11.4.23 Football Articles

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

247sports.com

 

PMARSHONAU Auburn out to avoid another sad day at Vandy

Phillip Marshall

14–18 minutes

---

Auburn has lost on its last two trips to Vanderbilt.

Zac Stacy gets a victory ride after Vanderbilt's win over Auburn in 2012. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

Auburn is a double-digit favorite and a virtual unanimous pick to win Saturday’s game Vanderbilt at FirstBank Stadium. Auburn would have to play poorly to lose. but it’s happened before. In fact, it happened on the Tigers’ last two trips to Nashville.

Vanderbilt won 14-13 in 2008 and 17-13 in 2012.

This is an entirely different scenario than in those two seasons. Auburn has a first-year head coach in Hugh Freeze. After failing to get a win in a four-game gauntlet against powerful teams, Auburn beat Mississippi State 27-13 at home last Saturday and goes into the game with some momentum. But those trips to Vanderbilt still sting for those who were there.

The 2008 game sent Auburn reeling toward a 5-7 record in Tommy Tuberville’s final season. It was actually a top-20 matchup. Auburn was No. 13 and Vanderbilt was No. 19. The 2012 game was just another bad day in a season filled with them. So, yes, Auburn has lost two straight at Vanderbilt. Those Vanderbilt teams were better than normal. In 2008, the win over Auburn improved Vanderbilt’s record to 5-0. The Commodores promptly lost their next four games and six of their next seven. The 2012 Auburn team finished 3-9, the worst record since 1952.

The loss to Vanderbilt in 2008 was the final blow for offensive coordinator Tony Franklin and his spread offense. He was fired on Wednesday of the following week, Steve Ensminger took over the offense and Auburn did not win another SEC game.

Despite all that, losing to Vanderbilt was a bitter pill.

On the Tigers’ first possession, they stormed from their own 46 to a first down at the Vanderbilt 4 without throwing a pass. Shockingly, Ben Tate, who ran for 34 yards on the drive, was stopped for no gain at the 3 on third down and again on fourth down.

Undaunted, Auburn romped back down the field on its next possession. Brad Lester ran for 11 yards. Quarterback Chris Todd ran for 12 yards. Todd threw to Rod Smith for 18 yards and a touchdown. Chris Byrum kicked the extra point.

On those two drives, the Tigers rushed for 74 yards. They finished with 110 rushing yards.

Jerraud Powers intercepted a pass and returned it to the Vanderbilt 27.  After Tate lost a yard on first down, Todd threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Mario Fannin. Auburn led 13-0. Byrum missed the extra point, but it scarcely seemed to matter. It would turn out to matter a lot.

The running offense that had seemingly overwhelmed the Commodores went away. Auburn’s offense sputtered to a halt. Todd and Kodi Burns split time in the second half. Neither managed to mount a serious threat. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt got a touchdown in the final seconds of the first half and another midway through the third quarter. Both extra points were good, and that’s the way it ended.

Auburn finished with 208 yards of total offense, getting 129 yards on its first three drives.

In 2012, Auburn simply was not any good. Vanderbilt was probably the better team.

The game was tied 10-10 at halftime. Vanderbilt took a 17-10 lead in the third quarter on a 2-yard run by Alabamian Zac Stacy, who had no scholarship offer from Auburn as a senior at Bibb County High School. The Tigers managed only a 39-yard Cody Parkey field goal in the fourth quarter and finished with 212 yards of offense.

After offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn left to be the head coach at Arkansas State, Chizik decided it was time to get rid of Malzahn’s uptempo attack. He hired Scott Loefler to run the offense and Brian Van Gorder to run the defense. What followed cost Chizik his job.

The thing about the Vanderbilt’s of the world is that they don’t necessarily get down in the dumps about losing. They’re not playing for anything but winning games. They’ll likely be ready to put up a fight against Auburn. Their only two SEC wins last season were over Florida, a team with a first-year coach, and Kentucky.

