Ole Miss vs. Auburn Complete Game Preview
This Halloween matchup between Ole Miss and Auburn was billed as a potential SEC West elimination game in the offseason—one that had the massive revenge narrative from last season's ending and featured two high-powered offenses looking to stay alive in the race to Atlanta.
But as October comes to a close, Ole Miss (6-2, 3-1 SEC) is the only one with championship hopes, although they're slimmer after a pair of tough road losses. Auburn (4-3, 1-3 SEC) is scratching and clawing just to qualify for a bowl game.
No. 19 Ole Miss will look to build on a bounce-back 23-3 victory over Texas A&M this weekend against struggling Auburn, which fell in four overtimes at Arkansas last Saturday. The Rebels lost to Auburn last season in heartbreaking fashion, so expect this game to have a ton of emotion.
A morning kickoff on Halloween has the potential to get weird. It also could get downright scary for the Tigers, who are having a hard time stopping anyone on defense this season.
Before we break down the latest edition of Ole Miss vs. Auburn, here's all the basic info you need to know:
Date: Saturday, October 31
Time: Noon ET (11 a.m. local time)
Location: Auburn, Alabama (Jordan-Hare Stadium)
TV: ESPN
Line: Ole Miss -7, according to Odds Shark
Ole Miss Keys to Victory
1 of 6
Protect the football
Ole Miss may have the No. 1 offense in the SEC in both scoring and yardage—numbers somewhat bloated by huge performances against UT-Martin, Fresno State and New Mexico State—but the Rebels have also given the ball away more times than any other team in the conference with 19 in eight games.
Since its turnover-free performance against Alabama, Ole Miss has turned the ball over multiple times in its last five games, including four turnovers in both the Florida loss and last week's win against Texas A&M.
While Auburn's defense is at the bottom of the SEC in almost every statistical category, it has generated a turnover in all but one game this season. Away from home, the Rebels can't afford to give away possession, especially against these struggling Tigers.
Keep momentum going on the ground
The Rebels' high-powered offense has been mostly pass-heavy through the first eight weeks of the season, with first-year starting quarterback Chad Kelly leading the way. But last week, Ole Miss cracked the 200-yard mark against a Power Five opponent for the first time all season by rushing for 230 yards vs. Texas A&M.
Auburn's defense is outside the top 100 nationally in rushing yards allowed per game this season. In order to get the best out of its offense in Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Rebels need to have balance. Being too one-dimensional will hurt their clear offensive advantage against Auburn.
If Ole Miss can carry over its rushing success from the Texas A&M game, it will be able to limit some of its turnover issues and keep the Tigers defense frustrated throughout the day. Forcing things through the air isn't the way to go, even against Auburn's younger secondary.
Make Auburn one-dimensional
The "Land Shark" defense took a gigantic bite out of Texas A&M last weekend by holding the high-powered Aggies to just three points. Quarterback Kyle Allen was woeful in his performance and was benched in favor of third-stringer Joe Hubenak in the second half.
Ole Miss should look to do the same thing this week on the road against Auburn redshirt freshman quarterback Sean White. While White has made few mistakes through the air since taking over as a starter, he hasn't had a ton of success, either—he has yet to score a touchdown this season.
Limiting White's effectiveness will cause Auburn to turn to a rushing attack that isn't nearly as explosive as it has been in recent seasons. Peyton Barber has been a consistent scorer but doesn't have that burst needed to create big runs on his own.
Auburn Keys to Victory
2 of 6
Establish a good offensive rhythm
Consistency was Auburn's biggest issue on offense against Arkansas. White fired some great passes in the first quarter, but Auburn's receivers had a bizarre streak of drops. Auburn had to play from behind early, and a couple of misfires in the second half allowed Arkansas to regain momentum.
The talented Ole Miss defense is going to be one of the toughest tests Auburn faces all season. While they've had issues with surrendering big plays through the air, the Rebels can create turnovers and big plays at any given time—even when they aren't 100 percent health-wise.
Auburn needs to establish a good offensive rhythm early with White, Barber and versatile freshman Kerryon Johnson. The Tigers don't need to score on every possession but do need to get some sustained drives, even if they don't result in points. That will build up confidence for White, who has shown he can deliver some big-time passes.
Find ways to get off the field defensively
With the way Ole Miss can move the ball, Auburn's struggling defense just has to get it out of the Rebels' hands whenever it has the chance. Whether it's through takeaways or third-down stops, the Tigers need to change some momentum on defense, or it could be a long day on the Plains.
