UL Monroe @ Auburn preview
Jordan-Hare Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2008 ) UL Monroe 0, Auburn 34
As much as 11th-ranked Auburn would like to win its fifth consecutive game to start the season when it plays host to Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, the Tigers would prefer this one didn't come in the same fashion as the last two.
After overcoming double-digit deficits in home wins against Clemson and South Carolina the past two weeks, the Tigers are off to a 4-0 start for the second consecutive season and the fourth time in seven years.
Led by quarterback Cam Newton - the Southeastern Conference's leading rusher at 121.3 yards per game - the Tigers rank seventh in the nation in rushing (278 yards per game) and are tied for 17th in total offense (468 yards per game).
Freshman tailback Michael Dyer (78 rushing yards per game) and sophomore Onterio McCalebb (70 per game) have also contributed to Auburn's potent ground game, but it has been the 6-foot-6, 250-pound junior Newton who provides the greatest threat to opposing defenses.
The junior college transfer rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns in his Auburn debut against Arkansas State, and he topped those totals with 176 yards and three scores last week against South Carolina.
Newton also has completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 683 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. He ranks fourth in the nation with a passer efficiency rating of 182.46.
More important to the Tigers, their talented quarterback has taken over in the second half of the past two games. He led Auburn back from a 17-3 halftime deficit against Clemson, throwing for two second-half touchdowns. And Newton accounted for five touchdowns - three rushing, two passing - last week against South Carolina, leading the Tigers back after they fell behind 20-7 in the second quarter.
If the Warhawks (1-2) want to have a chance, they'll need to keep Newton and Auburn's high-powered offense under 30 points. The Tigers have won 58 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more, a streak that dates back to 1996.
Louisiana-Monroe picked up its first win last week, beating Southeastern Louisiana 21-20 in its home opener. Dual-threat quarterback Kolton Browning led the way with 324 total yards and three touchdowns - two passing and one rushing. Browning, a redshirt freshman, is third in the Sun Belt in total offense at 257.7 yards per game.
Auburn is 15-0 all-time against teams from the Sun Belt Conference, including a 7-0 mark against the Warhawks. The Tigers won the last meeting 34-0 at home in 2008.
The Warhawks are 0-18 all-time against ranked opponents.