Regardless of circumstances, losing twice at Vanderbilt was a shock to Auburn’s system. Losing a third time to a Vanderbilt team on a seven-game losing streak would be unthinkable.

Fearless Forecasters: Our picks for Auburn at Vanderbilt, other Week 10 games

Auburn faces the Commodores for the first time since 2016

It's time to see what Hugh Freeze's team with some momentum at its disposal.

In what's the most favorable matchup of its SEC schedule this season, at least on paper, Auburn (4-4, 1-4 SEC) heads to Vanderbilt, looking to become the Commodores' eighth straight loss. Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-5 SEC) is surrendering more than 38 points to SEC opponents this season, while its offense is currently hamstrung without its starting quarterback. Auburn, meanwhile, is coming off its best offensive performance of the year against a Power Five team — particularly through the air — as QB Payton Thorne dialed up three passing touchdowns and a 20-for-26 clip passing in a 27-13 win over Mississippi State.

Our Fearless Forecasters dive into their picks — straight up, not against the spread — and predictions for Auburn's trip to Nashville, plus other SEC matchups and notable games across the country in Week 10.

 

WEEK 10 STANDINGS

 

Nathan: 110-36

Phillip: 110-36

Matthew: 107-39

Christian: 104-42

Jason: 102-44

Ronnie: 101-45

Dukes: 97-49

 

AUBURN @ VANDERBILT (+12.5)

 

(Alex Slitz, Getty)

Nathan King: "What a difference a week makes. Suddenly, Auburn is in a decent position to go on a winning streak — or at least win three of four. But it can't afford a letdown performance at Vanderbilt. Yes, the Commodores are the SEC's worst team, but the Tigers haven't necessarily been a model of consistency on offense. One crisp performance against Mississippi State was huge for Payton Thorne and the passing game, but can it continue in Nashville? 

"My guess is that it will — at least well enough to notch a second straight win, since Auburn has yet to play well as an offense on the road this season. Even if starter AJ Swann is able to come back from injury and play quarterback for Vanderbilt, Auburn's defense has executed against much better competition this year. Barring some significant steps backwards in multiple areas, Auburn should be able to grab its first road win in the series since 2003."

Auburn 31, Vanderbilt 20

Phillip Marshall: "Vanderbilt has is 2-7 overall with wins over Hawaii and Alabama A&M. It is 0-5 in the SEC,. and all the losses are by 17 points or more. So it should be an easy one for Auburn, right? Not necessarily. Auburn's last two trips to Vanderbilt ended in losses. Of course, those were really bad Auburn teams, but still.

"Auburn has not won an SEC road game since 2021. So could this be a trap game for the Tigers? Nah."

Auburn 41, Vanderbilt 14

Matthew Wallace: “For the second straight game, Auburn faces a struggling offense, which should help the Tigers’ offense play at the tempo it wants. Not only is the Vandy offense struggling, but the defense is giving up 436.8 yards per game. With the Tigers riding momentum after a solid first half against Mississippi State, expect Auburn to go back to what worked against the Bulldogs. If Payton Thorne can play close to the way he performed against the Bulldogs, Auburn should run away with this game.

"Auburn has struggled mightily on the road this season, but the sub-30,000 seat FirstBank Stadium is far from a daunting environment, especially when half the seats will likely be filled by Tiger fans. Vanderbilt has lost its five SEC games by an average of 20.2 points per game so look for Auburn to win going away."

Auburn 34, Vanderbilt 17

Christian Clemente: "There’s certainly a few aspects of this game that can make it concerning or a trap game for Auburn, but at the end of the day it’s still Vanderbilt with backup quarterbacks 

"Auburn should finally have a little confidence after last week and has a perfect opportunity to keep building that this weekend. While the offense has struggled on the road, Vanderbilt’s defense has been so horrific that it may not matter."

