The rains came on the Plains prior to the start of the season-opener between No. 6 Auburn and Arkansas. WFSA is calling for thunderstorms from kick off through the 6 p.m. hour. The local TV station predicts scattered thunderstorm starting at the 7 p.m. hour.

If the rain comes harder and continues throughout the game, it won’t affect Arkansas’ game plan; they are going to run, run, run.  With Jeremy Johnson under center, the Tigers could turn their offense into a ground-and-pound attack as well. It would go against Auburn’s promise to thrown the ball more, especially since Johnson is thrown first, run second. Regardless, there will be a premium put on ball security.

“You do everything you can to prepare your guys but like I said there is nothing better than experience,” said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. “The fact that we have gone throught a couple of situations last year in the rain, the guys will know how to handle it better the second time around.”

Last year Auburn fumbled twice in the rain against LSU in the first quarter. LSU scored 14 points off the fumbles, putting Auburn in a 14-0 hole that they couldn’t get out of.

In this year’s fall camp, as well as all this week in particular, Auburn’s specialists and players that will touch the ball have practiced with wet footballs to prepare themselves.

Lashlee has put the pressure on the quarterbacks, Marshall in particular, to improve their ball-handling. According to AuburnTigers.com, the Tigers fumbled 30 times last season and lost 11. Marshall was credited with six of the 11 lost fumbles.