STARKVILLE — For the first time in 2019, Mississippi State is hitting the road — well, kind of.
Saturday’s visit to No. 7 Auburn marks the first true road game for MSU after it opened the year with a neutral site trip to New Orleans to take on Louisiana.
Facing a stiff Tiger defense in a place the Bulldogs have won just twice since 2001, this weekend is the toughest test to date for coach Joe Moorhead’s bunch after they dispatched of Kentucky in their SEC opener last week.
Here are three matchups to watch on The Plains this weekend:
MSU offensive line vs. Auburn defensive line
The Auburn defensive front is downright scary. Boasting a three-headed attack of Tyrone Truesdell, Marlon Davidson and Derrick Brown, the Tigers currently rank as the SEC’s No. 2 rush defense — allowing just 89.5 yards per game on the ground.
Furthermore, Auburn is even more stagnant against the run at home as it relents just 73 yards per contest at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“You are not just going to line up and run the ball downhill at these guys,” Moorhead said. “It doesn’t work that way. We are going to have to find creative ways to create space and angles.”
Opposite the Tigers, MSU has finally sured up its offensive line in the wake of a few early season injuries. Senior left guard Dareuan Parker is back in the fold, while senior center Darryl Williams has shaken off a lower body injury that forced him from the season opener in New Orleans.
At present the Bulldogs are rushing for 228 yards per game — the third-best mark in the SEC. With running back Kylin Hill continuing his historic start to the season and a healthy stable of blockers in front of him, this game likely gets decided in the trenches.
“He’s definitely dynamic,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said of Hill. “He breaks tackles. He’s a big guy — can do a lot of different things. He’s one of the best in our league and should be a good challenge for our defense.”
MSU pass rush vs. Auburn quarterback Bo Nix
It’s no secret Auburn quarterback Bo Nix is still learning.
A true freshman from Birmingham, Nix won the starting job out of camp over redshirt freshman Joey Gatewood.
In four games this season, the former five-star recruit is a middling 56-of-114 for 645 yards and five touchdowns. Nix also added another 155 yards and a score on 28 carries.
Facing an MSU defensive front that has regained some swagger since its dominating performance against Kentucky last week, Nix should feel some pressure this weekend.
Senior defensive ends Chauncey Rivers and Marquiss Spencer have enjoyed a return to form over the past two games. Rivers, who was billed as a preseason third team All-SEC performer, totaled three tackles and four assists against Kentucky and Kansas State while also adding two quarterback hurries and a sack last week.
As for Spencer, he’s added one tackle and two assists over the past two contests.
Facing a freshman quarterback who has been erratic at best through the air, Rivers and Spencer will need to amp up the pressure on Nix should MSU hope to spring the upset.
“You want to make it as difficult as you can for a young guy,” Moorhead said. “But I think Bo, much like Garrett (Shrader), is very mature and plays with a little bit more poise and confidence than you see from a true freshman so we’re going to do our best but he’s definitely a cool customer back there.”
MSU vs. the Auburn crowd
There’s nothing quite like a hostile road atmosphere on Saturdays in the SEC.
MSU will get just that when they head to Auburn this weekend as part of the team’s first real road test of the year.
Moorhead and his staff have attempted to simulate crowd noise this week by blaring speakers up and down the sidelines at practice — though how well that actually mimics the Tiger faithful remains to be seen.
“I don’t know if you can exactly replicate it,” Moorhead said Wednesday. “You can do your best to simulate it.”
It’s no secret MSU has struggled on the road in recent years. Over the past five seasons, the Bulldogs are a mediocre 14-12 away from home — and that includes 2015’s 4-1 mark.
Last season, MSU averaged of 3.3 points in games at Kentucky, LSU and Alabama, before exploding for 35 at Ole Miss.
The Bulldogs likely don’t want to get into a track meet with Malzahn’s spread rushing attack, but points could come at a premium.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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