When Auburn and Mississippi State line up across from each other in Starkville on Saturday, it’ll feel a lot like looking in the mirror. Both teams come equipped with a dual-threat quarterback, with a potent running back alongside him. Both shut down the run on defense. Both like to spread you out and crank up the pace. With all that, they should know how to take advantage of each other’s weaknesses.

Mississippi State has one flaw that Auburn has surely noticed, and the Tigers have the weapons to exploit it. The Bulldogs give up the most passing yards per game in the SEC, and they’ve been hit with quite a few big plays: they’ve been beaten for 15 or more yards through the air 36 times, and they’ve allowed 10 passes of 30 or more yards, worst in the conference.

D’haquille Williams and Sammie Coates are two of the most fearsome receivers in the league, and they’ll be coming to eat the Missisippi State secondary’s lunch. Coates finally looked healthy last week, smoking LSU’s talented secondary for 144 yards and a touchdown, while Williams is fifth in the conference in yards per game. Auburn doesn’t throw all that much, with Marshall’s first read usually being to pull the ball and run and backup Jeremy Johnson, a true passer, not getting a lot of reps, but they’re capable of swinging for the fences.

Mississippi State cornerbacks Jamerson Love and Taveze Calhoun have gotten burned a few times this season, as the number of big plays they’ve allowed would indicate. They’ve been inconsistent, playing well for long stretches — see the early parts of their last two wins over LSU and Texas A&M — only to get taken advantage of late.

Going against a veteran quarterback and two beasts at receiver, the secondary will have to stay locked in all game. If they don’t, they might end up reading the back of Coates and Williams jerseys as they streak down the field.