GEORGIA PREVIEW

Auburn 1 -- Georgia
Nov. 10, 2007 (2:30 p.m.,CBS)
Samford Stadium, Athens, GA

Official AU-UGA Preview

I have just now regained the energy to update the site since the LSU game. The refs love all teams not identical to Auburn. May this excuse not apply to the Georgia game. Auburn needs to just hunker down, stop Georgia's running back, Moreno, and give Cox more time than last year to open up a passing and running game against a questionable Georgia defense.

Auburn's starting five linemen have done an excellent job protecint Cox and opening holes for our running backs when they're in the game together, even if three of them are freshmen. This should be a fair combination against a Georgia team that's giving up 340 yards per game. Especially considering Cox seems to be in a zone lately, and that he has a chip on his shoulder after last years ass whooping applied by Georgia. Man, that game was sickening, and I seriously doubt there will be a repeat of that. The combinatino of Lester, Tate, and Fannin is sort of like Georgia's rotation (before all of their injuries)... we both have good running games that have the ability to set up the play action.

If Auburn can get their play action going, we will have two ultra-reliable receivers that have emerged - Rod Smith and Montez Billings. Thank you, both of you for giving us a viable receiving threat. But it's the use of our tight ends that I think we'll see this game, as we haven't revealed many plays with Gabe McKenzie this year yet. It's coming. Don't think for one minute that we didn't do some practicing last week before the Tenn. Tech game for the Georgia game.

Stafford ate us up last year with the big play, and he has shown that ability against most everyone this year with really long passes against vulnerable defensive backs at times. Auburn's DB's are really good, and Muschamp prides in keeping the big plays at a minimum; yet last year's game seems to nullify this argument.

Nevertheless, this is still a quirky rivalry, with the visiting team holding the advantage. Given that LSU wins out, the winner of this game (if they should win out) will be a strong candidate for the Sugar Bowl, and they both know this. Auburn has a revenge match to settle here... not because of the loss, but because of how they lost. I was at that game, and I want revenge. If nothing else, for the absolutely crappy performance. That won't happen again. Auburn wins, but close.

Auburn 26, Georgia 20