NFL Tickets
TV Schedule: Saturday, October 3, 4:00 p.m., ET, SEC Network
Stadium: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Line: AUB (-20)
After last week’s loss to Mississippi State, the Auburn Tigers really need an easy win. The Tigers are 2-2 after two straight SEC losses and a near-loss against Jacksonville State in Week 2. The Tigers held on for a 27-20 win but looked fragile.
Auburn’s other SEC loss came in Week 3 against LSU (21-45), prompting a quarterback change for the Week 4 matchup with Mississippi State. Sean White took over for Jeremy Johnson but didn’t make much of a difference against the Bulldogs who are 3-1.
White threw for 188 yards but no TD in the Week 4 loss and threw an interception in the red zone. Auburn’s only points came from field goals and didn’t give Tigers’ fans much hope for the rest of the season. While SEC quarterbacks rarely make a name for themselves in the face of the lauded defenses that permeate the conference, it seems like White will only be remembered for his name’s similarity to Olympic snowboarder Shaun White.
The last Auburn quarterback to stand out, Cam Newton (the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft), became infamous for his father’s alleged solicitations of Mississippi State for a cash payment to secure his son’s attendance to the school. After a 13-month investigation, the NCAA found no proof of illicit recruiting from the Auburn camp and concluded that Mississippi State was the only school solicited by Newton’s father.
Newton won a Heisman trophy and a national championship in his lone season with Auburn, leaving some pretty big shoes to fill for the Tigers. White will certainly try this week after head coach Gus Malzahn confirmed White would remain the starter despite failing to score a TD in last week’s game.
This should be an easy win for the Tigers and a confidence booster for White ahead of their Week 7 matchup with Kentucky (3-1).
San Jose State (2-2) has only faced Auburn one other time, a 2014 loss (14-59). The Spartans finished last season 3-9 and subsequently hired a new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Al Borges and Adam Stenavich, respectively.
In last week’s win over Fresno State (49-23), running back Tyler Ervin erupted for 300 yards, a San Jose State record and an FBS high this season. Ervin averages 160 yards per game behind play-caller Joe Gray.
If Ervin repeats his stellar performance, he could give the Auburn defense a run for their money (pun intended). The Tigers didn’t fare well against LSU’s Leonard Fournette and his explosive season despite a new defensive coordinator in Will Muschamp. However, Ervin’s 300-yard game could be a one-time thing. Either way, he won’t be able to do as much damage as Fournette since Ervin hasn’t faced any big teams this year.
Even though Auburn’s defense allows 413 yards per game, White should be able to lead them past the Spartans and give them a winning record before their bye week.
Prediction: Auburn 24, San Jose State 3
Hannah Fields is a Tennessee Titans and SEC Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @hanfran7, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.
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