Georgia @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 15, 2014 ) Auburn 7, Georgia 34

Jeremy Johnson may have recaptured Auburn’s starting quarterback spot after engineering an upset victory last week at Texas A&M and, even if Sean White’s injured left knee heals, it may be Johnson under center Saturday as the Tigers host Georgia. Johnson struggled while starting the first three games of the season, but completed 13-of-17 passes in last week’s 26-10 victory and looks to have regained his confidence after throwing six interceptions in his first three games.

“We have confidence in him,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn told reporters this week, adding, “We got confidence in Sean, too.” There is not a lot of confidence around the Bulldogs, who scored an offensive touchdown for the first time since Oct. 10 in last week’s 27-3 victory over Kentucky. Neither Greyson Lambert nor Brice Ramsey distinguished themselves at quarterback, but the combination of Sony Michel and Keith Marshall combined to spark the Georgia rushing attack. “We’ll go into this week thinking we’ll play Greyson and Brice,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said of his passing attack, which combined to complete only 10 passes for 90 yards against the Wildcats.

TV: Noon ET, CBS. LINE: Auburn -1.5

ABOUT GEORGIA (6-3, 4-3 SEC): The Bulldogs were unable to shake Kentucky until Michel – who rushed for a career-high 165 yards – scored a touchdown on Georgia’s opening possession of the second half and Marshall added another score on the next drive along with 70 total yards for an offense that had scored just 12 points in its previous two games. Defensive back Dominick Sanders recorded two interceptions last week and leads the Bulldogs with four picks, while linebacker Jake Ganus – a transfer from UAB – leads the team with 63 tackles. The Bulldogs deployed their version of the “Wildcat” offense (the “Wild Dawg”) against Kentucky, getting a 28-yard touchdown on a direct snap to receiver Terry Godwin.

ABOUT AUBURN (5-4, 2-4 SEC): White passed for 1,063 yards and only two interceptions in five starts before injuring his knee, and Johnson mixed just enough passing in to a rushing attack that finished with a season-best 311 yards against the Aggies. Jovon Robinson, who has battled an ankle injury all season, rushed 27 times for 159 yards last week and teams with Peyton Barber (fourth in the SEC at 92 yards rushing per game) to give the Tigers a powerful backfield duo. Safety Tray Matthews, who did not play due to an ankle injury last week, is expected to return to the lineup against his former team.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Known as “the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry,” Georgia and Auburn meet for the 119th time with the series tied 55-55-8.

2. Georgia WR Malcolm Mitchell is second among active SEC players in receptions (159), receiving yards (2,102) and receiving touchdowns (15).

3. Auburn K Daniel Carlson leads the nation with four field goals of 51-plus yards, and is 12-for-12 with a pair of 52-yarders in his past four games.

PREDICTION: Auburn 24, Georgia 20