OK, so I was wrong.

Auburn’s most important game of the season wasn’t two weeks ago against Ole Miss.

It’s Saturday against Georgia. In Athens.

Yes, beating the Rebels was a must for the Tigers if they wanted to finish the dreaded month of October with a winning record after playing three top-10 teams on the road — with a win at then-No. 10 South Carolina to start the month.

Yes, beating Ole Miss put the Tigers bowl eligible before Halloween, about three weeks before many picked Auburn to even have its sixth win.

Yes, beating the Rebels was big.

Beating the Bulldogs would be even bigger.

Why?

Because it’s a rivalry game.

Because it’s a game where the Tigers are 13-point underdogs.

Because it’s Georgia.

Because it’s November.

Because it’s the start of Amen Corner.

Because it would give Auburn seven wins.

And, most importantly, it’s huge because it’s the next one.

Gene Chizik and his charges don’t even smirk when they consistently say they wanted — and expected — to be undefeated through this point in the season.

They didn’t want to just have a winning record in October. They wanted to be perfect. They believed that.

That’s the standard Chizik — heck, anyone who’s ever twirled a whistle on the Plains — has set.

“For us, every week a lot is at stake,” Chizik said. “We’re expected to win every week, no matter who we play or where we play them.”

Common sense says there was no way that was happening. None. Not with this youth and inexperience. Not with this many question marks.

But football coaches and players aren’t about common sense. No offense.

They put in too much time and effort to concede anything.

And even thought the Tigers aren’t 9-0, they’re better than expected.

At 6-3, Auburn’s already ahead of schedule. Even if the Tigers lose their final three games – which just won’t happen — they’d be 6-6 at the end of the regular season.

Raise your hand if that’s what you picked in August.

Congrats. Now sit down.

Auburn’s guaranteed seven wins. Samford comes to Jordan-Hare Stadium next weekend for homecoming. Seven wins. That’s good enough for the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Hey, a New Year’s Eve bowl is pretty sporty, considering Auburn almost flushed its chances at the postseason before the regular season even got started.

Remember the Utah State game?

A win at Georgia puts Auburn at eight. Eight — this season — is great.

No question.

And since November is the month to remember, kicking it off with a win would mean so much.

Oh, and a win in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry wouldn’t be bad either.

MIKE SZVETITZ is sports editor of the Opelika-Auburn News. He may be reached at mszvetitz@oanow.com or 737-2513.