The Georgia Bulldogs are back in action after a difficult 41-34 loss in Tuscaloosa to the Alabama Crimson Tide. There is no rest for the Dawgs with the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry set to be renewed on Saturday.
With the Auburn Tigers coming to town, how will Kirby Smart's squad respond? The Steakhouse discussed what their expectation are for this matchup.
"You're going to find out where Georgia is by how they react to this game," Georgia Bulldog insider Rusty Mansell said on Thursday morning. "They're the better team right here, clearly the better team, but can they have a faster start on offense? Then, number two, the thing you haven't seen from a Kirby Smart team is a lack of tackling. I would imagine Tuesday -- what they call 'Bloody Tuesday' -- there were some folks being taken to the ground."
One facet of their game that should be focused on is how they start on offense.
The season is still young, but of their 17 first-half drives against FBS opponents, Georgia has scored just one touchdown and connected on three field goals. They've averaged a pedestrian 5.3 points in the first half of games and were shut out in the first quarter against Clemson, Kentucky, and Alabama (when they trailed 21-0 in the first quarter and eventually trailed by 28).
For those keeping score at home, this was also an issue for the Dawgs in 2023. They scored just 96 first-quarter points compared to 209 in the second quarter of their final six games last season.
On the other side of the ball, a Kirby Smart team just had 41 points dropped on them. The defense will be hungry to face a turnover-happy Auburn squad who is fresh off a crushing 27-21 loss to Oklahoma.
"Here's the way I play this game," Mark Zinno, filling in for Steak, said. "I think Auburn under 14.5 points is the way to go. You're telling me Auburn is putting up three scores in this game? In between the hedges? In Athens? I think this defense is going to be pissed."
