Auburn game-by-game predictions: Running the table possible, but brutal path awaits
By Rob Maxwell
Southern Miss at Auburn
When: Sept. 29
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn
Time: TBD
TV: TBD
The good thing for Southern Miss is that it played a couple of SEC teams in 2017 and competed. The Golden Eagles only lost by 7 and 14 points.
The bad news about those two games? They came against Kentucky (24-17) and Tennessee (24-10), two of the worst teams in the league a season ago.
That being said, Jay Hopson is doing a solid job of getting Southern Miss back to the level it’s used to playing after a disastrous three-year span that saw the program go 4-32 from 2012 to 2014. The Golden Eagles have gone to three consecutive bowl games and return.
Gone is Ito Smith, who ran for 1,415 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. QB Kwadra Griggs is back, but may or may not be available after being suspended indefinitely. Griggs threw for 1,879 yards, 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions last season.
The Golden Eagles are replacing other key spots — at receiver and on defense — and that’s not a good omen for the visiting team. The last time the two teams played was 2008 and Auburn won by 14 points. We’ll be surprised if it stays that close.
Prediction: Auburn 38, Southern Miss 14 | Record: 5-0