AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn Tigers (4-6, 1-5) welcome the No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies (8-2, 5-1) to Jordan-Hare Saturday for their final home game of the year. While the contests may not look exciting on paper, the Tigers need a win to keep their bowl hopes alive, and the Aggies know a loss could end their College Football Playoff bid.
It’s Senior Night on the Plains for 29 Auburn Tigers including running back Jarquez Hunter and edge Jalen McLeod. “It’s going to be an electrifying crowd,” McLeod expects, speaking to the atmosphere inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. Just over two years ago, an electric crowd helped will the Tigers to victory in a game with even less to play for. Both teams were 3-6 at the time, and Auburn had recently fired Bryan Harsin.
The Tigers will look to the crowd again Saturday, as the Aggies have a significant edge on paper. Texas A&M boasts wins over LSU and Missouri, both ranked in the top 10 at the time of the games. Despite their record, ESPN’s football power index gives the Aggies just a 57.7 percent chance to win Saturday, and Las Vegas favors A&M by 2.5. The Tigers have to like those odds against a top 15 team.
Auburn is just 3-4 at home this season, none of those wins coming against SEC foes. Saturday’s matchup is Head Coach Hugh Freeze and company’s final chance this season to give home fans something to cheer about. To do that, Freeze will look to his stars.
“We need to get our playmakers involved early,” said Freeze. Playmakers have been the recipe to Auburn’s limited success this season, most notably Jarquez Hunter, Cam Coleman, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, all three being key to Auburn’s four wins on the season.
On the other side, Texas A&M has playmakers of its own, starting with quarterback Marcel Reed. Reed has been efficient leading the passing attack with 1,129 yards and nine touchdowns to just two interceptions. He adds 375 yards and six touchdowns on the ground to an already strong rushing attack led by juniors Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels. The duo have combined for 1,315 yards and 17 touchdowns to help lead the Aggies’ second best rushing attack in the SEC.
With bowl dreams and playoff hopes on the line, the Tigers and Aggies face off in the penultimate game of the regular season. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Listen on the Auburn Sports Network or watch on ESPN.
