Auburn and Ole Miss enter Halloween weekend with something in common: both are coming off disappointing defeats and both need a victory to prevent their seasons from heading in the wrong direction.
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For Ole Miss, the stakes are considerably higher. The 12th-ranked Rebels remain within striking distance of the Southeastern Conference’s upper echelon, but another loss would severely complicate their hopes of reaching the conference championship game.
The Rebels suffered a frustrating 34-27 defeat at Texas last Saturday. Ole Miss fell behind 24-3 at halftime before mounting an impressive comeback that eventually tied the game. Unfortunately, three first-half interceptions by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss proved too costly.
The Rebels demonstrated considerable resilience in Austin. They also demonstrated why protecting the football is essential against talented SEC opponents.
Chambliss has the ability to challenge defenses with his arm and athleticism. When he is comfortable in the pocket and making good decisions, Ole Miss can move the football against virtually anyone. However, his performance against Texas illustrated the danger of trying to force plays when the offense falls behind.
Auburn, meanwhile, suffered a 38-17 home defeat against LSU. The visiting Tigers accumulated 552 yards of total offense and repeatedly exploited Auburn’s defensive weaknesses.
That performance was especially disappointing because Auburn had defeated Georgia the previous week. Just when it appeared that the Tigers might have discovered the consistency necessary to challenge the SEC’s better teams, LSU exposed some familiar problems.
Quarterback Byrum Brown faces a difficult assignment against an Ole Miss defense that will be eager to redeem itself after surrendering 34 points to Texas.
Auburn needs to establish its running game early. If the Tigers become one-dimensional, Ole Miss can concentrate on applying pressure and forcing uncomfortable passing situations.
Defensively, Auburn must improve its tackling and avoid surrendering explosive plays. The Tigers allowed LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt to throw for 387 yards last weekend. A similar performance against Ole Miss would almost certainly result in another defeat.
The most important matchup may be Auburn’s pass rush against the Ole Miss offensive line. If the Tigers can hurry Chambliss into mistakes, they might generate the turnovers necessary to remain competitive.
Ole Miss, however, has the considerable advantage of playing at home. The Rebels should also be motivated after letting a major opportunity slip away in Austin.
Expect Auburn to compete early, particularly if Brown can extend drives with his mobility. But Ole Miss possesses more proven offensive firepower and should eventually establish control.
16Powers prediction:
Ole Miss 34, Auburn 21
