Georgia football: Predictions on the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry”

Georgia Football is kicking off the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” against Auburn. There have been whispers of Auburn pulling off the upset even though they are 14.5-point underdogs at home. Auburn is even going to the lengths of having an orange out, and rumors are swirling that the Tiger, War Eagles, and Plainsman are planning to wear orange jerseys. Did you know the last time Auburn wore orange jerseys was against Georgia in 1980? Guess what happened? So, don’t be afraid.

Here we are again. Georgia fans are on pins and needles, worrying that Auburn could pull off this upset. Others in the fanbase are worried it will be a knife fight on the road. Why are they worried? “Beck’ first start on the road,” “Georgia’s first true road test of the season,” and “Auburn got Hugh Freeze”.

The Larry Munson in the Georgia fanbase is flowing heavily this week. I have watched every single game that Auburn has played, and I have not seen anything that should scare Georgia. No SEC team should struggle with CAL, period! Georgia loses this game only if they turn the ball over 3+ times and do not play disciplined football. When under Kirby Smart has that happened? Once, maybe twice? Stop fretting.

Georgia, offensively last week, looked like it was coming together. The running game is finally back, thanks to Daijon Edwards, and Carson Beck looks more comfortable the more reps he gets. I think this game will be a coming-out party for the Dawgs offense. Ladd McConkey will most likely play, and the same with Kendall Milton; I expect the Dawgs to be healthier and more depth. People have unfairly bashed Bobo and Beck so far this season, and this is their chance to prove the haters wrong. I imagine Mike Bobo wants nothing more than to crush Auburn in Jordan-Hare.

Defensively, Georgia doesn’t even need to show up. Have you seen Auburn’s offense? Putrid. Georgia is also getting healthier on that side of the ball, with Javon Bullard more than likely coming back. Mykel Williams, who was sick last week, will play as well. Georgia’s defense should have a better game than it did last Saturday.

I know we are nit-picking here, but the defense played uninspiring football. I don’t know if that was by design by Smart or what, but I expect them to have a better game. Honestly, if Auburn scores more than 14 points on offense, Georgia has significant issues.  It would not shock me to see Auburn put up a goose egg at home against Georgia. Auburn has no offensive line and has not thrown the ball over 100 yards in P5 games dating back to last year. So, will a one-dimensional offense beat a Georgia defense? No, not in a million years.

I don’t understand Georgia fans’ hand-wringing right now. I know this team has not looked perfect so far in the season. However, they have been dinged up all season and are now getting healthy. This game is where the Dawgs make a statement to the rest of the college football world. I could be wrong, but I think the Dawgs win this running away.

The media will say, “Georgias should have done that, they are not the #1 team in the country.” Then, they will move the goalpost again for the Kentucky game, and the same thing will happen. The Dawgs win 34-0 in this one. Georgia fans will feel better about this team after this game. The biggest key to this game is if Georgia gets to a hot start; if they do, it could get ugly fast.