Desmond Howard was the lone ESPN College GameDay analyst willing to roll with Auburn on Saturday, breaking up what otherwise looked like a clean Ole Miss sweep.
Howard didn’t hesitate when it was his turn.
“I’m going with Auburn. Give me the Tigers,” Howard said.
The rest of the panel leaned the other way, with quarterback play driving most of the Ole Miss support. Nick Saban backed the Rebels for that reason, pointing to Trinidad Chambliss.
“I got Ole Miss because Trinidad Chambliss reminds me of (former Indiana and NBA star) Isiah Thomas,” Saban said.
Pat McAfee followed the same line of thinking and made sure to acknowledge Howard for keeping the graphic from going completely one-sided.
“Had a bad game last week, I think Trinidad bounces back, give me Ole Miss at home to get a win. Thank you, Desmond Howard.”
Guest picker Isiah Thomas also went with Ole Miss, as did Kirk Herbstreit. Thomas said Kewan Lacy’s absence matters.
“Remember Kewan Lacy isn’t playing with the shoulder,” he said. “Not sure how long he is going to be out, but it puts more on Trinidad. I think they win this football game because they’re at home.”
Ole Miss enters off a 34-27 road loss to Texas, while Auburn comes in after being beaten 38-17 by LSU following its upset of then-No. 1 Georgia.
The Rebels will have to keep their title and playoff hopes moving without Lacy, who will miss time after dislocating his shoulder against Texas. Makhi Frazier is expected to handle most of the snaps in his place.
Auburn’s Byrum Brown could still make things uncomfortable for an Ole Miss defense that has given up an SEC-high 161.1 rushing yards per game. LSU limited Auburn’s ground game to 66 yards.
In Other News...
Former Auburn QB Just Made The Tigers Biggest Problem Feel Worse
Auburns quarterback questions already loomed large, and Saturday only sharpened the concern. In Ole Misss 45-15 win over the Tigers, former Auburn quarterback Deuce Knight found the end zone, a small but pointed reminder of how much talent can shift around the league while Auburn continues searching for stability under center.
Knight is expected to take over as Ole Misss starting quarterback once Trinidad Chambliss runs out of eligibility, which only adds to the sting from Auburns side. The Tigers still head into next season with their own quarterback picture unsettled, and the list of possible answers includes Byrum Brown and Tristan Tia, leaving the position as one of the biggest storylines hanging over the program. [Read more 🡒]
Byrum Brown Has Become Auburns Biggest Bowl Question
Byrum Brown has given Auburn plenty to like with his legs and his presence in the huddle, but the conversation around the quarterback has grown more complicated as the Tigers head into the stretch run. He has flashed the kind of rushing ability that can change a game, and teammates have responded to the leadership he brings, yet the passing game has remained uneven enough to keep the offense from settling in.
The bigger issue is what Auburn looks like when Brown is under center and the pressure starts to mount. The offense has struggled to find rhythm in those moments, with sacks and turnovers repeatedly undercutting drives, and now the Tigers are running out of margin as Arkansas and Mississippi State loom in games that will shape their bowl hopes. How Brown handles those tests may end up defining Auburns season. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Next Two Games Could Change Everything For Alex Golesh
A difficult October has left Auburn sitting at 4-4, and the next stretch of the schedule suddenly feels like a hinge point for the rest of the season. With Arkansas and Mississippi State up next, the Tigers are staring at two games that carry more weight than just the standings, because they could go a long way toward determining whether this team stays on track for bowl eligibility.
Alex Golesh has not been able to afford many missteps in his first season, and the pressure around the program only grows with each week that passes. The uncertainty does not stop with the record, either, since the status of the athletic director adds another layer to what those two games could mean for Goleshs future and the direction of the program. [Read more 🡒]