aubiefifty 18,398 Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 Tiger Buzz: Auburn vs. Texas A&M TV info, key matchups and players to watch Today 7:00 AM Getty Images By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com No. 8 Auburn (3-0) vs. No. 17 Texas A&M (2-1) When: 2:30 p.m. CT, Saturday Where: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas TV: CBS Line: Texas A&M -3.5 This game will determine... It’s the SEC opener for both teams, and more importantly, it’s a division game. The winner of this game will have a leg up in the race for the SEC West and have a chance to prove who has the best chance to challenge the likes of Alabama and LSU in the division. Three things to look for... 1. Will Auburn be (close to) full strength? The Tigers are dealing with injuries to some key starters on both sides of the ball, with Seth Williams (shoulder), Derrick Brown (chest contusion) and Prince Tega Wanogho (undisclosed) all missing time last week. Each practiced early in the week ahead of Saturday’s game, which is an encouraging sign for Auburn heading into the Texas A&M game — especially considering the importance each plays for the team at receiver, defensive tackle and left tackle, respectively. 2. Bo Nix’s first true road game. Auburn opened the season away from home, facing Oregon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but that crowd titled in the Tigers’ favor about 60/40. Kyle Field will be another story as Auburn’s true freshman quarterback makes his first career road start. How Nix handles the road environment with 102,733 hostile fans will go a long way toward determining whether Auburn leaves town 1-0 in SEC play. 3. Auburn’s running back rotation. The Tigers used more of a rotation against Kent State last week, albeit in a lopsided victory, though Boobee Whitlow still led the way in rushing yards (135) and carries (17). Auburn had five running backs record multiple carries, with Kam Martin and Shaun Shivers each more involved offensively than they were the first two weeks. How Auburn divvies the carries heading into SEC play will be something to watch as the coaching staff tries to keep Whitlow fresh for the late-season grind. 4 years after devastating injury against Texas A&M nearly ended his career, Jeremiah Dinson is better than ever Jeremiah Dinson's career nearly ended against Texas A&M in 2015. Now, heading into this week's game against the Aggies, Dinson has come all the way back to establish himself as one of the Tigers' best players and a team captain. Key matchup Auburn’s run game vs. Texas A&M’s rush defense. Auburn is coming off a 467-yard rushing performance in Week 3 against Kent State, and the Tigers are hopeful that showing has kickstarted a rushing attack that was slow out of the gates in each of the first two weeks of the season. The next test will be an Aggies defense that ranks just inside the top-25 nationally against the run, allowing just 87.67 yards per game — including holding No. 1 Clemson to just 121 yards and 3.67 yards per carry in Week 2. By the numbers 341 — Boobee Whitlow has 341 rushing yards through three games for Auburn. Since 1993, only four Auburn running backs have had a better three-game stretch to open the season: Cameron Artis-Payne in 2014 (352), Michael Dyer in 2011 (358), Ben Tate in 2009 (349) and Rudi Johnson in 2000 (478) Key injuries Auburn — OL Austin Troxell out (ACL),OL Prince Michael Sammons out (undisclosed), RB Mark-Antony Richards out (leg), OL Bailey Sharp out (knee), DL Derick Hall doubtful (knee), WR Seth Williams questionable (shoulder), WR Ja’Varrius Johnson questionable (undisclosed), WR Shedrick Jackson questionable (undisclosed), RB D.J. Williams probable (hip), DT Derrick Brown probable (upper-body contusion), OL Prince Tega Wanogho probable (undisclosed) Texas A&M — RB Vernon Jackson out (neck), RB Jashaun Corbin out (hamstring), TE Baylor Cupp out (tibia), WR Quartney Davis questionable (undisclosed), DE Max Wright questionable (undisclosed), DB Elijah Blades probable (undisclosed), DT Jayden Peevy probable (undisclosed) Texas A&M player to watch Kellen Mond, quarterback. The junior quarterback for the Aggies was widely expected to take the next step this season as a third-year starter and in his second year under Jimbo Fisher. Through three games, Mond hasn’t quite lived up to that expectation, but his performance against a stout Auburn defense will be key. Mond has completed 64.9 percent of his passes this season for 747 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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