Skip to main content
georgia logo

Georgia vs. Auburn: Major Matchups

On3 imageby:Jake Rowe•10/07/22•

JakeMRowe

On3 image
Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Georgia is a big favorite over Auburn in The 127th playing of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. Depending on where you look, the Bulldogs are favored by 29.5 to 30.5 points.

A big reason for that spread is the fact that the game is being played inside Sanford Stadium, a place where Auburn hasn’t won since 2005. But we all know that the game isn’t played on paper and the outcome is often determined by which team takes care of specific matchups.

With that in mind, DawgsHQ takes a look at some of the major battles Georgia will have to win to put Auburn away for a sixth straight time.

Georgia front seven vs. Auburn QB Robby Ashford

The Tigers have one of the most dynamic running quarterbacks in the country. Kirby Smart said earlier this week that when Ashford was at Oregon last season, he worked out with the offensive skill guys in practice. That is according to current Georgia receivers coach Bryan McClendon, who was on the Oregon coaching staff.

Ashford didn’t have a ton of running success against LSU last week but he threw for well over 300 yards due in large part to his elusiveness. The Georgia front seven has done a pretty good job with mobile quarterbacks this season but it hasn’t faced one quite this athletic.

DawgsHQ’s take: This is a potential problem area for Georgia. Sophomore inside linebacker Smael Mondon, one of the Bulldogs’ fastest front-seven defenders, won’t be at full strength. He might not even play. Trezmen Marshall, another athletic inside linebacker, might also be limited. Georgia will need a strong effort from everyone involved to keep Ashford in the pocket as often as possible.

UGA offensive tackles vs. Auburn edge rushers

This would have been an even bigger matchup if not for the season-ending pectoral injury sustained by Auburn edge rusher Eku Leota. Still, the Tigers have some guys who can get after the passer. Derick Hall is a really good football player and so is Chandler Wooten. It seems like both have been at Auburn for decades.

The Georgia offensive line is coming off its worst game of the season by far. It struggled with Missouri’s pressure packages and lost one-on-one battles across the offensive line. The tackles will need to bring their A game against the Tigers.

DawgsHQ’s take: The fact that Georgia is at home will give it an advantage. There won’t be much noise, allowing the Bulldogs to use a cadence where the offensive line can get a split-second head start. Giving Stetson Bennett IV the time he needs, especially on third down, would go a long way to helping Georgia achieve the desired final result.

Georgia secondary vs. Auburn receivers

It’s fair to just go ahead and assume that Ashford is going to extend some plays. The front seven needs to limit that as much as possible but it will be shocking if Ashford doesn’t get loose a time or two. When that happens, the Georgia secondary can make it all for naught.

LSU got burned by the Auburn scramble drills last week. Georgia should learn a lot from that.

Dawgs HQ’s take: Georgia has a really talented secondary. The fact that Malaki Starks and Chris Smith bring strong coverage skills to the table could prove huge in this one. The biggest key here is that the Bulldogs’ avoid losing a receiver completely. Giving up a chunk play is obviously much better than a long touchdown.

You may also like