Auburn (4-4, 2-3) @ Ole Miss (4-4, 2-3)
11:30 CDT, Raycom
All-Time Series: Auburn 24-8
Wednesday's Line: Ole Miss -6.5
This has been one of the most lopsided SEC West series over the last 15 years, as Auburn is 13-2 since 1992. The Tigers are 8-1 in Oxford, with their lone loss coming in 1992. But if ever there was a year for Ole Miss to break the skid, this is it.
At least for the time being, these are two programs heading in opposite directions as the Rebel faithful are fired up just to be relevant again, while Auburn fans are left scratching their heads about this season.
This is not a favorable matchup for Auburn. While Auburn’s offensive woes this season are well documented, here are some numbers to show how bad it’s really gotten: Only Alabama has more rushing attempts than the Tigers, yet Auburn ranks 11th in the SEC in both ypc (3.34) and rush TDs (seven).
The Rebels, for all their problems in the secondary, have a talented front seven that has held opponents to a 3.15 ypc average this season, fourth best in conference. Something tells me that the Rebels aren’t exactly quivering at the thought of AU’s QBs.
Meanwhile, the once stout Tiger D has been shredded in recent weeks by WVU (445 yds) and Arkansas (416 yds). The Rebels sport the conference’s fourth best offense (377.6 ypg) and will look to take advantage of a reeling Tiger D. If the Rebels can minimize turnovers like they did last week, they should have a productive day on offense.
This is a pivotal game for these teams for bowl positioning, particularly for Auburn. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they’re just off their game this year.
Last weekend, the Rebels beat their head coach’s former team. This week, they’ll knock off their former head coach. Ole Miss wins a close one, notching their first home conference win since November 2006.
Straight Up Winner: Ole Miss
Against the Spread: Auburn
(No. 19, No. 18) Tulsa (8-0) @ Arkansas (3-5, 1-4)
1:00 CDT
All-Time Series: Arkansas 52-15-2
Wednesday's Line: Tulsa -7
This hasn’t been a competitive series since the outset, and Arkansas has won 16 games in a row. The last Golden Hurricane win came in 1976. The Hogs are 40-5 against Tulsa in Fayetteville, though this is certainly the most explosive TU team the Hogs have faced.
After dropping a game to former HC Houston Nutt last week, the Hogs will try to avoid losing to his former OC this week.
They’ll have to stop a ridiculous offense that has torched everyone it’s played this season. In eight games, Tulsa has scored 61 TDs (32 passing/26 rushing/three other), is averaging 55.6 ppg, 601.1 ypg, 8.2 ypp, and leads the nation in scoring and total offense, ranks fifth in passing offense, and seventh in rushing offense.
That said, they’ve done it against seven I-A opponents who combine to be 17-39 and a I-AA opponent.
Unquestionably, this will be Tulsa’s biggest test off the season. While Arkansas is certainly not an elite SEC team, they have the size and speed to compete with the gimmick offense that the Golden Hurricane is running.
The biggest question will be if the Hogs can get up for this one after the disappointment of last week’s game. They’ll play well, but not enough to pull the upset.
Straight Up Winner: Tulsa
Against the Spread: Tulsa
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