OTHER PICKSMiami 24, North Carolina 17Georgia Tech 29, Syracuse 26Maryland 22, Wake Forest 21Pitt 38, Old Dominion 15Virginia 35, Duke 30Louisville 30, UCF 23Texas Tech 31, W. Virginia 28Oklahoma State 33, TCU 22Ohio State 46, Iowa 19UCLA 27, Stanford 24Oklahoma 45, Kansas 16Michigan 28, Indiana 9Arizona St. 36, Washington 31Baylor 49, Iowa State 38Notre Dame 17, USC 10Wisconsin 34, Illinois 27Oregon 62, Wash. State 14
Complete carnage.
When Texas A&M visited Auburn last season, the Aggies set a Jordan-Hare Stadium record for points by an opponent in a 63-21 thrashing. Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel threw for 260 yards and rushed for 90 and came out of the game following a 20-yard touchdown scramble less than three minutes into the third quarter that put the Aggies up 49-7.
The two West Division challengers meet Saturday afternoon at Texas A&M.
"We've really tried to put last year to bed," first-year Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said Wednesday when asked if he had watched tape of last year's bludgeoning.
Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin isn't about to review last year's tape, either, especially given Auburn's staff overhaul from a year ago.
"Coach Malzahn and his coaching staff have really added a lot of energy to that program, as well as a winning attitude," Sumlin said. "Schematically they have changed across the board. Obviously Gus has a tremendous background offensively and has had tremendous success wherever he's been, and Ellis Johnson is a veteran defensive coordinator.
"They've assembled a staff that understands this league, and you can see it."
Auburn is averaging an SEC-leading 287.0 rushing yards a game, which is nearly double the 148.4-yard average of last year's team. The Tigers are 5-1 and ranked No. 24, but this is just their second road game, having lost 35-21 last month at LSU.
"We know a little bit more about our team and how they're going to respond," Malzahn said. "We're a couple of games more experienced now, and our quarterback got a chance to experience his first road game with the rest of our guys. Hopefully it will be better this time."
Pasquali's Pix:
Georgia at Vanderbilt: First it was Vandy coach James Franklin shouting at Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Now it's Georgia fans. Bulldogs 34, Commodores 29.
South Carolina at Tennessee: So, who had Connor Shaw and Mike Davis as the SEC's most productive quarterback-tailback tandem at midseason? Gamecocks 26, Volunteers 17.
Florida at Missouri: A few years ago, this would have been a Heisman showcase with Tim Tebow and Chase Daniel. Now it's Tyler Murphy and Maty Mauk. Gators 17, Tigers 10.
UTC at Elon: The Mocs are 4-6 against Elon since the Phoenix joined the SoCon. It just feels worse. Mocs 32, Phoenix 24.
Auburn at Texas A&M: The Tigers have a one-in-three shot of winning this one, but it was one-in-three trillion before the season. Aggies 38, Tigers 31.
Arkansas at Alabama: Arkansas has lost a program-record seven consecutive SEC games. Don't see that ending Saturday night. Crimson Tide 45, Razorbacks 6.
LSU at Ole Miss: The last time the Tigers invaded Oxford, LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger took a knee four straight times. Tigers 38, Rebels 23.
Florida State at Clemson: It's Jimbo vs. Dabo in the ACC's game of the year. Seminoles 31, Tigers 24.
Last week:
Winners..................19
Big-game Bobs.........6
Pasquali is 152-23 overall (86.9 percent) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.