Auburn 31, Vanderbilt 13

Jason Caldwell: "Auburn finally showed some of what it's capable of on offense in last week’s win over Mississippi State. Can the Tigers carry that to the road? That’s the question this week as the Tigers travel to Nashville to face Vanderbilt. It’s not the toughest road environment, but it’s not Jordan-Hare Stadium either.

"Maybe the biggest question is what does Auburn’s defense look like. The Tigers struggled at times against the Bulldogs last Saturday and this Vanderbilt offense is probably better. I think Auburn wins, but it’s not as easy as some would like."

Auburn 31, Vanderbilt 23

Ronnie Sanders: "Vanderbilt has a losing record against every current member of the SEC − except one. The Auburn-Vandy series is tied at 21-21-1. The last time the Tigers lost to the Commodores in 2012, it led to Gene Chizik’s firing. That won’t happen with Hugh Freeze, but things could certainly get interesting the rest of the way. 

"The next three games line up nicely for Auburn. Vandy, Arkansas and New Mexico State remain before the Iron Bowl, Auburn has a legitimate shot at seven wins before then. Add in Jordan-Hare in the season finale and a bowl game and this could end up being a pretty good year after a four game midseason slide."

Auburn 31, Vanderbilt 13

Phillip Dukes: "Auburn’s offense showed life last week against a Mississippi State team that came in hoping for a road upset. Although it was far from perfect, for the first time this season, Auburn showed it was a better team against a Power 5 opponent. Vanderbilt is in shambles and haven’t really shown much energy over its past few games. I think Auburn wins comfortably on the road."

Auburn 35, Vanderbilt 17

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Five reasons why Auburn will beat Vanderbilt on Saturday

Taylor Jones

3–4 minutes

---

The Auburn Tigers hit the field for the ninth time this season on Saturday, and they will run out with plenty of confidence.

At the beginning of the season, ESPN predicted Auburn to beat Vanderbilt in a close affair. Now that the season has been unrolled, Auburn is favored to win with over 80% confidence. Oddsmakers are feeling confident in Auburn’s ability to get the win as well. Earlier this week, BetMGM listed Auburn as a 13-point favorite over the Commodores.

Yesterday, we examined all of the reasons that Vanderbilt could pull off an upset. Today, it is time to break down all the reasons why Auburn should grab its second-straight win. It is easy to see why the Tigers are such heavy favorites, as there are plenty of advantages working in their favor. Here are five reasons why Auburn should easily beat Vanderbilt on Saturday in Nashville.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Payton Thorne had his best game as a Tiger last week against Mississippi State. The Michigan State transfer tossed three touchdown passes and 230 yards in the 27-13 win, and a performance like that should radiate to the rest of the offense to create a victory.

The Montgomery Advertiser

It is difficult to find a program with less consistency at quarterback than Auburn this season, but Vanderbilt has proven that it is not impossible. Vanderbilt is on its third quarterback of the season after AJ Swann and Ken Seals have shown their signs of struggle.

Freshman Walter Taylor stepped in during last week’s game at Ole Miss and threw a touchdown pass in the Commodores’ 33-7 loss to the Rebels. It is not clear who will start on Saturday, but it is apparent that there is little confidence in the quarterback position at Vanderbilt.

Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Vanderbilt’s struggles at quarterback will greatly benefit Auburn’s secondary. The Commodores’ top three receivers: Will Sheppard, Jayden McGowan, and London Humphries, have failed to catch over 65% of passes thrown in their direction. This could benefit Jaylin Simpson, DJ James, and the Auburn defensive backfield.

Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Vanderbilt’s leading rusher, Patrick Smith, only has 277 rushing yards through nine games. Most of that is due to Vanderbilt’s ability to create space for the run game.

The Commodores have a PFF grade of 57.0 in run blocking. Stopping the run is conveniently a strong suit of Auburn’s defense, which grades at 80.7. Marcus Harris, Donovan Kaufman, and Caleb Wooden are the best at stopping the run this season and could be a headache for the Vanderbilt offense.

