SEC & Big Ten Week 12 Preview: ‘Dawgs look to clinch SEC East against Tigers

No. 4 Georgia (8-1) at No. 12 Auburn (7-2) at 3:30 p.m. on CBS

Georgia and Auburn take the field on Saturday for the 124th time in a series that has been played to a near-tie over the past century-plus, with the Bulldogs holding a slight 59-56-8 lead all-time against the Tigers.

These two historic programs first met in 1892 and trail only Wisconsin and Minnesota, whose Nov. 30 meeting will be their 129th, for the most meetings between two FBS teams.

Georgia sits at 5-1 in SEC play and enters Saturday’s matchup with an opportunity to clinch the SEC East Division title with a win. At 7-2 and 4-2 in conference play, Auburn is one game behind Alabama and two games behind LSU in the SEC West standings. LSU defeated Auburn 23-20 in Baton Rouge on Oct. 26, and the Tigers meet the Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl on Nov. 30.

Georgia and Auburn both tout strong defensive units and are only two of six FBS teams that have not surrendered more than 24 points in a game this season. The others are Clemson, Iowa, Ohio State and San Diego State.

Now let’s take a closer look at the teams:

Georgia Quick Hits

• Georgia leads the SEC in scoring defense, allowing only 10.1 points per game.
• The Bulldogs also lead the SEC in rushing defense (74.6 yards allowed per game) and total defense (260.3 yards per game).
• The Bulldogs defense has allowed just 91 points in 2019 (10 TDs, seven field goals).
• The Bulldogs are the first FBS team in at least 20 seasons to not allow a rushing touchdown in its first nine games.
• Georgia has had three shutouts, the most for the Bulldogs in a single season since 1981.
• Click here for Georgia’s complete game notes.
• Click here for the Bulldogs’ week 12 depth chart.

Auburn Quick Hits

• Auburn’s defense has allowed only 10 first quarter touchdowns in the last 39 games.
• The Tigers are ranked third in the SEC in scoring defense allowing only 17.4 point per game.
• Auburn is 30-9 under Gus Malzahn when it wins the turnover battle and 15-5 when turnovers are even.
• The Tigers have won 21 of their last 23 home games.
• Auburns offense averages 219.3 rushing yards per game, ranking No. 19 in the nation.
• Click here for Auburn’s complete game notes.
• Click here for the Tigers’ week 12 depth chart.

Now let’s take a closer look at some of the other top games in the SEC and Big Ten this weekend:

No. 5 Alabama (8-1) at Mississippi State (4-5) at Noon on ESPN

Alabama is 83-17-3 all-time against Mississippi State and enters Saturday’s game having won 89 straight games over unranked opponents.

No. 11 Florida (8-2) at Missouri (5-4) at Noon on SECN

The Gators will face a Tigers defense that has been electric on its own turf, as Mizzou boasts a +6 turnover margin at home and has scored five defensive touchdowns at Faurot Field this season.

Kentucky (4-5) at Vanderbilt (3-7) at 3:30 p.m. on SECN

The Commodores are looking for their first victory against the Wildcats since 2015.

No. 1 LSU (9-0) at Ole Miss (4-6) at 7 p.m. on ESPN

The Tigers offense has been potent all year, as LSU leads the SEC in total offense (538.4), passing offense (379.3) and red zone offense (48-of-49).

South Carolina (4-6) at Texas A&M (6-3) at 7:30 p.m. on SECN

The winner of the annual Texas A&M-South Carolina matchup takes home the Bonham Trophy, which is named for South Carolina native James Bonham, who fought and died in the Battle of the Alamo.

Indiana (7-2) at No. 9 Penn State (8-1) at Noon on ABC

The Hoosiers have won four straight and are off to their best nine-game start to a season since 1993.

No. 14 Wisconsin (7-2) at Nebraska (4-5) at Noon on BTN

Already second on the Badgers’ all-time rushing list, Jonathan Taylor only needs 167 yards to surpass Georgia’s Herschel Walker (5,596) for the most rushing yards by an FBS player through his junior season.

Michigan State (4-5) at No. 15 Michigan (7-2) at Noon on FOX

Despite falling to the Wolverines last year, the Spartans have won nine of the last 12 meetings against their in-state rival, including an unforgettable victory on a blocked punt as time expired in the 2015 game.

No. 2 Ohio State (9-0) at Rutgers (2-7) at 3:30 p.m. on BTN

The Buckeyes’ average scoring margin of 42.4 points per game leads the FBS. The only other team with a average margin of victory of 40 or more points since 2003 was Florida State in 2013 (41.8).

No. 8 Minnesota (9-0) at No. 20 Iowa (6-3) at 4 p.m. on BTN

The Gophers are one of five undefeated teams left in the FBS (LSU, Clemson, Ohio State, Baylor) and are 9-0 for the first time since 1904, when Minnesota went 13-0.