Auburn Football: Game-by-game predictions for Tigers in 2018
In what could be the biggest match-up of the regular season, both Auburn and Georgia will head into the contest on Nov. 10 undefeated. The Bulldogs lost the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game by a touchdown in overtime and return 13 of 22 starters from that squad. Kirby Smart has a machine rolling up in Athens, GA and the Bulldogs are the S&P+’s sixth-ranked team heading into the 2018 season.
The Auburn defense will have to slow down the UGA offense that returns eight starters but did lose both Nick Chubb and Sony Michel from the backfield. That duo will be greatly missed even with the talented D’Andre Swift returning who ran for 618 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman. Jake Fromm and Justin Fields will have four returning starters on the offensive line, as well as receiver Terry Godwin and tight end Isaac Nauta. Kevin Steele will have to find a way to slow down the Bulldogs offense once again.
The Auburn offense will be up against an elite defense that returns only five starters to their 3-4 hybrid defense. Safety J.R. Reed is the teams leading returning tackler for the ‘Dawgs with 79 tackles last season. The Bulldogs were blown out by Auburn in the regular season in 2017 but I can’t see a repeat of that. This will be a major road test for the Tigers and I think the UGA crowd is too much.