Auburn football predictions: Low-scoring, defensive battle will end in Tigers’ favor
By Rob Maxwell
The No. 8 Auburn football team plays its first road game of the season when it travels to Starkville, Miss., to meet Mississippi State.
Auburn (4-1) is a small favorite against the Bulldogs (3-2), who have lost back-to-back games against SEC opponents (Kentucky and Florida).
You’ve heard plenty this week about the 2008 game between the two teams in which Auburn won, 3-2, in what is widely viewed as one of the ugliest games in recent memory. While no one is expecting a spectacle as atrocious as that, the consensus is that it will be a low-scoring game.
After all, both defenses are ranked nationally inside the top 20 in total defense: Mississippi is 11th, allowing 286.8 yards per game, and Auburn is 16th, allowing 304.6. Auburn is third in the country in points allowed (12.6) and Mississippi State is eighth (13.4).
For a couple of teams struggling on offense, that doesn’t bode well for the scoreboard operator.
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The Fly War Eagle staff has been struggling to figure out which Auburn team is going to take the field each week. After the past couple weeks, we feel like we have a better hold. Let us know what you think of our picks this week in the comments section at the bottom of this story.
Rob Maxwell
There’s very little that makes me feel confident about this game when I think of all the potential game-changing items: at Davis Wade Stadium, at night, cowbells, a struggling Auburn offense, a struggling offensive line, the likelihood that both starting tackles won’t play. That’s a lot to overcome. But I keep coming back to the same thing: Auburn beat Mississippi State by 39 points last season. Auburn is more talented. Mississippi State has a rookie coach. Still, we’ve seen more-talented Auburn teams lose to inferior ones in the past. We’ve scratched our heads over play-calling. I keep waiting for Chip Lindsey to get creative. I’m betting this week he does and it’s enough to overcome all those hurdles.
Prediction: Auburn 24, Mississippi State 17
Shea Brennamen
This is a game that can go either way. If this game goes 3-2 it will single-handedly set college football back 100 years. I’m afraid that if both offenses play that terribly again a giant sinkhole will swallow up the town of Starkville due to the massive epicenter of suck that occurs because of the game. Auburn already has been exposed on offense so there shouldn’t be any surprises there. My prediction this weekend is Auburn 14 MSU 12. Our lights-out defense coupled with our “high powered” offense gets us through this weekend. This could come down to seeing which team’s kicker can kick from 55-plus yards out, because that might be the closest either offense is going to get. War Eagle.
Prediction: Auburn 14, Mississippi State 12
Tyler Doyle
Both teams enter this contest after showing less-than-stellar offenses the past few games. It’s gonna be a defensive struggle Saturday. Frankly, it’s not gonna be pretty. Expect a lot of sacks for both teams, as these may be the two best defensive lines in the SEC. In the end, Gus Malzahn is the more experienced coach and will game plan around his offensive weaknesses better than first-year coach Joe Moorhead.
Prediction: Auburn 13 Mississippi State 10
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Kevan Lindsey
Auburn’s offense clearly is suffering. A delayed game and sloppy play versus Southern Miss have fans in a frantic fit. The road will not get easier as they travel to Starkville to take on the Bulldogs. Led by Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat, the Bulldogs likely feast on an Auburn offensive line that has had issues. The saving grace could be the Auburn defense that will keep the Tigers in the game. In the end, I reluctantly go with Auburn.
Prediction: Auburn 19, Mississippi State 16