Auburn’s backfield duo could become reality
Here are some things to watch in Week 5 of the Southeastern Conference football season:
GAME OF THE WEEK: No. 24 Mississippi State at No. 13 Auburn. This game could go a long way toward determining which program will be Alabama’s main challeger in the SEC’s Western Division. Auburn will try to build off its impressive blowout victory over Missouri. Mississippi State was fantastic in a 30-point win over LSU two weeks ago but stumbled in a lopsided loss to Georgia last weekend.
Auburn might finally have tailbacks Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway able to play at the same time.
They’re two of the Tigers’ top offensive playmakers, but have scarcely been healthy and available at the same time the past two seasons. Johnson and Pett way are expected to play in the same game for the first time today.
“We haven’t been able yet to have our two main running backs play together healthy yet, or play together period,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “If we can get that rolling, that’ll be a big shot in the arm for our run game.”
Pettway was suspended from the opener against Georgia Southern and has battled plantar fasciitis, missing the Missouri game. Johnson missed the two games in
between with a right hamstring injury. Both also were sidelined with injuries at times last season
M AT CH U P O F TH E WEEK: Tennessee running back John Kelly vs. Georgia run defense: Kelly has 450 yards rushing to lead the SEC. Georgia is allowing only 3 yards per carry and has given up just two touchdown runs through its first four games. Kelly needed 25 carries to reach 101 yards against winless Massachusetts last week, which sug- gests Tennessee could have its hands full trying to run the ball against Georgia’s front seven.
NUMBERS GAME: Alabama is 1-2 against Mississippi and 43-2 against everyone else since the start of the 2014 season. Alabama did beat the Rebels 48-43 last year . ... Mississippi State has allowed only one sack this season. The only Football Bowl Subdivision teams that haven’t given up any sacks are Central Florida and Army. ... Auburn hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in any game this season. The only FBS teams to match that feat are Minnesota and Wisconsin. ... Georgia is seeking its 800th win in program history this week. The Bulldogs have a 799-418-54 record.
UP SET WATCH: Florida is a 10-point favorite at home against Vanderbilt ev e n t h o u g h t h e Ga to r s haven’t looked particularly impressive and needed a big fourth-quarter comeback to beat Kentucky last weekend. Vanderbilt is coming off a 59-0 loss to No. 1 Alabama, but otherwise the Commodores look much-improved.