Auburn Football: #9 Tigers at #15 Georgia Preview and Predictions

Nov 16, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Ricardo Louis (5) catches a tipped ball by Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Josh Harvey-Clemons (25) and scores the game winning touchdown at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 43-38. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Who: #9 Auburn Tigers (7-2, 4-2 SEC) at #15 Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 5-2 SEC)

When: 6:15 p.m. C.T. (ESPN)

Where: Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia

All-Time Series Record: Auburn leads 55-54-8

Most Recent Meeting: Auburn 43, Georgia 38 (2013)

It’s the oldest rivalry in the Southeast. Auburn and Georgia basically started the craze of college football in this region when they faced off in Atlanta in 1893.

And that’s hardly the biggest storyline going into this game.

First, there’s obviously the ending of last year’s game that is still fresh in people’s minds. 4th-and-18 from their own 27-yard line? No problem for Nick Marshall, who chunked the ball into double coverage and still got a touchdown out of it thanks to mistakes by Georgia’s defensive backs and great awareness by Ricardo Louis.

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Speaking of Marshall, this is his first trip to Athens since he left the Georgia football program in February 2012.

Speaking of returns to Athens, Todd Gurley is back for the Bulldogs for the first time since October 4th against Vanderbilt. His suspension stemmed from compensation for autographs. (By the way, NCAA rules are dumb and Gurley shouldn’t have been punished as severely as he was.)

Oh, and the implications beyond bragging rights are pretty important here, as well. Auburn suffered a huge upset on Saturday, falling to 7-2 and is now on the outside looking in as far as the SEC title and playoffs are concerned. However, Auburn can still win the West with some help, but in order to get that chance, they need to win this game. As for Georgia, also 7-2, they need to win this game or else their chances of winning the East hinge on South Carolina beating Florida and a Missouri collapse.

Yes, this game means quite a bit to these programs, to the SEC, and maybe even nationally.

Next: Auburn's Keys to Victory