Texas A&M @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 4, 2017 ) Auburn 42, Texas A&M 27

Texas A&M was a dark horse contender for a spot in the College Football Playoff until a disappointing loss at Mississippi State last week and is looking for solutions on offense. The Aggies will try to solve their red zone execution issues and avoid back-to-back losses when they wrap up a stretch of three straight road games by visiting Auburn on Saturday.

Texas A&M has yet to score more than 26 points in SEC play and managed only a field goal in the second half of last week's 28-13 loss at Mississippi State. "I'm disappointed we're not reaching our capabilities," Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher told reporters. "I think when you go on the road you've really got to lock into that. ... We don't have issues moving the football. We've just got to have details to finish." The Tigers can point to similar struggles for their lackluster record but seemed to solve some of their problems on the ground in a 31-16 win at Ole Miss that preceded their bye week. Freshman running back JaTarvious Whitlow broke out for a season-high 170 yards on 19 carries as part of an Auburn effort that churned out 269 rushing yards and averaged 5.8 yards per carry in the victory.

TV: Noon, ET, ESPN. LINE: Auburn -5

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (5-3, 3-2 SEC): Aggies running back Trayveon Williams helped drag the team to wins over Arkansas, Kentucky and South Carolina but suffered through his worst game of the season last week, when he was held to 26 yards on 10 carries. Williams, who ran for 103 yards against Auburn last season, is averaging 30 yards in the team's three losses and 147.2 yards in the five victories. "It was tough to run the ball," Williams told reporters after falling last week. "Mississippi State has a great defensive front and they know how to stop the run. ... In order to win, you've got to get the run game going. I definitely feel that's something we struggled with. We got out-executed in some moments."

ABOUT AUBURN (5-3, 2-3): Whitlow seems to be the answer to the Tigers' problems in the run game and is the unquestioned starter at the position coming off the bye week, pushing junior Kam Martin into a backup role. Martin began the season as the starter after averaging 7.3 yards per carry as a freshman and 6.1 as a sophomore, but he is down to 3.7 as a junior and did not carry the ball more than four times in any of the last three contests. "Kam is one of our leaders," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn told reporters. "He sets the tone for a lot of guys on offense. He is a team guy and he is ready when called upon whenever his name is called."

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond has thrown at least one INT in four of the last five games.

2. The Auburn defense is tied for first in FBS with three rushing TDs allowed.

3. The visiting team has taken each of the last six meetings in the series, with the Tigers earning a 42-27 win at the Aggies last season.

PREDICTION: Auburn 27, Texas A&M 20