The Auburn Tigers are only slight underdogs for their Week 7 matchup with the Georgia Bulldogs this Saturday night on the Plains. Not only is AU not being counted out, but some on the Dawgs' side fear losing the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry Game this year.
UGA's Jonathan Hooker fears several things about the Tigers, including Jordan-Hare Stadium itself:
The defense, which DJ Durkin has made the team's undisputed strong suit after three seasons of one-year misfires from 2021 to 2023, and the run game, which is spearheaded by quarterback Jackson Arnold.
Hooker specifically fears Earnest Greene's injury leaving Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton vulnerable to a defense that ranks in the top 10 in sacks this season.
"The turnover margin will be huge. Gaining extra possessions is something that this Tigers defense does well with being plus-four in that department (No. 25-tied in the nation). Their defense cause cause trouble with Gunner Stockton and the possibility of not having his starting left tackle can cause more trouble," Hooker wrote.
As for Arnold, he feels Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb could have huge days if Arnold can get the ball rolling in the open field himself.
"The Auburn run game has been a pivotal point of the Tigers' offense with the leader being junior running back Jeremiah Cobb with 403 rushing yards. Cobb is a back that is hard to bring down, has great balance, and good speed," Hooker wrote.
"Quarterback Jackson Arnold will be key because Georgia has previously struggled against quarterback runs in matchups against Auburn. If Arnold can create early success, then it will open lanes for Cobb and his running mate Damari Alston. Alston is a former four-star recruit out of Atlanta, Georgia, who is named a captain of this team and has waited his turn to become an important piece of this offense. Auburn's rushing attack will require Georgia to play sound assignments."
It speaks to the talent Hugh Freeze has recruited that the fanbase of a Kirby Smart-coached program could be scared of losing this game. Thus far, Auburn is 3-2 and certainly hasn't played like a team worth being scared of, at least offensively.
That pesky defense, though. Even Ron Roberts' Tigers defense was able to give UGA fits during the last Deep South's Oldest Rivalry game from East Central Alabama in 2023.
If Arnold could turn things around and finally look like an SEC QB1 during conference play, this could be the first time Auburn has beaten Georgia since 2017.