The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn hopped off a four-game losing train last Saturday and still has hopes of earning a bowl bid. Vanderbilt, however, has lost seven games in a row after starting the season at 2-0. Auburn is definitely in better spirits and should roll out of Music City with a win.

Follow all your favorite Alabama teams at Auburn Wire and Roll Tide Wire!

[aubiefifty 18,259]

si.com

DL Recruiting: How Close Is Auburn to Closing the Gap With Georgia?

Brian Smith

~3 minutes

The Georgia Bulldogs won back-to-back national titles with a roster full of talent, but signing elite defensive line recruits is where Kirby Smart and his staff did their best work along the recruiting trail.

For Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers, that’s where they are attempting to get to. The 2024 class provides evidence that it’s happening along the defensive line as well. Here’s a comparison of defensive line commitments for UGA and AU with Joseph Jonah-Ajonye heading to Athens and Malik Blocton soon to be on the Plains.

Jonah-Ajonye hails from just outside of Houston and plays for Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge. He’s going against top competition and uses his 6-foot-4 and 260-pound frame to dismantle the opposition.

In particular, Jonah-Ajonye’s two-hand swipe move is a go-to maneuver that allows him – along with his natural length and quickness – to move past offensive linemen with relative ease. It’s impressive to see him defeat blocks quickly overall.

Jonah-Ajonye provides the power and change-of-direction skills that make him the #26 composite recruit per 247. It’s deserved because Jonah-Ajonye has all the tools to be an All-American for UGA. As for Auburn, it has a recruit committed with some similar traits, albeit one that’s honestly not ranked nearly as high as he should be.

Playing for Pike Road (Ala.) High School, Malik Blocton is currently the #405 player in the land according to the 247 composite. Let’s dig into the particulars of this Auburn commitment.

Blocton has a slightly larger frame than Jonah-Ajonye. He’s 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds. He likes to use a two-hand bull rush move that also combines a pull-through and rip. It’s a traditional combination move that many power players utilize at the NFL level.

Like Jonah-Ajonye, Blocton’s power and athleticism stand out on film. Is he quite as fast as Jonah-Ajonye? No. He’s more powerful, however. Blocton also sheds blocks with his length and finds his way to the ball carrier. In short, he's the type of player Auburn needs to be successful at the highest level of SEC competition.

Along the defensive line, he’s a good example of how Auburn is beginning to close the gap on UGA. The Tigers still need to take yet another step in defensive line recruiting to completely close the gap by signing several players like him. While true, Blocton is a sure sign that the Tigers are beginning to close the talent gap with Georgia.

Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials!

[aubiefifty 18,259]

cbssports.com

Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Auburn Tigers: How to watch college football online, TV channel, live stream info, start time

Scout Staff

3–4 minutes

Who's Playing

Auburn Tigers @ Vanderbilt Commodores

Current Records: Auburn 4-4, Vanderbilt 2-7

How To Watch

When: Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 4 p.m. ET

Where: FirstBank Stadium -- Nashville, Tennessee

TV: SEC Network

Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)

Follow: CBS Sports App

What to Know

Auburn has enjoyed a two-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. The Auburn Tigers and the Vanderbilt Commodores will face off in an SEC battle at 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday at FirstBank Stadium. Vanderbilt took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on Auburn, who comes in off a win.

Last Saturday, Auburn didn't have too much trouble with Mississippi State at home as they won 27-13. The over/under was set at 40 points, so nice work oddsmakers; you were right on the money.

Auburn can attribute much of their success to Jarquez Hunter, who rushed for 144 yards while picking up 8.5 yards per carry, and Payton Thorne, who threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns while completing 76.9% of his passes. Hunter was no stranger to the big play, taking off on a dash that went for 50 yards.

