Athens: Georgia Faces Rival Auburn After Tough Loss to Alabama
Last weekend was tough for Georgia fans. The Bulldogs suffered a gut-punch loss to Alabama, surrendering a lead after making an epic comeback from a 28-0 deficit. You gotta admit, watching the Dawgs try to claw back only to come up short stings. But if there’s one thing we know about Georgia football, it’s that they have a knack for bouncing back from tough losses, especially against the Tide.
Remember a few years back when Alabama upset Georgia in the SEC Championship? The Dawgs didn’t let that define them; they went on to crush Michigan in the Orange Bowl. To top it off, they pulled off the sweetest revenge imaginable—a victory over Alabama in the national championship game. Last year, it was rinse and repeat after another SEC Championship loss to Alabama. Georgia unleashed their fury on Florida State, demolishing the Seminoles with a jaw-dropping 63-3 score. Ouch! That’s a beating FSU won’t forget any time soon.
Now, here we are again with Alabama having snagged another win over Georgia—marking the sixth victory in seven meetings under Coach Kirby Smart. But the good news is this loss isn’t as devastating as the infamous 2018 National Championship game. In that heartbreaker, freshman Tua Tagovailoa connected with another freshman, DeVonta Smith, for the game-winning touchdown in overtime. Georgia fans, let’s just say it’s best not to talk about that moment—especially if Ryan Williams caught another go-ahead touchdown last Saturday.
Room to Breathe with College Football Playoffs
With the introduction of the 12-team College Football Playoff, Georgia still has breathing room after the Alabama loss. They could technically drop two games and still have a shot at the playoffs. Let’s face it, they might need that cushion against some tough opponents looming ahead, like No. 2 Texas, No. 12 Ole Miss, and No. 4 Tennessee. The good news? Only the Volunteers are heading to Athens.
But before diving into those heavy-hitter matchups, the Dawgs will first face a seemingly easier challenge: Auburn. This weekend’s game marks the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, and if Georgia ends up losing, you better believe it’ll be a brutal blow to their season. Auburn isn’t just any team; they have a knack for chaos and have been known to spoil seasons. Image a loss to Auburn? Heartbreak hotel, here we come.
History Favors the Dawgs — But Will It Play Out?
Statistically speaking, Georgia is favored big time, with the line opening at 24 points in their favor. Auburn hasn’t won in Athens since 2005 and hasn’t even beaten Georgia since 2017. The last time these Tigers visited Sanford Stadium, Georgia clinched a 32-point victory. However, it’s worth noting that these historical stats don’t mean much in a rivalry as intense as this one.
A lot has changed since their last showdown; remember, Auburn gave the two-time defending national champions a run for their money last year. They jumped out to a 10-0 lead, and it took everything Georgia had to escape with a 27-20 win. Brock Bowers might have stolen the spotlight then, but he’s now off in silver and black. The memory of nearly toppling the Dawgs will surely linger in Auburn’s minds as they prepare for this weekend.
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne acknowledged this, saying, “We had a chance in the fourth quarter. … They’re a championship team, and we respect them, but we’ve proven we can hang with the top teams.”
Smart’s Focus on the Rivalry
Coach Kirby Smart knows the importance of this rivalry. He’s been making sure his players are aware of the history—not just for 2024 but for the pride that comes with these matchups. “We had coaches that told us the history of every game,” Smart commented. “These kids, they play but they don’t watch football as much. It’s important they understand what’s at stake.”
As kickoff approaches for the Georgia-Auburn game at 3:30 PM Eastern Time, fans are hoping for a smashing return to form for the Dawgs. A victory could set the stage for an impressive bounce-back, while a loss could send the season’s dreams crashing down. The tension is palpable, and as always, the stakes couldn’t be higher!
