Primetime College Football: Tigers vs Rebels
TALENT
This game goes down on the ESPN2 network and it features Auburn University Tigers taking on the University of Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Head coach Gene Chizik takes his Tigers to Mississippi with a perfect season on the line at 8-0 and 5-0 in the SEC. The Tigers are coming off a 24-17 win at home against LSU last weekend which junior quarterback Cameron Newton who is doing it all. Newton has passed for 1364 yards 13 touchdowns 5 INTs while completing 65.2 percent of his throws but his legs have done the most damage as he has rushed for 1077 yards 14 touchdowns at 6.9 yards per carry.
The Tigers offense goes as Newton goes but he does have the luxury of freshman running back Michael Dyer, 543 yards 3 touchdowns, and sophomore Onterio McCalebb, 458 yards 4 touchdowns, who are a dangerous tandem behind the gifted quarterback. When Newton looks to air the ball out he usually looks to junior Darvin Adams, 452 yards and 2 touchdowns, to move the chains but the home run ball goes to sophomore wide receiver Emory Blake, 201 yards 4 touchdowns.
Defensive tackle Nick Fairley is the real standout on defense as he has 39 tackles and leads the team in both tackles for loss with 17 and 7.5 sacks, he also has one interception and one fumble recovery.
Head coach Houston Nutt Rebels are reeling and a disappointment for alumni as they are 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the SEC. It hasn’t helped that Ole Miss is playing its third straight ranked opponent after losing at Alabama, 23-10, and Arkansas, 38-24, in the last two outings. The Rebels are lead by Oregon transfer senior Jeremiah Masoli, 1260 yards 10 touchdowns 6 INTs, at quarterback. Masoli, 400 yards 3 touchdowns, ranks second on the team in rushing and averages 5. 3 yards per carry.
Junior running back Brandon Bolden, 559 yards 5 touchdowns, is averaging a healthy 5.8 yards per carry. Bolden, 187 yards 2 touchdowns, is also one of Masoli’s top target in the passing game. Wideouts sophomore Melvin Harris, 248 yards 3 touchdowns and senior Markeith Summers, 359 yards 4 touchdowns, are strong complements on the outside.
Helping the cause is an offensive line that has yielded a mere 7 sacks on the season which leads the SEC and ranks 17th nationally.
Auburn leads the all-time series 25-9 including a perfect 13-0 against the Rebels when they come into the game ranked in the top-25.
PICK: Auburn University Tigers
