Games to watch Saturday
Auburn's Nick Marshall celebrates a touchdown against the Texas A&M Aggies. (Oct. 19, 2013) Credit: Getty
The college football season clearly has saved its best for the last regular season weekend off the season. Alabama plays at Auburn, Florida hosts Florida State, Texas A&M visits Missouri and Ohio State is at Michigan. Each of those games, and a few others not mentioned, could have some sort of effect on the BCS national championship and the Heisman Trophy race.
Auburn arguably has had the best RB trio in the country in Tre Mason (1,153 yds, 17 TDs), Cameron Artis-Payne (568 yds, 5 TDs) and Corey Grant (557 yds, 5 TDs). QB Nick Marshall’s dual threat ability (823 yds, 9 TDs) has made the Tigers that much tougher to defend. But Alabama has shown it is up to the task. In a 52-0 win over Arkansas, the Crimson Tide held the Razorbacks nearly 50 yards below its season average of 211 yards. Alabama also held LSU, which averages just over 197 yards on the ground, to 43 yards. Marshall is going to have to loosen up Alabama’s defense with some passing early to get the running game on track.
As for Alabama, A.J. McCarron should be especially fired up. Aside from the fact that a win puts Alabama closer to the national title, the Heisman Trophy up for grabs. A big time performance could put him ahead of Florida State’s Jameis Winston. Some of McCarron’s best games have come against Alabama’s toughest competition. He threw for 334 yards and 4 TDs against Texas A&M and completed 70 percent of his passes and tossed 3 TDs against LSU.
The back seven is where Auburn is vulnerable. The Tigers are 44th in the country in pass efficiency defense. Their secondary was blitzed in a 45-41 win at Texas A&M (469 yds) and gave up 415 yards passing in a 43-38 win over Georgia. Granted Georgia and Texas A&M have great passing attacks, but Auburn can’t let McCarron sit in the pocket and pick them apart. Expect a high-scoring affair and Alabama to finish off the Tigers with a strong fourth quarter.
Offensively, Missouri received a boost with the return of QB James Franklin, who missed four games with a shoulder injury. The senior was efficient against Ole’ Miss, completing 12 of 19 passes for 142 yards. He also ran for 42 yards on eight carries. Missouri will certainly need Franklin to get comfortable again and return to mid-season form if the Tigers are to hold off the Aggies.
