AUBURN, Ala. — Maybe a visit from Cam Newton will spark Auburn’s woeful offense.
The former Auburn quarterback’s No. 2 jersey will be formally retired when the Tigers host 10th-ranked Georgia on Saturday night in the 130th edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, and the home team should welcome any tips, guidance or motivational speeches provided by Newton.
After all, the Atlanta native’s lone season at Auburn in 2010 was highlighted by individual honors (he won the Heisman Trophy) and group success (the Tigers went 14-0 while winning the Southeastern Conference title and the BCS national championship). The Carolina Panthers made Newton the No. 1 pick of the NFL draft the following spring, the start of an 11-year pro career that included a Super Bowl appearance.
Having a little of the Newton effect to go with Jordan-Hare Stadium’s famed magic couldn’t hurt for Auburn (3-2, 0-2 SEC), which is about to face its third of four opponents currently in the AP Top 25 to begin conference competition. The Tigers rank last in the 16-team SEC in most offensive categories and will try to get right against the Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1), who have won eight in a row in the series (and 13 of the past 15 meetings) and need a victory to maintain a clear path toward the College Football Playoff.
Auburn surely has to score more to have a better chance as a 3 1/2-point underdog, according to BetMGM, against the Bulldogs, whose current winning streak against Auburn began with a victory in the 2017 SEC championship game in Atlanta after the Tigers won the regular-season meeting weeks earlier at home.