SPORTS N STUFF

While Auburn barely survived an upset bid in week one of the season, the Tigers existence doesnt get easier in week two. A talented Mississippi State team is up next on the slate.

Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Auburn Tigers Saturday, September 10

Sports betting line: Mississippi State -6

Why Mississippi State Will Win

The Utah State Aggies came within an eyelash of stunning the 2010 national champions of college football, and they did so in Jordan-Hare Stadium on the Alabama Plains. Utah State rolled to a 21-7 lead in the second quarter, withstood a 21-3 Auburn surge, claimed a 38-28 lead with 3:38 left in regulation, and was in position to stun the Tigers by simply collecting an onside kick with roughly two minutes left in regulation. Auburn had scored a touchdown to make the score 38-35, but since the Tigers had only one timeout left, an onside kick recovery would have virtually guaranteed a triumph for head coach Gary Anderson and the rest of his Aggies.

There was just one small problem: Auburn kicker Chris Brooks executed the best onside kick ever seen. The ball reached a height of roughly 20 feet and was snatched out of the air by the Tigers special-ops onside kick recovery unit (to invent a new term). The rest, as they say, was history, but the fact remained that Auburn got pushed around. The Tigers gave up 227 rushing yards to a team thats not supposed to contend for the Western Athletic Conference championship. How much more damage Mississippi State should be able to do against an Auburn front seven that is without NFL-caliber lineman Nick Fairley. Mississippi State should be able to do what it wants on offense.

Why Auburn Will Win

The community of MLB baseball betting experts in the Deep South probably caught a portion of the Utah State game and was shocked to see the Tigers get tested so severely. However, you dont have to be a football expert to realize that Auburn simply wins close games under current coach Gene Chizik. With or without Nick Fairley, and with or without former quarterback Cameron Newton, the Tigers just have a knack for pulling tough games out of the fire. Auburn was held at knifepoint last season but still managed to beat Clemson, Kentucky, Alabama, and in the BCS National Championship Game the Oregon Ducks. If Mississippi State, a program that still has to show it can remain a factor in the SEC West Division on a regular basis shows any degree of discomfort, the Bulldogs will not be able to land a knockout punch in the early stages of competition. This will allow Auburn to hang around on its home field, and if Auburn does hang around, recent history shows that the Tigers will find a way to win, as was the case against Utah State.

Who Will Win

When you consider a best best sportsbook in this SEC West showdown, the reality of the Utah State game is too overpowering to ignore. Auburns defensive line just doesnt have anyone that can be a run-stuffing stud. Mississippi State should be able to control the line of scrimmage and come away with a solid victory in this contest.

College Football Betting Pick: Mississippi State -6