SEC Kickoff: Everything you need to know about Auburn at Georgia

Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s annual rivalry between Auburn and Georgia in The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.

When: Today
Where: Athens, Ga.
Game Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Current Line: Georgia (-2.5)

Game Buzz: There are interesting subplots to this primetime game in Athens. The No. 9 Auburn Tigers roll into Sanford Stadium looking to rebound from its second loss, while Georgia looks to keep pace with Missouri in the SEC East. Both defenses have struggled at times this season, while the offenses rank near the top of the SEC in most statistical categories. This game could come down to which defense gets the last stop or which offense makes the first mistake.

SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH PREVIEWS

• Auburn will ride Nick Marshall’s talents through UGA and beyond
• Auburn playmaker could come in unlikely form against Georgia
• Inside the Numbers: Auburn’s still-good offense overshadowed by poor defense
• Matchup Breakdown: Hutson Mason vs. Auburn secondary
• Video: Auburn vs. Georgia preview and prediction
• Can Georgia stop Cameron Artis-Payne?

NO. 9 AUBURN TIGERS

Players to watch:

• QB Nick Marshall
• RB Cameron Artis-Payne
• WR Sammie Coates
• WR Ricardo Louis
• DT Montravius Adams
• LB Cassanova McKinzy
• S Jermaine Whitehead

Keys for Auburn: 

• Play defense, any defense. The Tigers were gashed by Texas A&M last weekend in the loss to the Aggies. Lapses and communication issues in the secondary gave Kyle Allen a lot of easy reads. That can’t happen tonight against Hutson Mason and the Georgia offense. Mason has gotten his weapons back on the outside, and if Auburn hopes to have any chance, it has to play something resembling defense.
• Still plenty to play for. Gus Malzahn said this week that if you play for Auburn and can’t get up for Georgia, something’s wrong, and he couldn’t be more correct. This is a huge game, especially in the light of how last year’s game ended. The Bulldogs will want redemption. The Tigers have to realize the season is not shot, and that their last two conference games carry big implications.
• Slow No. 3: Georgia got a huge lift with the return of its superstar this week, and with fresh legs off his four-game suspension, Todd Gurley will be ready to have a big evening. Auburn’s run defense has been its strength this season, but faces arguably its toughest test this season tonight with Gurley, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.

Most interesting part of the game: How do the Tigers bounce back? No one gave Texas A&M a chance last week, and Auburn played with fire one too many times and got burned. Auburn arrives in Athens an underdog; a quick start will be important for the Tigers to find its rhythm.

Team buzz: The Tigers have been telling themselves there’s still plenty to play for, and there is. Auburn has rivalry games left tonight against Georgia and in two weeks against Alabama. Though they’ve been relegated to the role of spoiler, the Tigers can still throw a kink in the SEC West by winning out.

GEORGIA BULLDOGS

Players To Watch:

• QB Hutson Mason
• RB Todd Gurley
• RB Nick Chubb
• WR Malcolm Mitchell
• TE Jeb Blazevich
• OL John Theus
• OL Kolton Houston
• LB Leonard Floyd
• LB Jordan Jenkins
• CB Damian Swann
• LB Amarlo Herrera

Keys For Georgia:

• Go to your strengths. Hutson Mason is playing his best football of the season, but Mike Bobo can’t overthink it. Do what you do best. And for UGA, that’s running the football. If the ‘Dawgs win tonight, it’ll be behind the play of Gurley and Chubb.
• Make your possessions count. With Auburn’s high-powered, fast-paced offense, UGA must extend its own offensive drives. The way you slow down Auburn is keeping the ball away from its offense. With Gurley and Chubb, running the football and chewing up clock shouldn’t be tough for the Bulldogs.
• Feed off the home crowd. Georgia’s finally playing in front of its home crowd again after 42 days away from Sanford Stadium. It’s a blackout and the energy will be incredible. If the ‘Dawgs can make a few big plays early, momentum should stay with them the rest of the game.

Most interesting part of the game: Todd Gurley’s return. No. 3 is back for the Bulldogs and there’s probably no better game for him to return than against Auburn. After missing four games, you can bet Gurley’s ready to go and Auburn could be the unfortunate victim of some pent up rage and anger from the former Heisman Trophy candidate.

Team buzz: Georgia’s hopes of an SEC Championship berth rest solely on this game. A loss doesn’t technically eliminate UGA from the division title, but certainly makes it much tougher. UGA’s season comes down to tonight.

Drew Laing

Drew Laing will be providing analysis and insight on Florida, Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina.