Texas A&M vs. Auburn: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

About one month ago, Saturday's showdown between the Texas A&M Aggies and No. 3 Auburn Tigers was one of the season's top matchups, not to mention one that would prove critical in the race to the inaugural College Football Playoff. 

Now it appears to be a minor pothole in the road for the surging Tigers. 

Auburn has rattled off a pair of consecutive wins and is already in playoff mode thanks to a brutal schedule down the stretch, most recently fending off then-No. 4 Ole Miss, 35-31.

Meanwhile, Kevin Sumlin's Aggies have dipped into a tailspin, losing three of four and starting quarterback Kenny Hill to suspension in the process.

It makes for a lopsided matchup on paper, but this is the SEC and a pair of teams that have put on high-scoring classics in their past few encounters. The two might have another entertaining showing on deck, so do not miss out.

Staying the Course

For Auburn, it really is as simple as that.

The Tigers are the main focal point of this matchup for good reason. Running back Cameron Artis-Payne leads the SEC in rushing with 969 yards and seven scores on a 5.4 per-carry average, which allows the team to rank ninth nationally with 276.9 rushing yards per game.

This predictably leads to lengthy drives that keep opposing offenses off the field, as illustrated by the team on Twitter:

Just last week, the Tigers were able to overpower the Rebels on the road with 248 yards and three scores on the ground, two of which came from dual-threat quarterback Nick Marshall, who also added 254 yards and a pair of scores through the air for good measure.

This same approach figures to put the Aggies behind in a big way early.

Much has and will continue to be written about the Texas A&M offense, but the defense is the focal point in this matchup. The Aggies rank 88th in rushing yards allowed per game this season and allow an average of 25.9 points per game. 

For perspective as to how much the unit struggles, keep in mind that Rice out of Conference USA rumbled for 240 yards on a 4.4 average against the unit.

In short, the Aggies should know exactly what is coming their way when they visit Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday. Being able to stop it is another thing entirely.

Those Left Standing

There seems to be little Sumlin and his staff can do to fix the leaky defense at this point. 

The offense suddenly needs loads of work as well thanks to the suspension of Hill. In his place stepped freshman Kyle Allen a week ago. The end result was a 13-of-28 mark for 106 yards with a touchdown and interception.

Texas A&M as a whole was held to 243 total yards by a defense that allowed an average of 409.8 per game over the course of its last six.

Keep in mind that this woeful performance came against 3-5 Louisiana-Monroe out of the Sun Belt Conference, a team that was walloped 31-0 by LSU and 48-14 by Kentucky this season. The Aggies escaped with a 21-16 victory at home.

Despite the suddenly inept offense, Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson is not taking the Aggies lightly, as captured by Bleacher Report's Justin Ferguson:

"

We’re going to prepare for the regular Texas A&M to come in here throwing it around. They got a very good offensive line. Their receivers may be the most talented. They’re young. They’re not as old, as experienced as that crowd last year, but I know the young man’s got great talent and can throw the ball anywhere on the field. It’s just a matter of them protecting him and him reading the coverages and those things.

"

Auburn's defense has quietly been a major reason the team is in contention, too. The unit has forced a gaudy 18 turnovers and does it with little pressure considering it has forced just 16 sacks.

Still, the assignment Saturday is much easier than it appeared just a month ago. Rather than taking the Aggies lightly, though, look for Johnson's defense to use it as a springboard.

When: Saturday, November 8, 3:30 p.m. ET

Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama

Television: CBS

Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):

• Over/Under: 66

• Spread: Auburn (-21.5)

Team Injury Reports

Player	Pos.	Date	Details	Status	Injury
Darian Claiborne	LB	08/06/2014	was dismissed from the team	Out	disciplinary
Isaiah Golden	DT	08/06/2014	was dismissed from the team	Out	disciplinary
Kenny Hill	QB	11/01/2014	will be eligible to return on 11/15 against Missouri	Suspended	two-game suspension
A.J. Hilliard	LB	09/02/2014	is out indefinitely	Out	ankle

Player	Pos.	Date	Details	Status	Injury
Gage Batten	FB	08/31/2014	is out indefinitely	Out	knee
Jordan Diamond	G	09/26/2014	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	undisclosed
Raashed Kennion	DE	11/02/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against Texas A&M	Questionable	ankle
Alex Kozan	G	08/02/2014	will miss the entire season	Out	back
Carl Lawson	DE	07/15/2014	is out indefinitely	Out	knee
Patrick Miller	T	11/02/2014	is questionable for Saturday's game against Texas A&M	Questionable	knee
Patrick Young	FB	08/31/2014	is expected to miss the entire season	Out	knee

Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.

Prediction

USA TODAY Sports

This one looks like it will get ugly, although there is something to be said for letdown potential, as Auburn understands the state of Texas A&M at the moment and is looking forward to showdowns with Georgia and Alabama in two of its last three games of the year. 

Were it Hill under center, perhaps the end result would be closer. But the Aggies defense has proven lame, and Allen is not up to task quite yet. Remember that the Aggies laid down against Alabama before their second bye week, 59-0.

The Aggies should come out fired up, but a few quick, lengthy scores from the Auburn offense will produce much of the same effort. Auburn rolls.

Prediction: Auburn 44, Texas A&M 24

Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.