#20 Auburn Tigers (6-3, 4-2 SEC) vs. #15 Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 5-1 SEC)
After last week’s crazy #1 versus #2 conference clash between LSU and Alabama, other marquee SEC match-ups seem anti-climactic. Trust me when I say, however, that will not be the sentiments Between the Hedges this Saturday afternoon.
Sanford Stadium, Athens GA
Saturday, Nov. 12, 3:30 pm EST
NCAA Odds from Sportsbook.com:
MoneyLine: Auburn +390, Georgia -490
Spread: Auburn +12.5, Georgia -12.5
Over/Under: 53
It absolutely speaks to the potency of this conference, that Auburn can have three losses overall and two conference losses and still be ranked in the Top 25. The Tigers have the unfortunate reality of playing in the SEC West division, with the ultra-intimidating LSU, ’Bama and Arkansas above them. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are in pole position to challenge for an East division crown and a spot in the conference championship game in Atlanta.
Georgia looks to be in decent shape for keeping the wins coming. Quarterback Aaron Murray is a special talent who has help around him this season; stud freshman WR Malcolm Mitchell has been out with an injury recently, but is expected back this week, while freshman RB Isaiah Crowell was suspended last week for the New Mexico State game, but will start against Auburn this Saturday. Murray also enjoys a talented, bull-strong offensive line and some playmakers on defense – LB Alec Ogletree is back from injury and safety Bacarri Rambo has an SEC-high six INTs this season. The Dawgs have capitalized on good depth at RB and WR to overcome a slew of injuries and suspensions at those positions.
The Bulldogs have fired off seven straight wins after opening 2011 with an 0-2 record. Auburn gave Georgia fits last season with superstar Cam Newton under center and a dominant O-line, but most of those players have moved on and Auburn’s QB situation isn’t nearly as threatening without Newton. True, Tigers RB Michael Dyer is closing in on a 1,000-yard season, but QB Clint Moseley just doesn’t inspire the same fear in defenses that Newton does, especially an athletic unit like Georgia’s. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Auburn utilized a game against conference doormat Ole Miss last week to get back on track (crushing the Rebels 41-23) but the top teams of the West division (LSU and Arkansas so far, the Iron Bowl Alabama game will close out the regular season) have proven too much for last year’s National Champs. Between Dyer and back-up Onterio McCalebb, the Tigers have the running game that was characteristic of strong Auburn teams of old, but the stingy defense has been often lacking in 2011. For a unit with as much talent and speed as Auburn’s defense has, to give up 23 points to pop-gun Ole Miss is pretty embarrassing, even in a victory. This is probably a large reason why Auburn can’t keep up to the division’s elite, despite being a solid, nationally-ranked football team.
Particularly when you look at South Carolina’s loss of impact RB Marcus Lattimore, it seems that Georgia is in the driver’s seat in the SEC East. The Dawgs are on a tremendous roll and have their top personnel back on both sides of the ball. In Crowell, Georgia has a legitimate dominant SEC running back for the next couple seasons and Mitchell has joined targets like TE Orson Charles to be invaluable to the man under center. It just so happens that that guy is a special talent in his own right. It wasn’t long ago that Georgia battled strife of its own; after two straight losses to start the season, virtually everyone in the Peachtree State was calling for head coach Mark Richt’s head on a platter.
The Bulldogs have turned things around promptly – that same trend should continue this weekend at home in Athens.
Score Prediction: Georgia 31, Auburn 22
Over/Under Prediction: 53
The CappersPicks.com college football weekly predictions pages! We KNOW you will find our FREE weekly college football picks, tips, betting advice, strategies, CFB gambling articles and more to help you become the best College football bettor on your block!!
