The Auburn Tigers came close to winning a second BCS National Championship last year, but eventually surrendered their lead in a come-from-behind loss to the eventual champions, Florida State.
This season, their vaunted rushing offense will be back hungrier than ever for that National Championship. But can their devastating offense cover up for what their defense appears to lack?
See what Auburn will be up against in the defense of their conference title in our SEC preview, and read on for more on the Tigers.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]2014 Auburn Tigers Season Preview
Key Player – QB Nick Marshall
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Talented dual-threat quarterback Nick Marshall will return for his senior season to orchestrate Auburn’s offense and the young man couldn’t be more important to his team. Last year, Marshall produced 3,044 yards of total offense including 26 total touchdowns. 1,976 came from his arm, while the other 1,068 came from his legs as part of head coach Gus Malzahn’s spread offense.
Marshall’s dynamism and athleticism on the run sets him apart as an offensive weapon, but he still has room to grow as a passer. He completed just 59.4 percent of his passes last year.
If he continues his development as quarterback this season and adds accurate passing to his arsenal, Marshall could become a legitimate Heisman candidate. The senior is +1,600 to win the award this year.
Strength – Rushing Offense
The Auburn Tigers ran the ball 72 percent of the time in 2013, which bolstered their spot as the top rushing team in college football with 328 yards per game. Quarterback Marshall can run the ball himself as he has displayed numerous times last year, but he is not alone in contributing to their vaunted rushing offense.
In 2013-2014, Heisman Trophy finalist Tre Mason was one of the biggest contributors to the Tigers’ rushing offense, but Mason is now in the NFL. Nevertheless, Marshall will have steady support from running backs Cameron Artis-Payne (610 yards) and Corey Grant (647 yards) this season.
And even if their backs don’t perform the way the team hopes they will, Auburn should be in a strong position offensively. The coaching staff has been working on the team’s passing offense to make it a more well-rounded attack, a plan that will center around wide receiver Sammi Coates (902 yards receiving in 2013-2014).
All told, this is an Auburn Tigers team that can get things done. Create a betting account now to place your bets on Auburn at +900 to win the first running of the college football playoffs, or to bet on any other element of the college football madness.
Weakness – Defense
Auburn had quite the prolific offense last season; they were 11th in total yards per game. Unfortunately, their defense gave up quite a bit of it back on the other end. During defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson’s first season in charge, Auburn gave up 420.7 yards per game, which ranked third to last in the SEC.
That porous Auburn defense also got significantly weaker this offseason with the departure of star defensive end Dee Ford (31 total tackles & 10.5 sacks last season) to the NFL. Elijah Daniel and Carl Lawson will look to fill Ford’s cleats on the defensive end; Lawson had four sacks as a true freshman last season.
The Tigers also won’t have cornerback and Iron Bowl hero Chris Davis in a secondary which was second from bottom in the conference. Johnson has some work to do with his unit, especially if the offense suffers any drop-off without Mason’s rushing ability.
Key Game – November 29 at Alabama
Last year’s classic Iron Bowl match between Auburn and Alabama saw one of the most improbable come-from-behind wins. Auburn’s Chris Davis fielded a missed field goal attempt from the opposing team, then sprinted for a 109-yard touchdown to steal a 34-28 win.
Without that errant kick and subsequent miracle run, Alabama may have been the one playing in the SEC Championship, and quite possibly the National Championship. Instead, Auburn won the division and went on to the title game.
You bet Nick Saban has been waiting for the chance to get one back on Gus Malzahn and the Tigers. This game, which will be held in Alabama’s backyard in Tuscaloosa, has a potential to be another thriller that cannot be missed.
Prediction
The loss of Mason and Ford see Auburn take a step back this season. They will once again put up a formidable challenge in the SEC, but the lack of experience in their defense will cost them. The Tigers lose the Iron Bowl against Alabama, one of three games they drop this season to finish a slightly disappointing 10-2.
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