Will Auburn Bounce Back?

This week's college football game between Auburn and South Carolina is a gave between two preseason top ten teams.  However Auburn is the only one still there and they're coming off a loss to Mississippi State almost two weeks ago.  Auburn will be looking to rebound this week in what we'll be a battle between two offensive minded coaches.  Much had been made this week about the mutual respect between Gus Malzahn and Steve Spurrier.

"He's a great competitor," Malzahn said this week.  "He's one of the better coaches to ever come through the SEC. You know he'll have his team ready. I told our players this the other day, like I said, they were ranked in the top 10 to start the season for a reason. They've won 11 games, what, two or three years straight. They've got good players. We expect to get their best."

Malzahn has looked up to Spurrier for years.  He wears a visor because of him.  They play golf together in the off season.  Malzahn wishes his golf game was as good as Spurrier's.  "He's better than I am," Malzahn told reporters Tuesday. "I don't like that."

South Carolina is a 17.5-point underdog going into the game Saturday.  They are coming off of a bye week after losing two straight games to Kentucky and Missouri.  They are currently 4-3 on the year.

"We've got to play our A-game, bring our A-game and see if we can get break or two," Spurrier said during his Tuesday press conference in Columbia. "And see what happens at Auburn on Saturday night."

Auburn needs to bounce back from the loss to Mississippi State if they want to play for a conference and national title.  Auburn started that game by spotting the Bulldogs 21 points.  The Tigers actually lost the ball on each of their first two plays from scrimmage – an interception that was tipped at the line of scrimmage and a fumble by Duke Williams after a short screen pass – miscues that were quickly turned into 14 points. 

If Auburn is to bounce back and have a chance to be in the inaugural college football playoff they have to avoid the kind of mistakes they made against Mississippi State.  They're chances are good,  South Carolina is 89th nationally in run defense allowing 181.7 yards per game.   The Gamecocks defense well have a hard time against Auburn's read-option running game. The Tigers are averaging 262 yards to rank 13th in country in rushing.  On paper it looks like the Tigers will get back on track this week.