Texas A&M should just get through this alive, no matter how it appears, and then it’s on. All of the emphasis and attention in the SEC is on the A&M vs. Texas game on Thanksgiving weekend, which determines almost everything in the SEC Championship race, but defeating a desperate Tiger team in its home finale is difficult enough.
Auburn has won two of its past three games in a disastrous season, but if they can ruin Texas A&M’s season this week, Alabama’s season the following week, and get bowl-eligible, everything will be fine. On the other hand, a loss this week would put it under pressure. Two consecutive defeats would mark the program’s lowest season since falling 3-9 in 2012.
Texas A&M vs Auburn: How to Watch and Game Preview
Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Game Time: 7:30 pm ET
How To Watch: ESPN
Venue: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Teams: Auburn (4-6), Texas A&M (8-2)
CFN Bluesky | CFN X | CFN FB
- Week 13 Schedule, Predictions
Why Texas A&M will win
Auburn must win the running game war, and it will face a team with a stronger ground game.
It’s that simple. The Tigers are 4-0 when they run for more than 150 yards and 0-6 when they are restricted to less than that – but they have run for 177 yards or more in their triumphs.
South Carolina dominated Texas A&M earlier this month, and Notre Dame pounded away early in the season, but that’s it for the FBS teams; McNeese State ran well but was blown out.
Texas A&M is 0-2 when allowing 198 yards or more and 8-0 when allowing fewer.
Why Auburn will win
Auburn’s offense consists of more than just running. Sometimes the passing game works, and sometimes the ground game rocks, but when both are active, it wins.
To pull this off, Auburn must be near-perfect at home. Texas A&M will be hammered with a lot of penalties – at least seven per game – and Auburn is outstanding at keeping the flags to a minimum, with none in last week’s win against ULM.
Turnovers have decreased, with only four in the previous six games after 13 in the first four, while Texas A&M has been a little loose, with seven in the last four.
Texas A&M is making mistakes lately, whereas Auburn is not. But …
Texas A&M vs. Auburn: Who Will Win?
Auburn isn’t forcing takeaways, with any in the last two games, and while the team wins with a lot of yards, it averaged close to 500 yards or more in four wins over Kentucky, New Mexico, ULM, and Alabama A&M, none of which are accomplishing much this season.
Auburn will give the Aggies everything they can handle, but they will continue to stall at inconvenient times, the passing game will not click, and the ground attack will fail to dominate.
Texas A&M will not look the part, but whatever. It will win and move on to Texas.
Texas A&M vs. Auburn Prediction and Betting Lines
Prediction: Texas A&M 26, Auburn 20. Line: Texas A&M -2.5, Over/Under: 46.5. ATS. Confidence: 3 out of 5 Must-See Rating: 3.5
