The Auburn Tigers were no doubt thrilled to see the Alabama Crimson Tide lose to Ole Miss, giving them the early edge over their old rivals in the SEC West. But the defending SEC champs shouldn’t celebrate too soon as they might suffer the same fate on the road against the other unbeaten Mississippi team, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who are fresh off their own huge win against Texas A&M.
With potential Heisman Trophy contenders in quarterbacks Nick Marshall and Dak Prescott running the show for these two high-powered offenses, which undefeated team will leave with their perfect record intact?
For more on the exciting SEC West, check out our preview of Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M once you’ve read up on this all-important division battle.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Auburn Tigers vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Preview
Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville
When: Saturday, October 11, 2014, Time TBD
Line: Auburn Tigers (-3) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (+3) – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the Auburn Tigers
In a week which saw four of the top six ranked teams in the country fall, the Auburn Tigers took care of business against No. 15 LSU with an emphatic 41-7 home victory. Auburn blitzed LSU by scoring on each of its first four drives (three touchdowns and a field goal) which basically ended the game before halftime.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Auburn was at its most devastating best with quarterback Nick Marshall leading the way. Marshall passed for 207 yards with two touchdowns, and rushed for a season-high 119 yards with another two touchdowns.
Marshall and Cameron Artis-Payne accounted for 245 of the team’s 277 rushing yards but they could be slowed by an impressive Mississippi State front seven that has kept opponents’ running games in check this season. Auburn also had particular trouble running the ball in their last road game against a ranked Kansas State team which limited the Tigers to just 2.8 yards per carry back on Sept. 18.
But don’t sleep on Marshall’s ability as a passer. His two touchdown passes against LSU marked the first time he’s thrown at least two TDs in three-consecutive games in his career. Wide receiver Sammie Coates finally broke out from a silent start to the season with 144 yards and a touchdown on just four catches to join D’haquille Williams (23 catches, 357 yards and three TDs) as legit deep threats for Marshall.
Auburn’s defense has been solid this season, giving up just 14.4 points per game (9th in the nation) and 304 yards per game (14th). They’ll have their hands full against the red-hot Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott, but the Tigers defense should be equipped to at least contain his damage. They silenced K-State’s Jake Waters, who’s a similar dual threat to Prescott, to minus-seven rushing yards and picked him off twice.
Betting on the Mississippi State Bulldogs
No team in college football has had a tougher last two weeks on paper than Mississippi State, and few have looked as impressive on the field. After taking care of LSU, 34-29, on the road and a previously unbeaten Texas A&M, 48-31, at home, Dak Prescott and his Mississippi State Bulldogs are just one win away from sweeping their three-game gauntlet against three consecutive top-10 opponents.
Junior quarterback Prescott has played spectacularly well in those first two games, looking more and more like a legit Heisman contender. Against LSU, he totaled 373 yards and three touchdowns (two passing and one rushing) and against the Aggies, he completed 76 percent of his passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for three more.
It’s easy to think the Bulldogs are a one-man team, but that’s far from the case. Junior running back Josh Robinson, who’s just two games removed from gashing LSU for 197 rushing yards on just 16 carries, has scored six touchdowns in his last four games and is averaging around 7.5 yards per carry on the season.
The Bulldog defense has also stepped up big time, especially against the run. Despite giving up 161 yards against the Aggies, they’re still averaging less than 100 yards allowed on the season and have given up just two rushing touchdowns. Their front seven’s ability to keep Auburn’s dangerous running attack under control will be a decisive factor in this game.
The pass defense hasn’t been as airtight, as they’ve allowed over 328 passing yards per game this season. But after picking off Kenny Hill three times, the Bulldogs now have nine picks through the first five games. A well-timed takeaway or two could be the edge that gets the Bulldogs over the top against Auburn.
Writer’s Prediction
Prescott and the Bulldogs push Auburn to the brink, but Marshall and the Tigers (-3) have just enough firepower to eke out a tough road win. Create a betting account now and get wagering on this and other exciting conference matchups.
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