Auburn @ Mississippi preview
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 29, 2011 ) Mississippi 23, Auburn 41
Gene Chizik was heralded as a hero at Auburn after leading the Tigers to a national championship two years ago, but he might not want to return to the plains if he doesn't bring home a victory Saturday against Mississippi. Both teams are desperate for their first SEC victory. Questions swirled about Chizik's job security after last week's 24-7 home loss to staggering Arkansas. First-year Rebels coach Hugh Freeze is still in the honeymoon phase in Oxford, but a homecoming win over Auburn would earn him some goodwill by snapping two droughts — the Rebels have lost 16 straight SEC games since beating Kentucky on Oct. 2, 2010, and they haven't beaten Auburn at home since 2008. The Tigers lead the all-time series 27-9 and have won nine of 11 meetings in Oxford.
TV: 12:21 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: Mississippi -6
ABOUT AUBURN (1-4, 0-3 SEC): The Tigers committed five turnovers and allowed eight sacks against the Razorbacks, as they managed a paltry seven points against a defense that ranks last in the SEC in points allowed. Auburn's lone win is a 31-28 overtime victory against Louisiana-Monroe, and although the Tigers played ranked opponents Clemson and LSU within a touchdown, last week's home loss to Arkansas marked a new low. Sophomore quarterback Kiehl Frazier was benched at halftime and is in competition for this week's starting job with Clint Moseley as Chizik and first-year offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler search for a cure for the SEC's least-productive offense.
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI (3-3, 0-2): The Rebels already have surpassed last year's win total, but they would feel a lot better about where they stand if their fourth-quarter lead against Texas A&M had held up last week. Ole Miss forced six turnovers against the Aggies but was unable to hold a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in a 30-27 loss. The Rebels' offense has been effective (fourth in the SEC at 439 total yards per game) if somewhat inefficient (eighth in the SEC in scoring at 31.3 points per game). Sophomore quarterback Bo Wallace (221.8 total yards per game), junior running back Jeff Scott (85.0 rushing yards per game) and sophomore receiver Donte Moncrief (75.5 receiving yards per game, 5 TDs) lead the much-improved offense.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Ole Miss is 3-0 when scoring first this season and 0-3 when its opponent opens the scoring.
2. Auburn has won 75 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points, which it has done only once this season.
3. Ole Miss ranks fourth in the SEC with 213 rushing yards per game. Auburn ranks last in the league in rushing defense, allowing 189.8 yards per game on the ground.
PREDICTION: Mississippi 23, Auburn 21