South Carolina @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2011 ) Auburn 16, South Carolina 13

In its quest to get into the College Football Playoff, No. 6 Auburn has no room for error after a loss to Mississippi State in its last game, needing to run the table to get into the four-team field. So the Tigers must take every opponent seriously, starting with visiting South Carolina on Saturday, despite a trip to Mississippi looming just a week away. The Gamecocks snapped a two-game losing streak with a rout of Furman last week, but coach Steve Spurrier's squad needs a lot of improvement to challenge Auburn.

Quarterback Nick Marshall is the key to the Tigers' offense, having passed for at least two touchdowns in his last four games and rushed for at least 100 yards in his last three. The Gamecocks look to their signal-caller, Dylan Thompson, for production through the air, and he has delivered, with 1,839 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. He'll have his work cut out for him against the Tigers' defense, though, which is allowing 213 passing yards a game this season.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: Auburn -17.5.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (4-3, 2-3 SEC): The Gamecocks' defense has had its moments this year, but it also has struggled at times, allowing 52 in the opener against Texas A&M and 45 in a loss to Kentucky in its last SEC outing. For linebacker Marcquis Roberts, the answer is just finding more effort and enthusiasm from a defensive unit that is still learning to play together. “It doesn't seem like we have the same enthusiasm as we used to have, but we are trying to get there,” Roberts told The State. “A lot of players that used to be here that used to bring that (are gone), so we are trying to find that person or that group of people.”

ABOUT AUBURN (5-1, 2-1): During their bye week, the Tigers worked to try to rediscover the rushing offense that picked up 6.7 yards per carry on first down last year. This year, Auburn is averaging 5.5 yards on first down, a stat that coach Gus Malzahn is hoping to improve upon the rest of the season. “When something bad happens, it's never just one thing,” Malzahn told AL.com. “If we can get our linemen in the same spot and stay healthy for the second half and really start working together and get some cohesion, there's no doubt in my mind that we'll be more effective and more efficient in the running game.”

EXTRA POINTS

1. South Carolina TE Rory Anderson, the Gamecocks' third-leading receiver with 18 catches for 204 yards, is out for at least two weeks with a tear in his left triceps muscle.

2. Auburn S Jermaine Whitehead has been reinstated to the team by Malzahn after being suspended indefinitely and missing four games for being disrespectful to a coach.

3. The Tigers have dominated the series, going 9-1-1 against the Gamecocks, including 3-0 in games played at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

PREDICTION: Auburn 42, South Carolina 21