Get up, ‘Dawgs! It’s game day!
If you’re not already hyped to take on the Tigers, perhaps this will help:
You already read Aaron’s key matchups for tonight, but Olivia Sayer at Dawgs247 also has 3 key matchups to watch. All three are solid choices, but I’d spotlight the banged up UGA offensive line versus Auburn’s front seven. That front seven is the best group on the Tiger roster. But this feels a little like it could be what I call a “grow up game” for players like Bo Hughley, Juan Gaston and Dontrell Glover, a tough road environment at night against a solid opponent is the kind of challenge that builds young players into veterans.
Marc Weiszer at the Banner Herald also offers several keys to the game. The one I’d emphasize from his list? How the Plainsman offense handles third downs. The Tigers were an abysmal 3 of 28 combined on 3rd down in road losses to Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Part of that was the road environment, and a plethora of false start penalties and protection busts. Playing at home should help with some of that. Can a UGA defense that has had trouble getting off the field on 3rd down do so against an Auburn offense that can’t stay on the field in that circumstance?
The road to Auburn is a rocky one not only because of what can happen in Jordan-Hare Stadium but, as some Bulldog staffers learned, before you even get out of the Athens metro area. Thank goodness no one was hurt.
Finally, some tailgate music to start your morning. Let’s begin the day with a swift kick from the Mule:
Go ‘Dawgs!!!
