Auburn Football: Trap game with Southern Miss awaits Tigers
By Dana Becker
Auburn football team remains on the edge of contention for the College Football Playoff. Will a potential trap game against Southern Miss slow them down?
That, though, would all change if the Tigers fail to take care of business this week in a non-conference contest with Southern Miss at home.
After allowing LSU to escape with a 22-21 victory two weeks ago, Auburn rebounded in convincing fashion last Saturday, posting a 34-3 victory over SEC foe Arkansas. Add in the Week 1 triumph over then-No. 6 Washington, and it is easy to see why Gus Malzahn continues to smile as head coach.
Jarrett Stidham has continued to grow into his role under center, completing 63 of 97 passes for 718 yards. Stidham, though, has just three passing touchdowns on the year.
JaTarvious Whitlow leads the ground unit with 303 yards and four scores, with Kam Martin adding 163 and Shaun Shivers another 150. Ryan Davis has a team-high 19 receptions, with Anthony Schwartz providing 20 yards per reception as the big-play target.
Southern Miss, though, is sure to challenge the Auburn defense. The Golden Eagles average over 486 yards per game and are scoring 38 points, but have faced the likes of Ricce, Louisiana-Monroe and Jackson State, not quite the same caliber of the Tigers.
Jack Abraham has completed 72 percent of his throws for 1,048 yards with 10 touchdowns and just three interceptions, with Quez Watkins recording 24 receptions for 304 yards and five scores as his No. 1 receiver. Javiond Adams has 215 yards receiving and Tim Jones another 121.
Kwadra Griggs, a senior who helped lead the Golden Eagles last year with 1,879 yards and 16 scores, returns from a suspension. He didn’t play against Rice last weekend, leading most to believe the quarterback job still remains Abraham’s to lose.
Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s game between Southern Miss and Auburn:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 29
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: Auburn, Ala.
Venue: Jordan-Hare Stadium
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: WatchESPN | Fubo TV
Keys to Victory
Southern Miss will need to keep the game close through three quarters for a chance to pull off the upset. If the Golden Eagles can continue to show their offensive strength and move the ball vs. an SEC defense like Auburn, they will have gained confidence for the rest of the season regardless of the outcome.
The Tigers must get Stidham and the passing game on track. While they did enough vs. Washington, the lack of big plays hurt them in the loss to LSU, and with games against Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama yet to come, the production from Stidham will be a key item.
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of OddsShark
Point Spread: Auburn -27
Over/Under: 53
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Prediction
The Golden Eagles will be jacked to come into Jordan-Hare Stadium and try to pull the upset. They have won 26 games since the start of the 2015 season, including three consecutive winning seasons. This team knows how to get it done, but Auburn has too much firepower on offense and plenty to play for to let the upset happen.
Final Score: Auburn 35, Southern Miss 21