Mississippi State Football: Bulldogs will upset the struggling Auburn Tigers
The past two weeks, the Auburn Tigers have won two easy home games but haven’t played well. Mississippi State football will expose them in Week 6.
Over the past few years, the Auburn Tigers have had one of the best rushing offenses in the country. This year, that is not the case. The past two weeks, the Tigers have averaged only 2.6 yards per carry, at home, against teams that are not very good.
In Week 4, Auburn beat Arkansas, 34-3. Sure, that sounds about right. This year, the Razorbacks are especially bad, which was highlighted by a home loss to North Texas earlier in the season. However, a 34-3 scoreboard reading is incredibly deceptive.
Auburn gained only 225 yards on offense that game. One touchdown came off an interception, and one touchdown came from a kick return. Take those points off the board, and you get a 20-3 score. Take away the two field goals kicked by Anders Carlson, and the score is 14-3. A much less impressive win against, again, a really bad team…at home.
In Week 5, the Tigers defeated Southern Mississippi, 24-13. That’s an 11 point win at home against a Conference USA team that won’t even compete in the worst conference in the FBS. Again, Auburn struggled on offense, and if it weren’t for Southern Mississippi’s three turnovers, the game would have been very different.
As for the Week 6 match-up against Mississippi State, Auburn doesn’t have the help that they did in the previous two games. The Tigers won’t have their home crowd behind them since the game is in Starkville, Mississippi. Additionally, the Bulldog’s defense will be the toughest opponent Jarrett Stidham will have faced since the loss to LSU in Week 3.
The Auburn offensive line hasn’t looked great, so Stidham will have his face full of Bulldog defenders. In particular, look for future 1st round draft pick and Mississippi State star, Montez Sweat, to create havoc for Stidham.
Next. Latest 2019 NFL Mock Draft entering Week 6. dark
The No. 8 Auburn Tigers are going to earn their second loss on the year to Nick Fitzgerald and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The game will appear to be a defensive battle. But, in reality, Auburn’s offense is just bad and their defense is good. If Mississippi State can win the turnover battle, there is no doubt they will win. But even if they don’t, the Bulldogs will still win, just in a much closer fashion.