Sep 14, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) tries to run around Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Justin Cox (9) at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Prediction
In Starkville, it’s being billed as the “game of the century.” It’s hard to argue with them. They’ve never been in a game like this, and the implications are huge. Every game matters in the SEC West, and it definitely matters when two top 3 teams are facing off, with the winner perhaps looking at the #1 ranking in the AP Poll on Sunday.
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This game will be just as tight as it was last year. Dak Prescott faces off against an improved Auburn defense while Nick Marshall and the HUNH will look to have success against the Bulldog defense.
It’s hard to determine what kind of game this will be. Both offenses are explosive enough to make this a shootout, but both defenses are good enough to make this a low-scoring struggle. All I know is that it will be a very close game. I predict these two teams to go back and forth, deep into the fourth quarter. Ultimately, I think Nick Marshall will be too much. I think Nick has his best game passing yet, throwing for over 350 yards, and the Tigers take this one late on the road.
#2 Auburn Tigers 32, #3 Mississippi State Bulldogs 27
SEC Predictions:
#14 Texas A&M 31, #3 Ole Miss 24 (The SEC West roundabout carnage will continue this week! The Aggies get a big game out of their defense and beat the Rebels.)
#7 Alabama 35, Arkansas 17 (Can Arkansas run the ball enough to make up for their weaknesses elsewhere against Alabama? Probably not.)
#13 Georgia 34, #23 Missouri 28 (Is Mizzou the team that lost to Indiana or the one they beat South Carolina? I’m not sure, so I’m going with Gurley.)
LSU 16, Florida 7 (You want some offense between these teams? TOO BAD.)
Kentucky 38, UL-Monroe 14 (If the ‘Cats win this one, they’ll be 5-1. That’s just what we all expected.)
Tennessee 52, UT-Chattanooga 7 (The Volunteers have to be sick after choking at home against a mediocre Florida.)
Vanderbilt 28, Charleston Southern 24 (There’s SEC East bad, and then there’s Vanderbilt. They’ll win here, though.)
Other Notable Games:
#9 TCU 24, #5 Baylor 21 (Oh, hello there, “TCU being in control in the Big 12.”)
#10 Arizona 41, USC 30 (This is a classic let-down game, but the Trojans’ secondary is hot garbage.)
#12 Oregon 28, #18 UCLA 3 (The Ducks march into Pasadena and lay a beatdown on the Bruins.)
#11 Oklahoma 35, Texas 13 (The Sooners aren’t out of the playoff race yet. Not even close.)
#6 Notre Dame 45, North Carolina 10 (Just a reminder that UNC was ranked in the preseason. That was a thing.)
UPSET ALERT! Duke 38, #22 Georgia Tech 34 (The Yellow Jackets are off to a nice start this season, but this is the game where they realize, “Wait, we’re in the Coastal! We’re not supposed to be seen as dangerous!” and restore natural order to the ACC race.)