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College Football Countdown: 5 Most Crucial Games for Auburn in 2016

By Jake Mastroianni

Nov 21, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Military personnel cheer during the first quarter between the Auburn Tigers and the Idaho Vandals at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Military personnel cheer during the first quarter between the Auburn Tigers and the Idaho Vandals at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 16, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) throws a pass during the second half of the spring game at Sanford Stadium. The Black team defeated the Red team 34-14. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Georgia

This is an important game for a lot of reason, but it’s particularly important for the 2016 season as it will decide if this is going to be a great year on The Plains or another mediocre one.

We’ll say Auburn loses to Ole Miss on the road and beats Vanderbilt at home, making them 6-3 (4-2) entering this rivalry matchup on the road in Athens. At this point Auburn would still have an outside shot at making it to the SEC Championship game – banking on LSU and Ole Miss losing a couple of games.

50 Most Anticipated College Football Games for 2016 Season

Georgia will have first year head coach Kirby Smart at the helm, and they’ll most likely have seven or eight wins at this point and be playing for a shot in the SEC Championship game.

Along with a first year head coach, the Bulldogs will also most likely be breaking in a freshman quarterback in Jacob Eason. But they’ll lean heavily on their running attack with Heisman Trophy candidate Nick Chubb and Greyson Lambert.

They return eight starters on offense and six on defense, so they have a good bit of experience coming back even though they’ll have a new head coach and quarterback.

The Tigers haven’t won in Athens since 2005, and they need to take advantage of an in experienced head coach and quarterback while they have the chance, because it won’t be long before Georgia becomes a powerhouse in the SEC East.

Most people think seven wins should be the low total for Auburn in 2016, and if that’s all Gus delivers then his job could be in jeopardy. In order to get that eighth win Auburn is going to have to upset someone along the way. Ole Miss and Georgia seem like the most vulnerable candidates for an upset, and I would love for it to be Georgia that the Tigers upset.

Next: Alabama

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