If you can only win one game against Auburn…

They picked the right one to win.

Game day post, having the Benz edition

Hell, I don’t have a clue what’s gonna happen today.  I never had an inkling that Auburn would destroy the Dawgs three weeks ago, so anything I think about the SECCG should be taken with an enormous grain of salt.

That being said, I think this team and staff has enough of a sense of pride for history not to repeat itself.  Not being blown out doesn’t equal winning, though.  That’ll require a few things we didn’t see on the Plains, like better line play on both sides of the ball, more creative coaching by Chaney, special teams contributions and, of course, minimizing the fuck ups and loss of composure that led to the wheels falling off the wagon three weeks ago.

Can they do it?  Well, I’ve already given you the reason for my doubts they’ll do so.  Between getting the team focused and slaying the historical dragon that’s plagued this program for decades, Kirby’s got a monster of a coaching job to do today.  That being said, this staff has already exceeded my expectations this season, so what’s one more unexpected pleasure?

I’ll be on the edge of my seat today at 4PM, with my fingers crossed.  GATA, Dawgs.  And, oh, yeah…

Have at it in the comments, folks.

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Getting to 40-17, getting from 40-17

Matt Hinton’s SECCG preview is definitely worth a read, but look at these two charts he’s compiled and answer a question for me.

My question is this:  based on those charts, do you see a 23-point differential between the two teams?

Matt doesn’t.  He’s predicting Auburn by two.  As far as the rest of his predictions go, I’ll say one thing.  If Jake Fromm has to throw the ball thirty times today, Georgia is toast.

Does somebody know something we don’t?

I know it’s been a weird week in college football, but still, this…

Source @CaesarsPalace books said "a bet (on Georgia) from a player we greatly respect" was in part behind the line movement in the SEC Championship Game. In last three days, UGA has gone from a 2-point underdog to 1-point favorite at Caesars.

— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) December 2, 2017

Just curious:  what exactly does one have to do to be greatly respected by a Vegas book?  Besides throwing away a shit ton of money, I mean.

Tony’s Tennessee take

Mr. Conventional Wisdom goes all in on In Fulmer We Trust.

.@phillipfulmer will be able to get the trust of the coaches as the search continues. Cannot overstate how damaging the Schiano debacle was for Tennessee in the coaching community.

— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) December 1, 2017

A man who staged palace coups to get both his head coach and athletic director jobs — and along the way to the latter, blew up a deal with a sitting head coach — is suddenly a paragon of trustworthiness?  Please continue, Mr. Barnhart.

Can Kerryon Johnson… um… you know?

What happens if Gus Malzahn’s main guy can’t carry on?

Brandon Marcello reminds us that the Gus Bus doesn’t purr as smoothly when it’s not firing on all pistons.

Injuries to Auburn’s top players do not usually result in positive results in the Gus Malzahn era.

Injuries to Auburn quarterback Sean White and running backs Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson derailed the 2015 and 2016 seasons. The Tigers watched a six-game winning streak evaporate with sluggish offensive performances near the end of the 2016 season, which included two of the four worst offensive outputs of Malzahn’s career — 164 yards against Georgia and 182 yards against Alabama — as White dealt with a shoulder injury and Pettway and Johnson battle various injuries.

Two of the bottom 12 offensive outputs occurred in 2015 as the Tigers dealt with an injury to White late in the season. A hamstring injury kept Johnson on the sideline as a slow-footed Pettway (ankle injury) struggled against Clemson in Week 2 of this season, resulting in the worst offensive performance in Malzahn’s career (117 yards).

No. 2 Auburn (10-2) may face a similar situation Saturday in the SEC Championship against No. 6 Georgia (11-1). Johnson, Auburn’s leading rusher, is questionable for the rematch against the Bulldogs.

Not that the driver isn’t putting a brave face on things.

“The last two years, you’re exactly right,” Malzahn said. “There’s been some injuries to key people at times. This team is different. I think everybody sees it. Any time you’ve got one of the best players in all of college football and you’re not for sure if he’s going to play, as a coach, it concerns you. But our team, I think we’ve got depth. I really think that, if he can’t go, our guys will rise to the occasion.”

I can’t blame him for trying.  It’s not as if he doesn’t have that offensive line and Stidham to fall back on, either.  Still, you don’t lose one of the best tailbacks in the country and not miss a beat.  As far as how strong an assumption you can make of the first part of that sentence, Marcello reports that Johnson hasn’t practiced all week.  If true, that’s not exactly an indication of robust good health.  It’s definitely something to keep an eye on when Auburn goes on offense.