When Georgia started the season ranked No. 1 and Auburn was a favorite to win the SEC West, it appeared that the 2008 edition of the South’s oldest football rivalry would be a high stakes affair. From a rivalry standpoint that still holds true, as border bragging rights will be determined today at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

For UGA boss Mark Richt, that’ll have to be enough.

“It’s a great rivalry,” said Richt, whose team enters the contest 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC. “We’re playing them for the 111th time. We’re behind in the series 53-50 with eight ties, and the point differential is 40 or 50 points; not a lot of difference in the two teams. We know there is an awful lot of history involved with players from Auburn coaching at Georgia and players from Georgia coaching at Auburn.”

While the 13th-ranked Bulldogs are locked out of the SEC Championship Game, they still have a chance to duplicate last season’s record and earn a berth in the Bowl Championship Series.

On paper, today’s matchup looks like a walkover, with Auburn struggling at 5-5 (2-4 SEC) due to an anemic offense that averages less than 20 points per outing.

The Tigers are also in the midst of a four-game losing streak against Football Bowl Subdivision competition, with its last victory over a peer coming in a 14-12 decision against Tennessee back on Sept. 27.

In a series that has been a seesaw affair, Georgia will try to make it three straight wins against coach Tommy Tuberville’s team.

“In the 2006 game we got some big turnovers that set up some scores, and I think one of them was a score,” Richt said. ”I would have said there is no way we are going to move the ball against this defense and we did. I just don’t know the answer why, but I hope the streak continues. Even right now going into this game we are so paper thin on the offensive line it’s scary.”

After getting pounded by Florida, the Bulldogs’ offense bounced back in a big way last Saturday against Kentucky. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, tailback Knowshon Moreno and receiver Mohamed Massaquoi all had big outings, and the Red and Black will try to build on that momentum today against one of the SEC’s stingiest defenses.

“Defensively they are 13th in the nation against the score, which is a tremendous stat for them,” Richt said. ”No offensive team has scored a touchdown in the first quarter all year long. That’s hard to believe, but they’ve kept everybody out of the end zone. They have only allowed four rushing touchdowns all year long.”

Despite AU’s struggles, fullback Brannan Southerland expects a hard-fought affair.

“Even though they may not have he best record this year, there are still tons of athletes and tons of talent on that team,” Southerland said. “We know they have the people and the coaches to beat us, so we are practicing and preparing this week like it’s any other week.”

While UGA is eyeing a warm weather bowl and strong finish, the Tigers are fighting for bowl eligibility — and possibly Tuberville’s job.

While the season is already a major disappointment, some of the wounds could be soothed by upsetting their two biggest rivals — Georgia today and No. 1 Alabama to end the regular season.

“You can tell that the intensity in the players really changes when you get to the last two games of the year here,” Tuberville said. “It’s important, not just for the fans, alumni, and the coaches, but it’s really important for the players because they really get into it. They know a lot of the guys on each team and this week it’s the guys from Georgia’s turn, and they always look forward to it.”