Texas A&M football is preparing to face off against the Auburn Tigers this Saturday in Kyle Field, looking to get off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2016.
This is a big time game for the Aggies. They're kicking off a three-game home stand against Auburn, Mississippi State, and Florida, where— should they go 3-0— they may find themselves in the top 5 when all is said and done. They need all the momentum they can get headed into a three-game roadtrip that will last into November.
So how do the Aggies match up with Auburn? How well can the Ags limit Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton? Let's break down this game.
Players to watch for Texas A&M football vs Auburn
Marcel Reed will be looking to have another big day through the air. The Tigers have given up a fair amount of passing yards, despite looking impressive against Oklahoma last week, and the Aggies can take advantage. Reed will have to make decisions fast against a ferocious Auburn front, but he held up well against a tough Notre Dame pass rush as well.
On that note, I think Trey Zuhn will have quite a task ahead of him in blocking Keldrick Faulk, one of the best edge players in the nation. The Aggie senior has seen some pretty dynamic pass rushers in his day, but Faulk could be up there with the best of them.
I'd like to see Le'Veon Moss make some noise in the run game as well. It's been hard for opponents to run on Auburn, but if anyone can, it's the Aggies. Moss will no doubt be key in several high-leverage moments.
Give me Tyler Onyedim to have a big day rushing the passer from the interior. The Tigers gave up a lot of sacks last game, and Elko believes they'll be looking to right some wrongs in this game, but I think Onyedim could be a sneaky candidate to rack up some sacks here.
Players to watch for Auburn vs Texas A&M football
The aforementioned Keldrick Faulk will be a huge threat to the Aggies on the edge. He can play the run and the pass at an elite level, so managing him up front will be a priority for this experienced Aggie offensive line.
Cam Coleman is another obvious name here. He really broke out against the Aggies in a huge way last year, looking nigh-unstoppable for the first piece of the game. Will Lee and Dezz Ricks will have quite the task on their hands as they try to limit him.
Jackson Arnold will be the straw that stirs the drink for the Tigers, of course. His internal clock is questionable, but if he is on time, it could be a long day for the Aggies on defense. Timely runs are what Auburn needs most against this A&M defense.
Prediction for Texas A&M football vs Auburn
There are a lot of factors that favor the Aggies in this one, not least of which is the fact that this is the second-straight road game for the Tigers. They had a very emotional game against Oklahoma last weekend, one which they are still talking about due to a bit of controversy, so they may not be quite as locked in as they otherwise might.
I also think the Aggies will be able to gash the Tigers through the air, thus also giving them more rushing success than many other teams have seen against Hugh Freeze and company. The Aggies should be able to control this game, in other words, dictating the pace and character of how things go.
I'm tempted to say the Aggies break 40 again, but I'll stick with my earlier prediction that Texas A&M ends up winning 34-17. The Aggies will enter Mississippi State week at 4-0.