Florida Atlantic @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2011 ) Florida Atlantic 14, Auburn 30

No. 17 Auburn looks to keep its momentum from last week's big win at Texas A&M when it hosts nonconference foe Florida Atlantic Saturday. The Tigers defeated the Aggies on the road, winning their third straight and putting themselves No. 11 in the first BCS rankings. The Owls come into the game off a bye week following one-point loss at home to Marshall.

The game will feature two dangerous quarterbacks in Auburn's Nick Marshall and Florida Atlantic's Jaquez Johnson. Both players can do damage through the air and on the ground. The Tigers were able to hold A&M's Johnny Manziel to 48 yards rushing and sacked him three times, so they're prepared for a dual-threat signal-caller.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: Auburn -23.5.

ABOUT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (2-5): Owls coach Carl Pelini was worried about his team keeping fresh during the bye week, so he made sure to have a full-speed scrimmage at a practice. “The most important thing we get out of these days is full-speed work,” Pelini told the Palm Beach Post. “You don't want to go two weeks between playing full speed.” Despite some early sluggishness after three days off, Pelini was pleased with the workout and hopes it helps when the Owls hit the field against the Tigers.

ABOUT AUBURN (6-1): After last week's win over Texas A&M put Auburn in control of its own destiny in the SEC West, many see the Tigers as potential national-championship contenders. But Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has his team focused on what's ahead, as in this week's game, rather than the big picture. “The only thing we talked about is this week and Florida Atlantic,” Malzahn said at his weekly news conference. “We're not talking about anything else or thinking about anything else. We're going to keep the same approach.”

EXTRA POINTS

1. Johnson has been hot of late, with 807 passing yards, 217 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns over his last three games.

2. Marshall became only the second Tigers signal-caller to rush and pass for two or more scores in the same game last week, joining Cam Newton in that exclusive club.

3. The Tigers won the only previous meeting between the two schools, a 30-14 decision in 2011.

PREDICTION: Auburn 45, Florida Atlantic 14