Auburn Football: 2017 Game-by-game predictions
Georgia is five or six wins away from being the second most successful SEC program of the last decade. Their inability to win that one game that mattered most was what saw former head coach Mark Richt get fired two years ago. His successor, former Alabama coordinator Kirby Smart, went a modest 8-5 last season. That might work at South Carolina or Mississippi State, but that won’t cut it for very long at UGA.
The Bulldogs were picked to finish right at the top of the SEC East with the Florida Gators and have the pieces to take a step forward this season. They boast one of the most terrifying offensive backfields in the SEC. The running back duo of Sony Michel and Nick Chubb will give the Tiger defense all they can handle while sophomore quarterback Jacob Eason looks to be the final piece of the offensive puzzle for the Dawgs.
Last season Georgia beat Auburn without scoring an offensive touchdown. The Tigers scored one, but it was ultimately a third quarter Maurice Smith interception return that sealed the game. There are going to be more points this year, but not much. This will once again be the battle of two run-heavy offenses with uncertain quarterback situations.
By the end of the 2017 campaign the rust should have fallen off of both of these second year passers. Stidham and Eason could very well be two of the top five passers in the SEC. By the time they meet on the field in late November they’ll have nearly a full season of experience under their belt. Someone is going to have to lead a game winning drive against one of the SEC’s better defenses. My money is on Stidham.