Get ready to be surprised, everyone. #18 Auburn football will go head-to-head against the #2 Georgia Bulldogs this weekend, and what looks like a blowout at face value may turn out to be an interesting game.
While the Dawgs have the top-ranked defense in the nation this season, they have yet to face an opponent whose offense ranks in the top 20. In fact, the most impressive offense the Dawgs have faced this season was that of Arkansas. The Razorbacks’ offense is averaging 416.4 yards per game, which is not even in the top 50, per ESPN.
Georgia has beaten Clemson, UAB, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas this season, but it’s beginning to look like playing Auburn football on the road will be their first real test of the season. While it looks impressive that the Dawgs are 3-0 in conference play, Vandy and USC are both at the bottom of the SEC in offensive stats, and Arkansas has the ninth-best offense in the conference.
After beating LSU, the Tigers’ offense is averaging 478.0 yards per game, which is the 17th best in all of college football and the third-best in the SEC.
However, the more troubling side to that coin is that one could argue that Auburn has yet to play an opponent with a respectable defense, and they’re about to be going up against the best one in the country. The best defense the Tigers have seen this season came from the Penn State Nittany Lions, who on average allow 314.2 yards per game compared to Georgia’s 177.8 yards per game at the #1 spot.
While Kirby Smart’s team may be facing their first true offensive test, Bryan Harsin’s Tigers are definitely facing their most intimidating defense of the season. However, if Bo Nix can stir up some offense in Jordan-Hare this Saturday and Auburn’s defense can lock down the Dawgs it’s possible that the #2 team could be in trouble this weekend.