No. 10 Auburn’s 24-13 win over Southern Miss to improve to 4-1 on the 2018 season is one Gus Malzahn’s squad will look to put in the rearview – at least on offense. While the Tigers defense delivered another overall strong performance (Southern Miss’ second-half score surely frustrated defensive coordinator Kevin Steele), the offense produced little to write home about in a game that will be better remembered for two-hour-43-minute lightning delay. RB JaTarvious “Boobee” Whitlow was injured in the first half and did not return.

Point spreads are meant to be a reflection of public perception. On online sportsbook, Auburn was favored over Southern Miss by 27 points as of late Friday night. Covering the spread only matters to bettors and the books (and some sportswriters), but AU’s failure to cover is a sign it might not be one of the 10 best teams in the nation, which the AP ranking of No. 10 claims.

At the time of the lightning delay, the 4:27-mark in the second quarter, Auburn led 14-3.  While Malzahn and his staff were given more than 2.5 hours to coach up their squad, there was little offense in the rest of the game.

In the SEC Network studio, former Auburn coach Gene Chizik was blunt with his criticism of the No. 10 Tigers’ first-half issues on offense.

“When this offense isn’t running the football, it doesn’t work,” Chizik said on the SEC Network.

Chizik could legitimately speak from experience. Current Auburn head coach Guz Malzahn was Chizik’s offensive coordinator 2009-11 at AU.

When play resumed from the weather delay, Auburn RB JaTarvious Whitlow was no longer wearing his pads. Whitlow appeared to suffer a shoulder injury in the first half.

In Whitlow’s absence, RB Kam Martin led the ground effort (24 carries, 90 yards). Only 96 total rushing yards on Southern Miss won’t lead to much praise in the national press.

Auburn will certainly hope it was just an off night due to the weather delay and Whitlow’s injury as the 341 yards of total offense will have many concerned as the schedule shifts back to conference play.