Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
The Auburn players have insisted this week that their two-game losing streak was not the start of a trend. They get a chance to make good on that vow Saturday when they go to Baton Rouge to face LSU. There’s no question that Auburn feasted a little bit on a softer schedule in jumping out to a 5-0 start, but the Tigers also haven’t played well these past two weeks. Their offense hasn’t been as explosive, and they need to get quarterback Chris Todd back to the level he was playing at during September. Auburn coach Gene Chizik said there’s nothing wrong with the throwing shoulder Todd had surgery on during the offseason. He just hasn’t thrown it as consistently in the losses to Kentucky and Arkansas. The Tigers don’t get a bye week until Nov. 21, the week before the finale against Alabama. So these next four games will really test their already glaring lack of depth.
Best-case scenario: Todd and the Auburn offense get back on track to the point where the Tigers are scoring enough points to hide their defensive deficiencies. They win at LSU, get some of their swagger back and finish 8-4.
Worst-case scenario: The Tigers' losing streak extends to four straight games with losses to LSU and Ole Miss the next two weeks, and the bottom falls out from there, leaving the Tigers 6-6 and hoping they land in a bowl game.
Prediction: The Tigers find a way to win one of their remaining SEC games against LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama, finish 7-5 and play in the Music City Bowl.