Hugh Freeze's first SEC game as the head coach of the Auburn Tigers did not go as planned, as the Tigers fell 27-10 at the hands of Texas A&M.
The team did not have long to dwell on it, with the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs up next. Freeze and company will take on the back-to-back National Champions at home inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
There are a lot of questions surrounding this game, what are some of the biggest ones?
Can Freeze out-coach Kirby Smart?
Kirby Smart has gained a reputation as one of the best coaches in college football. Coaching against him is quite the challenge for any coach, and Freeze acknowledges that.
"I played Kirby his first year (at Georgia) when I was still at Ole Miss," Freeze said. "I know kind of what he inherited because I coached in that game. I know what the outcome was. It is a great testament to his vision, his work ethic, his staff, his administration being patient to have the year he needed to, to recruit. The dividends are paying off greatly."
"They are one of the gold standards in college football right now. They are recruiting a top-three class every single year. That is hard to compete with and they are well coached. You have to give them credit. I know it's a rivalry game, but the truth is the truth. He has built a dang good football program there. It means a lot of things. It means he has the support from the administration and the fans."
Freeze and Ole Miss did win that game in 2016, but a lot has changed since then. He has the capability of doing it again, but it will be an uphill battle.
How big of a threat does Georgia quarterback Carson Beck pose?
Georgia's starting quarterback, Carson Beck, has only made four starts in his collegiate career. Beck has gone 93-128 for 1,184 yards and six touchdowns this season.
This will be Beck's first start on the road, however, so he will be tested in ways that he has not been previously.
Beck is talented, but he will need help from his teammates in this one.
Will Auburn be able to compete at the line of scrimmage on either side?
This game will ultimately be decided at the line of scrimmage.
Auburn's defensive line has had some success this season, but Georgia's offensive line is one of the best in the country, and it will be a challenge for Auburn.
Auburn's offensive line looked bad against Texas A&M, and Georgia's front seven will present an even bigger challenge than that of the Aggies.
If Auburn can hold up on both sides of the line, its chances of pulling off the upset improve drastically.
Can Auburn's secondary hang with Georgia's air attack?
Auburn's secondary has been one of the team's bright spots so far this season, but it will once again be handicapped due to injury.
Tight end Brock Bowers has been Georgia's leading receiver so far this season and has caught twice as many passes as anyone else on the team. Beck tends to spread the ball around other than that.
Georgia's receiver group has not looked particularly amazing this season. If Auburn can shut them down and focus more on stopping the run, they could find themselves in a dogfight late in the game.
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT, and CBS will have the broadcast.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.locke@1819news.com
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
