Auburn Tigers at Mississippi State Bulldogs 2010 NCAAF Week 2 Odds, Preview, and Predictions: Head Football Coach Gene Chizik takes his number 23 Auburn Tigers on the road to play the unranked Mississippi State Bulldogs to open both teams SEC schedule. The Bulldogs are looking to stop the Tigers from winning in their house for the fifth time in a row. Auburn may be without their second leading tackler from 2009 as linebacker Craig Stevens has been suspended by Coach Chizik for disciplinary reasons. “We hold our guys to a certain standard of excellence, and that is on the field and that is off the field,” said Chizik, who didn’t elaborate on the punishment. “If they are not living up to that certain standard right now then I’ve got tough decisions that I have to make.” With all the NCAA sanctions going around the second year coach is setting the tone for the team. Vegas odds makers have the Auburn Tigers a -2 point favorite on the road against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The Tigers opened at home with a 52-26 win against Arkansas State with an outstanding effort from former Florida recruit quarterback Cameron Newton. The junior signal caller threw for 186 yards and three touchdowns, ran for 171 yards and two more touchdowns, and was named the SEC’s offensive player of the week. Newton will need to continue to impress as the Tigers head into the SEC where getting big numbers is much more difficult and the Tigers were and unimpressive 3-5 last season. Auburn failed to cover the spread and the total went OVER for their game last week. Vegas odds makers have the Auburn Tigers +4500 odds to win the 2011 BCS National Championship.
The Bulldogs also won their home opener 49-7 against the Memphis Tigers by holding them to 41 yards rushing and a prolific offensive attach. A quarterback controversy may have erupted as starter Chris Reif was 7-9 for 116 yards and a touchdown/pick but was the second best for the Bulldogs on the day. Freshman Tyler Russell came in and went 13-16 for 256 yards and 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Bulldogs covered the spread and the game went OVER the total. Odds makers at SBG Global have the over/under for the total score at 55 points combined of the Auburn Tigers and Mississippi State Bulldogs.
One thing is for certain I predict there will be much more offensive excitement than the game that Auburn won 3-2 at Mississippi State two years ago. I pick Auburn to win a close game and the total to go OVER. Note: Rich Fritz is a Blog Writer on NSAwins.com and not a pro handicapper. For expert NCAA College Football Predictions against the vegas spreads please visit the NSAwins.com homepage for top predictions today from the National Sports Advisors.