Auburn vs Georgia: Top individual matchups between Tigers and Bulldogs

What are the best individual matchups in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry this weekend?

Author:
Lance Dawe
Publish date:
Sep 28, 2023 2:55 PM EDT

In this story:

This weekend Auburn football has a tough matchup against the No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

Tigers' coach Hugh Freeze has made it very clear; Auburn is simply not as talented as they need to be in order to compete against the big time players in the SEC.

We will likely see moments this weekend where that proves to be true.

However, the Tigers aren't completely void of talent, they've got pieces too - they just have to find the right matchups to win on Saturday in order to have a chance.

Here are three of the top individual matchups to watch this weekend between Auburn and Georgia.

Auburn LB Eugene Asante vs Georgia RB Daijun Edwards

Sep 23, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Auburn Tigers linebacker Eugene Asante (9) recovered a fumble and ran the ball in for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports — Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Edwards finished with a career-high 118 yards on 20 carries against South Carolina two weeks ago. Returning from injury that kept him out of the first two games of the season, Edwards should be the back the Bulldogs lean on against the Auburn defensive front.

Eugene Asante has to play better than he did a week ago against A&M. He finished with a 61.0 rush defense grade on PFF and a 55.9 grade overall.

That won't cut it against Edwards and Georgia's rushing attack.

Georgia DB Tykee Smith vs Auburn QB Payton Thorne

Sep 16, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Tykee Smith (23) intercepts a pass in front of South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Eddie Lewis (11) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports — Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Tigers have been turnover prone this season.

Thorne has thrown three interceptions so far this season, tied for the third-most among SEC quarterbacks.

Smith, who has picked off three passes for the Bulldogs through four games, has the second-best PFF grade on Georgia's defense and the fourth-best overall on the Bulldogs.

Making sure Thorne protects the football and keeps it away from secondary players like Smith and Malachi Starks will be crucial to whatever success the Tigers have in the passing game this weekend.

Auburn WR Jay Fair vs S Malachi Starks

Jay Fair vs Samford — Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Fair has 15 receptions on 22 targets for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Those are all team-highs for Auburn. He also has the highest receiver grade (77.0).

Auburn has to find ways to get Fair involved downfield this weekend.

He'll likely be facing off against Smith, the slot corner for UGA, and Starks, who always seems to be in the right place.

Starks has the third most targets on Georgia's defense and has the lowest reception percentage on the team (38.5%), the most pass breakups (4), and the third-best PFF grade among all safeties in FBS (90.9).