OTHER PICKS
Miss. State 34, La. Tech 25FSU 33, Louisville 22Pitt 24, Georgia Tech 21Miami 19, Virginia Tech 14Virginia 23, Syracuse 20UNC 27, Wake Forest 16Clemson 28, Boston Coll. 9Stanford 27, UCLA 24Ohio State 35, Penn State 10Baylor 52, West Virginia 27TCU 42, Iowa State 13Utah 37, Arizona State 28Michigan 16, Michigan St. 10MTSU 38, Fla. International 21Oklahoma 35, Kansas St. 23Boise State 31, Utah State 26Iowa 24, Northwestern 19
Since becoming the Arkansas offensive coordinator before the 2006 season, Gus Malzahn has never experienced a losing year as a college coach.
In fact, he’s never won fewer than eight games in a season.
Malzahn’s track record is now in jeopardy, as his third year as Auburn’s head coach has yielded a 3-2 record entering tonight’s Southeastern Conference game at Kentucky on ESPN. The Tigers were ranked No. 6 before the season but have sputtered on both sides of the ball, losing top defensive end Carl Lawson to a hip injury and top receiver Duke Williams to behavioral deficiencies.
“We’re 3-2 right now, and we obviously haven’t played what I consider our best football,” Malzahn said Wednesday on the SEC teleconference. “The goal from a coach’s standpoint is to get your guys better, and we have a lot of room to improve. The off week was good for us, and I expect us to improve not only in this game but the rest of the season.”
Auburn lost consecutive SEC games late last month to LSU and Mississippi State before turning back San Jose State. Malzahn opened up competition at every position during the off week, including at quarterback, where junior Jeremy Johnson started the first three games and redshirt freshman Sean White started the past two.
Malzahn is not naming tonight’s starting quarterback until just before kickoff.
“Both of them responded and both of them improved, and that’s what we were looking for,” Malzahn said of the extra time. “The name of the game is improving, and it starts with the quarterbacks.”
Auburn ranks 13th in the SEC in passing offense (153.8 yards per game) and 12th in total offense (343.8). The Tigers also rank 12th in total defense (412.0) and are last in the league against the run (209.6).
There was no shortage of preseason prognostications pegging Auburn for the four-team playoff, but a loss in Lexington could leave the Tigers with a four-win season.
Pasquali’s Pix:
Auburn at Kentucky: It’s not every year these two meet, and it’s the first time they’ve collided with the Wildcats owning two more league wins than the Tigers. Wildcats 19, Tigers 17.
Ole Miss at Memphis: Rebels coach Hugh Freeze on playing this matchup: “Do we have more to lose than we do to gain? Absolutely.” Rebels 35, Tigers 28.
UTC at VMI: The Mocs are seeking their 10th consecutive Southern Conference victory, adding to a school record that seems to have no end in sight. Mocs 38, Keydets 13.
Alabama at Texas A&M: The Aggies have lost big games at home to Florida, Alabama, Auburn, LSU (twice) and Ole Miss since joining the SEC. This could be their Kyle Field moment. Aggies 27, Crimson Tide 24.
USC at Notre Dame: The Trojans are facing the Irish with their fourth coach in as many years – Lane Kiffin (2012), Ed Orgeron (2013), Steve Sarkisian (2014) and Clay Helton (2015). Irish 23, Trojans 20.
Vanderbilt at South Carolina: It’s Derek Mason vs. Shawn Elliott, and we’re not talking about the former Titans receiver against the former San Antonio Spurs forward. Gamecocks 16, Commodores 15.
Florida at LSU: Tigers tailback Leonard Fournette will have his say, but this will come down to which Harris – Florida’s Treon or LSU’s Brandon – has the better game at quarterback. Tigers 20, Gators 17.
Missouri at Georgia: These two programs have combined to win the past four SEC East titles, but they’re having to play catch-up this time around. Bulldogs 23, Tigers 10.
Last week:
Winners18
Hadens…7
Pasquali is now 113-37 overall (75.3 percent) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.