Auburn shifts gears toward Georgia game

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville heard the buzz among his players last week, and it didn't please him.

"The talk in the locker room all week hasn't been on playing this game," Tuberville said after the 17th-ranked Tigers beat Kentucky, 49-27 on Saturday. "We knew we were going to have the better team. It's hard to keep them focused."

With games against two ranked teams - Georgia and undefeated Alabama - looming, Tuberville said he knew the Tigers (7-2, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) would have trouble concentrating on beating Kentucky (2-6, 1-4), a perennial also-ran that hasn't defeated Auburn since 1966, a streak of 15 games.

One of Auburn's offensive tackles, Troy Reddick, confirmed that Tuberville had reason to be concerned, but said the Tigers now are completely focused on their next opponent.

"I am from Georgia, so I have been thinking about that game for a long time," Reddick said. "The next couple of games are going to be a big challenge. We are good at focusing as a team and just need to make sure we continue that."

Although the result Saturday never was in doubt after Auburn took a 28-10 halftime lead, the Wildcats took advantage of Auburn's complacency. Kentucky, which entered the game ranked 108th in NCAA Division I in total offense, scored more points against Auburn than any other team this season and was on the Auburn 1 as time expired.

"Even though they're a top team, we thought we had a chance," Kentucky tailback Rafael Little said.

Auburn, which entered the game ranked fourth nationally in total defense, struggled to contain Little, who had 124 yards and two touchdowns rushing and 122 yards receiving, a performance that should allow him to continue leading the SEC in all-purpose yardage.

Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson passed for a career-high 335 yards as the Wildcats finished with a season-high 450 yards of offense, the most by any Auburn opponent this season.

"Kentucky did a good job coaching and playing," Tuberville said. "They played hard. Their backs are against the wall with the (recently ended) probation and guys hurt. But I was impressed with Kentucky and the kind of intensity they played with.

"You have to give them credit because they were trying any way possible to get the ball in the end zone."

All Auburn needed to do that was to hand it to one of their tailbacks. Kenny Irons, Tristan Davis and Tre Smith combined for 364 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

Auburn had touchdown drives of 80, 69, 80, 75, 81 and 80 yards and rolled up a season-high 589 yards of offense.

"We did a great job controlling the line of scrimmage," offensive tackle Marcus McNeil said.

Now, Tuberville said, it's OK for the Tigers to think about Georgia.

"We'll go back home and start our second season," he said. "Our big season is coming up, starting next week."