Is there anything that can be read from 2-0 starts by Mississippi State and Ole Miss?

Yes and no.

First the pro. The good for Mississippi State is that coach Dan Mullen finally has a victory over an SEC West foe not named Ole Miss with a 28-10 thrashing of Auburn last week. Tyler Russell looked like one of the SEC’s top quarterbacks and the defense put the clamps on the mistake-prone Tigers.

Now comes the con.

Bulldog fans need to realize Auburn is a bottom-feeder in most of the NCAA’s offensive statistics, thanks to quarterback Kiehl Frazier, who has the accuracy of a sawed-off shotgun (13-of-22 passing for 125 yards, three interceptions against State). Auburn’s defense did a poor job in coverage and tackling in space and the Bulldogs took advantage.

Auburn (0-2) is pedestrian at best and are looking at a bowl trip to Shreveport as a best-case scenario. Stat of the day: Auburn coach Gene Chizik is 30-12 at Auburn, but only 16-12 without 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. One wonders how long Auburn fans will endure mediocrity on the Plains, with a national title season in 2010 for Chizik sandwiched between two 8-5 campaigns. With the Tigers recruiting well (second in the Scout.com recruiting rankings in 2011 and sixth in 2010), more is expected.

The meat of the schedule for State looms on the horizon starting the last week of October, when the Bulldogs travel to defending national champion Alabama. With Troy, South Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State next on the docket after Auburn, the Bulldogs should be 7-0 and ranked in the top 10 in the AP Poll going into their game in Tuscaloosa.

As for Ole Miss, the Rebels got a feel-good victory over a decent non-conference opponent with a 28-10 bashing of Texas-El Paso. Bo Wallace proved he’s a bonafide SEC-caliber quarterback with a good arm and great mobility. After three quarterbacks started for the Rebels in 2011, they’ve definitely found their guy this time. The only shame is he will be in Oxford just two seasons as a JUCO transfer from East Mississippi Community College. Despite a lack of depth, the Ole Miss defense did an excellent job defending UTEP coach Mike Price’s prolific passing attack.

Now the bad news. The Rebels host Texas, a perennial national power ranked 14th in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Saturday. After a breather against cellar-dwelling Tulane on Sept. 22, the Rebels open SEC play at Alabama and host Texas A&M and Auburn.

That three-game stretch will determine the Rebels’ mettle, as all three were bowl teams last year. If the Rebels can win at least two of those games, confidence will be high going into the final five games of the season.

The early returns at both Mississippi State and Ole Miss are promising. But like the Indian summer, the early promise of a quick start can quickly evaporate in the face of top-ranked opponents.

Just take it for what it is. Better than 1-1 or 0-2.

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Steve Wilson is sports editor of The Vicksburg Post. You can follow him on Twitter at vpsportseditor. He can be reached at 601-636-4545, ext. 142 or at swilson@vicksburgpost.com.