AUBURN, Ala. --- This Auburn-Georgia game figured to be a doozie, with championships and BCS bowl ambitions on the line, and maybe even a Heisman Trophy candidate or two on the field.

That's how it looked in August, at least.

Instead, today's game will be about pride and some kind of bowl trip, for the Tigers. The 13th-ranked Bulldogs (8-2, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) have more to play for, but not a championship. The preseason No. 1 team in the nation is out of that mix.

The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry has suddenly become the battle of the underachievers and disappointed, which might just be enough in this case.

"It's going to be a slugfest," said Auburn center Jason Bosley, whose team was picked to win the West. "This is a pride game. Georgia, their national championship hopes have changed. Obviously our goals have changed from what we set out on. This game is all about pride and heart and going out there and fighting every play. Whoever wants it more is going to win it."

What's the bigger motivation: Salvation for a lost season, or a better bowl trip and maybe another 10-win season?

The Tigers (5-5, 2-4) have lost four of five but can still become bowl eligible with a win. The Bulldogs have been blown out by Florida and taken to the wire by Kentucky in the past two weeks while allowing 87 points.

Both teams' troubles have been, in part, because of injuries. Georgia was hardest hit on the offensive line and Auburn lately on the defensive front.

"They've had injuries and it didn't quite work out for them or us," Tigers coach Tommy Tuberville said.

"Obviously for the BCS rankings and all those things, it affects that a little bit. But it doesn't affect the alumni and the fans, everybody that's directly involved in the game. Everybody wants to play well in this game."

Auburn hasn't played well in the past two meetings, especially defensively. The Bulldogs have scored 82 points in a pair of blowout wins and drew the ire of some Auburn players during last season's blackout when Georgia players on the field and the sideline were celebrating en masse by doing the Soulja Boy dance.

"It was hurtful," receiver Rod Smith said. "We have an opportunity to get those guys back. Maybe we can talk to Coach Tubs and maybe we can play some music. It'll definitely be a great game, a great atmosphere."

If the SEC's top scoring offense can get the kind of offensive production it has had against Auburn the past two years, the Tigers haven't shown many signs they can keep up. They have managed just seven offensive touchdowns in league games.

This series has been known to help turn around seasons and even give young quarterbacks a boost. Just ask Matthew Stafford, whose coming-of-age performance two years ago as a struggling freshman helped turn the fortunes around for both him and the Bulldogs in an upset of the fifth-ranked Tigers.

"That was big for Matthew and big for Georgia," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said. "People were doubting us in a big way. We didn't even know if we were going to be in a bowl game at that point."