Mark Richt said, to paraphrase, ‘we need to get back to running the football.’ That’s what this offense can do. Even without Nick Chubb, the Bulldogs still have an outstanding corps of running backs and a veteran offensive line. That’s what Georgia needs to lean on, to find that identity to play off of. The numbers have certainly proven it, especially in the Richt years, when Georgia runs the ball well, the Bulldogs almost always win. Auburn has an impressive defensive line and will present a challenge, but running the ball is rarely easy. Especially in this league. But it’s doing the tough things good enough to win that makes the difference in games like Georgia-Auburn.
[su_spacer size=”40″] 2. Defense, Defense, Defense
[su_spacer size=”40″] In general, winning two of the three facets of offense, defense and special teams is the formula for victory. Georgia’s offense has had some historic struggles this season, while the kicking game has regressed back to the disastrous performances of 2013. That puts all the heat on the defense. Now the offense and kicking game
[su_spacer size=”40″] obviously have to improve their performances a great deal, but the defense will have to carry the Bulldogs the rest of the season if Georgia is to avoid a disastrous close to the campaign. But even the 1985 Chicago Bears or Steel Curtain defenses of the 1970s eventually give up something if a team can’t score – and is put in horrible field position because of kicking game malfunctions.
[su_spacer size=”40″] 3. Muster a Special Teams Push
[su_spacer size=”40″] It is well documented in the memory banks of the Georgia people, the kicking game woes that have so often plagued the program. After making strides forward a year ago, despite some major miscues in the three losses of 2014, the special teams performance has truly regressed. The kicking game malfunctions this season first showed in the win at Vanderbilt, where the Bulldogs couldn’t field a kickoff. There has been the blocked punt against Bama, the fumbled kickoff in Knoxville and a fumbled punt for a touchdown in Jacksonville. To beat Auburn, breaking even in the kicking game, or at least coming close, is a to-do box to check.
[su_spacer size=”40″] 4. Turnovers
[su_spacer size=”40″] This is the no-brainer. Teams that struggle scoring and winning can’t afford to give away possessions and put their defenses in bad spots. Georgia has been bitten badly by the turnover bug, and it was never more apparent than in Jacksonville, where the Bulldogs were negative-four in the all-important column. Georgia needs to play sound football down the stretch and not give the hungry opposition who see the Bulldogs as an easy mark any easy scores. This starts with taking care of the football. This also requires the defense to step forwards and produce more, and maybe even deliver one of those oh-so-important Non Offensive Touchdowns.
[su_spacer size=”40″] 5. Rivalry Pride
[su_spacer size=”40″] It is indeed a rarity to have both Georgia and Auburn unranked and completely out of the Southeastern Conference race when the south’s oldest rivalry renews. But here we are. The game is always important. Auburn has, and likely always will be, Georgia’s most fierce recruiting rival. This will matter in February. This matters so much to the fan bases and alumni of both, especially with the series all tied up 55-55-8. This is a chance for the Bulldogs to pull out in front, which would be sweet for the program. Georgia has won seven of the past nine meetings, so this could be eight out of ten and the all-time lead. That’s something that should be a huge motivator in a rivalry that dates back to 1892.
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