Everybody I talk with this week is concerned about Ole Miss. If I've heard it once, I've heard it 10 times today, "I just don't feel good about this weekend." Can you blame them? Auburn has had a knack of playing down to their opponents this year even when the scoreboard didn't reflect it.
Maybe I'm flat wrong, but I feel great about tomorrow's match-up with Ole Miss. For starters, Auburn's defense has something to prove. Despite only giving up 13 points against Tulane, they were pushed all over the field - to the tune of 389 yards of offense by the Green Wave.
Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is starting to feel some heat in the chat rooms and in the newspapers. Is that crazy or what? True, he needs to improve in some areas, but overall this defense is a good group. Because of the criticism, look for Auburn to shut down the Rebel offense. And let's face it, it shouldn't be hard. The Ole Miss offense ranks 112th out of 119 NCAA Division I-A teams in total offense.
Another reason the Tigers will play well and win is because Kenny Irons has something to prove. He has been hampered by turf toe all season and sat out last week's game trying to recover. He acknowledged this week that all the publicity Brad Lester and Ben Tate have been getting is starting to bother him.
Irons should get some much needed help from an offensive line that welcomes back Jason Bosley to the center position. The fact that his injury was somewhat minor is a huge plus for this group who still has its critics and feels the need to prove themselves.
Finally, head coach Tommy Tuberville loves to come back to Oxford to play. This game obviously holds special meaning for the former Rebels coach. Tuberville has won five of his seven meetings with his former team and hasn't lost to them since Ben Obomanu dropped a pass in the end zone back in 2003. He has his team excited about going on the road this week.
Don't expect a letdown from Auburn this week.
