Auburn’s had a week to think about things.

Off to a disappointing 2-4 start, an open week came when the Tigers needed it most. Three straight SEC losses came in three different storylines but with a consistent ending.

Now it needs to win four of its final six to make a bowl game and it doesn’t get any gimmies. That begins at 11 a.m. CT Saturday at No. 19 Missouri, which has been on its own wild ride as of late.

Eli Drinkwitz’s group took a stunning 41-10 pounding at Texas A&M two weeks ago before heading to New England for a 45-3 palate cleanser against UMass. The loss in College Station was the first for a team that crept into the top 10 before sliding back considerably.

This is the first meeting between the two since Auburn win a 17-14 overtime game in 2022 that went down as one of the ugliest games ever played. It’s also the answer to the trivia question: What was Bryan Harsin’s final win at Auburn?

Since then, the program has had little to cheer about as Missouri has climbed to the upper tiers of the league.

Best case scenario for Auburn: Be smart

Perhaps a little rest is what Auburn needed because, as we’ve said all along, there’s talent on the roster. Drinkwitz made that point when speaking to reporters in Columbia.

Outside of the 31-13 loss at No. 5 Georgia, Auburn’s been in every game it lost. And their record looks quite different if it weren’t for the fact Hugh Freeze’s team is tied for last in the nation in turnover margin (-11).

It sounds simple but when the talent is in the same ballpark, turnovers are the razor’s edge difference between a singing the fight song in the locker room or packing bags in silence.

The good news for Auburn: Missouri is not exactly a turnover-creation machine. Its seven takeaways (five INTs, 2 fumble recoveries) rank 82nd nationally. It had no takeaways in an overtime escape of Vanderbilt or the 31-point loss to Texas A&M.

Mizzou does have one of the top pass defenses in the nation, however, when looking at the numbers.

The group is No. 7 in terms of yardage allowed (154.5) but that includes games against Murray State (27 passing yards) and Buffalo (55). Texas A&M averaged 12.5 yards per attempt in an efficient 18-for-22 performance that totaled 276 passing yards.

Auburn’s shown the ability to put up numbers through the air. It’s just the turnovers that brought all of that back to Earth quickly.

Worst case scenario: Mizzou pass game clicks

A year ago, Missouri was 13th nationally with an average of 9.0 yards per passing attempt. It was a group that had balance thanks to Cody Schrader leading the nation in rushing yards per game.

Schrader’s gone and the balance isn’t quite as deadly for Missouri. It still has Luther Burden III, one of the top receivers from 2023 who is rolling up big numbers again this year. He’s recorded no fewer than six catches in games against power-conference opponents. And after an injury scare at UMass last week, the star target appears to be ready for Saturday.

It’ll be a Missouri passing game with something to prove after completing just 13 of 31 passes two weeks ago in College Station. They’ll face an Auburn pass defense that’s in the middle of the pack statistically but is 87th nationally allowing five plays of 40-plus yards. It held Georgia well below its average of 318-yard average the last time out as the Bulldogs managed 240 yards on 29 throws

Prediction: Missouri 28, Auburn 19

It feels like Auburn needs to put together a perfect performance to win games and 11 a.m. in Columbia, Missouri doesn’t feel like the time or place for that.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.