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 thereโs one thing we know about Georgia football, itโs 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 didnโt let that define them; they went on to crush Michigan in the Orange Bowl. To top it off, they pulled off the sweetest revenge imaginableโa 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! Thatโs a beating FSU wonโt forget any time soon.
Now, here we are again with Alabama having snagged another win over Georgiaโmarking the sixth victory in seven meetings under Coach Kirby Smart. But the good news is this loss isnโt 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, letโs just say itโs best not to talk about that momentโespecially 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. Letโs 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 weekendโs game marks the Deep Southโs Oldest Rivalry, and if Georgia ends up losing, you better believe itโll be a brutal blow to their season. Auburn isnโt 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 โ But Will It Play Out?
Statistically speaking, Georgia is favored big time, with the line opening at 24 points in their favor. Auburn hasnโt won in Athens since 2005 and hasnโt even beaten Georgia since 2017. The last time these Tigers visited Sanford Stadium, Georgia clinched a 32-point victory. However, itโs worth noting that these historical stats donโt 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 heโs now off in silver and black. The memory of nearly toppling the Dawgs will surely linger in Auburnโs minds as they prepare for this weekend.
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne acknowledged this, saying, โWe had a chance in the fourth quarter. โฆ Theyโre a championship team, and we respect them, but weโve proven we can hang with the top teams.โ
Smartโs Focus on the Rivalry
Coach Kirby Smart knows the importance of this rivalry. Heโs been making sure his players are aware of the historyโnot just for 2024 but for the pride that comes with these matchups. โWe had coaches that told us the history of every game,โ Smart commented. โThese kids, they play but they donโt watch football as much. Itโs important they understand whatโs at stake.โ
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 seasonโs dreams crashing down. The tension is palpable, and as always, the stakes couldnโt be higher!
