The moments that defined an Alabama win were the knife-edge Auburn losses

It is important to remember the context of the first part as it highlighted how dire the situation looked for the visitors on Saturday night. Alabama led 30-7 early in the third quarter when Georgia decided against punting on fourth-and-1 from its own 29 points. If you get your fill, Alabama is just one play away from reaching 37-7 and we’d be throwing dirt on the Kirby Smart era.

It was the first of three fourth downs Georgia converted on its game-winning drive ON ITS SIDE of the 50. It ended after 15 plays of 80 yards and a scoreboard that read Alabama 30, Georgia 15.

The Bulldogs’ next three touchdown drives became more efficient as time ticked away and Alabama’s nightmare slowly became a reality.

• 6 plays, 80 yards, 1:46 left
• 4 plays, 78 yards, 1:35
• 1 play, 67 yards, 11 seconds. Georgia leads.

From being down 33-15 with 9:46 left in the fourth quarter to going up 34-33 with 2:31 left, that was arguably more impressive than Alabama’s outburst early in the game.

It proved that both teams can deal serious blows to the elite (and what happens when both struggle). They alternated with explosive scoring moments that made it necessary to separate winners from losers.

One could argue that the difference was the four turnovers Georgia lost. Of course, the game-winning interception is easy to spot, but the first-quarter pick was crucial. On a night full of long drives and home run swings, it was an anomaly when Alabama cashed in on a rare short pitch.

This 22-yard scoring drive stands out in the table because none of the other nine total touchdown runs were less than 67 yards.

It was the statistical outlier and the seven point difference when the dust settled.

The same goes for the other SEC game in the state on Saturday, with significantly different stakes.

If Auburn hadn’t learned the power of turnovers, the game-changing power of a mistake exposed the Tigers once again.

We learned that Auburn’s margin for error was razor-thin after building a 21-10 lead in the fourth quarter, only to see a repeat of an old nightmare.

We learned that Payton Thorne had three outstanding quarters, but the inability to hit the kill shot set Auburn up for disaster.

We learned that it doesn’t take four interceptions to ruin an afternoon.

Just one.

The 63-yard pick-6 thrown to Kip Lewis with 4:06 minutes left in the game almost ruined a day’s statement for the once benched Thorne. For moments he looked like a classic Hugh Freeze quarterback. He threw touchdown passes of 31 yards to KeAndre Lambert-Smith and 48 yards to Malcolm Simmons.

The lead was 21-10 after his 1-yard throw to tight end Luke Deal in the first minute of the fourth quarter. There was hope that the troubled September would end on a happy note, but the early start of the spooky season continued.

The 15th lost turnover in five games was the blowout that turned a 21-16 lead into a 24-21 deficit, 63 yards after the Sooner LB ran into traffic and stole Thorne’s biggest mistake of the day.

We learned that Auburn needs near perfection when playing against a team with similar talent.

And kill sales.

Fittingly, Georgia and Auburn meeting next Saturday as the Bulldog playoff rehab begins and the Tigers appear to be headed toward a bowl lock seems increasingly likely.

What else we learned on Saturday

— No. 1 Texas looked human for much of its 35-13 win over arguably the SEC’s worst team. Mississippi State (1-4) trailed just 14-6 at halftime when Texas scored in the final minute to gain some breathing room. Arch Manning still went an impressive 26-for-31 for 324 yards and two scores, but this wasn’t the loss we expected in the Longhorns’ first week at the top of the polls.

— Lane Kiffin is still Lane Kiffin.

– But seriously, Kentucky’s defense is the real deal. It shut out the offenses of two top-10 teams in consecutive SEC games, limiting Georgia to 13 points and Ole Miss to 17.

— The top teams in the other Two power conferences strengthened the SEC and Big Ten’s case for secession. No. 7 Miami of the ACC suffered a nail-biter in a 38-34 win over a Virginia Tech team that lost to Vanderbilt in its opening week. Then No. 10 Utah, the toast of the Big 12, lost 23-10 to Arizona.

– In the Big Ten, Ohio State continues to destroy everything in its path. A 38-7 victory over Michigan State was the highlight of Ryan Williams’ Midwest competition. Buckeye freshman WR Jeremiah Smith had some circus catches on a night with 5 catches and 83 yards.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or further Facebook.