Observations: Georgia 34, Auburn 10

Bryan Harsin's first big rivalry game at Auburn started hot but quickly cooled off into another one-sided loss to Kirby Smart's Georgia.

(Tony Walsh/Georgia Athletics)

The stage was set for a game to remember in Jordan-Hare Stadium. It was the first SEC matchup in front of a near-capacity crowd in nearly two years, and the first under Bryan Harsin. Cam Newton was in town. Bruce Pearl was shirtless in the student section. The energy was ideal.

And the start was, too — for the most part. Auburn had a 17-play, 68-yard drive that nearly ended in disaster but still came away with points against a truly elite Georgia defense. The Bulldogs then went 3-and-out on offense, giving the Tigers the ball with the lead in the first quarter.

Then a third-and-short pass from Bo Nix went off the hands of Shaun Shivers and into the grasp of Georgia’s Nakobe Dean. Georgia only scored three points off the short field, but something shifted with the turnover. The visitors started playing as advertised shortly after that.

After the first two drives, Georgia outgained Auburn 423-250 and outscored it 34-7. There were several moments when the roar…