The Aubs sure are feeling wooly

[af102]

I was perusing their message boards this morning and in a score prediction thread, every single post was an Auburn victory. Most of the predictions were score lines like 35-14. I know we didn't look that great against OSU, but they have only put up 31 and 38 on two pretty bad defenses. They have also given up 400+ yards in both their games. I expect the game to be close, and we could easily lose, but their confidence is incredible.

 

[bulldognation]

If it's one thing I've learned from watching MSU over the decades, it's you never can truly expect to win. We are experts at finding stats and prior matchups that help us to feel good about the upcoming game. On paper we seem to at least match up with most well, but on the field it never seems to materialize with any degree of consistency. Somehow we find a way to make someone on the other side of the ball look like a Heisman candidate.

I expect TR to trot out there fresh from 'recovery' and Auburn to tee off on him. Enter Dak after we're down a couple of scores and it's an uphill battle the rest of the way. Hell, we may very well go out there and look good on the first series, drive the length of the field and score. Everyone feels good about the game until the adjustments are made and our offense gets predictable again... then our defense is on the field too much and it turns into a late blowout.

Second verse... same as the first. Getting really tired of this pattern to MSU football not being able to adapt and respond well to a good opponent during the game.

 

[dawgstudent]

They are 2-0 with a new coaching staff. I would be excited as well.

We are 1-1 and disappointed in our one game aGAINST a good team.

Auburn - as always - sets the table for our season.

 

[Maroonthirteen]

What I have learned over the years

The receipe for State to win a road SEC game against anyone not named Kentucky; get a couple timely turnovers. Play solid defense in between. Hit a big TD play on offense. Turnovers have always been the key factor in our SEC road wins.

I hope hope hope AU can gift us a pick 6 or/and they screw up and kick to Tubby.

 

[msstate7]

Auburn - as always - sets the table for our season.

Our best season in the last 12 years started with an auburn loss

 

[Heawww]

So you're concentrating on the outlier? Typical irrational message board logic, I suppose.

 

[dawgstudent]

True. Hopefully this season will be ok after an OK State loss.

 

[msstate7]

We've made bowls the last 3 years. In those 3 years, we're 1-2 against auburn

 

[dawgstudent]

We also went 4-0 in OOC games.

 

[msstate7]

That is true. I still think its a little early in the season to declare this an all or nothing game. Who knows what teams fall apart of blow up this year? It's still really early. 1-2 would be a big hole though no doubt

 

[dawgstudent]

Looking at this realistically - we have to win 2 out of 3 from Arkansas, Ole Miss and Auburn to get to 6 wins. Unless, we got an upset along the way. No doubt crazy things can happen.

That's why this game is huge and to me - dictates our season.

 

[Heawww]

Whether or not we go to a bowl game is irrelevant in this discussion. See, so many of you miss the point entirely. The bowl game/easy schedule assertion is a COMPLETELY different conversation.

2012: Beat Auburn, go 7-0
2011: Lose to Auburn, limp through the rest of the season
2010: Lose to Auburn, very successful season
2009: Blown out by Auburn, but season is regarded as successful
2008: Lose 3-2, Croom fired
2007: Beat Auburn, spring boards us to a good season
2006: Auburn blows us out, 3-8
2005: Auburn kills us, 3-8
2004: Auburn kills us, 3-8
2003: Played them midseason, didn't matter
2002: Auburn beats us at home on Thursday night and kills any momentum we had
2001: Auburn beats us on a field goal, terribleness awaits

So 3 times out of the past 12 years (2010, 2009, 2003), did the Auburn game not springboard us nor knock us flat. And in one of those, it was because it was midseason and Jackie's suckiness had set in.

 

[msstate7]

You listed last year as 7-0. You left out the conclusion.

To me pre- Mullen means nothing in this argument. So Mullen's first year we lost, but successful season. 2nd season we lose, but successful. 3rd season we lose and unsuccessful. 4th season we win and well was it successful or not?

*I'm going by your determination of success

 

[Palos verdes]

Expect to lose, that way you should be able to handle it better. I haven't seen anything from us that makes me think we can win this game. If it were in Starkville, I'd feel a little better, but would still say 55/45 Auburn.

Sure would love to be wrong..

 

[Heawww]

Basing it on how we play. That actually helped your case, it gave you one more outlier year. 2 of 11, looking good slick.

You know as well as I do you can't strictly judge by record, with the disparity in schedules. In 2009 we played the hardest schedule in the country, and STILL almost got bowl eligible, beating a Top 25 team along the way. Wouldn't you say that maybe our team was better that year than 2011 or 2012?

And to help you out even more, I'll give you 2012, since we didn't finish well and didn't appear to be any better than a typical mid-level team. 3 of 11. Batting .272, congrats.

 

[dawgstudent]

If it was in Starkville - I think we would win. We will be down one possession in the 4th and I think Auburn gets a late score to push it double digits.

 

[msstate7]

Again pre Mullen means nothing...

 

[Dawg1976]

I see it pretty much the same way. Hope we will be surprised.