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College Football Countdown: Ranking Difficulty of Each Auburn Opponent

By Jake Mastroianni

Nov 21, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Helicopters perform a flyover prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Idaho Vandals at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Helicopters perform a flyover prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Idaho Vandals at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema walks through player warmups before the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

7 – Arkansas: Level 5

The Arkansas Razorbacks won eight games a year ago, including a four overtime win against Auburn in Fayetteville. Bret Bielema has won more games in each of his first three seasons with Arkansas, but many believe 2016 will be a rebuilding year.

They only return five starters on an offense that put up 35.9 points a game a year ago, and rushed for almost 200 yards a game. However, they lose a good chunk of their offense from last season with the departure of Alex Collins and Brandon Allen.

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Collins rushed for 1,577 yards and 20 touchdowns, while Allen threw for 3,440 yards and 30 touchdowns. The two accounted for 50 of the team’s 62 touchdowns last season, so losing them will be a big loss for that offense.

The defense returns nine starters, including their top two tacklers from last year, but they also gave up over 27 points a game in 2015. Senior linebacker Brooks Ellis comes back after recording 102 tackles and 6.5 for a loss. Dre Greenlaw returns at linebacker after making the All SEC Freshman Team in 2015 with 95 tackles in 11 starts.

The Razorbacks will travel to Auburn after hosting Ole Miss the week before for their homecoming game. They have a bye week after the Auburn game that they’ll be looking forward to.

Auburn football has lost to Arkansas three of the last five years. The Tigers will get Arkansas after a bye week, which should give them an advantage. Before that bye week they play on the road against Mississippi State, and after the Arkansas game they travel to Ole Miss.

I think Auburn matches up really well with Arkansas’ Bret Bielema style of team having beaten them two of three years he’s been there, and taken them to four overtimes in the their only loss to him. I love the fact that this matchup is at home coming off a bye week.

Chance of winning: 63 percent

Next: Texas A&M

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