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Week 9 of the college football season brings an intriguing SEC matchup on Saturday as Ole Miss returns home to take on an Auburn team eager to spring an upset. The Rebels are coming off a loss at Texas last week and are desperate to get back in the win column. Auburn, meanwhile, is also looking to rebound after a tough loss to LSU, which followed a massive win over then-top-ranked Georgia.
On paper, Ole Miss appears to be the heavy favorite, but the underdog Tigers may have one ace up their sleeve that could make this game closer than many expect. The Rebels have shown a continued vulnerability against the run, and that is precisely where Auburn can potentially exploit them.
Through the air, the Tigers do not pose a great threat, having thrown for 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. However, dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown leads a backfield that can turn on quickly if given the chance. Consistency has been an issue, though: Auburn ran for 192 yards in its upset win at Georgia, but that total fell to just 67 the following week at home against LSU.
Ole Miss ranks last in the SEC in rushing yards allowed, giving up an average of more than 161 yards per game on the ground. In their last game, a costly loss at Texas, the Rebels surrendered 222 rushing yards. In their loss to Florida, they allowed over 300 yards rushing.
Key Analysis
Brown leads Auburn with 480 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. His ability to run on designed plays and improvised scrambles gives the offense another way to attack the Rebels' defensive front. Brown has shown he can exploit defenses on the ground, totaling 115 yards and a score against Georgia, though LSU limited him to 21 net rushing yards the next week. That illustrates both his potential and Auburn's continued need for consistent blocking.
However, there is a catch: Auburn's offensive line has struggled with pass protection, allowing 30 sacks through seven games. Ole Miss can easily counter the Tigers' rushing threat by forcing Brown into obvious passing situations and attacking the pocket.
The bottom line: Auburn's best chance is to use Brown's legs to attack the Rebels between the tackles and around the edges, sustain drives, and control the tempo. If Ole Miss cannot contain him, their biggest weakness could become the defining matchup of the game.
Originally reported by yahoo.