The Auburn Tigers, who are still licking their wounds from their 38-23 loss to Mississippi State, couldn't have picked a better opponent coming out of their bye week.

Ranked fifth in the nation and sporting a 5-1 record (2-1 SEC) that still has a playoff feel to it, the Tigers come off their week of rest to face an underachieving South Carolina team that has to be extremely disappointed with how 2014 has gone.

Yes, the Gamecocks (4-3, 2-3) are coming off of a much-needed 41-10 win over Furman, but they have found themselves in the back of the SEC East race and with no playoff hopes. They will be looking to salvage part of their season, while they ruin Auburn's.

Exactly what the Tigers need.

Auburn got time to rest before its showdown with South Carolina, which just so happens to precede next week's trip to Oxford, Mississippi, to face the third-ranked Ole Miss Rebels. There will be no looking ahead for the Tigers, which is great, because it would be easy to do that with the Rebels looming.

The Tigers know how important Saturday is, and they know that their opponent is desperate. The Gamecocks want some dignity back, and the easiest way to do that is to upset Auburn and torch its playoff hopes. That alone will keep the Tigers on their toes when the Gamecocks visit the Plains Saturday.

Talent-wise and statistically, this game points right at the Tigers with neon arrows. Auburn ranks in the top four of the SEC in scoring (38.8 points per game), rushing (262 yards per game) and total offense (487.8). On the flip side, South Carolina sports one of the SEC's worst defenses, ranking 12th or worse in all four major defensive categories.

The Gamecocks have actually given up a league-worst 6.21 yards per play this season and have allowed opponents to average more than 6.7 yards in five of seven games this season.

Auburn should be fine with that, as the Tigers are cranking out 6.64 yards per play.

What the Tigers need to do is keep that running game churning in the second half of the season. That's when the offense is at its best because it opens up things for quarterback Nick Marshall. What made this offense so special last season was its ability to wear down defenses with its explosive, yet powerful running game. While there is no Tre Mason to carry the load, Auburn has rushed for more than 230 yards in every game but the Kansas State game this season.

Cameron Artis-Payne has taken the title of lead back and has 664 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Marshall is next with 492 and four touchdowns. The next running back on the list is Corey Grant, who has 254 yards and two scores. But the longest run of the season for the Tigers is just 49 yards by Marshall.

This is a chance to really get some of that explosion back in the running game, with the Gamecocks giving up a 181.7 rush yards per game and an SEC-high 15 rushing touchdowns.

You wanna energize that running game even more and break off some bigger plays? Run early and often against the Gamecocks. Artis-Payne has been solid this year (110.7 yards per game), so create some space for him. The Gamecocks have had holes on defense all year, so the Tigers should be able to exploit that.