A&M over Missouri
When Texas A&M and Missouri left the Big 12 for the SEC after the 2011 season, I predicted that the Ags would struggle early and Mizzou would prosper. I had it backward. But in Year 2, A&M has come back to Earth a little, and Missouri has soared to the top of the East Division. A&M is 8-3 — with its best wins over Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. But Mizzou can win the East by beating A&M in Columbia on Saturday.
Mizzou has been remarkably consistent. Its only loss was 27-24 in overtime to South Carolina, a game in which MU led 17-0 in the fourth quarter. But A&M remains powerful, thanks to Johnny Manziel. Johnny Football’s last chance to impress Heisman voters comes at Faurot Field.
Mizzou is an 11 1/2-point favorite, but go with A&M in the upset.
It’s not true that Auburn never passes. It only seems that way. Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall threw just seven passes against Tennessee. Only eight at Arkansas. Just 17 against Ole Miss.
But the truth is, Auburn is not a throwing team. Auburn is a throwback team.
The Tigers run the ball. They are second nationally in rushing, 320.3 yards per game. Only Army (330.6) has averaged more.
Tre Mason has rushed for 1,153 yards, Marshall for 823 and two other Tigers for more than 500.
But Saturday in the Iron Bowl, which will determine the SEC West Division champion, Auburn runs into a defense that knows a little about stopping the ground game.
Alabama’s. The Crimson Tide ranks fourth nationally in rush defense, 91.3 yards per game.
“They’re a very good team,” said Auburn center Reese Dismukes. “They’ll be the best we’ve played, and we’re going to have to play our best game to have a shot.”
Remember, the script on how to beat Alabama — well, not how to do it, but how to possibly do it — is to spread the field and throw the ball. That’s what Texas A&M has done the last two seasons, going 1-1 vs. Bama while scoring 71 points total.
But Bama’s defense, led by linebackers C.J. Mosley and Trey DePriest, seems tailor-made for a running offense.
“They’re sure tacklers. They don’t miss too many,” Mason said. “We have to make much of the opportunities that we’re given. Take advantage of them and put points up on the board.”
Auburn has had a great season. A great comeback season from the 0-8 SEC debacle of a year ago. A victory over Alabama would elevate this season to beyond fabulous for Auburn.
But to win, Auburn has to run on Alabama.
Good luck with that.