No. 1 Georgia puts a perfect record on the line Saturday when Auburn visits Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, in an SEC matchup that pits the nation’s top-ranked team against an unranked opponent still chasing bowl eligibility. This Auburn vs Georgia preview breaks down a rivalry game where the Bulldogs are 6-0 and the Tigers are 3-2, with kickoff set for Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Georgia climbed to No. 1 in the AP poll following its Week 6 win over Alabama, displacing Texas, according to Bleacher Report. The Bulldogs are also riding a nine-game winning streak against Auburn in what is known as the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, per Sporting News, and a victory Saturday would make it 10 in a row.
Auburn Vs. Georgia Game Information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 17
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
- TV: ESPN
- Weather: 68 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation
By The Numbers
- Total offense per game: Georgia 474.8 yards (16th in FBS), Auburn 399.2 yards (67th in FBS)
- Third-down conversion rate: Georgia 54.7% (6th in FBS)
- Turnover margin: Georgia +6 (11th in FBS), Auburn -1 (77th in FBS)
- Penalty yards per game: Georgia 51.7 (48th in FBS), Auburn 64.6 (100th in FBS)
- Red zone scoring rate: Georgia scores on 90.6% of trips (39th in FBS), while Auburn allows scores on 92.9% of opponent trips (116th in FBS)
- Time of possession: Georgia 30:38 per game (54th in FBS), Auburn 26:22 per game (133rd in FBS)
Georgia Bulldogs Outlook
Georgia enters at 6-0 and has not been tested much this season, having outscored its first five opponents before surviving a 20-17 win at Alabama on Oct. 10. Quarterback Gunner Stockton completed 18 of 22 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown in that game, adding 12 rushing yards and a rushing score on six carries.
For the season, Stockton has thrown for 1,298 yards with 14 touchdowns against just two interceptions, a 76.6% completion rate that reflects why Georgia’s offense ranks 16th nationally in total yards per game. Running back Dwight Phillips Jr. carried 17 times for 120 yards against Alabama and has 280 yards on 37 carries this season. Receiver Craig Dandridge has 222 yards on 13 catches with a touchdown.
The Bulldogs’ plus-6 turnover margin and 54.7% third-down conversion rate, sixth-best in the country, have let Georgia control possession at a 30:38 per-game clip. Expected starters are Stockton under center with Phillips as the lead back, both coming off their most complete performance of the season in the win over Alabama.
Auburn Tigers Outlook
Auburn arrives at 3-2 off a bye week following a 24-14 loss at Tennessee on Oct. 3. Quarterback Byrum Brown completed 22 of 33 passes for 159 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in that game, though he added 107 rushing yards and a rushing score on 19 carries, underscoring his dual-threat role.
For the season, Brown has thrown for 1,052 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions on 65.2% completion, while also rushing for 344 yards and four touchdowns on 81 carries. Receiver Keshaun Singleton caught seven passes for 54 yards against Tennessee and has 322 yards on 29 catches this season.
Auburn’s numbers point to problems that will need correcting against a team like Georgia. The Tigers rank 77th nationally with a minus-1 turnover margin, 100th in penalty yards per game at 64.6, and 116th in red zone defense, allowing scores on 92.9% of opponent trips. Brown is expected to start after the extra rest from the bye week, with Singleton projected as his top target.
Key Matchup
Georgia’s offense, which ranks 16th in FBS at 474.8 yards per game, faces an Auburn defense that has already allowed opponents to convert red zone trips into points at a 92.9% rate, worst among teams ranked in that category. If Stockton and Phillips move the ball into Auburn territory with the same efficiency Georgia showed in the fourth quarter against Alabama, the Tigers’ red zone issues could turn short fields into points in bunches.
On the other side, Auburn’s offense has to find a way to protect the ball against a Georgia defense that has forced a plus-6 turnover margin this season. Brown has already thrown seven interceptions, tied to his seven touchdown passes, and Auburn’s minus-1 turnover margin this year suggests the margin for error is thin against a Georgia team that ranks 11th nationally in takeaway differential.
Players To Watch
Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia
Stockton has thrown 14 touchdowns against only two interceptions and posted an 81.8% completion rate in Georgia’s win over Alabama. His accuracy and decision-making have been central to the Bulldogs’ 46.2 points per game average.
Byrum Brown, QB, Auburn
Brown leads Auburn in both passing and rushing, with 344 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground to go with 1,052 passing yards. His dual-threat ability gives Auburn a path to stay competitive, but his seven interceptions remain a concern against a Georgia defense built to create takeaways.
Dwight Phillips Jr., RB, Georgia
Phillips ran for 120 yards on 17 carries in the win over Alabama, nearly half his season total of 280 yards on 37 carries. A heavy workload against Auburn would help Georgia control the clock, where the Bulldogs already average nearly four and a half more minutes of possession per game than Auburn.
What To Watch
Georgia’s bid for a 10th consecutive win in the rivalry comes as the Bulldogs try to hold their No. 1 ranking after displacing Texas following the Alabama win, according to Bleacher Report. Auburn, fresh off its bye week, is looking to bounce back from back-to-back results against Florida and Tennessee that exposed turnover and red zone defense issues.
Georgia turns around quickly to host Florida on Oct. 31, while Auburn’s next test comes at home against No. 22 LSU on Oct. 24. Both programs have meaningful SEC positioning at stake beyond Saturday’s result. Auburn is still searching for answers after last week’s loss to Tennessee, while Georgia looks to keep its unbeaten run alive.
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