Georgia Bulldogs vs Auburn Tigers Picks and Predictions January 18th 2025

No. 1 Auburn Heads to Athens for SEC Clash with No. 23 Georgia

The top-ranked Auburn Tigers look to keep their winning streak alive as they hit the road to face No. 23 Georgia in a high-stakes SEC showdown on Saturday. Auburn has been rolling through conference play, but with star forward Johni Broome sidelined, the Tigers face a tough test against a Georgia squad eager to prove itself at home.

Auburn Adjusting Without Broome

Auburn (16-1, 4-0 SEC) has been nearly unstoppable this season, riding a nine-game winning streak into Athens. However, they will once again be without All-American Johni Broome, who suffered a left ankle sprain in last weekend’s 66-63 win over South Carolina. Though Broome avoided surgery, he remains out indefinitely, forcing Auburn to adapt.

Without their leading scorer—who ranks fifth in the SEC at 17.9 points per game—the Tigers showed resilience in their first game without him, dominating No. 15 Mississippi State 88-66 on Tuesday. Chad Baker-Mazara stepped up with a 20-point performance, while Chaney Johnson, making his first start of the season, contributed 17 points.

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Head coach Bruce Pearl acknowledged Broome’s absence but praised his team’s ability to respond.

“We’re going to miss Johni on the offensive end more than anything,” Pearl said. “He’s such a great offensive player and such an unselfish passer. We can do a lot of game planning around him. But our guys knew what they needed to do (Tuesday). I thought everybody on the roster stepped up.”

Auburn’s Depth and Toughness Leading the Way

With Broome out, Auburn’s depth has become even more critical. Baker-Mazara (13.1 PPG) and Tahaad Pettiford (11.3 PPG) continue to provide scoring punch, but Johnson has emerged as a crucial player for the Tigers.

Pearl singled out Johnson’s work ethic, noting his relentless effort in every aspect of the game.

“Chaney Johnson is my hardest working player,” Pearl said. “Nobody on this team would argue with that. Whether it’s developing his body, working on his jump shot. … He gives us a good shot going forward.”

Auburn’s depth and defensive intensity will be crucial as they face a Georgia team that has been tough to beat at home.

Georgia Aiming for a Statement Win

After impressive victories over No. 6 Kentucky and No. 17 Oklahoma, Georgia (14-3, 2-2 SEC) cracked the AP Top 25 for the first time since January 2011. However, their stay in the rankings could be short-lived after suffering a 74-56 loss at No. 6 Tennessee on Wednesday.

Georgia led at halftime, but a 49-30 second-half collapse exposed some weaknesses against one of the nation’s top teams.

Head coach Mike White pointed to the team’s energy shift after halftime.

“Our overall body language I thought was phenomenal in the first half,” White said. “And then early in the second half, we were just different defensively. We found ourselves in a hole there pretty quickly.”

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Bulldogs’ Home Dominance

The good news for Georgia? They have been dominant at home, posting an 11-0 record this season. The Bulldogs will need that home-court magic against Auburn, as they look to bounce back and avoid slipping out of the rankings.

White expects a battle in Athens and hopes for a raucous home crowd to give Georgia an edge.

“It’s going to be a battle,” White said. “We look forward to Stegeman (Coliseum) rocking and giving Auburn our best shot. We’ll have to flush this one as soon as possible.”

Georgia’s Key Contributors

• Asa Newell (15.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG) – The freshman forward leads the Bulldogs in scoring and rebounding, showcasing his ability to contribute in big games.
• Dakota Leffew (12.1 PPG) – A steady offensive presence who can create scoring opportunities.
• Silas Demary Jr. (11.9 PPG) – Provides a strong two-way presence and playmaking ability.

Newell led Georgia with 13 points in the loss to Tennessee, while Demary added 12 points. If the Bulldogs hope to upset Auburn, they’ll need more offensive firepower and defensive discipline than they showed in the second half against the Volunteers.

High-Stakes SEC Showdown

This game marks the first of two matchups between Auburn and Georgia this season, with the rematch set for Feb. 22 at Auburn.

With Auburn looking to stay undefeated in SEC play and Georgia hoping to hold onto its Top 25 ranking, this rivalry clash in Athens is shaping up to be a thrilling contest.

Can Auburn keep rolling without Broome, or will Georgia protect its home court and pull off another major upset? Saturday’s SEC battle will provide the answer.