Tigers not overlooking the Bulls

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- No. 2 Auburn could surely use a drama-free Saturday to rest some gimpy starters and get the running game going.

Buffalo probably wouldn't mind avoiding another taxing overtime game.

Both are likely to get their wish on Saturday when the Bulls (1-2) venture into Southeastern Conference territory for the first time, a hapless Division I-A program against a national championship contender.

The game represents a different kind of test for Auburn (3-0). The Tigers opened the week as 45-point favorites, putting on the pressure to win big or risk losing ground in the scramble for positioning among the national title contenders.

That's not exactly how Tommy Tuberville sees it, though.

"That's not what this program's about," the Auburn coach said. "We want to go out and play the best that we can. We're going to approach this game like it's going to be a hard-fought game, which it will be. It'll be a big challenge.

"You've got to mentally get ready to play and you've got to go out and get it done. We're not practicing for next week, and we're not thinking about last week."

OK, now that the coachspeak is out of the way.

The Tigers are bruised and battered from a 7-3 win over LSU that left quarterback Brandon Cox, tailback Kenny Irons and cornerback Jonathan Wilhite all recovering from leg injuries and missing practice early in the week. Then they have a short rest period before playing at South Carolina next Thursday.

Cox and Irons insist they will play, and aren't planning on short afternoons. Wilhite is doubtful for the game.

Irons' backup says he received a different message from Irons, who has had two sub-par games against defenses geared up to stop him.

"He said, 'Brad, you can take over for me this week,"' backup tailback Brad Lester said. "He's kind of beat up. I think he's looking forward to sitting out this week."

And Buffalo is looking forward to attempting to pull off an utterly improbable upset. The Bulls, who joined Division I-A in 1999, opened the season with an overtime game against Temple and a triple-overtime contest with Bowling Green.

They have never played such a highly ranked team, losing twice to teams ranked 23rd in 2003. They also haven't played in front of even 55,000 fans -- and Auburn's stadium holds 87,000-plus.

The Tigers have won their previous five games against current Mid-American Conference teams by an average score of 40-6.

First-year Buffalo coach Turner Gill is more accustomed to being on the other side of such mismatches as a former star Nebraska quarterback and assistant coach.

"This is a great opportunity to go to an outstanding venue, to have an experience that a lot of them would never have, to experience the college football pageantry that it's going to be," Gill said.

That doesn't mean he wants them to get caught up in all that pageantry.

"We're going to enjoy the environment there, the venue, but when they blow the whistle it's time to play football," he said. "They're human beings just like us."

Well, not just like them. They're faster, deeper and playing in their home stadium.

Whoever's running the ball for the Tigers, they should have at least a chance for a big game. The Bulls rank 118th out of 119 Division I-A teams against the run, allowing 260 yards per game.

Irons insists the Tigers aren't paying any attention to statistics like that.

"We just take it like an SEC game," he said. "Air Force almost beat Tennessee. They probably went into it thinking, 'Aw, it's Air Force. We'll beat them.' And they almost lost."

But Buffalo is no Air Force. The Bulls are 11-71 since making the move to college football's highest level.

Gill's message to his players was simple: "Let's see where we're at, guys. Here's an opportunity for you to go up against one of the best teams in the country and see how we fit."