Man vs. machine: Our picks compared to an EA Sports simulation of Auburn vs. Missouri

Is the fourth time the charm for Auburn football?

For 28 minutes last week, it seemed like Auburn was going to get its first SEC win on try No. 3, but a second-half collapse ended that possibility. This week, the Tigers will welcome another ranked opponent to Jordan-Hare Stadium, as Missouri comes to Auburn for its first road game of the season.

Our EA Sports College Football 26 simulation played out an entertaining game, a common theme for the games we’ve simulated this season.

With that said, here’s how the game went in that simulation compared to predictions from AL.com Auburn beat writers Peter Rauterkus and Jerry Humphrey III.

EA Sports College Football 26 simulationScore: Auburn 20, Missouri 17

Much like it’s expected to in real life, this game came down to the wire in the simulation.

The simulation was defined by defense, as Auburn won despite gaining fewer than 300 total yards. The home Tigers got out to a 17-0 lead in the first half, but had to hang on late to squeeze out a 3-point win.

On a slow offensive day, Jackson Arnold threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns on 27-for-34 passing, as Eric Singleton Jr. was his top receiver with seven catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns.

Peter Rauterkus

Score: Auburn 21, Missouri 17

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Maybe I’m insane.

Auburn has played three close games against ranked teams in SEC play and has lost all three. I only picked Auburn in one of those games, but I’m picking the Tigers to finally win a close game this week.

The biggest key for Auburn on Saturday will be to try and replicate what it did offensively against Georgia in the first half. It was the best half of football the unit had played since the season opener, and it showed what works for Auburn.

Auburn will have to sustain that over the course of a game, something it didn’t do last week, but that’s a fixable issue. It’s also Missouri’s first road game of the season, and I expect Auburn’s defense to give Missouri’s offense enough problems to squeeze out a win.

Jerry Humphrey III

Score: Missouri 28, Auburn 24

It hard not to be a Negative Nancy when it comes to Auburn football. However, they have given me every reason not to trust them against conference opponents this year.

Last week against Georgia, Auburn had the recipe to upset the Bulldogs until the second half happened, as the Tigers were outscored 17-0 to end the game.

Missouri enters this game straight off its first conference loss to Alabama. A bounce back victory for the other Tigers will be pivotal as they end the year against three ranked opponents.

For Auburn, a loss could see the end of an era for a lot of people within the football program.

To say the least.

Standings

Jerry Humphrey III: 6-0

The machine: 6-0

Peter Rauterkus: 4-2