Oct 182 min read

Tale of Two Tigers: Missouri Meets Auburn in SEC Battle

Missouri | Luther Burden, Wide Receiver — © Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The Missouri Tigers (5-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) will welcome the Auburn Tigers (2-4, 0-3) to Memorial Stadium at noon EST on Oct. 19 in Columbia, Mo. A victory would be substantial for either team. Missouri entered the season with high aspirations but has dealt with inconsistent offensive production and took a considerable beating from Texas A&M (5-1, 3-0) in Week 6.

The Auburn Tigers didn't have quite as high of expectations as Mizzou did but were still looking for a significant leap in Year 2 under head coach Hugh Freeze. And while there has been production on the field, it has not produced wins. This game is a golden opportunity for both sets of Tigers to get on track.

The Stakes

Mizzou has only lost the one game, so it isn't the record that is the letdown. It's the aesthetic. It is how these Tigers have looked on the field. It was the close wins over Boston College (4-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) and Vanderbilt (4-2, 2-1), and getting smacked about by A&M that have Mizzou fans concerned. But, those close wins now look better than they did when they happened, and A&M looks like a contender. And quarterback Brady Cook, receiver Luther Burden III, and the Missouri offense may have gotten their groove back against UMass (1-6). Auburn and their stingy defense offer ample opportunity for Mizzou to prove their worth. A victory would keep Mizzou in the race for the SEC.

Before their bye week, Auburn ranked near the top in nearly every offensive category in the SEC. These Tigers have the fire power at receiver and running back to be a real threat offensively, and the defense is dynamic. The only statistics Auburn struggles with show up in the turnover and win columns. If these Tigers can overcome turnovers and inconsistent quarterback play they will be dangerous in the goings forward for the SEC. Putting it all together starts at Mizzou.

Player to Watch: Missouri

The Mizzou player to watch should be the same week in and week out. Burden is one of college football's best receivers, and perhaps underated at this point. Burden currently has 398 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. The Auburn secondary is young, but talented. Look for Burden to take advantage anytime Auburn is in man coverage.

Player to Watch: Auburn

Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter may be the most underutilized asset in all of sports. The senior is averaging almost 7 yards per rush attempt, but has only carried the ball a combined 54 times in Auburn's four losses. Mizzou gave up 236 rushing yards to A&M, including 138 yards and an 11.5 yard average to running back Le'Veon Moss. If Auburn hopes to course correct against Missouri, it will hinge on Hunter's usage.

Auburn | Jarquez Hunter, Running Back — © Joshua L. Jones/USA TODAY NETWORK

What to Watch

This game will impact both teams' trajectory. If Missouri wins, they stay alive in the SEC race. Auburn has to start finding wins if they want to find themselves in a bowl game at the end of the season. Mizzou could be a great kickoff point in that pursuit.