The matchup: Auburn (0-1) vs. Mississippi State (1-0)
Auburn coach Gene Chizik is 3-0 against Mississippi State/Robin Conn photo
Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Miss.
When: Today, 11 a.m. CST
TV: ESPN.
Coaches: Gene Chizik is 31-10 in his fourth season at Auburn and 35-30 in his fifth season overall. Dan Mullen is 22-17 in his fourth season at Mississippi State and overall.
Last week: Auburn lost 26-19 to Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic. Mississippi State beat FCS foe Jackson State 56-9.
Senior Editor Phillip Marshall's prediction: Auburn, 17-13.
Senior Writer Bryan Matthews' prediction: Auburn, 23-20.
2012 STATISTICS
Points per game: Auburn 19, Mississippi State 56
Points allowed per game: Auburn 26, Mississippi State 9
Rushing yards per game: Auburn 180, Mississippi State 202
Rushing yards allowed per game: Auburn 320, Mississippi State 109
Passing yards per game: Auburn 194, Mississippi State 193
Passing yards allowed per game: Auburn 208, Mississippi State 156
Total yards per game: Auburn 374, Mississippi State 395
Total yards allowed per game: Auburn 528, Mississippi State 265.
Auburn offensive leaders: QB Kiehl Frazier 11-27-1, 194 yards. RB Tre Mason 14 carries, 106 yards, O TD; RB Onterio McCalebb 12 carries, 82 yards, 0 TD; WR Emory Blake 4 catches, 109 yards, 1 TD; TE Philip Lutzenkirchen 4 catches, 71 yards, 1 TD.
Auburn defensive leaders: Daren Bates 14 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT; Ryan Smith 12 tackles; Jake Holland 11 tackles, 1 PBU; Jermaine Whitehead 11 tackle, 1 PBU; Corey Lemonier 8 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks.
Mississippi State offensive leaders: QB Tyler Russell 15-24-0, 185 yards, 2 TD. RB Derrick Milton 8 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD: RB Ladarius Perkins 9 carries, 58 yards, 2 TD; RB Josh Robinson 5 carries, 35 yards, 0 TD. WR Arceto Cark 3 catches, 35 yards 0 TD; WR Jameon Lewis 3 catches, 31 yards 0 TD; TE Marcus Green 2 catches, 31 yards, 1 TD.
Mississippi State defensive leaders: Chris Hughes 5 tackles, Ryan Brown 4 tackles, Matthew Wells 4 tackles, Nickoe Whitley 4 tackles.
Notable: Auburn has won five straight from Mississippi State in Starkville and 10 of 11 overall. ... Auburn has won 18 of its last 19 SEC openers. ... Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen is 0-3 against Auburn as Mississippi State head coach and 3-12 against the SEC West. Mullen was 0-2 against Auburn as offensive coordinator at Florida. ... Auburn beat Mississippi State 41-34 at Jordan-Hare Stadium last season when safety Ryan Smith tackled quarterback Chris Relf just short of the goal line as time ran out.
- Phillip Marshall
- Auburn Insider - AuburnUndercover