When Georgia and Auburn meet for the SEC championship next Saturday, the game will come only three weeks after the Bulldogs were drilled 40-17 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. I believe this game will be different. It will be physical but it will be close. Auburn is favored by 2-1/2 points according to Vegas Insider and 1-1/2 points according to Odds Shark.
4. Kerryon Johnson: The Auburn running back torched Georgia?s defense with 32 carries for 167 yards (5.2 per carry) and two catches for 66 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown in the last meeting. But will he be at full health for the rematch? Johnson left the Alabama game with a right shoulder injury and coach Gus Malzahn not surprisingly offered little information afterward (?He?s got a shoulder issue. We?ll see where we?re at.?) Johnson was the SEC?s leading rusher during the season and he led the Tigers win over Alabama with 104 yards and two touchdowns (including one on a pass). Johnson Tweeted out later that he?ll be ?fine.? Maybe nothing a little numbing agent can?t fix. Or maybe it?s worse.
5. The Jake Fromm factor: If the Tigers? defense plays as well in the rematch as it did two weeks ago and against Alabama, the Georgia freshman will have to make some throws. He didn?t do that at Auburn. One of Fromm?s strengths this season has been his ability to learn from mistakes. He also has not been fazed by his surroundings -- and his only loss as a starter has come on the road. This will be a neutral site game. Fromm bounced back from the Auburn loss with strong performances against Kentucky and Georgia Tech, although neither one of those defenses obviously compare to the one he?ll go against next week. Some of his throws against the Jackets in difficult circumstance included a 12-yard back-shoulder toss to Javon Wims to set up the Bulldogs? first touchdown, a 21-yard dart to Wims for the second touchdown and a 39-yarder to Mecole Hardman over the middle. Fromm will need to give Auburn?s defense something to think about.
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Good summation for the SEC championship game next Saturday.
I don't think Auburn would have won the first game if Johnson hadn't played lights out.