Meanwhile, Vanderbilt's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Saturday after their seventh straight loss. They ended up on the wrong side of a bruising 33-7 walloping at the hands of Ole Miss. Vanderbilt was in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 26-0.

The victory got Auburn back to even at 4-4. As for Vanderbilt, their loss was their fourth straight on the road, which dropped their overall record down to 2-7.

Looking forward, Auburn is the favorite in this one, as the experts expect to see them win by 12 points. Bettors picking them against the spread have some confidence (to put it mildly), as the team is sitting on a three-game streak of failing to cover when playing on the road.

Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Saturday's contest: The Tigers have been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 186 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for the Commodores , though, as they've been averaging only 92.8 per game. How will Vanderbilt fare against such a dominant running game?

Odds

Auburn is a big 12.5-point favorite against Vanderbilt, according to the latest college football odds.

The over/under is set at 49.5 points.

See college football picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now.

Series History

Auburn won the only game these two teams have played in the last 7 years.

Nov 05, 2016 - Auburn 23 vs. Vanderbilt 16

[aubiefifty 18,259]

theplainsman.com

Players to watch, keys to victory against Vanderbilt

4–5 minutes

Auburn managed to rebound from a four-game skid and earn its first conference win of the Hugh Freeze era after a home win over Mississippi State. Next, Auburn starts its two-game road trip – starting in Nashville, Tennessee against Vanderbilt (2-7).  

Vanderbilt is coming off a game against SEC West opponent Ole Miss, in which it lost 33-7 in Oxford. The Commodores were outgained 431 to 229 with a net 60 passing yards. 

Despite the Tigers besting the Commodores in 13 out of the last 15 games, the all-time series remains tied 21-21-1. The two losses in that time frame come from Auburn's two most recent trips to Nashville, ending in two Tiger losses.  

Players to Watch  

Auburn: 

Jarquez Hunter (Running Back) 

The junior running back has begun to show signs of dominance Auburn fans expected, with 144 yards rushing against Mississippi State and 91 yards against Ole Miss. The Commodore defense has struggled against the run, ranking last in the SEC in rushing yards allowed per game with 174.4 and last with 4.9 yards allowed per carry. Look for Auburn to lean on Hunter and the run game. 

Auburn Wide Receiver Room

The Vanderbilt defense has allowed a 100+ yard receiver in four of its last five games. No Auburn receiver has hit the 100-yard mark yet this season. It has yet to be done by an Auburn receiver against an SEC opponent since Shederick Jackson recorded 111 yards against South Carolina on Nov. 11, 2021. Auburn will need someone to step up in the receiving core. 

Vanderbilt: 

Will Sheppard (WR) 

The lone bright spot in the Vanderbilt offense has some impressive numbers in his senior season. Ranking third in the SEC in touchdowns with eight and sixth with 591 yards receiving, the preseason All-SEC pick has lived up to the hype. Sheppard faces a loaded Auburn secondary. 

Vanderbilt Quarterback Room 

Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea has named Ken Seals and Walter Taylor co-starters after benching Seals in favor of Taylor against Ole Miss. AJ Swann, the team's starter at the beginning of the season, has appeared in five games this season but, due to injury, has been sidelined for the last four games. With Swann unavailable, the two must be on their game against an Auburn secondary leading the SEC in interceptions. 

Keys to Victory

Auburn 

Auburn fans saw shades of what the Tiger's offense is capable of in the first half against Mississippi State. However, Auburn's offense reverted back to what has been seen most of the season in the second half with conservative play calling and empty possessions. Auburn must keep its foot on the gas for all four quarters through the air and on the ground. 

Vanderbilt

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Auburn Plainsman delivered to your inbox

The difference between the Auburn and Vanderbilt total offenses is 11.2 yards per game. While the Commodore offense is nothing to rave about, it averages 23 points per game at home against SEC opponents. Auburn, against Power Five opponents, averages 14 points per game on the road. Make Auburn earn the points and prevent short fields. 

