Records
Auburn: 4-6
Texas A&M: 8-2
Auburn scouting report
Auburn enters this game off of a 48-14 win over ULM. Payton Thorne threw five TDs, which was the most passing touchdowns in a game since Jarrett Stidham in the 2018 Music City Bowl. Freshman WR Cam Coleman had his best game in an Auburn uniform, hauling in eight receptions for 100 yards and three TDs.
The game was a bright spot in what has been a disastrous season for the Hugh Freeze-coached squad. There is a real world in which this same Auburn team, led by Thorne, could be 8-2 and in the hunt for the playoffs right now. Close, turnover-ridden, and improbable losses vs. Cal, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Vandy, along with a competitive game against UGA, have left this year’s iteration of Auburn with one of its worst records this century.
With two games left, the Tigers will see if they have any magic in them to try and make a run at a bowl berth.
Texas A&M scouting report
After a horrible start to the season in a 23-13 loss to Notre Dame, and flip-flopping their QBs, Texas A&M managed to rattle off seven straight wins under first-year head coach Mike Elko. This included impressive wins over, at the time, No. 9-ranked Missouri and No. 8-ranked LSU.
The Aggies, however, hit a road bump in a night game at South Carolina that saw them turn it over five times en route to a 24-point loss. A get-right game against New Mexico State last week got them to their eighth win and has them in the thick of the crowded SEC standings at 8-2. Their end-of-season matchup against Texas will be one of the most hyped and watched games in Texas A&M history due to the renewal of their rivalry.
But Texas A&M isn’t focused on Texas this week. No, this week they’re focused on Texas… I mean Auburn! To quote the now-infamous Elko press conference, the coaches are saying the right things (kind of), but it always takes a special level of attention to play anywhere in the SEC at night; much less one of the top 3 environments in the conference.
Score Prediction
23-17 Texas A&M
While this is not what I want, this is what I believe will happen. I could see Auburn being down 20-10 in the 4th quarter and maybe cutting it to 20-17 with about five minutes left. I predict, like most losses this season, that Auburn will have plenty of opportunities to win this game. An inept offense that can’t finish off drives with points creates a very low margin for error. I also believe the Auburn defense will, again, do enough to win.
This has been a strange season. Auburn actually ranks No. 13 in the nation in total defense, meaning they are above Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Miami. On the other end, Auburn is ranked No. 42 overall in total offense, which is better than Georgia, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame.
On a positive note, I predict the atmosphere will be good, and the recruits will come away impressed.