Auburn (4-4, 1-4) will travel to Nashville this weekend to take on Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-5). The Commodores have lost seven straight, while the Tigers are coming off a win against Mississippi State. As the Tigers head to Nashville this weekend, they'll look to build off of the momentum they created against the Bulldogs.
Logic would tell you Auburn should win this game with ease. Vanderbilt, per usual, is the worst team in the SEC. The Commodores have lost every game since starting the season 2-0.
Vanderbilt has played three different quarterbacks this season, and not to add insult to injury, but its stadium is the laughing stock of college football as it undergoes major renovations. The construction zones can be seen during the game, and the construction has limited the stadium capacity to just over 20,000 people.
Logic, however, can be thrown out the window when it comes to college football. No matter the record, talent, or environment, anything can happen. The Commodores will be ready to play, and if the Tigers aren't prepared, it could be a dangerous game.
"This is a scary game to me," Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said. "I've always thought playing there (Vanderbilt) was difficult, for whatever reason."
Auburn has not had much experience handling success this season. They lost four straight before defeating Mississippi State this past weekend. They have also not played good football on the road. Freeze is hopeful they will be ready this weekend.
"It's a difficult place to play, and it's got my full attention," Freeze said. "And hopefully, our kids will be mature enough to approach this with the same hunger that they did last week."
The key to avoiding a letdown this weekend could be continuing to find success offensively. The Tigers offense has struggled for the majority of the season, but against Mississippi State, it finally clicked. Auburn scored 27 points, 24 of which came in the first half, and Payton Thorne had his best game of his Auburn career to date.
Thorne threw for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. He looked the most comfortable he has been all season.
"I thought he played really solid, really confidently, and I thought our kids responded to that around him well," Freeze said.
If Payton Thorne and Auburn's offense can build upon last week's performance in Nashville on Saturday, they will likely win with relative ease. However, if the offense reverts back to how it played in previous road games this season, Vanderbilt could make this game dangerous.
As for the Tigers defense, it has been pretty solid all year. Although the defense may not have the depth of other teams, defensive coordinator Ron Roberts has put the team in positions to succeed.
“Well, he’s one of the best in the nation at calling games," Freeze said of Roberts. "We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses, and you want to play to your strengths. One of his strengths is definitely gameday, calling the football game from a defensive perspective and making the adjustments within the system. I think he is really, really gifted at that.”
Auburn's defense should have no trouble handling Vanderbilt's offense, but it may not know which quarterback is starting until kickoff. The Commodores have played three different players at the position this season. Auburn will have to prepare for each one.
"I don’t know what (AJ) Swann’s status is," Freeze said. "I don’t really know if he can come back or not, but I would love to know that. (Ken) Seals, and then this kid they brought in last week, (CJ) Taylor, is very athletic."
All in all, Saturday's game against Vanderbilt is not one Hugh Freeze and Auburn should lose, but as always, if you do not play well, upsets can happen. The Tigers will look to build on last Saturday's win and start a winning streak.
Saturday's game will kick off at 3 p.m. C.T. on SEC Network at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville.
