Despite a week of controversy surrounding QB Cam Newton, the Auburn Tigers have locked up the SEC West by beating the Georgia Bulldogs 49-31. Tonight Newton was good for 300 total yards and four touchdowns, with the rest of Auburn’s running game producing 164 yards.
The Dawgs held a 14-point lead in the first quarter after Baccari Rambo’s interception led to one of QB Aaron Murray’s three early scores, but the Tigers forced a halftime tie, recovered an onside kick to open the half, and never looked back. WR A.J. Green finished with 164 of Murray’s 277 yards.
Murray left the game in the final minutes after suffering a knee injury. Auburn DT Nick Fairley, who had led the Tigers’ relentless pass rush all night, hit Murray in the knee with his helmet. Several Georgia players clearly thought it was a cheap shot, as fights broke out on the next two snaps, multiple Tigers got thrown out for throwing punches, and Mark Richt was among the coaches on the field trying to clear the shrapnel.
The Dawgs have one more shot at bowl eligibility: the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Athens in two weeks. The Tigers travel to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide, and then it’s on to the Georgia Dome. With or without Newton.