One key focus for the Tigers will be stopping the running threat from Ole Miss. Auburn held Arkansas star Alex Collins below his average yards per game last weekend and was one missed backfield tackle away from taking a huge chunk out of Kentucky's total two weeks ago.
Auburn has already had success at home against a spread team this season when Mississippi State recorded just 56 yards on the ground in a low-scoring loss. If they stop the Rebels from running wild, the Tigers could force Kelly into making some bad decisions through the air.
Keep the crowd in it
Morning kickoffs are usually the breeding ground for uninspired football, but Auburn needs to turn that around—along with its season—in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.
While the home-field advantage won't quite be the same as it would be for a night game, Auburn needs to play that up against an Ole Miss team that has looked flat in its last two road matchups. A first-quarter score or an early stop could go a long way in firing the crowd up and bringing some extra energy to the sidelines.
On the flip side, if Ole Miss opens up a good-sized lead in the first half, the frustrations of the crowd will hang over the game. Auburn needs a loud crowd for four entire quarters in order to knock off an explosive team like Ole Miss.
Ole Miss Players to Watch
3 of 6
WR Laquon Treadwell
Laquon Treadwell is the face of the pregame hype for this one and will play a huge factor in how the final score looks, too.
Treadwell suffered a horrific leg injury near the goal line in the final minutes of last year's matchup between these two teams. He fumbled the ball as the injury occurred, and Auburn landed on it to preserve a 35-31 victory away from home.
But Treadwell made a full recovery this offseason and has re-established himself as the best receiver in the SEC this season with 756 yards and five touchdowns on just 54 receptions. Treadwell had 10 receptions last year against the Tigers and could easily have another huge performance against Auburn's defense.
OT Laremy Tunsil
After missing the first seven games of the season due to a suspension, Ole Miss star offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil returned to action last Saturday against Texas A&M. Tunsil seemingly won his one-on-one matchup with Aggie standout Myles Garrett on Saturday night, and his return was a boost to the entire team.
"You feel like you don't worry quite as much about where you sort the front because you're OK with (Tunsil) having a one-on-one," Freeze said, via Courtney Cronin of the Clarion-Ledger. "[I] really feel like he's going to win his share of those, so it kind of gives you some freedom to call things that Chad doesn't have to slow down and reset the front."
Tunsil should have a huge impact for the Rebels against Auburn, which has struggled to generate a consistent pass rush this season. He'll also look to provide the same amount of punch up front that allowed the Rebels to have such a good game running the football against A&M.
DT Robert Nkemdiche
After suffering a concussion while playing offense in the loss to Memphis, Ole Miss' top player on the defensive side of the ball, Robert Nkemdiche, did not play in the win against Texas A&M.
The Rebels dominated defensively without him and injured safety Tony Conner, but Nkemdiche's presence takes the entire unit to the next level. The former No. 1 overall recruit is one of the most dominant defensive players in the entire country when he's 100 percent, excelling in both run-stuffing and pass-rushing from the interior of the line.
Freeze told reporters that Nkemdiche is still going through post-concussion protocol but said that he hopes the star lineman will be cleared to play against Auburn this weekend. His presence—or absence—should have an impact on how effective the Tigers will be offensively.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Auburn Players to Watch
4 of 6
QB Sean White
White still doesn't have a passing touchdown—although he came close to a couple against Arkansas last weekend—but he's cemented himself as the present and future of the quarterback position at Auburn.
The redshirt freshman should get some opportunities to hit some big plays downfield for Auburn against an Ole Miss defense that gave up huge chunks of yardage to Florida and Memphis away from home. If his receiving corps can do a much better job holding on to the ball, this could be a breakout game for him.
The Tigers will need White to lead the way on offense, as Ole Miss' rush defense is one of the stiffest in the country at just 3.09 yards per carry and four allowed touchdowns in eight games. The Rebels successfully shut down another young SEC quarterback last week, so it could be a feast-or-famine day for the Florida native.
DE Carl Lawson
The biggest news out of Malzahn's Tuesday press conference was the return of defensive end Carl Lawson to the practice field. Auburn's defense looked excellent for one half against Louisville in the season opener—the last half Lawson played before suffering a hip injury.
