“The Pick” (and other excruciating Auburn-Ole Miss minutae)

Auburn holds on for the 18-13 victory. Wes Byrum rejuvenates his career at Auburn with six field goals, the last coming from 58 yards. Finally, the surplus of Charmin on the Plains comes to an end.

Think my projection’s a bit off? Don’t blame me. Blame the Vaught-Hemingway press box. It’s messing with my head and, more specifically, my face.

It’s a closed box here, which I guess has its benefits, though it is warm and I sure wouldn’t mind a nice breeze. But at the moment, as the sun is still hanging low in the sky, I’m currently getting roasted like a beetle underneath a magnifying glass. Forget “Hotty Toddy.“ It’s “Hotty Andy” right now.

The ball of fire should be rising in the coming hours and I expect to be OK by kickoff, but let’s hope the ancient laptop I’m hacking away on doesn’t overheat by then. While it’s still functioning, here are some details you just may not have known about heading into this all-of-a-sudden huge game.

- Auburn is 8-1 all-time in Oxford against Ole Miss (0-5 against Oxford Community College).
- The Tigers have played 71 consecutive games without being shut out.
- After another big week at West Virginia, Auburn ranks fifth in the nation in kickoff returns (26.5 yards per runback)
- The Tigers have yet to surrender a touchdown in the first quarter this season. Ole Miss is outscoring opponents 68-45 in the first 15 minutes.
- Representatives from the Independence Bowl are in attendance today. Honk if you thought they’d be attending any Auburn games before the season. The Cotton Bowl is also here. Must be a slow Saturday.
- The Rebels have the worst pass defense in the conference, allowing 234.2 yards through the air per game.
- While Auburn plans to make a decision on who will kick field goals when the first opportunity presents itself, Ole Miss has a legitimate weapon in Joshua Shene. Shene is 12-of-13, has made eight straight and ranks atop all SEC kickers.
- Today is college football’s birthday. The sport is 139 years old today. It’s the fifth anniversary of the actual celebration of its birthday and I have a complimentary pin to prove it.
- Ole Miss’ Jevan Snead quietly leads all SEC quarterbacks with 12 touchdown passes. He’s hooked up with Shay Hodge on six of those, which is also good for the lead among receivers.
- Auburn is 14-4 in SEC road games since 2004. Tommy Tuberville has never lost in Oxford since the whole pinebox incident.
- The Tigers have won 16 of their last 19 games when wearing completely white uniforms.
- Auburn has scored touchdowns via the run, pass, kickoff return, punt return, interception return and twice on fumble returns. I think the Tigers have maxed out their possibilities, but you never know. Stranger things have happened.