Coming off a successful home opener against Jacksonville State, the Bulldogs (1-1) prepare for Thursday night’s conference icebreaker against divisional rival Auburn. The Tigers easily disposed of Vanderbilt Saturday (31-6) in their first SEC game of the year. The win propelled Auburn to a 2-1 overall record, with its only loss at the hands of 11th ranked Southern California.
Leading the way for the Tigers is tailback Carnell “Cadillac” Williams who enters the game with five touchdowns on the strength of 331 rushing yards. Williams averaged 7.4 yards per carry in Auburn’s three games, one of which he saw no action past the first quarter due to a blowout.
Tiger fullback Ronnie Brown also possesses the ability to test Mississippi State’s defense. Brown picks up an average of 5.8 yards per carry when he’s not blocking for Williams.
With that kind of a running attack from the opposition, it becomes crucial that the Bulldogs hold the Tigers’ ground game significantly better than they did a year ago at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. In that game, Casinious Moore lit up Mississippi State for 160 yards on 20 carries.
Against Jacksonville State, a Division I-AA school, MSU allowed 91 rushing yards in the first half.
Two weeks earlier at Oregon, the Bulldogs gave up 205 net rushing yards to the Ducks.
Daniel Cobb, Auburn’s starting quarterback, has been reliable thus far this season. While he hasn’t put up big numbers, he has completed 59 percent of his passes and has thrown just one interception.
For comparison, MSU quarterback Kevin Fant threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns in his only game on Saturday against JSU. However, a stingy Tiger defense–one that has given up only one touchdown reception in its three games–is likely to limit Fant’s success.
State’s running back trio of Dontae Walker, Fred Reid and Justin Griffith needs to step it up a notch to help the Dawgs manage the clock.
Against Oregon, the three combined for a mere 17 yards rushing. Versus Jacksonville State, they combined for a more respectable 123 yards. However, the Auburn defense will provide a much greater challenge.
Regardless of who does the kicking for the Bulldogs, the Tigers will probably have an edge in that department. AU place kicker and punter Damon Duval ranks among the best in the collegiate nation.
Even though he has struggled early this season, Duval is deadly in the clutch. Last year, Duval drilled a 47-yard field goal with 18 seconds left to beat the Bulldogs by two points.
With Tommy Tuberville directing the Auburn plays, the Bulldogs have to watch out for punt fakes, trick plays and 4th down conversion attempts.
On the other sideline, MSU head coach Jackie Sherrill will keep a more conservative game plan. Sherrill is 7-5 against Auburn since beginning his stint at Mississippi State.
Kickoff for Thursday is set for 6:45 p.m and will be televised by ESPN. Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, and Kirk Herbstreit will call the action.