ESPN’s Heather Dinich explains why Ole Miss is in ‘must-win mode’ vs. Auburn
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels are preparing for another massive SEC test against a sneaky-good Auburn Tigers squad this Saturday in Oxford, a matchup that could have major postseason implications for the Rebels.
Pete Golding‘s team already has two losses on its record, with upcoming contests against several other tough teams still remaining on the schedule. That leaves very little margin for error in Oxford if Ole Miss wants to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.
With that in mind, Saturday’s Halloween showdown against Auburn is essentially a must-win contest for the Rebels, a reality ESPN analyst Heather Dinich discussed on SportsCenter Friday morning.
“Ole Miss, to me, is in must-win mode against these guys (Auburn),” Dinich said. “Kewan Lacy is going to be out again in this game because he’s been banged up, but when you look at Ole Miss they can’t afford a third loss. This is a team that has been playing well, but defensively still has questions.”
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Lacy’s absence is obviously a significant blow for the Rebels, but the defense will also play a major role in determining how this game unfolds, as Dinich pointed out. Auburn gashed an elite Georgia defense on the ground a couple of weeks ago, and Ole Miss has struggled to contain opposing rushing attacks all season.
If Golding and the rest of the Rebels want to keep their postseason aspirations alive, a victory over Auburn is an absolute must heading into next weekend’s ranked showdown against Georgia.
