Auburn-Mississippi St Preview Capsule

Auburn-Mississippi St Preview Capsule

Published Oct. 9, 2014 4:45 p.m. ET

No. 2 Auburn (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) at No. 3 Mississippi State (5-0, 2-0), 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)

Line: Auburn by 3.

Series Record: Auburn leads 61-24-2

WHAT'S AT STAKE

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It's the first matchup between top 5 teams in the history of Davis Wade Stadium and the winner will be one of the favorites to take home the SEC Western Division crown. Mississippi State is trying to extend its winning streak to nine games, dating back to last season. Auburn is trying to keep its momentum after an impressive 41-7 victory over LSU last weekend.

KEY MATCHUP

Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott vs. Auburn's defense. Prescott has vaulted into Heisman Trophy consideration after last weekend's performance against Texas A&M, which included five total touchdowns - three running and two passing. Auburn counters with the second-best defense in the SEC. The Tigers have allowed 21 or fewer points in five straight games, which is the program's best streak since 2008.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Auburn: RB Cameron Artis-Payne. He's rushed for 594 yards already this season, which is the most for an Auburn back since Carnell Williams in 2002. Artis-Payne has six career 100-yard games, including a 177-yard effort against Arkansas earlier this season.

Mississippi State: DE Preston Smith. The 6-foot-4, 277-pound senior has shown a knack for the big play this season, with 5 1/2 tackles for a loss, 3 1/2 sacks, two interceptions and five quarterback hurries. He's been named the SEC's defensive lineman of the week three times this season.

FACTS & FIGURES

Mississippi State has never had this high of a national ranking. The previous high was No. 7 in 1981. ... Mississippi State's current eight-game winning streak is the longest in the SEC and ranks second nationally behind Florida State's 21-game string. ... This will be the Bulldogs' third straight game against a top 10 team. ... Auburn has been ranked in the top 10 for 15 straight weeks, which is the nation's third-longest streak behind Alabama (57) and Florida State (23). ... Auburn has an 8-7 record since 1994 in games played at the site of ESPN's ''College GameDay'' show. ... Auburn has won five of the last six against Mississippi State, including a last-second 24-20 victory last season.

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