[Tuck4Bama]

AUBURN, ALA. — Two games. Two pick-sixes. Two victories.

Mississippi State has developed a pretty good formula for winning football games.

A week after Gabe O'Neal returned a tipped pass for a touchdown that kick-started MSU's victory over Tulane, it was Derek Pegues' turn in Saturday's 19-14 victory over Auburn. The junior safety snagged a tipped ball and returned it 20 yards for a TD on Auburn's first possession, stunning a crowd already braced to expect the worst from under-performing senior quarterback Brandon Cox.

When Anthony Johnson intercepted Cox on Auburn's next possession, the crowd booed and the tempo was set.

Said Pegues: "That pick-six brought him down."

Although freshman Kodi Burns gave the Bulldogs trouble with the option, rattling Cox early was big. MSU forced five turnovers and won despite gaining just 213 yards total offense.

"We didn't expect him to play bad," Pegues said. "He's been in this league a long time and he's been pretty good. We didn't take him lightly. But we had a feeling if we put a little pressure on him it'd give us a chance to get our hands on the ball."

Pick-six becoming part of Bulldogs' defensive repertoire