ATHENS — Georgia hasn’t been the dominant team everyone assumed they would be through the first four games of the season.

Even Kirby Smart would admit that. He said as much following Georgia’s 49-21 win over UAB.

“We’ve played really dominant at times, sometimes against inferior opponents, and then we’ve had — our standard of defense here is so high,” Smart said. “That what we consider good play versus other people, it may be viewed different. We play against a good thrower and some good pass catchers, you’re going to give up some plays. You’ve got to accept that. It’s how you respond to that that’s more important.”

Georgia has won each of its first four games by double digits. But it has scored only two first-quarter touchdowns to this point and Georgia trailed 14-3 at halftime against its lone Power 5 foe South Carolina.

It’s why some in the national media have moved Georgia off of its spot as the top team in college football. ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranked Georgia as the No. 2 unbeaten team in the sport, behind the Washington Huskies.

“The injury list remains long, and conference play begins in earnest with a trip to the SEC’s crown jewel chaos team, Auburn, but the Dawgs rank second because we all understand their ceiling, and they’re flashing just enough glimpses of it,” Connelly said.

Georgia ranks second in the SP+, behind Michigan. The Bulldogs have played the No. 108 schedule in the country per the SP+. That should start to improve this week as the Bulldogs play their first of seven consecutive SEC games.

The Bulldogs will go on the road and visit Auburn. Injuries are a major factor for Georgia, with contributors Kendall Milton, Ladd McConkey and Javon Bullard all questionable for the game. Getting those three players back would go a long way in giving Georgia the type of team that could dominate.

Connelly wasn’t the only ESPN commentator to have the Bulldogs behind Washington. Kirk Herbstreit did as well, sliding Georgia in at the No. 2 spot in his top four rankings.

Washington has wins over Boise State, Tulsa, Michigan State and Cal to this point in the season.

Not everyone though has been willing to move off Georgia just yet. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach sees Georgia and Washington as College Football Playoff teams in his latest bowl projections. But while Washington has games against Oregon, USC and Utah, Georgia won’t face a stretch anywhere near as difficult.

“I‘m sticking with Georgia in the top spot. There’s no question the two-time defending national champions are getting the benefit of the doubt,” Schlabach said. “The Bulldogs made another handful of mistakes in a 49-21 victory over UAB on Saturday night. I just don’t know who is going to beat Georgia during the regular season.”

Saturday’s game against Auburn should be a great chance for the Bulldogs to show just what kind of team they are. It’s their first road test of the season and Jordan-Hare Stadium figures to be a raucous environment.

This will be Carson Beck’s first-ever road start. The Georgia quarterback has made strides of late and is coming off his best performance as a starter.

A strong showing against a quality Auburn defense could go a long way in restoring some belief in this Georgia team.

“I think that he’s been through some ups and downs,” Smart said. “He’s certainly been against good defenses, like Auburn as --- he goes against our guys. So, it’s different when it’s live, so you got to find out how he responds to that. I’m very confident in Carson’s ability to communicate, to understand things. He’s been in our system you know, you only get good at these situational football things by playing football for a long time and he’s been with us for a while. It’s his first chance to do it on the road.”

Georgia and Auburn are set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff. CBS will broadcast the game.