Georgia @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2011 ) Auburn 7, Georgia 45

Georgia will earn its second straight trip to the SEC Championship Game and fifth in coach Mark Richt’s 12-year tenure by winning at Auburn on Saturday night. If the struggling Tigers pull the upset, Florida would represent the SEC East in Atlanta. The No. 5 Bulldogs enter hot after forcing nine turnovers in the past two weeks, holding Florida and Ole Miss to 19 total points. This series dates to 1892, with Auburn holding a 54-53-8 lead. The Bulldogs have won five of the last six, including last year’s 45-7 rout.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Georgia -14.5

ABOUT GEORGIA (8-1, 6-1 SEC): Aaron Murray threw four touchdown passes in last week’s 37-10 thrashing of the Rebels, giving him 21 this season and 80 in his career. Freshman Todd Gurley leads SEC running backs with 95.2 rushing yards per game. He averages 6.2 yards per carry and has run for 10 scores. But the offense took a body blow last week when wide receiver Marlon Brown (27 catches, 469 yards, four touchdowns) suffered a season-ending knee injury. The defense has been stout in the second half of games. Opponents have scored 64 points after halftime, with one touchdown coming on an interception return.

ABOUT AUBURN (2-7, 0-6): Freshman quarterback Jonathan Wallace makes his second start after leading the Tigers to a 42-7 victory over New Mexico State last week. Wallace is 16-of-26 for 297 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, and has run for 115 yards. Wallace could use another big game from sophomore running back Tre Mason, who broke out for a career-high 152 yards on 22 carries last week. He averages 5.6 yards per carry and has run for five touchdowns in the past four games. The Tigers rank 95th nationally in pass efficiency defense (141.6), which doesn't bode well against Murray. Even a win Saturday might not be enough to save coach Gene Chizik’s job.

EXTRA POINTS

1. This matchup has decided the conference or division title 20 times, with Georgia holding an 11-8-1 edge in those games.

2. Auburn has one interception this season, by linebacker Daren Bates.

3. Georgia is plus-9 in turnover margin, while Auburn is minus-4.

PREDICTION: Georgia 34, Auburn 20