MENU
Apr 23, 2024
www.accessauburn.com
Find us on Facebook
Week Eight SEC Predictions
This week, Auburn plays at Texas A&M at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS. Other SEC games include Georgia at Vandy and Arkansas at Alabama.

(Last week: 5-2, Overall: 55-9)

Auburn at Texas A&M

After racking up a school-record 712 total yards against Western Carolina, Auburn is set to battle Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M on the road at Kyle Field. The 62-3 win over Western Carolina moved the Tigers into the AP top 25 at No. 24 and to 5-1 overall.

With starting quarterback Nick Marshall still hobbled by a knee injury, freshman Jeremy Johnson got the nod and completed 17 of 21 passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns. Cameron-Artis Payne gained 133 yards on seven carries, while Tre Mason ran for 100 yards on six carries. The Tigers rushed for 511 yards on 43 carries against the Football Championship Subdivision Catamounts

Defensively, Auburn held Western Carolina to just six first downs and 173 total yards. So far in 2013, the Tigers allow 399.2 yards per game and 18.8 points per game.

The Tigers know TAMU's offense will be a different kind of beast with Manziel under center after his stellar performance last season at Jordan-Hare Stadium in the 63-21 rout by the Aggies. Manziel led an offense that piled up 621 yards of total offense, which is the highest total by an Auburn opponent. Last year's Heisman Trophy winner completed 16 of his 23 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns with 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

TAMU improved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play after it rallied late in the fourth quarter to beat Ole Miss 41-38 in Oxford. Down 38-31 with 6:05 remaining, Manziel led the Aggies on a 75-yard drive that ended with his 6-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 38 with 3:07 remaining. TAMU's defense then held Ole Miss which set up the Aggies' final drive that saw Josh Lambo nail the game-winning 33-yard field goal as time expired.

For the season, Manziel has completed 73.2 percent of his passes for 1,835 yards, with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. He's also rushed for 427 yards and five touchdowns.

On defense, the Aggies allow 32 points per game and 201.2 rushing yards per contest. After gaining 511 yards on the ground against Western Carolina, Auburn now ranks No. 1 in the SEC with 287 rushing yards per game. If Marshall is healthy, the Tigers could have some success moving the ball against a defense that has struggled against the run.

TAMU leads the all-time series 3-0 and should be able to handle the Tigers at home. While last year's contest was over at halftime, this year could be more competitive. Auburn's defense is much better and the team has plenty of fight, even when they fall behind early. Down 21-0 at halftime at LSU, the Tigers kept fighting and did some positive things in the second half. If things get ugly quick Saturday, look for Auburn to make some plays to get back into it.

Prediction: TAMU 30-24.



Georgia at Vanderbilt

Prediction: Georgia 27-6.



South Carolina at Tennessee

Prediction: South Carolina 28-20.



Florida at Missouri

Prediction: Missouri 21-17.



Arkansas at Alabama

Prediction: Alabama 41-10.



LSU at Ole Miss

Prediction: LSU 30-17.