Texas A&M @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 19, 2013 ) Auburn 45, Texas A&M 41

Auburn already is in position for a spot in the inaugural college football playoff, but the third-ranked Tigers might as well have started the playoffs weeks ago. Auburn's difficult stretch of SEC opponents continues when the Tigers put their 14-game home winning streak on the line Saturday against Texas A&M. The Aggies once figured prominently in the playoff race but have fallen from the rankings after three straight losses in October.

The Tigers checked in third in the latest playoff committee rankings, but with two SEC road tests in addition to Saturday's contest still on the schedule, coach Gus Malzahn is more concerned with what his team does on the field than where it is in the rankings. "We have to go on the road at Georgia and on the road at Alabama, so we understand it's too early to worry about rankings," Malzahn said during this week's SEC teleconference. "We have a lot of work to do. If we win, it will take care of itself." Texas A&M has won three of four all-time meetings, including a 63-21 victory in its only trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2012.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Auburn -21.5.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (6-3, 2-3 SEC): The Aggies will go with freshman quarterback Kyle Allen for the second straight game while Kenny Hill completes his two-game suspension for violating team rules. The job might be Allen's to keep if he can turn in a strong performance, and he is surrounded by weapons — nine receivers and five running backs have scored at least one touchdown this season. The defense has stars in cornerback Deshazor Everett and defensive end Myles Garrett, but the unit as a whole has struggled against strong competition, allowing 39.6 points per game in SEC play.

ABOUT AUBURN (7-1, 4-1): The Tigers don't hide what they want to do in Malzahn's scheme, but that doesn't make it easier to slow down their potent rushing attack, which is led by Cameron Artis-Payne (974 yards, 7 TDs) and quarterback Nick Marshall (631 yards, 9 TDs). The defense has been tough with its back against the wall, holding opponents to 17 touchdowns and four field goals in 33 red-zone trips, thanks in part to six turnovers inside the 20. One of those — a fumble by Ole Miss receiver Laquon Treadwell — preserved last week's 35-31 road win to keep the Tigers' title hopes alive.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Auburn is one of four FBS teams that has scored at least 20 points in every game since the beginning of the 2013 season.

2. Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett owns the SEC freshman record with 11 sacks and ranks second in the league in sacks and third in tackles for loss (12.5).

3. The Tigers are 16-1 since 2005 in games in which both teams score at least 30 points.

PREDICTION: Auburn 41, Texas A&M 23