Auburn opens its 2014 campaign at home against SEC West foe Arkansas at 3 pm CT on the SEC Network. It'll be the first time in 19 years that the Tigers will face an SEC opponent in the season opener.

Arkansas at Auburn

Gus Malzahn enters his second year as Auburn's head coach after a very successful 2013 season that saw the Tigers finish 12-2 overall and 8-0 in the SEC. While Malzahn admits his squad probably caught a lot of teams by surprise last year, he knows they'll have a huge target on their backs during the upcoming season.

With an outstanding ground game and a solid quarterback under center, Auburn averaged 39.5 ppg last year and looks to be explosive once again in 2014 despite losing tailback Tre Mason and offensive lineman Greg Robinson to the NFL.

Malzahn will have his starting quarterback Nick Marshall back for the second-straight year. It will be the first time during Malzahn's coaching career to have the same quarterback be the starter for more than one season.

As a junior, Marshall rushed for 1,068 yards and 12 touchdowns and passed for 1,976 yards and 14 scores.

Marshall will start Saturday's contest on the bench after off-the-field issues this summer. But, backup Jeremy Johnson is ready to run the offense after a solid freshman season a year ago. Johnson saw action in two games last season and was 29-of-41 passing for 422 yards and six touchdowns with only two interceptions.

While Auburn's offense ran the ball 72 percent of the time last season, Malzahn has promised the 2014 version of his offense will be more balanced. The quarterbacks will have plenty of targets to connect with in 2014. Sammie Coates returns after leading the team with 42 catches for 902 yards and seven touchdowns. Ricardo Louis also returns and looks to build on his 28 receptions for 325 yards and two touchdowns from a year ago.

The nation's top-rated juco prospect, D'haquille Williams, will provide another deep-threat and large target in the receiving corps. At Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 2012, he caught 67 passes for 1,295 yards and 17 touchdowns. Last season, an injury slowed him down but he still led the team with 51 receptions, 733 yards and nine touchdowns.

Despite losing Mason, Auburn still has plenty of options at running back with Corey Grant and Cameron Artis-Payne getting the bulk of the carries. Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber should see action as freshmen with the Tigers' rushing attack solid again behind an experienced offensive line.

Auburn's defense allowed 24.7 ppg in 2013. The unit will be without Robenson Therezie, who is facing eligibility issues. Justin Garrett will start in his place at Star.

Arkansas looks to bounce back from a disappointing 3-9 season a year ago. The nine losses for the Hogs, six of which came against ranked teams, were the most in school history, and they failed to make a bowl game for the second straight year after qualifying for the postseason in 11 of the previous 14 seasons.

In 2013, the Razorbacks and Tigers met in Fayetteville with the visiting team coming out on top 35-17. In conference play, Arkansas finished 0-8.

Quarterback Brandon Allen returns after throwing for 1,552 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Arkansas' strength is its running game with both Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams back after solid 2013 seasons. Collins rushed for 1,026 yards while Williams finished with 900.

As a unit in 2013, the defense allowed 30.8 ppg and 413 ypg. Defensive end Trey Flowers is the leader along the line after recording 13.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception. The two top tacklers return with safety Alan Turner and linebacker Braylon Mitchell. Turner had 97 tackles and two interceptions while Mitchell recorded 77 tackles.

Prediction: Auburn 38-10.



Texas A&M at South Carolina

Prediction: South Carolina 31-20.



Boise State at Ole Miss

Prediction: Ole Miss 17-14.



Temple at Vanderbilt

Prediction: Vandy 24-7.



Tennessee-Martin at Kentucky

Prediction: Kentucky 21-17.



South Dakota State at Missouri

Prediction: Missouri 51-6.



West Virginia at Alabama

Prediction: Alabama 38-6.



Clemson at Georgia

Prediction: Georgia 13-10.



Idaho at Florida

Prediction: Florida 28-7.



Southern Miss at Mississippi State

Prediction: MSU 23-10.



Wisconsin at LSU

Prediction: LSU 14-13.



Utah State at Tennessee

Prediction: Tennessee 27-17.