AUBURN, Ala. — After their second bye week of the season, the Auburn Tigers (3-6, 1-5) host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (5-4, 3-3). The Warhawks, while not the best team in the Sun Belt conference, could pose a major challenge for the Tigers, with bowl eligibility on the line.
Auburn needs a win against LA-Monroe to keep their bowl hopes alive, while for LA-Monroe, a win against Auburn would make them bowl-eligible for the first time since 2012. Auburn fans and players, though, should remember that last year, New Mexico State defeated Auburn 31-10 in what should have been a guaranteed win for the Tigers. The Tigers need to remember last year's New Mexico State game to avoid another upset from a non-power four school in November.
Looking at both teams, Saturday’s game appears to be gearing up for a showdown between Auburn’s Jarquez Hunter and LA-Monroe’s Ahmad Hardy. The running backs for both teams have comparable stats, and both have had excellent seasons.
The Tiger’s Jarquez Hunter ranks second in the SEC for rushing yards, with 913 total rushing yards, five touchdowns, and an average of 101.4 yards per game. On the other hand, the Warhawks Ahmad Hardy has 915 total rushing yards, nine touchdowns, and an average of 101.67 yards per game.
Saturday’s game will almost certainly come down to which team can utilize their running back more than the other, and which team can adapt to a defense that will focus on the running game rather than the passing game.
Auburn’s key to a win on Saturday will be to utilize the passing game, especially due to the Tigers now having ten players with at least one receiving touchdown. If Auburn’s passing game is as good as their running game, then their offense is in its best position to help Auburn to a victory.
A concern though for the Tigers headed into this week’s game was whether Payton Thorne would play, due to an injury he got in the game against Vanderbilt. For the Tigers though, everything suggests that Payton Thorne will play on Saturday, which is good news for Auburn.
Saturday’s game will be a game in the trenches, and the outcome of it will depend on Auburn’s ability to effectively run and pass the ball. The Tigers also need to have success on defense in stopping LA-Monroe’s run game. If the Tigers can do both, then it looks good for an Auburn win on Saturday.
Bowl hopes are on for the Tigers as it is a win and they still have a chance, but a loss will put them out of a bowl game in Hugh Freeze’s second season. The Tigers look to keep their bowl hopes alive with another early kickoff inside of Jordan-Hare Stadium at 11:45 midway through November.
