Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Auburn at Arkansas

Two underachievers line up this saturday in the 'ville. While Auburn has bounced back from a 2-2 (0-1) start, the hogs are trying to get their first win in the SEC. The hogs have gone 0-4 in their last 4 SEC games.

While Auburn gave Florida the finger, taking a W from the swamp, and torching Vandy 35-7, the Hogs have been feasting on the sunbelt and UT-Chatt to try and regain their strength. The hogs let pony boy Andre Woodson escape from F-town with a win and hope that their defense can finally stand up and stop the Cox, but more importantly the Auburn running game. Auburn returned Brad Lester to the lineup last week after he sat out the first 5 games for undisclosed Academic reasons (Football players go to class?).

Projected to be the Tigers/Eagles #1 running back at the beginning of the season he now returns to the tune of 13 carries for 77 yards and 2 TDs in his debut. He somewhat relieved the much maligned passing game headed up by Brandon Cox who went 14/17 with a TD and an INT. Brad Lester was one of the bright spots in last years 27-10 loss to the hogs in which he had some great kickoff returns one for 68 yards.

The hogs defensive backs are just hoping not to have a repeat of the last time Cox came into Fayetteville, when he threw for over 200 yards and 3 TDs.

This game will come down to defense, and the hogs just don't have it. While both teams are very different than the 35-27 victory I predicted for the tigers early in the season, I think the score will still be the same. While the hogs seemed to play a really solid game against North Texas's High School team, they suffered a let down in the Rock and didn't play up to their potential.

With DMac in the backfield, the hogs can beat anyone, but the offensive play calling must improve and the defense must get a few stops. Against Kentucky, the hogs continually gave up on defense and bailed the Kentucky offense out with offsides penalties and more.

Auburn 35-27 over the hogs.

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