This Thursday Sept. 18th starts the NCAA FB Week 4, with the undefeated teams of No. 5 Auburn Tigers 2-0 (1st SEC-West) playing the No. 20 Kansas State Wildcats 2-0 (1st Big 12). Auburn is favored at -9 and the game will be played at the Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM ET on ESPN TV.
Starting the season the Auburn had two games the easily won beating the Arkansas Razorbacks 2-1 (4th SEC West) 45-21 and then beat San Jose State Spartans 1-1 ( MMC-West) 59-13 and then last week had a bye week which came at a good time as now they begin a tough schedule.
Offensive leaders for the Auburn Tigers is QB Johnson in the passing offense completing 15 of 20 passes for 277 yards and 2 TDs, Artis-Payne rushing leader with 42 carries for 289 yards and 4 TD’s and receiving leader Williams with 13 receptions of 214 yards and 1 TD.
Meanwhile, Kansas in their first game beat SF Austin Lumberjacks 2-1 (1st Southland) 55-16 then had a close 21 game at Iowa State Cyclones 1-2 (Big 12) 32-28.
This Thursday the 5th ranked Tigers take their rushing attack to Manhattan, Kansas as they are again powered by their running game which in their opener had 302 yards with 9 touchdowns and then against the Spartans had 358 total offensive yards. Their week off gave Auburn time to prepare for their upcoming schedule of top 25 teams that include this week #20 Kansas State, #8 LSU, #14 South Carolina, #6 Texas A&M, #13 Georgia and the #3 Alabama Tide.
The Kansas State Wildcats, who also had a bye week last week, were preparing for this big game with the 5th ranked Auburn after they had an unimpressive win over Iowa State 32-28 as they allowed 28 straight points and the week before that team only scored 14 points. However, the Wildcats did keep Iowa State from scoring in the second half of that game and their QB Waters led a winning drive of 80 yards in just 90 seconds. Now that’s fast! Their star QB Waters a rare QB with excellent running and passing abilities will give Auburns defense a good test. Against Iowa State had 239 yards passing and 138 yards rushing and scored 2 TDs. The last time the Wildcats faced the 5th ranked Auburn Tigers back in 2007, Kansas State won the game in their season opener, beating Auburn 23-13.
The Wildcats offensive leaders are QB Waters who completed 35 of 57 passes for 462 yards and 2 TDs and had 37 carries for 193 yards and 4 TDs, and receiving leader Lockett with 7 receptions for 145 yards and 1 TD.
The Auburn coach has said, “We are playing a very good team on the road with one of the better coaches that have ever walked the planet. We will have to have a good plan and have to be prepared.” He hope their passing game and QB Marshall will be improved over his last game as he only completed 10 of 19 passes for 101 yards and a TD. That coincides with their offseason priority which was to have better offensive balance between the passing and running game.
The SEC fans who cherish the Auburn Tigers and bet on college sports at an offshore sportsbook or with a local bookie, check the latest odds on this game as the movement before game time should be considerable. Good Luck!