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Auburn (4-4) has lost two straight, but it’s not playing poorly – it’s just not the team everyone wanted it to be. Winning two out of the last four gets it done for a bowl game, and this is the last road game of the year. Texas A&M (6-2) got past a two-game losing streak to get by South Carolina, and there’s still time to make a ton of noise in the West by winning out. With just two home games left, the Aggies need this. Check out the Auburn vs. Texas A&M game preview and prediction.

Auburn vs. Texas A&M Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Nov. 7
Game Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Kyle Field, College Station, TX

Network: SEC Network

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Why You Need To Care

What is Texas A&M at this point? It’s not the explosive team that was a must-watch every week with Johnny Manziel at the helm, and it’s not the dominant balanced force that can pound away and grind out games. It’s really more of a team that just finds ways to get by, doing a nice job in home wins over Mississippi State and South Carolina, but without the pop to do anything against Alabama or Ole Miss. With Western Carolina and Vanderbilt up next, a win over a struggling Auburn should mean a strong run before going to LSU. This can still be a ten-win season, and while that might not be good enough for a program looking for titles, that’s not too bad considering all the inconsistencies.

Auburn is stuck in the mud. The running game is okay, the passing attack is at least moving a wee bit, but it’s just … so … hard … to get any sort of a positive momentum going. Even the recent wins over San Jose State and Kentucky took fights – the Tigers have yet to have one easy win all year. This isn’t what anyone envisioned at the start of the season, but there are three huge chances to change around final perceptions. This is the final road game, and then comes Georgia, and after the layup at the end comes Alabama. With a relatively easy game for Idaho coming, all the Tigers have to do is win one of the three big games and they’ll go bowling.

Why Auburn Will Win

This is it, Auburn, This is the time to really start to charge up that ground game that’s been missing. South Carolina isn’t running consistently well on anyone, but it came up with 253 yards and four scores last week. The Aggies have allowed 230 yards or more in four of the last five games and five of the last seven – the Tigers should be able to pound away and start to get something moving again. The rushing attack has yet to average more than five yards per carry in any game – last year it averaged 5.5 yards per pop for the season and 6.3 in 2013. This week, Auburn has to commit to the run and stick with it.

Why Texas A&M Will Win

The Auburn defense that was supposed to do more attacking under defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, and was supposed to be far more effective and aggressive, is having a hard time simply getting off the field. The Tigers are allowing teams to convert a whopping 46% of their third down chances, and that’s mostly because the D isn’t coming up with big stops on first and second downs – there are too many manageable third down tries. Partly due to the pass rush, A&M has been fantastic on third downs, allowing teams to convert just 32% of the time – Auburn isn’t going to move the ball consistently. Considering how bad Texas A&M is at time of possession, it’ll get a break this week.

Player Who Matters

It’s Kyler Murray again under center for the Aggies. With tremendous mobility and dangerous playmaking ability, he’s being seen as a possible Manziel-like figure with the talent to make the A&M offense explode. He completed 20-of-28 passes for 223 yards and a score against South Carolina, while rushing for 156 yards and a touchdown – now he’s expected to do it again. Kyle Allen will get a chance again at some point – assuming he’s healthy – but Murray can make the job truly his for good with another big performance.

What’s Going To Happen?

Can Auburn contain Murray? The running game will work just well enough to keep this close, but the Aggies will come up with two big pass plays the Tigers can’t and won’t. Don’t be shocked if this turns into a bit of a track meet for stretches.

Auburn vs. Texas A&M Prediction

Final Score: Texas A&M 38, Auburn 30, Line: Texas A&M -7.5, o/u: 58.5

Must See Rating:5: The Gospel According To Mac – 1: Supergirl … 3