Five questions with Georgia beat writer Marc Weiszer

AUBURN -- Each week we chat with a beat writer who covers Auburn's opponent to get some insight into the team on the opposing sideline.

This week we hear from Georgia beat writer Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald for some additional background on the Bulldogs. You can follow Marc on Twitter @marcweiszer.

1) Everyone knows the impact Todd Gurley's return could mean physically, but was there a noticeable emotional boost with this ordeal coming to a close?
That's hard to say. I think there is a noticeable boost this week at practice knowing that Gurley is practicing to play and not just practicing. He's loose and cutting up with the other running backs. The ordeal, as you call it, actually ended before the Florida game when it was known that Gurley would indeed be out two more games. Then the Bulldogs came out and played a head-scratcher. Playing at home for the first time since before Gurley was suspended and having him back in action should be a big boost and make for an electric scene Saturday night.

2) With Florida being able to run so well against Georgia, how much is Auburn's running game a concern?
That certainly raised the panic level. Auburn already is quite a handful to deal with, what with Nick Marshall, Cameron Artis-Payne and even Ricardo Louis. The Tigers run well on everyone pretty much. The Bulldogs gave up 323 last year and still maybe should have won that game at the end. Georgia will need its edge players in particular— outside linebackers Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins to name two - to play better than they did against Florida on the edge.

3) It seems like Mark Richt holds no grudge with Nick Marshall, what kind of reception do you expect for him Saturday?
This is a matter of debate. I think there will be so much love for Gurley that hate for Marshall will be secondary. Now don't get me wrong. Nobody ever likes the opposing quarterback, especially one wearing Auburn colors in Athens. Mark Richt doesn't really hold grudges with players he boots out of the program. He had a couple even show up for an event that he held this off-season to help former players get going in careers after football.

4) Nobody wanted to talk about the Prayer at Jordan-Hare this week, but in previous conversations about it, were Georgia players still affected by it or did the departures of Harvey-Clemons and Matthews remove a lot of the emotion?
Players seemed fine talking about the way that ended. Now, I didn't sense that there was a lot of feelings of wanting to go beat Auburn based on that. If Harvey-Clemons or Matthews were still playing in the Georgia secondary, those guys would have probably felt more personal grudges about it. Maybe Harvey-Clemons will be motivated when he plays for Louisville against Auburn to open next season in Atlanta.

5) Auburn wins if?
Georgia can't do anything to stop Auburn's running game or if Auburn finds a way to shut down Chubb and Gurley and Hutson Mason and the Bulldogs' receivers have trouble moving the chains like they did against Florida before the game got out of hand. Given what I've seen from Auburn's pass defense the past few weeks, I would think Mason and a Georgia receiving corps that is near full strength will be able to make its share of plays.