Georgia fared very well in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry under Mark Richt, winning 10 of the 15 games, but Kirby Smart will get his first crack at Auburn as the Georgia’s head coach on Saturday.

Smart is 0-2 in rivalry games this season, losing to Tennessee and Florida, but he can get continue to build momentum with a win over the Tigers.

The former Alabama coordinator is no stranger to Auburn’s intricate offense, though he must have his defense prepared to slow down this dynamic group.

Here are four ways the Bulldogs can achieve a victory between the hedges.

1. Limit the explosive running plays: It’s no small secret that Auburn’s offense relies heavily on Kamryn Pettway and the rushing attack. The Tigers average nearly 300 yards on the ground per game, which leads the SEC and is No. 3 in the country.

While Auburn is capable of sustaining drives on the ground, the Tigers are at their most lethal when getting explosive plays from their backs. Auburn leads the SEC with 81 run plays of 10 yards or more and is behind only Alabama with 23 plays of 20 yards or more. An astounding 16.8 percent of the Tigers’ runs have resulted in a gain of 10-plus yards, which can demoralize opposing defenses.

Oct 29, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Kamryn Pettway (36) carries the ball to score a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Pettway injured his leg last week, so it’s not known how effective he’ll be Saturday.

Georgia, meanwhile, has limited opponents to only 31 plays of 10 or more yards on the ground, tied for fifth among SEC teams and just five plays away from the league lead. If the Bulldogs are able to prevent the Tigers from getting chunk plays on the ground, they will create more third-down opportunities.

2. Take an early lead: Georgia has scored only 6 offensive touchdowns in the first quarter this season, but it will need to start fast against Auburn. Because the Tigers rely so heavily on running the ball, building a two-touchdown lead early in the game would help throw them off rhythm, especially if Pettway and Kerryon Johnson remain hampered by injuries.

The Bulldogs can’t afford to take their foot off the gas with an early lead, however, as Auburn scores plenty of points even while sticking to the run.

An early Georgia lead coupled with Auburn’s run-reliance would help the Bulldogs stay in this game in the second half

3. Find a way to stay balanced on offense: A major difference in the Bulldogs’ wins and losses has been offensive balance. Against North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky, Georgia has achieved a nice blend of run and pass. On Saturday, a similar blend will be paramount against the Tigers’ stout defense.

Most teams use the run game to set up play-action pass, but it’s possible Georgia will try to throw the ball to open more room on the ground. Auburn is fifth in the SEC in rushing defense, giving up 125 yards per game, but 11th against the pass, allowing 230 yards through the air.

It could behoove Georgia to start with some quick-hitting pass plays to get quarterback Jacob Eason into a rhythm and loosen up the Tigers’ defense.

4. Win the turnover battle: It’s obvious and cliché to say that turnovers are the great equalizer, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Turnovers can steal momentum and erase crucial scoring opportunities, which is a key factor in any upset.

As stated above, if Georgia builds an early lead, it can run the football to shorten the game and keep the Tigers’ offense on the sideline. Turnovers would exponentially increase the effectiveness of that plan and likely put the Bulldogs in great position to claim victory.

William McFadden covers the University of Georgia for Saturday Down South. For news on everything happening between the hedges, follow him on Twitter @willmcfadden.