Auburn is bouncing back in a big way after winning just three games in 2012, and the Tigers will try to keep the wins coming when they meet Arkansas on Saturday night. The Tigers have been better on both sides of the ball this season, but especially offensively, where first-year head coach Gus Malzahn has the team averaging about 18 more points per game.
How to watch Auburn vs. Arkansas 2013: Preview, TV schedule, odds and more
Here’s the information you need in order to watch the game between the Tigers and Razorbacks.
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Arkansas also transitioned to a new coaching staff this season, though the Razorbacks’ reclamation project isn’t going nearly so well. Arkansas has yet to win a conference game, and it is riding a five-game losing streak that dates back to mid-September.
The numbers
Rankings and records: Auburn is 7-1 (3-1) this season. The Tigers are No. 8 in the AP Poll, No. 11 in the Coaches’ Poll and No. 11 in the BCS standings. Unranked Arkansas is 3-5 (0-4). The Tigers are 11-10-1 all-time against the Razorbacks.
Vegas: Auburn opened as an 8-point favorite. The over/under is at 54.5.
Weather: Sunny skies and a high of 60 are anticipated.
Three names to know
Nick Marshall -- Marshall is putting up modest passing totals in the Auburn offense, but he hasn’t really needed to carry the load in that way. He’s done a pretty good job of taking care of the ball, and he’s averaging a solid eight yards per pass attempt.
Alex Collins -- Despite little support from the Arkansas passing game, Collins has 797 rushing yards this season, and he's averaging 5.7 yards per carry. That yardage total ranks him third among all SEC rushers.
Tre Mason -- Mason is just one of several productive Auburn runners this season. Four players have more than 450 yards on the ground already this season, led by Mason with 753 yards. The Tigers' ground game is dramatically better this season -- they've more than doubled their per-game average to 315.4 yards, and they're picking up 6.4 yards per carry as a team.
Two things at stake
The Tigers might be an underdog to pull it off, but they are still in the mix for an SEC West title. A second loss in league play would all but kill their chances, since that would leave them two games behind first-place Alabama in the loss column. If they take care of business up to the Iron Bowl, they’ll head into that contest with the division and a potential BCS bowl berth on the line.
Arkansas can still become bowl eligible, though its odds are getting dimmer by the week. A loss to Auburn would force the Razorbacks to win out to get to the postseason, and that would mean beating both Ole Miss and LSU on the road.
How to witness
TV: ESPN2, 6 p.m. ET
Radio: Arkansas’ affiliates are listed here. Auburn’s are here.
Online streaming: WatchESPN. XFINITY subscribers can watch the game here.
Further reading
For complete coverage of this game, check out Auburn blog College and Magnolia as well as Razorbacks blog Arkansas Fight.
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