[Tuck4Bama]

MISSISSIPPI STATE (1-1, 0-1) at AUBURN (1-1, 0-0) 11:30 a.m. Saturday (WJTC) Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn -- LINE: Auburn by 13

-- SERIES: Auburn leads 56-22-2.

-- GAME WITHIN THE GAME: Get ready for some new faces in the Auburn receiving corps this week. Montez Billings, Tim Hawthorne and Chris Slaughter should get a chance for more snaps. Robert Dunn also will get more opportunities as a traditional wideout rather than in the slot. For struggling QB Brandon Cox to succeed, he needs help from his supporting cast. If the current receivers aren't getting it done this week against Mississippi State, coaches may be willing to give others a shot.

-- STAT OF THE WEEK: Auburn led 17-14 at halftime against South Florida last week before losing 26-23 in overtime, the first time the Tigers held a lead at halftime, then lost the game since Nov. 16, 2002. On that date, Georgia rallied from a 14-3 halftime deficit to a 24-21 victory. Since then, Auburn had won 36 straight games in which it led at halftime.

-- GAME NOTES: The team that finished with the most rushing yards has won the past 10 meetings. ... Saturday's game will mark the 53rd consecutive year that the teams have played each other. ... Auburn has won the past six meetings by a combined score of 208-55. ... Auburn leads the series 25-5 at home. ... Mississippi State has failed to score more than 18 points in any of its past eight games against Auburn. ... Auburn has won the past two meetings by shutout. The last team that Auburn shut out in three straight seasons was Mississippi State from 1966 through 1968. ... Mississippi State has a 19-53-1 record in SEC road openers, losing its past seven. ... Auburn has a 41-27-5 record in SEC openers, winning its past 14. ... Mississippi State has nine turnovers and Auburn seven after two games. ... Mississippi State's 489 yards of total offense against Tulane last week were the most for the Bulldogs in five years. ... Mississippi State has had 10 players catch passes in both its games. ... Mississippi State RB Anthony Dixon is coming off career highs of 27 carries and 131 rushing yards. ... Mississippi State's roster includes C Johnny Carpenter of Citronelle, RB Arnil Stallworth of Daphne, WR Ryan Mason of Shaw and WR Aubrey Bell of Blount. ... Mississippi State WR coach Pat Washington, a former Murphy High School star, played quarterback at Auburn. ... Auburn's offensive interior linemen have a combined 30 career starts, the fewest in the SEC. ... All 46 of Auburn's points this season have been scored by freshmen and sophomores. ... Auburn has a 3-1 record on Sept. 15.

-- QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "We've lived on the edge the last three years with a lot of close games, and we've won most of them. That one (South Florida) kind of got by us."

-- Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville

Auburn notes- al.com