Now that Georgia has clinched the SEC East, the path to the College Football Playoff is the Bulldogs’ clear priority. It’s pretty straightforward path but they likely must beat Auburn on the road this week, then perhaps Alabama in the SEC title game. For Auburn, the playoffs are still a distinct possibility if they win out in SEC play then beat Georgia again in the title game. At any rate, we should learn a lot about each of these teams from this contest and perhaps have a point of comparison for Georgia and Alabama leading to their seemingly inevitable SEC title game bout.

Here are the big questions going into Saturday’s Georgia-Auburn game.

Who owns the A-gaps?

Both teams are largely spread-oriented this season and all about double teams and lead inserts between the tackles. Sony Michel ran for 137 yards on six carries against Florida running a version of “power” without a pulling blocker and the Dawgs have run downhill on spread-out defenses all year with that concept.

Auburn has been playing a similar game, often just running behind Austin Golson in whatever position he lines up in (he has played center, right tackle, left tackle, and left guard) but specializing in iso:

Fullback Chandler Cox is a major component to the Tigers offense and lets them run a variety of two-back run concepts from shotgun spread sets. Another of their favorite tricks, made even more effective by Golson’s move to right tackle against A&M, is to line Cox out wide then motion him back in to run something like power.

The Auburn offensive line has some big, strong guys. Golson turned the defensive end inside here to create an edge for the fullback and pulling guard to crash into; that’s big for many plays.

Both teams are also very stout up front; the Bulldogs boast one of the best D-lines in the country, backed by Roquan Smith at linebacker. Auburn is also stout up front on defense this season and does not yield much ground between the tackles.

For the past two years the Tigers have been very disciplined and fundamentally strong against the run. They put a priority on executing the base defense with star athletes and it has worked quite well.

Both teams are probably best defined by their desire to punch the ball up the middle on offense and to deny their opponent from doing the same. So what gives? Will either team assert its will in the trenches on the other? The winner will basically be on to the next challenge in that regard: Taking on Alabama.

Who controls the skies?

One of the major additions to the Auburn program this season has been a greatly improved passing game. Transfer QB Jarrett Stidham is averaging 9.1 yards per passing attempt and has been roasting teams on double moves and play-action shots as the season has progressed.

On this big touchdown play on Saturday against Texas A&M, Auburn motions slot Ryan Davis over, forcing a coverage check and adjustment. Then the Tigers run play-action off the threat of a run behind the fullback or tight end while flooding the opposite end of the field with a deep go route, a corner route, and a fullback flat route. Stidham’s accuracy on deep shots like this are why he was the most exciting QB prospect the Baylor Bears had ever signed. He is taking Auburn’s offense to a new level.

It seemed like the game against Florida would be a good test of how Georgia freshman Jake Fromm is coming along in boosting the passing game. But the Gators collapsed as a program and Fromm only threw seven passes while the Dawgs rolled over them.

Overall Fromm has been great in the run/pass option, making good reads and setting his feet well to deliver quick strikes when teams bite on the run game.

The Bulldogs have slowly been expanding their traditional dropback passing game and they continue to put a major emphasis on corner routes, which Fromm throws with a lot of accuracy:

Georgia's Jake Fromm has had 20 passing attempts in a game just three times this season; Auburn's Jarrett Stidham has done so in all but two games.

Georgia probably can’t beat Alabama without Fromm throwing the ball 20 times or so and doing real damage. Auburn might test Georgia’s ability to get what it needs on offense from Fromm’s arm. Georgia’s test will be whether it can stop Stidham from giving Auburn the edge with his arm.

In many respects Auburn has some real advantages: The Tigers are playing at home and fielding a more battle-tested quarterback and passing game in what could be a close contest. Of course Georgia has been routing most of its opponents so bad that playing in a close game hasn’t even mattered, except for the win against Notre Dame. If Georgia is for real as a national title contender, we’ll know it after this game.