DAWG BONE OFFENSE – GEORGIA

Saturday was a tumultuous day for the Georgia offense. It started along the offensive line with Trey Hill, Cade Mays, and Isaiah Wilson all leaving the game at one point due to injury. Also, Lawrence Cager left the game an apparent shoulder injury. As a result of the injuries and a solid Missouri defense, the offensive performance was inconsistent. There were several great plays drawn up where the timing was thrown off due to a bad snap. Auburn arrives in this game still searching for an identity on offense. Gus Malzahn’s offenses are at their best when they can run the ball but they struggled mightily to get anything going against Florida and LSU. Bo Nix has also struggled with his accuracy and turnovers against good defenses. Georgia takes home the offensive Dawg Bone because I have more faith in Jake Fromm to solve the Auburn defense, than a true freshman picking apart the Georgia defense.

DAWG BONE DEFENSE – AUBURN

For the third consecutive game, the Georgia defense turned in a dominant performance. It all starts with their ability to suffocate opposing rushing attacks and force offenses to be one dimensional. Jordan Davis has been an immovable object in the middle and the linebackers pursuit tailbacks like a pack of wild dogs. The combination of power, speed and discipline was something to behold in Athens on Saturday night. The Auburn defense is another physical team that plays a brand of football very similar to Georgia. It all starts up front with the best defensive line in the country, led by Derrick Brown, that can single-handedly take over a game. Their ability to stuff the run and get after the quarterback allows the rest of the defense to focus on preventing the big play and creating turnovers. Saturday is going to be an old school SEC football game. I award the Dawg Bone to Auburn on defense because of the 88,000 screaming fans behind them at Jordan-Hare stadium can make that defense untamable.

DAWG BONE SPECIAL TEAMS – GEORGIA

The Georgia special teams are starting to perform at a championship level. Rodrigo Blankenship continues to be a weapon on both field goals and kickoffs. Jake Camarda’s punting is more consistent and he booms a couple of punts each game that flips the field. Last but not least, Dominic Blaylock is gaining confidence each week on punt returns and is becoming a weapon. Auburn has been solid on special teams thus far this season, but not as consistent as Georgia’s special teams. Kicker Anders Carlson has missed five field goals this season and in a game where points will be at a premium that could be the difference. For that reason, Georgia wins the special teams Dawg Bone.

DAWG BONE COACHING – GEORGIA

Gus Malzahn has done an excellent job this year with a true freshmen quarterback with a brutal schedule. Also, Kevin Steele is one of the best defensive coordinators in the country that knows how to play to the strength of his defense. The issue on the Plains is that Auburn lack’s an identity on offense from week-to-week. Meanwhile, Kirby Smart and Georgia’s coaching staff has established an identity for this team on both offense and defense. For that reason, Georgia is awarded the coaching Dawg Bone.

DAWG BONE OVERALL – GEORGIA

Georgia wins the overall Dawg Bone but it is very close. UGA is the better offensive football team, but the health along the offensive line and of Lawrence Cager is very concerning. The Georgia defense is playing the type of football the entire Bulldog Nation has been envisioning since Coach Smart arrived in Athens. Meanwhile, Auburn is coming off a bye week and has one of the loudest crowds in the nation ready to help end Georgia’s playoff hopes. It is going to be a war on the Plains this Saturday.