Ever hear of Newton’s laws of motion scientific theory? You know, the old high school physics lessons about two forces colliding with each other, both headed the opposite direction before they clash head on? Well, this is hardly a dissertation -- and thankfully so but for those who are not familiar with scientific intricacies, it may offer a unique angle on the upcoming clash between West Virginia and Auburn.

The Tigers, who enter the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in rushing offense, are averaging 345 yards on the ground in their first two wins over Louisiana Tech and Mississippi State. On the other side, the Mountaineers’ rush defense ranks No. 29 after their first two games, giving up an average of just 75 rush yards, in wins over Liberty and East Carolina. It does not take a mad scientist to see that something has to give come Saturday, at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The battle up front may very well determine who will win the marquee non-conference match-up.

“It will be very important,” said WVU defensive end Julian Miller, who is third on the team in tackles with ten and leads WVU in sacks with two-and-a-half. “It’s going to be a test of our strength and our will -- our ability to play low and stay low, to get to the point of attack and get penetration.”

WVU weak side linebacker J.T. Thomas, whose 13 tackles are good for second-best on the team, agreed.

“It should be a great game,” he said. “You’ve got a team that likes to run the ball against a defense that doesn’t like to give up the run.”

That being said, Miller believes the Mountaineers will be ready to try and contain the Tigers’ potent rushing offense.

“I think we’re ready for the challenge.”

Thomas said, “We’ll try out best to stop the run. Two teams have not succeeded in stopping them.”

Like Miller, Thomas welcomes the challenge AU poses with its bruising ground assault.

“Around here, we kind of pride ourselves on stopping the run,” he said.

WVU nose tackle Chris Neild is excited about the possibility of defending a razor-sharp rushing offense.

“It’s kind of boring to me, to be honest with you, when the other team passes too much,” he said. “I don’t like pass rushing that much every play.”

Miller, Neild and defensive tackle Scooter Berry normally man WVU’s defensive line at the front of the 3-3-5 stack. Last week against ECU, however, Berry went down with a shoulder sprain in the first half and did not return. His status is currently day-to-day, making him probable for the Auburn game.

“We hope Scooter will play,” WVU head coach Bill Stewart said. “I don’t know that he will. This is only game three, but if he can play, we will have him out there.”

Defensive linemen Josh Taylor, Jorge Wright and Larry Ford will step in if Berry can’t play. All three have earned playing time while at WVU and last week, Taylor and Wright saw significant action against ECU, who was shut out in the second half.

“I think they’re ready. I know what Josh can do. I know what Jorge can do,” said Miller. “It’s a matter of them going out there and being able to prove it to everybody and contribute and make plays.”

Neild is an imposing 6-foot-2, 298-pound figure in the middle of the defensive line. Like all the other Mountaineers, he is impressed with the Tigers’ offensive line that will look to open holes for AU’s rushers.

“As far as I’ve seen on film, they come off the ball real hard, real low,” he said. “The only way we’re going to be able to defend them is doing the same thing -- coming up hard and hitting them. I think we’ll be all right if we do that.”

Neild sees AU’s offensive line as a group of big, athletic guys that dictate much of what happens up front.

“They’re all athletes on the offensive line. They are all fast.”

Athletes and skill players typically line up in the backfield or at wide receiver. At AU, like most of the rest of the SEC, athletes line up at every position on the field.

“That’s something you don’t see that much, but when you see it, you got to prepare for it real well,” said Neild. “I think we’re doing a good job of it.”

Reserve linebacker Ovid Goulbourne may get some playing time up on the defensive line. Goulbourne, who is finally healthy for his senior season and has nine tackles so far, brings a boost of speed to the line. His impact was apparent against ECU -- he recorded two sacks for a total loss of 14 yards.

“He is a bullet coming off that edge,” Neild said. “Other teams see him on the line, they better watch out for him. He’s something special on the edge.”

It will be imperative for WVU’s line backing corps. and secondary to provide help in stopping AU’s running backs. Onterio McCalebb and Ben Tate make up a monster backfield that could cause considerable problems, when they get by Miller and the defensive line.

Tate leads the Tigers in rushing, totaling 40 carries for 274 yards and a touchdown. McCalebb is just behind Tate with 38 carries for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Both running backs are averaging a just under seven yards a carry.

“No. 23 [McCalebb] has been the faster guy. No. 44 [Tate] has been the more stout, powerful kid,” said Thomas.

WVU safety Nate Sowers believes AU has a stable of runners who can do it all.

“They have everything,” he said. “They have a lot of good running backs they can sub in and out and keep them fresh. They got power backs, they got speed backs. They create some problems for you as far as far as match-ups go.”

WVU will most likely face multiple offensive looks from the Tigers, who along with a formidable running game, have a wildcat package and a capable passing game, too.

“They come out in any formation that you could possibly have with that personnel so you never know what they are going to lineup in,“ said Sowers. “It could create some confusion for us.”

Time will tell which force will impose it’s will over the other.

“If we come into this game, feeling that they can’t run on us and we can play strong up front with the linemen and the linebackers, I think we should be all right,” said Miller.

In last year’s meeting, the first between the two schools, WVU prevailed 34-17. It is safe to say the Tigers have not forgot about the loss.

“Us shutting out Auburn in the second half in points last year, I think they got a little chip on their shoulder coming into this game,” said Neild. “They don’t want that to happen this year. I think they have a little revenge on their mind as well.”