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Bulldogs Begin Preparations For Auburn

ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia football team began preparations for its final Southeastern Conference game of the season on Monday by working out for approximately one hour under the lights on the Woodruff Practice Fields.

The Bulldogs improved to 5-5 with last Saturday's victory over Idaho State. In the SEC, Georgia sports a 4-3 record. On Saturday, Georgia will visit second-ranked Auburn, which is 10-0 overall and 6-0 in the conference.

"We don't have to talk about (Auburn's record and ranking); our guys know all about it," said Coach Mark Richt, whose Bulldogs have four straight in the series with Auburn. "We feel like we have a great opportunity to play one of the best teams in the country. Auburn definitely has been that this year."

Richt was asked what goes into preparing for Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.

"Well, you can't simulate him," Richt said. "He's one of a kind. We don't have the body type to be Cam Newton. We just have to make sure we take care of all the looks and the pace as close as we can. We couldn't simulate (Tim) Tebow, either. It's the same kind of thing."

Richt said the captains for Saturday's game will be Demarcus Dobbs, Akeem Dent, Ben Jones and Shaun Chapas.

Saturday's game will be televised by CBS. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.

On Monday, it was announced that Justin Houston has been named one of the 16 semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the nation's top defensive player. Three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 22. The winner of the Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 9. Houston, a 6-3, 258-pound outside linebacker, is the SEC's leader in sacks with nine and is second in the league with 16.5 tackles for loss. He is third on Georgia's defense with 44 tackles.

~ Georgia Sports Communications