The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party between Georgia (4-4, 3-3) and Florida (4-3, 2-3) this weekend has a much different feel to it, as both teams will enter the game unranked for the first time since 1979.
The two teams will play the game in Jacksonville, Fla., for the 77th consecutive time and will battle to stay alive in the chase for the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division championship.
Both teams are still chasing No. 20 South Carolina (5-2, 3-2), who will welcome Tennessee (2-5, 0-4) to Columbia, S.C., on Saturday.
No. 1 Auburn will try to keep its national title hopes alive as it takes on Ole Miss, while fellow SEC West foes Alabama and LSU take the week off in preparation for their Nov. 6 matchup.
GATORS SEARCH FOR THEIR BITE AFTER 3 LOSSES
Florida is riding a three-game losing streak into the Cocktail Party, the first time it has lost three straight under coach Urban Meyer and its longest such streak since 1999. The Gators lost to Alabama, LSU and Mississippi State before having a bye last weekend.
“We’re anxious to get going after a disappointing three-game stretch and to get ready for one of the best rivalries in college football,” Meyer said.
Florida may also have junior wide receiver Chris Rainey back in action following his indefinite suspension for his arrest on an aggravated stalking charge.
Meyer said Thursday would be the deadline for him to decide if Rainey would play and the decision would hinge on “if he’s done everything he’s supposed to do.”
GEORGIA BULLDOGS BARK UP THE WINNING TREE
Georgia enters Saturday’s game riding the exact opposite wave of momentum as the Gators.
The Bulldogs have won three consecutive games following a dreadful 1-4 start to the season.
Led by the emergence of redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray and junior wide receiver A.J. Green, Georgia has resurfaced as a contender for the SEC East title.
Georgia coach Mark Richt said even if both teams were out of the running for the division crown, this game is still crucial to the season.
“Even if there was no true meaning as far as the Eastern Division is concerned, it’s still a very important game to our players and our fanbase,” Richt said.
AUBURN TIGERS: KINGS OF THE FOOTBALL JUNGLE
Auburn garnered the nation’s top spot in the Bowl Championship Series rankings following its 24-17 victory against No. 12 LSU last weekend.
But instead of basking in the glory of being No. 1, Auburn coach Gene Chizik knows this weekend’s game against Ole Miss has potential to be a trap game.
“We have another tough conference game on the road,” Chizik said. “This is an extremely good football team. They always find a way to fight and claw and scratch their way into the game.”
The Tigers are mostly concerned with how to stop Ole Miss senior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli is a dual-threat quarterback, much like Auburn junior quarterback Cam Newton, who can give opposing defenses fits.
Chizik compared Masoli and the Rebels offense to Arkansas’ offense in 2004 when the Razorbacks were led by quarterback Matt Jones.
“Masoli is an extremely talented quarterback who can get himself out of trouble in the pass game,” Chizik said.
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Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]