Week 2 Saturday Six-Pack: Auburn Takes Must-Win Trip to Mississippi State, Georgia Visits Missouri

Postseason pushes don’t take center stage until November, but their foundations are established in September. Week 1 losers are in need of victory in Week 2 — especially those who call the SEC West home. Auburn suffered a difficult, close loss to Clemson in Atlanta and now must travel to Starkville for the conference opener. Digging an 0-2 hole with Arkansas, Alabama and LSU all still on the slate is not a proposition Gene Chizik wants for his team.

Other SEC openers highlight the Week 2 slate, including the conference debuts of Texas A&M and Missouri. Both are at home and in position to announce their presences with authority.

Sept 1, 2012; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs running back LaDarius Perkins (27) advances the ball for extra yardage during the game against the Jackson State Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden–US PRESSWIRE

Auburn at Mississippi State

The Bulldogs have scratched furiously at the door each of the last two seasons. In 2010, Mississippi State nearly derailed Cam Newton’s run to the BCS championship before it got started by holding the Tigers to what would be their lowest point total of the season. Last year’s tilt in Auburn was a high scoring affair, but Michael Dyer was responsible for 150 yards and two of the Tigers’ touchdowns. Dyer’s departure and a revolving door at quarterback since Newton took his talents to the NFL has AU with some offensive question marks

MSU has an opportunity to make a statement and win in this series for just the third time since 2000. To do so, the Bulldogs need to establish the run game early. AU held high-powered Clemson to 26 points last week, but surrendered 228 yards to Andre Ellington. On the flip side, MSU had three ball carriers rattle off 6.4 yards an attempt in a 56-9 rout of Jackson State. LaDarius Perkins and Derrick Milton will set the tone.

Florida at Texas A&M

A&M’s SEC era kicks off in earnest, with conference stalwart Florida visiting College Station. Texas A&M has yet to play a game in its new home, yet is already fitting right in — some renegade Aggie fans taunted Gainesville with a billboard declaring Gator Country annexed.

While the sign was all in good fun, the Aggies should be all business in trying to prove their place in the SEC. This is Kevin Sumlin’s belated debut leading the program, as last week’s game against Louisiana Tech was postponed because of Hurricane Isaac. Sumlin is starting Johnny Manziel in his first college game against an experienced and talented Florida defense.

The Gators struggled to put away Bowling Green in the Week 1, but not due to defense. UF must establish an offensive approach to complement its aggressive defense. Running back Mike Gillislee got loose while starting quarterback Jeff Driskel tried to settle in. However, in A&M the Gators are facing a rush defense that ranked No. 12 nationally a season ago.

Georgia at Missouri

Tickets to Missouri football games sold at a record pace this off-season, the excitement of joining the SEC palpable in Columbia. That translates to a raucous crowd welcoming Georgia into Faurot Field for the first divisional clash between the two. Georgia comes in to face MU’s uptempo offense, still missing star safety Bacarri Rambo’s turnover-forcing style.

The Bulldog defense is also coming off a surprisingly lackluster showing against Buffalo in which BU quarterback Alex Zordich rushed for 83 yards. Whether that was a blip defensive coordinator Todd Grantham ironed out this week, or indicative of a more deeply rooted issue for the Bulldogs will determine Saturday’s outcome. MU flourished offensively last season with quarterback James Franklin making plays both with his arm and legs.

Nebraska at UCLA
Aug 30, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Jonathan Franklin (23) runs for a touchdown against the Rice Owls during the first quarter at Rice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-US PRESSWIRE
UCLA played one great half in Jim Mora’s debut, but you can bet Nebraska offensive coordinator Tim Beck has had an eye on what Rice exploited with its option offense in Thursday’s first half. The Owls put up significant points on the Bruins up to halftime employing an offense similar to Nebraska’s, but with less talent.

The UCLA defense’s challenge becomes less arduous if running back Rex Burkhead is out with the knee injury that pulled him from Saturday’s romp over Southern Miss. Celebrated recruit Ameer Abdullah got the opportunity to experience feature back responsibility, but the Husker rushing attack is best when multifaceted. Perhaps a rejuvenated passing attack from Taylor Martinez can compensate.

The best running back on the field Saturday could be Bruin Jonathan Franklin, who played a fantastic game against Rice. He exploded for 214 yards and three touchdowns in Noel Mazzone’s offense. Mazzone facilitated Cameron Marshall’s outstanding at Arizona State last year, and Franklin is in position to similarly benefit. The return of Nebraska’s Black Shirt defense has been long awaited, but only show glimpses. Last season’s Cornhusker defense ranked No. 64 against the rush. Franklin and dual threat quarterback Brett Hundley will test this season’s unit.

Vanderbilt at Northwestern

No school in the Big Ten or SEC is as synonymous with academics as Northwestern or Vanderbilt. However this season, one or both could make some noise for its football. Northwestern outgunned Syracuse in the most exciting contest of Week 1. Vanderbilt’s outing was much different, a 17-13 grinder that proved the Commodores could hang with one of the nation’s best defenses.

Vanderbilt’s defense needs another big day against a potent Wildcat offense. Kain Colter was sidelined with injury during the wild second half, and despite his vow to play on Saturday, his health is questionable. Fortunately for Pat Fitzgerald, back-up Trevor Siemian stepped in and guided the Wildcat offense seamlessly on the final, game-winning drive last week. Colter’s presence would be preferably against the Commodore defense, though.

Conversely, the Wildcat defense could be the springboard VU needs to get its offense going. The Commodores sputtered on that side of the ball a week ago, but face an NU side that surrendered 470 passing yards to Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib. Jordan Rodgers must be licking his chops.

Illinois at Arizona State

Two first season head coaches square off in the late night capper. Tim Beckman and Todd Graham both won in Week 1, but Week 2 is going to be a more accurate measuring stick of where Illinois and Arizona State are under their new regimes. The Sun Devils delivered on the high octane offense Graham promised when he was hired at Pitt by hanging 63 on Northern Arizona; not bad for a team that didn’t have a clear No. 1 quarterback until just days before kickoff. Taylor Kelly settled into the role well, and Marion Grice erupted carrying the ball.

But against Illinois, the Sun Devils see a defense that held ASU to just 14 points a season ago and kept the explosive Western Michigan offense in check last week. The Illini rely on a stingy approach from that side, allowing quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase room to breathe on the opposite. Scheelhaase scored a touchdown in the air and on the ground against WMU. As he settles more into Beckman’s offense, he should become increasingly dangerous — but should is the operative word. With both teams, there are many lingering questions Saturday will clear up. That’s what makes this game so intriguing.

Saturday’s Six-Pack: New Belgium Trippel Belgian Style Ale

Fort Collins, Colo. is home to New Belgium Brewery (and Jim McElwain’s 1-0 Colorado State Rams). New Belgium’s most widely known product is Fat Tire, one of the better widely commercial available beers out there, but it’s the brewery’s specialty concoctions that make New Belgium a personal favorite. Belgian Ales are not for everyone with their sweet finish, but those who enjoy the style are hard pressed to find one better than this.