The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry is set for its 129th edition on Saturday, as No. 5 Georgia hosts Auburn in a game that both teams sorely need. While the Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 SEC) enter as heavy favorites against the Tigers, Auburn (2-3, 0-2) was also a big underdog last season when it took Georgia down to the wire.
Auburn led 17-10 in the third quarter, and it wasn't until Carson Beck found Brock Bowers for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 2:52 remaining that UGA surged ahead for good in an uncomfortably close 27-20 victory. After consecutive tight battles to open league play, the Bulldogs will be hoping for a less dramatic outcome this time. UGA found itself on the wrong side of a 41-34 heartbreaker last week at Alabama.
The Dawgs erased a 30-7 deficit and clawed all the way back to the lead, only to have Alabama produce a late score and stop to steal a 41-34 victory. That came two weeks after UGA escaped Kentucky with a 13-12 victory. The Tigers are coming off consecutive losses to Arkansas and Oklahoma and now must play three straight SEC road games as pressure mounts on coach Hugh Freeze during his second season.
Georgia vs. Auburn: Need to know Auburn's turnover problems: Auburn is tied for last in the FBS in turnover margin at minus-11. The Tigers have coughed up the football 15 times, nine of those coming by interception.
It appeared they were making strides on that front in last week's showdown with Oklahoma until late in the fourth quarter. But with just over four minutes.
