The Auburn Tigers are trying to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time all year. To do that, they will need a much improved performance from last Saturday’s debacle against LSU. Ole Miss has a formidable offense led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. The Tigers secondary has been shredded numerous times this season. That is not the best of omens. On the other hand, defensive coordinator DJ Durkin’s unit as significantly improved its rushing defense, which was porous in losses to Florida and Tennessee.
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Auburn’s ability to contain Chambliss and to limit him somewhat will be the key to any possible upset hopes for the visitors. Without running back Kewan Lacy, the Rebels figure to try and do most of their damage through the air. Auburn must also win the turnover battle, like they did in Athens, to have a reasonable shot in Oxford.
The offense, for its part, must be able to run the football effectively and control the game, and the clock, to protect the defense. Ole Miss Head coach Pete Golding said his team will be focused primarily on stopping the quarterback run game with Byrum Brown. This likely means that running backs Jeremiah Cobb and Omar Mabson will need to have their best games of the season to give Auburn its best chance at a victory. Can the Tigers’ offensive line perform at a level that makes that possible? We’ll know the answer a little over 24 hours.
Atlanta will be the site for this year’s World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Yes, I will continue to call it that. Renovations in Jacksonville forced the annual Florida-Georgia rivalry to relocate. Hopefully, they will at least open the roof to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party should, of course, be played outdoors. Both teams are coming into this game off their bye week. Florida is riding high off their upset of Texas two weeks ago. Meanwhile, Georgia limped into their bye watching Alex McPherson’s buzzer beating field goal sail through the uprights on their home field. Georgia has not lost back-to-back games under Kirby Smart since 2018. They have not lost back-to-back regular season games since his first year in 2016. Florida may keep it competitive. Their offensive coordinator, Buster Faulkner, has been successful moving the ball against Smart’s defenses in the past. That said, I think Georgia will pull away in the end.
The Arizona Wildcats are playing their biggest game in a long time. They travel to Lubbock to take on the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. Both teams are 6-1. Texas Tech was upset last week at Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Arizona had a much better week, annihilating Iowa State 39-3 for homecoming. The victory led jubilant Wildcat head coach Brent Brennan showed his appreciation to the fans by purchasing $2000 worth of tequila shots for them at a local bar called “Dirtbag’s.” You can’t make that up. Arizona’s lone loss came in the second week of the season to BYU. This game looks to be competitive to the end. The winner is in good position for a Big 12 championship game appearance. The loser is still probably alive for the college football playoff but may need help.
Moving to Tallahassee, I think we may have the football equivalent of the old “loser leaves town” match for the head coaches here. Dabo Swinney takes his Tigers into Doak-Campbell Stadium to take on Mike Norvell’s Florida State Seminoles. Clemson suffered a heartbreaking loss at home last week to Virginia Tech, while Florida State rested on its bye week, after taking #1 Miami to the brink in South Beach two weeks ago. I think FSU is going to win this one for their coach. The Swinney magic seems gone in Clemson.
Other Headlines
· #5 Notre Dame takes on a scrappy Navy team in Foxborough. The Irish are an overwhelming favorite, but the Midshipmen always play hard against their rivals from South Bend.
· Primetime is running out of lights in Boulder. If Colorado can’t beat Kansas State, that would move the Buffalos to 0-5 in the Big 12.
· #4 Indiana could be on upset alert this weekend as PJ Fleck’s Golden Gophers visit Bloomington. I expect a dogfight in this one.
· #6 Utah visits Cincinnati, who just upset Texas Tech. Could lightning strike twice for the Bearcats?
· Pivotal game in Norman as a pair of 4-3 SEC teams go head-to-head, as a suddenly hot South Carolina team visits the Sooners.
· Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels go for the upset, at home, against #1 Miami. It is a primetime showdown in Chapel Hill.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
