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Sep 24, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Sean White (13) celebrates with students after the game against the LSU Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Auburn Tigers beat the LSU Tigers 18-13. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Here we take a look at how Auburn football matches up this week against Louisiana-Monroe on both offense and defense.
Auburn football is coming off a huge win against LSU and now has to try and avoid a letdown against a Louisiana-Monroe team that is coming off of a bye week.
This Warhawks team has been known for pulling off some big upsets in the past, most notably against Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide back in 2007.
Here is video footage for you to enjoy just in case you don’t remember:
They also upset number eight Arkansas in overtime back in 2012.
This team is not nearly as good as either of those teams, but they’re still a group that you can’t take lightly.
ULM is 1-2 to start the season with their lone win coming against Southern in week one. They lost to Oklahoma in week two 59-17, and then lost a close one to Sun Belt foe Georgia Southern 23-21.
They were picked to finish second to last in the Sun Belt conference, which makes them one of the worst teams in the country. That’s the same conference Arkansas State plays in, and the Red Wolves were the preseason favorite to win that conference.
So you can see that this is a game that Auburn should win in their sleep, but you’d still like to see them come out and put down a good performance like they did against Arkansas State.
So let’s see just how bad Auburn out-matches Louisiana-Monroe in this game.
Sep 10, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Louisiana Monroe Warhawks quarterback Garrett Smith (13) passes the ball against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
ULM Offense vs. Auburn Defense
In 2016 the ULM offense is averaging 25.3 points per game through the first three games, while putting up an average of 411 yards per game.
They’re averaging 156.7 yards on the ground per game, and 254.3 yards passing per game.
The offense is led by quarterback Garrett Smith. He leads the team in rushing with 177 net yards (210 gained yards rushing) and 2 touchdowns.
He’s also thrown for 742 yards and 6 touchdowns to 3 interceptions with a completion percentage of 58.4. Smith is just a sophomore, but has plenty of experience after throwing for 2,033 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2015.
He is by far the team’s most dangerous weapon on offense, and the Auburn defense will have to be on their toes to slow him down.
Sophomore Ben Luckett is the team’s starting running back. He’s rushed for 157 yards on 35 carries for an average of 4.5 yards per carry this season with just 1 touchdown. Last year as a freshman he ran for 509 yards with 2 touchdowns, which led the team.
ULM is led at wide receiver by yet another sophomore in R.J. Turner. In three games – he wasn’t the starter in any of them – he has caught 12 passes for 239 yards for a 19.9 yard average per catch with 1 touchdown.
That group of sophomores will be dangerous for the next two seasons, but shouldn’t be a problem for this Auburn defense.
The offensive line for ULM retains three starters, so they’ll be solid. They’ve only allowed five sacks all season.
Sep 24, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; LSU receiver Travin Dural (83) has a pass broken up by Auburn Tigers defensive back Carlton Davis (6) during the fourth quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Auburn Tigers beat the LSU Tigers 18-13. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn’s defense is giving up just 18.8 points per game this season, and that’s playing against three ranked opponents and two high-scoring offenses.
They’ve held opponents to 385.2 total yards per game, giving up 167 on the ground and 218. 2 through the air.
They’ve recorded nine sacks on the season with all those coming in the past three games.
Linebackers will once again be key for Auburn in this game as they face a mobile quarterback. I expect Tre’ Williams to have a huge game after his time was cut short against LSU last weekend. Look for Darrell Williams to have a big game as well.
I would like to see our defensive line come up with some big plays here and learn how to handle a mobile quarterback by keeping him in the pocket.
We got four sacks against Arkansas State, so I’m looking for at least three against ULM.
ULM has scored 17 and 23 points against the two Division 1 teams they’ve faced. I don’t see them scoring any more than 17 points in this game.
Sep 17, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Kamryn Pettway (36) scores a touchdown during the first quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn Offense vs. ULM Defense
The Auburn offense had its best game of the year when it squared off against Sun Belt foe Arkansas State in week two.
They basically kept the game plan simple and just went right at Arkansas State. They should be able to do the same against a ULM team that gave up 36.5 points per game last year, and has surrendered 34.3 points per game so far this season.
The Auburn offense has not exactly been what you would expect from a Gus Malzahn team this year averaging just 24.5 points per game – and that’s including the 51 they scored against Arkansas State.
They have put up a decent amount of yards per game at 438.8, but a lot of drives have stalled in the red zone. I’d like to see Auburn really work on that his week against ULM and finish drives in the endzone.
Look for Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway to have huge games in this one for Auburn.
Sep 10, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Louisiana Monroe Warhawks safety Stephen Amoako (3) tackles Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) during the first quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The ULM defense has been kind to opposing offenses allowing 477.3 yards per game this season. They’ve given up 290.7 yards per game on the ground!
So yeah, expect Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway to both get over 100 yards this week. I wouldn’t be surprised if John Franklin III goes for over 100 yards rushing this week as well.
They’ve only given up 186.7 yards per game through the air, so look for Sean White to reach around 200 passing yards in this game.
ULM is led on defense by – you guessed it – a sophomore. Linebacker David Griffith leads the team with 28 tackles and 6 tackles for a loss.
Senior safety Tre’ Hunter is the team’s leading returning tackler with 55 stops last season. He’s second in tackles so far this season with 24.
Those two guys are all Auburn will have to worry about in this one.
ULM lost a lot on defense from last year’s team and a unit that wasn’t very good.
If Auburn doesn’t score at least 35 points in this game the play-calling duties need to go back to Gus – just kidding.
Sep 24, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Sean White (13) looks for a receiver as LSU Tigers lineman Lewis Neal (92) closes in during the third quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Auburn Tigers beat the LSU Tigers 18-13. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Game Preview
I’m not trying to sugarcoat this thing, Auburn should win this game easily, and if they don’t I would be really worried about the next two games.
Auburn needs this to be an easy game just like it was against Arkansas State. I want to see them play a clean game, and get some kinks worked out before taking on Mississippi State and Arkansas.
ULM quarterback Garrett Smith is a play-maker, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he made a few plays against Auburn on Saturday, but in no way should this team score more than 20 points at the most.
I want to see Auburn come out running the football and put this game to bed early. Then I want to see Sean White open up the passing game, become more familiar with some of his favorite targets like Tony Stevens.
On defense I would really like to see a shutout. This ULM offense is not that great, but it will be difficult to keep them off the scoreboard.
However, if you want to assert yourself as a dominant defense, I feel like you have to be able to pitch a shutout in these types of games. You look at what Alabama did last weekend against Kent State, I want to see that same type of smothering defense from Auburn this weekend.
The only advantage the Warhawks have in this game is that Auburn is coming off an emotional win, while ULM is rested up after a bye week. Because of that there is a chance Auburn comes out flat in this one, while ULM comes out on fire.
Still, Gus Malzahn should not let that happen and this should be an easy win for Auburn football this week.
My Prediction:
Auburn: 41
ULM: 10
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