Georgia football vs. Auburn: A rivalry of upsets

Georgia football and Auburn have played each other 120 times. They renew their rivalry this week as Georgia comes in no. 1 and Auburn comes in no. 2 in the College Football Playoff Rankings.

This Saturday features the 121st meeting between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers. Georgia football holds a slim 57-55-8 advantage in the series that began in January of 1892. Because of its age, Georgia versus Auburn in known as the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.

It’s also known as one of the nations closest rivalries. Georgia’s two game lead in the series comes from a three-game win-streak that began in 2014. People know the rivalry for its quirkiness. Georgia has a winning record in Auburn, and Auburn has a winning record in Athens.

Both schools are proud that the rivalry is known for featuring two of the best programs in the land. National champions, All-Americans, Heisman winners, win percentage, bowl games. Georgia and Auburn succeed in just about all of those categories.

Another thing this rivalry is known for is upsets and that’s exactly what Georgia will look to avoid this Saturday as they come in 9-0 and as the no. 1 team in the nation, while Auburn is back at the no. 10 spot with a 7-2 record.

This certainly flips the script from previous years. Last year, Auburn entered Athens as the no. 9 team while Georgia was unranked with a 6-4 record. The Bulldogs won that contest 13-7 with a strong defensive showing.

In 2014, Auburn came into Athens as the no. 9 team and Georgia hosted as the no. 15 team. The Bulldogs came out on top 34-7. The year before, Georgia nearly upset he one-loss Tigers to spoil their national title hopes, but the Prayer at Jordan Hare prevented that.

The biggest of the recent upsets though came in 2006. Georgia traveled to Auburn unranked and 6-4. Auburn was no. 5 in the country, with a 9-1 record and high hopes for a National Championship. But Tra Battle intercepted three passes and Matthew Stafford had his best day as a freshman to lead Georgia to a 37-15 victory.

You have to go back to 2005 to find the last time Auburn upset Georgia. The Bulldogs entered that game no. 9 and needing a win to take the SEC East Title. Auburn was no. 15 and needed wins to stay in the hunt for the SEC West. The game went back and forth, but Auburn scored last with a field goal to win 31-30. The loss eliminated Georgia from the National Title hunt.