Georgia at Auburn
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. / CBS
Records: Georgia (6-3, 4-2 SEC), Auburn (9-1, 5-1 SEC)
Series record: Series between Georgia and Auburn (also known as the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry") is tied at 54-54-8.
1. Nick Marshall factor.
Marshall, a former Georgia defensive back, has proved to be a cool customer when it comes to running Gus Malzahn's zone-read offense, which averages 320 yards rushing per game and 493 total. But his demeanor when playing the team that ousted him is the biggest unknown on Saturday. Meanwhile stopping the run is the one thing the Bulldogs do pretty well on defense (fourth in SEC, 20th nationally). They'll have to be better than ever.
2. Getting healthy.
Georgia will never get back to full strength on offense, with Malcolm Mitchell, Justin Scott-Wesley and Keith Marshall all sidelined for the season. But the Bulldogs will be as healthy as they have been since Week 5. Receiver Chris Conley (ankle) and tight end Arthur Lynch (ribs) are back and tailback Todd Gurley is slowly returning to form. QB Aaron Murray should have plenty of options.
3. SEC implications.
Both teams still have a shot to get to the Dec. 7 SEC Championship game in Atlanta. Auburn controls its own destiny, needing to beat Georgia Saturday and No. 1 Alabama on Nov. 30. In addition to beating the Tigers on Saturday and Kentucky the following week, the Bulldogs need Missouri to lose its final two SEC games at Ole Miss Nov. 23 and at home versus Texas A&M to end the season.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Georgia ends vs. QB Nick Marshall: The Tigers operate the zone-read option offense as well as any team in the country. That puts enormous pressure on ends and outside linebackers, or whoever happens to be on the outside edge of the interior line. Georgia has quickness but is somewhat undersized at those positions, with the likes of 250-pounds-and-under outside linebackers Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd and 285-pounds-and-under ends Sterling Bailey and Ray Drew. They'll have to handle the blocks of Auburn's mammoth tackles while reading the handoff/play-fake between Marshall and running back Tre Mason. That's a tall order.
SHOUTOUT OF THE WEEK
"Lace up my cleats! Put me in Coach!"
@_Flight_31 (Junior WR Chris Conley, who is expected to play after missing the last two games with an ankle injury)
HOW THEY MATCH UP
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