The first game of the Will Muschamp era for the Auburn Tigers ended in victory after barely surviving Bobby Petrino’s Louisville Cardinals last Saturday. The Tigers get a much easier assignment for Week 2, as they make their home debut against a visiting FCS program in the form of the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. The Gamecocks, who haven’t won against an FBS team since 2010, are coming over to Auburn looking to notch an unlikely upset win.
In another matchup pitting a Power 5 conference team against an FCS team, the Wisconsin Badgers host the Miami (OH) RedHawks also this coming Saturday. You can click here for a full preview of that game.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs. Auburn Tigers Preview
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn
When: Saturday, September 12, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Auburn Tigers – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks
[sc:NCAA240banner ]So much grass was burnt by the Gamecocks in their Week 1 game against the Chattanooga Mocs. Hell bent on ramming the ball down Chattanooga’s throat, Jacksonville State rushed for an astounding 298 yards, albeit scoring just one rushing touchdown, in a close 23-20 win over the Mocs on Saturday.
Senior running back Troymaine Pope led the Gamecocks ground attack against the Mocs, as he ran for 173 yards on 15 carries. Hopefully for the Gamecocks, Pope’s wheels will be just as effective against Auburn this coming Saturday.
Pope making a big dent on the Tigers’ defense, however, is much easier said than done even against an Auburn defense that allowed Louisville to run for 238 yards and three touchdowns. After all, the Tigers are an FBS team playing in arguable the toughest conference in the nation. At best, the Gamecocks could ask more activity from their passing game to somehow keep Auburn’s defense guessing.
That means extra pressure on Gamecocks quarterback Eli Jenkins, who threw for only 113 yards and a touchdown on 16 of 24 passing against Chattanooga. Jenkins is a dual-threat quarterback who had 2,658 total yards and 18 total touchdowns a year ago.
Jacksonville State’s defense, meanwhile, will rely on players that have FBS experience. That includes defensive end LaMichael Fanning (Alabama) and tackle Devaunte Sigler, who played for Auburn from 2011 to 2012. Safety Debarriaus Miller, on the other hand, leads the secondary. Miller didn’t record an interception against Chattanooga, but remains a threat, as evidenced by his four interceptions and 55 solo tackles last season.
Jacksonville State is 0-3 ATS in its last three road games.
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Betting on the Auburn Tigers
Will Muschamp didn’t take long to make his presence felt as the new defensive coordinator of Auburn. In fact, the Tigers needed just the first half of their Week 1 win over Louisville to show their major improvements on defense. Auburn, however, couldn’t sustain the defensive tenacity that kept the Cardinals scoreless in the first half, as the Tigers gave up 24 points to Louisville in the second half. But at least Auburn got the win, 31-24. The Tigers now head home, where they are 8-2 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games.
Consistency on defense is one of the things Auburn will look to improve on moving forward. Overall, the Tigers allowed Louisville to compile 405 total yards. Auburn’s defense against the run definitely leaves much to be desired after the Cards’ backfield racked up 238 yards—106 of which came from Louisville signal-caller Lamar Jackson.
A matchup against the run-heavy and led by a dual-threat quarterback Jacksonville State should serve as a good test for Muschamp’s boys.
Like its defense, Auburn’s offense also has to be refined. Taking over the reins from Nick Marshall, quarterback Jeremy Johnson failed to impress, as he passed for only 137 yards (11 of 21) and a touchdown with three interceptions against the Cards. It would be unacceptable for Johnson to be just as bad in his decision-making against an FCS team in Jacksonville State.
Writer’s Prediction
Auburn wins, 45-10.
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