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Game Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Alabama A&M
- 4-6 record
Auburn
- 7-3 record; 5-2 in SEC play
- Ranked 15th in the College Football Playoff rankings
- 9th in S&P+ Rankings
- 26th in S&P+ Offense; 10th in S&P+ Defense
- Top Performers: RB Kamryn Pettway; DE Carl Lawson
Last week didn’t go as planned for the Auburn Tigers. Dealing with a few injuries that kept them shorthanded, the Tigers fell to the Georgia Bulldogs which effectively took them out of the SEC West race and gave the division title to in-state rival Alabama once again.
An opportunity still is on the horizon for them to deal Alabama their first loss of the season next week. Before they get there though, they have to first conquer Alabama A&M of the FCS. The Tigers are well-equipped for the job of course, boasting one of the nation’s best run games and a defense led by Montravius Adams and Carl Lawson, who’s been a terror on the edge this season as he’s played up to par with the expectations set for him in the offseason.
It won’t be the easiest of runs through Alabama A&M though as Auburn will have two running backs unaccounted for. Kamryn Pettway will again be out for the second consecutive game with a quad injury and Chandler Cox too will be held out of the matchup. The responsibility lies on the shoulders of Kerryon Johnson to get it going, and he’s proven himself more than worthy over the course of the season to do it, too. That is unless he’s unable to go which he may not, so Auburn will have to dig down their depth chart for carries on Saturday night.
Jeremy Johnson will be getting the nod at QB this week on Senior Day as he will play under center in his home finale. Johnson’s career at Auburn didn’t go as it was planned to go, but he will have a ripe opportunity to end on a high note against the FCS opponent he and the Tigers will be facing.
Like much of the games this weekend, this should prove to be a winnable game for Auburn that helps prepare them for their encounter with the big, bad Crimson Tide next week.