Auburn and Vanderbilt kick off on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 3 p.m. CST in Nashville, Tennessee. The will be televised on SEC Network. 

Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.

Craig Noyes | Sports Writer

Craig Noyes is a junior from Kensington, Maryland, majoring in journalism. He joined The Plainsman in January 2023.

Twitter: @craignoyes58

Share and discuss “Players to watch, keys to victory against Vanderbilt” on social media.

[aubiefifty 18,259]

al.com

Watch as Hugh Freeze surprises Auburn player with football scholarship

Updated: Nov. 03, 2023, 10:56 a.m.|Published: Nov. 03, 2023, 9:35 a.m.

~3 minutes

Auburn Football

Watch as Auburn’s Freeze surprises player with visit from family, awards him football scholarship

Auburn offensive lineman Dillon Wade was asked by head coach Hugh Freeze to open the door to the team meeting room to let in Freeze’s guests.

“I’ve never done this before,” Freeze said. “I have never, in 31 years of coaching, done this before.”

Behind the door was the wife of Auburn senior wide receiver Kassidy Woods, Kyli. And on Kyli’s hip was the daughter of the couple, Serenity.

As Freeze introduced his guests to Auburn’s football team, he also went on to reveal that Woods, who transferred to The Plains from Northern Colorado, had taken out a personal loan to pay for his tuition at Auburn so he could be a part of the Tigers’ program.

“He took out a dadgum private loan, just so he could be a part of your team,” Freeze said.

But Woods wouldn’t have to keep that loan, Freeze announced.

“Today I want to clear that debt for him,” Freeze began. “And put him on scholarship.”

Freeze’s announcement was followed with an applause and some exciting hooting and hollering by Auburn’s players as Woods made his way down to the front of the room to unite with his family and head coach.

“I’m so happy for y’all and you have earned it,” Freeze told Woods. “You come to work every single day with a smile on your face, you stay after practice and you serve this team well. And men, that is what it’s about. It’s about serving each other.”

Before all was said and done, with his young daughter in his arms, Woods took the time to address his teammates.

“God’s grace and mercy have really been over my life,” Woods said. “Y’all really have accepted my family and it’s just cool to have this experience with y’all. And y’all just seeing Serenity grow up. I just want to say I love y’all and I appreciate y’all.”

At Northern Colorado, Woods recorded 57 receptions for 633 yards and four touchdowns. While Woods has yet to appear in a game for the Tigers, as evident by Freeze’s remarks, he finds other ways to contribute to the Auburn football team.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

[aubiefifty 18,259]

The Pregame Pod: Everything you need to know about Vanderbilt

Previewing Auburn's trip to Nashville with Robbie Weinstein from Vandy247

Nathan KingNov 3rd, 12:01 AM

 

Welcome back to another edition of the Auburn Undercover Podcast.

Nathan King is joined by Robbie Weinstein from Vandy247 to preview Auburn's trip to Nashville, including the Commodores' QB situation, where the wheels have fallen off for Clark Lea's team, and where Vanderbilt could possibly find some matchup advantages.

RUN TIME: 28 minutes

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[SaltyTiger 8,579]

Happy game day Fiddy. Gorgeous morning on the Plains. Little work this morning. Fried chicken as soon as Kroger gets it ready then settle in for lots of football.

[Tiger Refuge 6,798]

6 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said:

Happy game day Fiddy. Gorgeous morning on the Plains. Little work this morning. Fried chicken as soon as Kroger gets it ready then settle in for lots of football.

Man, you already putting that fried chicken voodoo over my day. Now I’m gonna have to run to my favorite gas station later.😬

[Gowebb11 9,882]

9 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said:

Happy game day Fiddy. Gorgeous morning on the Plains. Little work this morning. Fried chicken as soon as Kroger gets it ready then settle in for lots of football.

Excellent game day menu choice! WDE!

[Gowebb11 9,882]

Thanks for these articles @aubiefifty