ATHENS, Ga. — Top-ranked Georgia puts a perfect record and a lopsided recent rivalry run on the line Saturday when Auburn visits Sanford Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff in the 131st meeting of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.
The Bulldogs are 6-0 overall and 4-0 in SEC play after a 20-17 win at Alabama. Auburn arrives at 3-2, 1-2 in the league, rested after an open week to prepare.
The recent history is one-sided. Georgia has beaten Auburn nine straight times, with the last Tiger win coming in 2017, and Auburn has not won in Athens since 2005. Last season the Bulldogs won 20-10 on the road. Georgia holds a 66-56-8 edge in the official series count.
Oddsmakers list Georgia as a 20.5-point favorite, which leaves Auburn coach Alex Golesh facing a steep climb against Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs.
Players to watch: Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton has thrown for 1,298 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he completed 18 of 22 passes for 249 yards at Alabama. Running back Dwight Phillips Jr. leads the team with 280 rushing yards after a 120-yard day in Tuscaloosa, and linebacker Raylen Wilson has 33 tackles and three sacks. Auburn counters with quarterback Byrum Brown, who has 1,052 passing yards and seven touchdowns, and linebacker Elijah Melendez, who leads the Tigers with 43 tackles.
One more trend for the opening minutes: Georgia is one of just four FBS teams to score first in every game this season.
Weather should cooperate. The National Weather Service forecast for kickoff calls for sunny skies, about 66 degrees and a north wind near 10 mph.
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