Nick Marshall and Auburn head out on the road to take on Arkansas Saturday.. (Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports)
It is an interesting weekend coming up in the Southeastern Conference with classic matchups like Georgia-Florida in Jacksonville.
South Carolina looks to stay on the heels of Missouri in the SEC East race when the Gamecocks host the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Missouri is hoping to get back on the winning track when the Tigers host Tennessee, who might still be licking its wounds from the beating Alabama gave the Vols last weekend.
A couple of non-conference games find Kentucky hosting Alabama State and Texas A&M hosting UTEP.
Four SEC teams have the weekend off — Vanderbilt and Ole Miss are off as are LSU and Alabama as the two SEC West powers get ready for their big match next weekend.
The Auburn Tigers are taking their incredible 2013 story on the road against Bret Bielema’s Arkansas Razorbacks this weekend.
Coming off a 3-9 season, the Tigers brought in Gus Malzahn to turn the program around and the former Auburn offensive coordinator has done just that. Auburn is 7-1 and after eight games. Last season the Tigers were 1-7 after eight games.
The Tigers have done it with a bruising ground game. The Tigers lead the SEC in rushing at 315.4 yards per game (more than 90 yards better than second-place Missouri), and rank fifth nationally. Auburn, Air Force, Minnesota, Arkansas State and Ohio State are the only teams nationally to have four different 100-yard rushers this season. Auburn’s had 100-yard games out of Tre Mason, Corey Grant, Cameron Artis-Payne and Nick Marshall.
Auburn’s 24 rushing touchdowns and 12 passing touchdowns through eight games this season
has already eclipsed the Tigers’ 2012 season totals in both categories. Wide receiver Sammie Coates leads the nation in yards per reception (25.5); the sophomore has 21 catches for 536 yards and four scores this season.
“We say every week about getting better at executing, and I feel like we have, as far as the little things as execution,” said Malzahn. “We still haven’t got there yet, but we have improved. Any time you can run the football, that opens other things up. So far we’ve been effective running the football.”
Malzahn added about playing Arkansas in Fayetteville: “It is a tough place to play and they have had a week off. I know the extra week will help prepare them. I know our week off a few weeks back was real pivotal for us, especially being a first year coach at a program. We know we have our hands full and we know we are going to get their best effort.”
The Tigers first-year coach is returning to his home state for the weekend date at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, which could put added pressure on him.
“Yeah, I think if you ask our players and our coaches, I get excited no matter who we’re playing. I try to be very consistent,” the Auburn coach said. “This is a big game. We are going on the road; another road test for us. They’ve had an extra week to prepare; and that definitely concerns me. So we expect it to be a tough one.”
The game is a big one for Bielema and his Razorbacks, but for a different reason.
“I brought up to our team last week that we’re a 3-5 football team. You’ve got four teams and four games in front of you. If you win those four, you have a winning record. You’d also have the ability to go to a bowl game. There are a lot incentive and a lot of motivation there,” he said.
“The number one motivation in my opinion for us this week playing Auburn is to gain respect, to play the game the way you know you’re capable of playing, play a four-quarter game for these seniors that it’s the last time for them in Razorback Stadium and give them something to walk out with their head high.”
The SEC Crystal Ball says Auburn’s magical season will continue.
Auburn 42, Arkansas 10.
Around the rest of the league, look for things to go pretty much with the chalk. Here are some predictions for the weekend:
South Carolina 35, Mississippi State 17
Missouri 42, Tennessee 21
Georgia 31, Florida 10
Kentucky 37, Alabama State 7
Texas A&M 52, UTEP 14
