Gators are Auburn fans this weekend
GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators have one last shot to win the SEC East and play for the conference championship, but it will take aHailMary.
The Auburn Tigers, winless in the SEC and off to their worst start in 60 seasons, are the final team standing between Georgia and the division title.
It’s a desperate position for No. 6 Florida ( 8- 1, 7- 1 SEC) to be in. In control of their destiny until a 17- 9 loss Oct. 27 to Georgia, the Gators now need Auburn ( 2- 7, 0- 6) tosummonits best performance of the season, if not since winning the 2010 national championship.
“It is tough,” UF quarterback Jeff Driskel said. “But at the end of the day you’ve got to put what’s in the past in the past and worry about what you can do.”
Once the Gators wrap up Saturday afternoon’s homecoming game against LouisianaLafayette, players will tune in at 6 p. m. for the116th edition of the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.” The Tigers lead the series 54- 53- 8 but are 15- point underdogs at home.
To slip in the backdoor past Georgia ( 8- 1, 6- 1) and earn a trip to theSECchampionship Dec. 1 in Atlanta, Florida will need Auburn’s offense to build on last week.
The Tigers have been outscored 185- 81 in SEC play. But with freshman quarterback Jonathan Wallace in his first start, Auburn scored 35 second- half points during a 42- 7 drubbing ofNewMexico State.
It was Auburn’s first win since beating LouisianaMonroe in overtime on Sept. 15.
“You’re hoping that parlays into some great excitementSaturday night,” coach Gene Chizik said Wednesday. “We’re going to have to play with passion. We’re going to have to play at a wholenewlevel to be in this game and really have a chance to win it.
“But, hey, that’s why are all about.”
Chizik is more desperate for a win than the Gators. Since Georgia’s last visit to Jordan- Hare Stadium, a 49- 31 Auburn win in 2010, he has gone from SEC Coach of the Year to the hot seat.
Meanwhile, Bulldogs coach Mark Richt is in line for his second straight SEC East title and a chance for Georgia’s first SEC championship since 2005.
Given the stakes, Georgia is not about to overlook Auburn. OnWednesday, Richt said his team had a “spirited” practice.
During a 42- 7 win last season, the Bulldogs racked up 528 yards with two running backs topping 100 yards as Aaron Murray
rivalries threw passes.
Richt expects Georgia will have a tougher time this year against the Tigers’ defense, coached by former Georgia defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. He spent the previous four seasons in the same role with the Atlanta Falcons.
“I think their defense is playing pretty darn good,” Richt said.
The Tigers forced two key turnovers to nearly upsetLSUathomeon Sept. 22, losing 12- 10. But since then Auburn has lost three of four SEC games by17 points or more, the only exception a 17- 13 loss to Vanderbilt.
While the Tigers might have no more than a puncher’s chance Saturday, the Gators will root for Auburn to somehowpull off a major upset.
“Iwouldn’t saywe’re fans of any other SEC school,” Gators cornerback Jaylen Watkins said, “but it would be nice to see them get a win.”
four
touchdown