5 questions and a prediction w/Georgia reporter

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5 burning questions and a prediction with a Georgia reporter

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

7-9 minutes

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The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry has arrived.

Fresh off an SEC-opening win on the road at LSU, No. 18 Auburn (4-1, 1-0 SEC) welcomes No. 2 Georgia (5-0, 3-0) to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the 126th meeting between the longtime adversaries. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, with the game airing on CBS.

Auburn, which enters the game as a 14.5-point underdog, will be looking for its first win against Georgia since 2017.

To preview this weekend’s top-25 SEC tilt, AL.com reached out to Georgia beat reporter Mike Griffith of the AJC’s Dawg Nation to answer five burning questions about the game. You can follow Griffith on Twitter (@MikeGriffith32) for all the latest news and analysis on the Bulldogs.

1. How much changes for Georgia offensively depending on who’s at quarterback between JT Daniels and Stetson Bennett, and which one do you expect to see on Saturday?

Griffith: Kirby Smart has said it will be a game-time decision, and that seems likely the case after JT Daniels was held out of throwing drills on Monday. Smart has said Georgia wants to avoid re-injuring the grade one strained lat muscle — or as it’s known around here, “the same injury Dak Prescott had” in the preseason. Rest is considered an important part of the healing process. Daniels will travel and be dressed, and he would likely be available in an emergency situation. But with SEC East Division games with Kentucky and Florida on deck -- contests that will determine if Georgia returns to the SEC Championship Game for what would be the fourth time in five years -- it seems unlikely the Bulldogs will play Daniels unless he’s completely healed.

Daniels’ cerebral nature and arm talent opens the playbook completely. Daniels is able to decipher defenses quickly and make adjustments at the line of scrimmage on the fly with no need to look to the sideline. Daniels’ arm talent enables him to make every throw. He was 9-of-10 passing in the first quarter against Vanderbilt -- with a dropped pass -- in his only action the past two games. Daniels has played nine of the team’s 20 quarters this season, with a QB rating in the nation’s top-five.

Bennett brings a great deal more mobility, with 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash enabling him to scramble out of trouble and run for first downs on third-and-long situations. Bennett has improved his release and deep ball, mimicking Daniels with a high arc on his long throws down the field. Still, Bennett is more apt to throw into coverage and doesn’t seem to possess the elite field vision Daniels has shown.

Georgia adapts its offensive gameplan to the defense it’s facing, one of the strengths of Todd Monken’s pro-style spread attack, which features Air Raid concepts.

The recent addition of tight end Darnell Washington — a 6-7, 280-pounder — adds some versatility to the offense and should make it harder for Auburn to match up with. Washington has been out with a foot injury. Brock Bowers is more of an H-back and is often in motion. Georgia’s perimeter threats are Jermaine Burton and Adonai Mitchell, with Kearis Jackson in the slot. Demetris Robertson transferred from UGA because he couldn’t win a starting position over any of those three.

The Bulldogs’ backs are more dangerous as receivers than runners, with the longest run of the season only 24 yards. It’s an efficient, though not explosive, run game.

2. Overwhelming talent aside, what has made Georgia’s defensive front so formidable this season?

Griffith: It is talent, experience, depth and scheme. Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt could easily be playing in the NFL right now had they not decided to return for senior seasons and “unfinished business,” as they tagged on their Twitter. Georgia has another rising force, sophomore Jalen Carter, who is arguably just as effective as Davis or Wyatt. UGA defensive end Travon Walker, who had the game-sealing sack on Bo Nix two years ago, is one of the league’s more underrated players, as well.

Scheme-wise, UGA has led the nation in run defense each of the past two seasons, and that has everything to do with the commitment to gap control and gap integrity, as you will notice that even when the Bulldogs pass rush, the rushers stay in their lane and do not allow for cut-back alleys.

3. Is there a positional matchup that you think Auburn can exploit against Georgia on either side of the ball?

Griffith: The Bulldogs are susceptible at cornerback, if Auburn can buy enough time for their perimeter receivers to get outside and find a way to get them isolated. That’s where an effective run game comes into play, because that leads to better down-and-distance situations, which put the defense in run-pass conflict.

Georgia was whistled four times for pass interference in the opener against Clemson, three of them coming on cornerbacks. South Carolina struck for more than 35 yards on four pass plays — three of them with cornerbacks in coverage. Redshirt freshman Kelee Ringo and senior Ameer Speed share the corner opposite former All-ACC cornerback and Clemson transfer Derion Kendrick, and that’s where Mike Bobo will have the bullseye painted.

Georgia, of course, recognizes this and often shades with a safety — again — presuming that safety is not pulled in by play-action or moved up closer to help against the run.

4. Kirby Smart had a lot of praise for the gameday environment at Jordan-Hare Stadium. How much, if at all, do you think that home crowd will affect Georgia’s offense?

Griffith: The last time the Bulldogs played in front of a hostile crowd, it was at Auburn in 2019, and the Tigers’ faithful didn’t make much noise until the fourth quarter. Former UGA QB Jake Fromm hit Dominick Blaylock deep for a quick first-quarter score and the Bulldogs’ defense dominated much of the day.

That was then, and in the now, UGA will bring about half a travel roster who have not been exposed to this potentially hostile environment, particularly on offense.

Georgia will need another fast start to erase the crowd, or it’s possible that Daniels or Bennett — whoever is at quarterback — will be dealing with a decibel level they have not confronted before. UGA also started a redshirt freshman center, along with a right guard and right tackle who have not experienced a hostile road setting.

5. How do you see this edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry playing out, and what’s your score prediction?

Griffith: Georgia’s defense can smother, and Auburn’s offensive line has not been overly impressive. Bryan Harsin and Mike Bobo can put their heads together and steal a touchdown, but it’s hard to imagine the Tigers moving the ball consistently.

On the flip side, if Bennett starts Auburn has a chance to get a turnover or two and keep the game close. If it’s a healthy Daniels, the Tigers chances are slim to none. For the purposes of this article, let’s assume it’s Bennett: Georgia has moderate running success, it’ defense produces a turnover or two, and Auburn’s offensive line can’t hold up past the first quarter.

Make it: Georgia 27, Auburn 10.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.