Auburn @ Georgia preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 16, 2013 ) Georgia 38, Auburn 43

Georgia's Todd Gurley resumes a season that began with him near or at the top of most Heisman Trophy candidate lists as the No. 14 Bulldogs try to keep their SEC title hopes alive when they host the No. 9 Tigers on Saturday. Gurley, suspended the last four games by the NCAA for accepting a reported $3,000 in exchange for autographing items and other memorabilia, rushed for 773 yards and eight touchdowns in five contests before his ban. Freshman Nick Chubb (third in the SEC with 895 yards rushing) filled in admirably with 671 yards and five TDs, but said he will gladly yield to the 6-1, 226-pound junior.

"I know I haven't taken his spot," Chubb told reporters. "I am looking forward to Todd getting back on the field and playing with him. I miss him out there." Georgia's backfield is loaded as freshman Sony Michel returned after missing four games with a shoulder injury to rush for 84 yards a touchdown in last week's 63-31 victory at Kentucky. Auburn's dreams of a national title - or an SEC championship - were dashed with an inexplicable 41-38 loss at home to Texas A&M.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Georgia -2.5

ABOUT AUBURN (7-2, 4-2 SEC): The Tigers were a big part of the national landscape until they fell behind the Aggies 35-17 at halftime and could not recover, causing coach Gus Malzahn to tell reporters: "It hurts. It hurts our team. We had goals and dreams and we didn't get it done." After a game against Samford on Nov. 22, Auburn likely jumps into a spoilers' role when it visits No. 3 Alabama in the Iron Bowl on Nov. 29. Cameron Artis-Payne leads the SEC in rushing and is 10th in the country with 1,190 yards to lead the No. 7 rushing attack in the nation at 286.4 yards against Georgia's middle-of-the-pack run defense (57th among the 125 FBS teams).

ABOUT GEORGIA (7-2, 5-2): The Bulldogs, who conclude their SEC regular-season schedule Saturday, went 3-1 without Gurley and saw their national playoff hopes disappear with a 38-20 loss to Florida. Fifth-year senior quarterback Hutson Mason threw a career-high four touchdown passes last week, but will more likely be counted upon to hand the ball off as Bulldogs coach Mark Richt hinted at a potential crowded backfield. "I wouldn’t be surprised to see more than just Nick and Todd in the ballgame at that running back position,'' Richt told reporters. "Early in the year we did a good job of giving guys reps and hopefully we can continue to do that."

EXTRA POINTS

1. Georgia, which boasts the No. 14 rushing offense (253.6 yards per game) and faces the No. 29 run defense, can win the SEC East with a victory, plus one loss by Missouri in its final three games - at Texas A&M, at Tennessee and versus Arkansas.

2. Tigers QB Nick Marshall has accounted for 17 touchdowns - nine rushing, eight passing - in the last five games.

3. Auburn leads the series 55-54-8, including a 43-38 victory over Georgia last season when Marshall connected with Ricardo Louis on a deflected 73-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-18 with 25 seconds left.

PREDICTION: Georgia 41, Auburn 38