NCAA Football Auburn TigersMississippi State Bulldogs

Auburn vs. Mississippi State: Game Preview With TV Schedule

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By @Connormuldowney

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After a season in which they made it to the national title game, the Auburn Tigers found themselves fighting for respect to start the 2014 season — and now they are finally starting to get it. Auburn ranks No. 2 in the nation and after a 41-7 slaughter of No. 15 LSU at home, people are starting to believe this team is destined for greatness.

Speaking of fighting for respect, the Mississippi State Bulldogs are getting a ton of it. Coming in at No. 3 in the latest AP poll after being unranked three weeks ago, the Bulldogs are looking to take down their third top 10 opponent in as many weeks. Winning this game against the Tigers would prove their legitimacy.

Auburn has one of the best and most reliable quarterbacks in the entire nation in Nick Marshall who has been one of the most dynamic players in the nation. Marshall got off to a slow start this season, but has come on majorly as of late, accounting for 755 yards and eight touchdowns with just one interception while also rushing for 392 yards and four touchdowns on 6.8 yards per touch. D’haquille Williams has been the main target on offense, racking up 25 catches for 385 yards and three touchdowns while the next closest receiver is Sammie Coates who has nine catches for 200 yards and a touchdown. Quan Bray has been solid as well, catching eight passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Cameron Artis-Payne has been the lead rusher for the 15th-best run offense in the nation, accounting for 594 yards and five touchdowns on 5.4 yards per carry.

Mississippi State is led by a solid quarterback of its own in junior Dak Prescott who leads the 43rd-best passing offense in the entire country. Prescott has also led the Bulldogs to their highest ranking in the national polls in school history. The dual-threat QB has 1,232 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season through the air while rushing for another 455 yards and six touchdowns. He has become one of the most underrated players in the entire nation, racking up 19 total touchdowns. De’Runnya Wilson has been his favorite target, catching 14 passes for 247 yards and five scores while Jameon Lewis leads the team in receptions, 15, while racking up 223 yards and a score of his own. Fred Brown is the next closest receiver as the sophomore has caught nine passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. The run game ranks 14th in the nation, just ahead of Auburn, behind Josh Robinson‘s 592 yards and six touchdowns.

Defensively, the Bulldogs have been mediocre this year. Mississippi State has excelled in keeping teams out of the endzone, holding opponents to just 19 points per game, on average, which is good for 22nd in the nation. However, the Bulldogs have had trouble slowing teams down, allowing 426 total yards per game. Auburn ranks ninth in points allowed per game while ranking 14th nationally in yards allowed per game — excelling against the run by allowing just 100 yards per game on the ground.

Auburn will travel to Mississippi State to take on the Bulldogs at 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Oct. 11. The game will be broadcasted on CBS.

PREDICTION: Auburn 34, Mississippi State 33

Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].

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