The return of Todd Gurley is big for Georgia. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
KICKOFF: Saturday, 7:15 p.m. ET
GAMEDATE: 11/15/14
SITE: Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia
TV: ESPN
SERIES: This is one of the storied rivalries of the South with the two teams meeting for the 118th time. It also is one of the most competitive with Auburn leading 55-54-8 after last season’s miracle 43-38 comeback win last year.
RANKINGS: Auburn 9th, Georgia 15th
KEYS TO THE GAME
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn is looking for his players to bounce back after the disappointing loss to Texas A&M, and he’s putting it on his veterans to lead the way when the Tigers head to Georgia.
“We have a lot of veteran guys and a lot of seniors that have been through a lot of good and a lot of bad,” Malzahn said. “It is their leadership that makes it easier to put that loss behind you.
“We are playing a huge game this week against a very talented team. I feel certain that our team will handle that the right way.”
The loss to the Aggies dropped the Tigers out of the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings down to No. 9, and it also leaves them with an unlikely path to the West Division title and SEC championship game for a second consecutive season.
It would take a Mississippi State loss to Alabama this weekend and to Ole Miss in the regular-season finale to open the way for the Tigers. The Bulldogs also have a conference game against Vanderbilt, but with the Commodores in the East, that game likely would not figure into any tie-breaking procedures in the West race.
Of course, the Tigers first must win their final two games against Georgia and at Alabama on Thanksgiving weekend to have a shot at all.
Georgia is looking to get a boost from the return of star running back Todd Gurley, back from a four-game suspension levied by the NCAA after he admitted he accepted money from memorabilia dealers.
“I’m proud of the guy being truthful,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “I still think it’s the best policy.”
Gurley returns at a critical time. Coming off a convincing 63-31 win over Kentucky, Georgia will close conference play at home needing a win to enhance its SEC East Division title hopes. Missouri also must lose again to give the Bulldogs a shot.
Georgia also will be looking to avenge a heartbreaking 43-38 loss at Auburn last season. The game was decided on a 73-yard TD pass from Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall to receiver Ricardo Louis that deflected off two colliding Georgia defensive backs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tigers
–RB Cameron Artis-Payne has led the running attack all season and leads Auburn in rushing with 1,190 yards after going for 221 in the loss to Texas A&M. He has run for nine touchdowns.
–WR Quan Bray has been a dangerous punt returning all season with his 246 yards on just 12 returns. He also is stepping up as a receiver as well with 25 catches for 287 yards for the season after making six grabs for 65 yards against the Aggies.
–LB Cassanova McKinzy leads Auburn in tackle-for-loss with 8.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He has 64 tackles overall.
–CB Johnathan Jones has five interceptions to lead the Tigers in the category. He also has been credited with breaking up even other passes.
Bulldogs
–QB Hutson Mason was terrific against Kentucky, completing 13-of-16 passes for 172 yards and a career-best 4 TDs in one game. Mason improved his touchdown-to-interception ratio on the season to 15-to-3 and completed key throws downfield throughout the game.
–RB Nick Chubb was named co-SEC freshman of the week after another strong rushing game. Chubb rushed for 170 yards on 13 carries and a TD, an average of 13.1 yards per game, against Kentucky.
–LB Lorenzo Carter made the most of his first career start. Replacing OLB Leonard Floyd in the starting lineup, the true freshman had 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.
–KR/PR Isaiah McKenzie had a spectacular day against Kentucky, returning the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and returning a punt 59 yards for a TD in the third quarter to earn SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He and has three returns for TDs this season, two on punts.
