updated 8:49 p.m. ET Nov. 12, 2004

AUBURN, Ala. - This Georgia-Auburn game has it all: star quarterbacks, stingy defenses, talented running backs and high stakes.

It’s got No. 3 Auburn trying to remain in the national championship hunt and avenge losses the last two years to one of its biggest rivals, and No. 8 Georgia jockeying for a spot in the Bowl Championship Series.

It’s also one of the most venerable rivalries, a series so competitive the teams are separated by only 17 points in 107 meetings.

“I don’t think it gets any better than what it’s going to be on Saturday,” Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell said.

Not since 1983 have Georgia and Auburn met when both were ranked in the Top 10, and it had only happened one other time, in 1971.

Other than the BCS system itself, this could be the Tigers’ biggest remaining hurdle for a national championship shot.

They are 9-0 and only LSU has come close in six league games. Auburn is scoring more points than any other SEC team and allowing fewer, giving up only one rushing touchdown.

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“I don’t know what I can say about Auburn other than that they’re undefeated for a real good reason,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said.

And with only a 19-14 loss to Tennessee marring their record, the Bulldogs (8-1, 6-1) are impressive in their own right.

A big challenge for Richt and Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville is finding a weakness on the other team. There aren’t many.

Here’s one possibility: Georgia has allowed 10 touchdown passes while snagging a league-low four interceptions. Auburn defensive coordinator Gene Chizik has considered replacing cornerback Montae Pitts, who was beaten for a 64-yard touchdown against Mississippi.

However, both defenses wreak plenty of havoc with their pass rush. Auburn leads the league with 32 sacks, Georgia is third with 25. The game also boasts the SEC’s three leaders in sacks — Georgia’s David Pollack and Auburn’s Stanley McClover and Quentin Groves.

Georgia’s David Greene, who missed Monday’s practice with a virus, became major college football’s winningest quarterback with victory No. 40 last week against Kentucky. Tuberville called Greene perhaps the most consistent quarterback in SEC history.

Greene and Campbell are the league’s top-rated passers, throwing 30 combined touchdown passes against a paltry three interceptions.

“It’s not going to be a thing where it’s Jason Campbell vs. David Greene,” said Campbell, who called this the best defense Auburn has faced. “It’s Auburn vs. Georgia.”

There’s also Thomas Brown and Danny Ware vs. Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams.

All four rank in the league’s Top 10 in rushing, forming perhaps the league’s top two tailback duos. Georgia’s Thomas Brown is expected to get the starting nod over fellow freshman Ware, who is coping with a sprained right knee and ankle.

Georgia handed the Tigers two of their toughest losses the past two seasons. Last year, the Bulldogs dominated in a 26-7 victory. Two years ago, Greene’s late touchdown pass to Michael Johnson on fourth-and-15 won the game.

“With what both of us are ranked and all the national media hype, it’s going to get played up as that kind of game,” Campbell said. “It’s a big rivalry game for us every year so I don’t think that’s going to add to the intensity too much.”

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