Auburn Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. UL-Monroe

Much like rival Alabama, Auburn football steps out of SEC play this week to entertain UL Monroe a week before Iron Bowl goes down.

The Tigers (8-2) caused a shakeup at the top of the College Football Playoff rankings, throttling Georgia last Saturday and elevating themselves into the next tier of teams competing for one of those coveted four spots in December.

Auburn has been rolling since a four-point loss at LSU in October, posting 52, 42 and 40 points in wins over Arkansas, Texas A&M and the Bulldogs. The defense has also improved, allowing less than 17 points per game this season.

UL Monroe (4-5) is coming off a 52-45 victory over Appalachian State to snap a three-game losing skid. Those losses came to Idaho, South Alabama and Georgia State.

One would expect Jarrett Stidham and the Tiger offense to have little trouble going against a defense allowing on average 38 points and over 505 yards, a number that includes 293 in the air.

Here’s how to watch Saturday’s Auburn vs. UL-Monroe game:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 18
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium
Venue: Auburn, Ala.
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

Gus Malzahn shouldn’t have any trouble getting his team to focus on the task at hand, as a loss here would ruin any chance Auburn has of competing for the national title. Malzahn knows that, his players know that; now, they just need to handle business.

Kerryon Johnson has returned from an early-season injury to run for over 1,000 yards, including 145 and 167 in his last two vs. Texas A&M and Georgia. Johnson has six 100-yard games this season and has scored 15 touchdowns — 14 coming in SEC play.

Stidham, a transfer from Baylor, has thrown for over 200 yards in each of his last three to go with six touchdowns and just one interception. He is completing 67 percent of his throws and has just three interceptions in 243 attempts.

As long as Auburn focuses in on Caleb Evans, the ULM quarterback who has 2,066 yards and 12 touchdowns, the Tigers should have little trouble in this one.

Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: First round after Week 11 edition

Prediction

At first glance, you might think this will be as bad as Alabama-Mercer. But the Warhawks are an actual FBS team with some talent in Evans and Derrick Gore. If the Tigers look past them, anything could happen.

Prediction: Auburn 44, UL-Monroe 13