"We will see where he is at," Malzahn said, according to quotes emailed by Auburn. "I’m not going to say right now if he will play this Saturday, but the fact that he is out there practicing will be good from a leadership standpoint, if nothing else."
Lawson would undoubtedly be rusty if he's able to play Saturday but could be the spark Auburn has been missing on the defensive side of the ball. While one returning player won't save what has been a woeful defense, his presence will provide a ton of energy to the rest of the Tigers on the field beside him.
CB Carlton Davis
Ole Miss' aerial bombardment will put a bright spotlight on Carlton Davis, the true freshman at cornerback who turned in a solid performance against Arkansas. The young corner led the team in pass breakups and made several key plays but notably missed a tackle on what was Arkansas' game-winning touchdown.
"It’s very hard to swallow," Davis said, via Tom Green of the Opelika-Auburn News. "I couldn’t really believe it myself. I just got to get better from this point out and continue to get better, keep working hard."
Even though he's just a true freshman, Davis has already emerged as a leader for the Auburn defense. If stops are generated through the secondary against Ole Miss, chances are they'll come from this emerging star.
What They're Saying
5 of 6
Ole Miss
Head coach Hugh Freeze on Auburn, via the program's website:
"This Auburn is a scary team. Coach Malzahn does a phenomenal job with a great staff. His kids are right there at the edge and are really close to having the success that they desire. They have playmakers, and their quarterback is playing really well right now. It will be a great challenge.
"
Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell on facing Auburn, via Parrish Alford of DJournal.com:
"I didn’t even know we played them this week until after the A&M game. Once I found out it sparked a fire in me. I’ll have an extra edge to me. I know my teammates will feel me all week, and I think they’ll play with an edge also.
"
Linebacker C.J. Johnson on Ole Miss' performance against Texas A&M, via Jake Thompson of the Oxford Eagle:
"Understanding that we still control everything we want to control. Coach Freeze just talks about taking it one game at a time, one game at a time. I think a lot of people needed to hear that. For us to go out and not only win the game but win the game the way we won the game I think was even bigger.
"
Auburn
Head coach Gus Malzahn on Ole Miss, via quotes emailed by Auburn:
"They beat a very good Texas A&M team soundly. Defensively, they are very disruptive, and they are very talented up front; they do a lot of different things. They play an attacking style. They are also very good on the back end with their coverage skills. They have some veteran guys back there. Offensively, they have some wideouts that are long and fast, and that are tough in one-on-one situations. They are getting their offensive line back intact; you could see that last week with their run game, and they have a dual-threat quarterback.
"
Quarterback Sean White on rebounding from the marathon Arkansas loss, via Phillip Marshall of Auburn Undercover:
"It was definitely tough, a four-overtime game. We fought hard all the way to the end. It’s tough to swallow, but we are going to bounce back from it fine. We are going to get to work at practice and put it behind us.
"
Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp on Auburn's run defense against Arkansas, via Green:
"(We) played the runs much better than we've played them all year against a very good running football team. Again, there's improvement there. We still have miles to go, but I saw some improvement as far as playing blocks and fits.
"
Prediction
6 of 6
Both teams enter this game with pressure to win, but the types of stress placed on them are completely different. Ole Miss needs a win to maintain control in the SEC West race thanks to that tiebreaker over Alabama. Auburn just needs a win—period.
Ole Miss showed last weekend it can still be terrifying on the defensive side of the ball without several of its star players. While it had its bright spots, the Rebel offense wasn't too impressive against Texas A&M and needs to find its efficiency again in another game away from home.
The Auburn defense looks like a favorable matchup for finding that rhythm again, but it's back in front of its home fans—and it could be getting its best player back from injury. Auburn's offense, on the other hand, is getting better at generating big plays with White, who could use some help from his drop-prone receivers.
While Malzahn and Freeze are two gurus of uptempo offense, one gets the feeling that the early kickoff will lead to lower scores. Auburn's defense can generate turnovers, which can be a real problem for this Ole Miss offense. But the Tigers will have to rely on a redshirt freshman to beat a defense that sharpened its teeth against Texas A&M.
I predict we'll see a better version of the Auburn defense—like the one that played against Mississippi State—back at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Ole Miss, though, will score enough points to outpace an Auburn offense that hasn't found that complete-game consistency just yet this season. It wouldn't be completely shocking to see an upset here, but logic says that the Rebels will take this one in the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Ole Miss 28, Auburn 24
Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports. Unless otherwise noted, statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com.
Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
