A View from the ‘Skyebox’: SEC Post-Spring Power Rankings

Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry: Part 2 (SEC Championship Game Edition)

#UGA vs #Auburn 2017 SEC Championship Game ?#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/zjDXnO22Qe

— Evil Mel Tucker?? (@EvilMelTucker) December 12, 2017

• 12/2/17: #6 Georgia 28 @ #2 Auburn 7

  • Much like how Gus Malzahn outcoached both Kirby Smart and Nick Saban in the regular season matchups, Smart reigned supreme on the biggest SEC stage, out-dueling Malzahn for the SEC Championship, which ultimately earned Smart the distinction of being named 2017 SEC Coach of the Year.
  • Auburn limped into the game with their best offensive player, runningback Kerryon Johnson, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year suffering from several injuries, but to Johnson’s credit, he gave it a go, though it was obvious he was a shell of his former self and UGA took advantage by holding the Tigers to only 259 total yards.
  • UGA had (20) 1st Downs compared to Auburn’s (18), and UGA led the Tigers 10-7 with 8:25 remaining in the 3rd quarter before Auburn lined up to try and tie it up with a 31-yard Daniel Carlson field goal attempt, which is usually automatic, but it may have been the turning point in the game as the Bulldogs blocked the kick and controlled the remainder of the SEC Championship.
  • Georgia All-American linebacker Roquan Smith swallowed up two crucial turnovers while playing from sideline to sideline and disrupting Auburn’s offense throughout the contest.
  • After putting up only 46 total rushing yards in their regular season game at Auburn, Georgia’s powerful ground game charged back to pick up 238 rushing yards on Auburn’s stingy defense. UGA had almost as many rushing yards as Auburn had total yards.

Go home ref, you’re drunk. #SECChampionship pic.twitter.com/svc0pzY81A

— Casey Baker (@CaseyBake16) December 2, 2017