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2017 SEC Championship Game Prediction Georgia-Auburn

By Eric Taylor - December 1, 2017
College Football Schedule: SEC

Photo: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

2017 SEC Championship Game Prediction Week 14 
Overall Record (85-26)  

Welcome to the 2017 SEC Championship Prediction edition of SEC Football Predictions. We are in Week 14 and will have the entire postseason laid out in front of us by 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday. For each and every Alabama fan, Saturday will be spent cheering on TCU and Ohio State rather than sitting in Atlanta watching this SEC Championship Game against Georgia. That’s my story, at least.

This is not a “What happens if” article, but what happens if Auburn wins Saturday and Alabama can back in to the College Football Playoff? Things could get really crazy by the end of Saturday night. Or every team in the Top 4 will win and Sunday’s CFP selection show becomes a glorified bowl selection show.

All Times Eastern | Utilizing College Football Playoff Selection Committee Rankings.

 Saturday, December 2, 2017 | SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

#2 Auburn (10-2, 7-1 SEC) vs #6 Georgia (11-1, 7-1 SEC)
4:00 PM ET | CBS

  • Auburn will be the home team for Saturday’s game, but only in jersey color. The atmosphere inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be markedly different. Jordan-Hare Stadium has become a jungle and madhouse for the opposing team in recent years and that has not been more evident than in 2017. Whether or not Auburn can put together the energy and dominance outside Lee County, Alabama, will be a major factor Saturday night in Atlanta. Gus Malzahn makes no secret that he is a believer in momentum and emotion determining how his team plays. If Auburn cannot carry this momentum and emotion across the state line into Georgia (which they did surprisingly well in 2013 after Kick Six), the Bulldogs will get sweet revenge on the Tigers.
  • Auburn’s 12-point win over Alabama was the biggest margin of victory for Auburn in the Iron Bowl since 1969. It also improves Auburn’s record at Jordan-Hare home against to 9-5.
  • The Bulldogs have won the two games following Auburn’s 40-17 upset of then-No. 1 Georgia on November 11 by a combined score of 80-20. Georgia beat Kentucky in Athens, 42-13, and dominated Georgia Tech, 38-7, in Atlanta. Georgia looked unstoppable in the weeks prior to the Auburn game so we’ll see if the Bulldogs can use this second chance to take advantage of the neutral (if not home) field.
  • According to AL.com, Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson appears to be a game-time decision. Johnson suffered a shoulder injury in the win over Alabama. From an amateur, non-doctor point of view, the injury appeared to be some type of collarbone issue. There’s as much likelihood that his big toe is injured as it is his collarbone, but Johnson couldn’t lift his arm and collarbone pain is said to be brutal. Kerryon Johnson is as tough and competitive as they come and watching him just sit the ball on the field during a live play tells me that he is at least hurt with a ton of pain. Whether or not he is truly suffering from some sort of injury that will sideline Johnson or require surgery remains to be seen. A game without Kerryon Johnson makes the “this game ain’t at Jordan-Hare Stadium” issue pale in comparison.
  • Of Georgia’s 13 first downs in the first game, only four came by way of the running game. Four. That’s just one first down for every running back that has seen significant action this season for the Bulldogs. If Auburn’s front seven plays like they have in their wins over Georgia and Alabama, it wouldn’t matter if this game is played in a Belk department store. Auburn will win and they will win big. Again.
  • Although I think Auburn has enough magic to keep this amazing run alive, I don’t think they will destroy Georgia for 3.5 quarters like they did November 11. The Dawgs are in serious trouble, though.

PREDICTION: Auburn 27, Georgia 17

Eric Taylor is a contributor to FBSchedules.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricFromSpfld or contact him via email at EricFromSpringfield–at– gmail–dot– com. Eric sprinkles his talents across the property & casualty insurance sector and the comedy writing world. Luckily, he makes his living doing insurance,  Be sure to check out EricFromSpringfield.com and Like the Facebook page Facebook.com/EricTaylorWritesStuff  for updates on other stuff Eric may be writing or doing.