Georgia loses star Green in first half

ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia was forced to play the second half of Saturday night's 31-24 win over Auburn without top offensive threat A.J. Green.

The sophomore receiver suffered a left shoulder injury early in the second quarter and was taken to the dressing room. It was announced just before halftime that Green suffered an AC (acromioclavicular) sprain, and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo did not know the severity of the injury afterward.

Green was shaken up after a 12-yard gain to midfield, which was his second consecutive 12-yard reception. His catches set up a 50-yard scoring strike from Joe Cox to Israel Troupe, which he heard while leaving the field with trainers.

Despite having his evening cut short, Green still maintains the SEC receiving lead (83.4 yards per game) over Shay Hodge of Ole Miss (81.0). Hodge had five catches for 77 yards in Saturday's 42-17 win over Tennessee.

The biggest play

With 7:40 remaining in the third quarter, Cox threw downfield for tight end Orson Charles. Auburn linebacker Josh Bynes went up for the interception but tipped the ball to Charles, who gained 34 yards to Auburn's 46-yard line.

Georgia scored five plays later to take its first lead at 17-14.

"I was surprised," Charles said. "It was a play where I'm not really supposed to get the ball, but Joe had enough confidence in seeing a linebacker trying to cover me. That was definitely a mismatch, so he threw it, and I saw a guy going up for it. He tipped it, so I just relocated and caught the ball.

"No doubt that was a spark. After that, our offense started rolling. I'm glad that guy helped me catch the ball."

Picking on Neiko

Georgia's longest gains Saturday were the 50-yard touchdown pass to Troupe and a 47-yard completion to Tavarres King. Each came at the expense of Tigers cornerback Neiko Thorpe.

"We saw on film where Neiko Thorpe had been beaten a couple of times on deep balls this season," Cox said. "We could see how he played to the boundary and how he liked to get his hands on people and kind of squat. We put that one play in that Troupe scored on specifically to run to his side, because he was one of those players that if you gave a pump fake down to a fullback in the flat, he could bite."

Turnover champions

When Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin intercepted Chris Todd with 5:12 remaining in the half, it was his team-leading third pickoff. Safety Reshad Jones got his second interception of the year with 8:44, and those were the lone turnovers of the game as the Bulldogs were turnover-free for the first time all season.

Georgia had been 0-7-2 in turnover ratio entering Saturday, losing every game but LSU and Vanderbilt.

Bulldog bites

Redshirt freshman safety Bacarri Rambo had to be carted off the field with 1:16 remaining after suffering a concussion. Rambo was unconscious for a few seconds but after the game had movement in all extremities. ... Blair Walsh's 51-yard field goal early in the third quarter improved the sophomore kicker to 14-of-15 on attempts this season and 4-of-4 from beyond 50 yards. ... Senior linebacker Darius Dewberry injured his left elbow in the third quarter and did not return.

Tiger tales

Kodi Burns had 12 career rushing touchdowns and six career passing touchdowns before making his first career touchdown reception in the first quarter. ... Freshman tailback Onterio McCalebb returned after missing the past two games with a high-ankle sprain, rushing 11 times for 60 yards.