Auburn football’s loss to Arkansas was far worse than the “toss-up” it was projected to be.
Sure, Arkansas has proven to be the better team this season and earned their 3.5-point advantage heading into the game. However, if it were not for a late touchdown, the Razorbacks would have left Jordan-Hare Stadium with their biggest win over Auburn since 2002, when they left Auburn with a 38-17 win.
Losing to a better team is nothing to be ashamed of. But, if you are Auburn, the expectation is to beat Arkansas every season. Not only was the loss to Arkansas considered out of the ordinary for Auburn, who had won its six previous meetings over the Razorbacks, but it is even more stunning to know that Auburn was not even favored to win.
That is the point that USA TODAY Sports’ Dan Wolken used when building his week nine “Misery Index” list.
In the piece, Wolken put Auburn front and center of the “Misery Index” by pointing out several factors that show just how much has changed on the Plains recently, starting out with Auburn not being favored to Arkansas, and going on to lose by two touchdowns to a team that they have historically been able to handle.
Auburn’s 41-27 loss to Arkansas on Saturday was a perfect representation of just how sad things have gotten on the Plains. Not only did Arkansas pretty much do as it pleased, racking up 520 offensive yards and methodically dominating the game, but it barely even registered as a big deal.
It’s a game Auburn was supposed to lose. And if Auburn is supposed to lose at home to Arkansas, that’s when you know it’s time to pull the plug on whatever is going on and start all over again.
After suffering their fifth loss of the season, and its’ fourth in a row, Auburn will try to get back on track next Saturday on the road at Mississippi State. Last season, Auburn blew a 28-3 lead to the Bulldogs, ultimately falling 43-34 at home.
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