No. 12 South Carolina (3-0, 1-0 SEC) at No. 17 Auburn (3-0, 1-0), 7:45 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: Auburn by 3.
Series Record: Auburn leads 6-1-1.
Last meeting: Auburn 24-17, Sep. 28, 2006.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Respect and holding ground in the SEC divisional races. Auburn actually dropped a spot in the rankings after an overtime win over Clemson. South Carolina is seeking only its ninth 4-0 start and first since 2001.
KEY MATCHUP
Auburn has the SEC’s top rushing offense while South Carolina’s defense is stingiest against the run. The Tigers have three of the league’s top-10 runners. The Gamecocks are giving up just 60 yards a game on the ground and haven’t allowed a rushing TD.
Players to Watch
South Carolina: RB Marcus Lattimore. Highly touted freshman has been offense’s workhorse, while Auburn’s defense is still somewhat thin. If forced to load up against the run, cornerbacks could be vulnerable to big plays against Gamecocks’ taller receivers.
Auburn: QB Cam Newton. Newton has been a formidable runner and mixed in some big plays in the passing game. This could be a time when he’ll be called on to win with his arm, though his scrambling might also provide the best chance for sizable runs.
FACTS & FIGURES
These teams have only met four times since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, and Auburn has won all four meetings. It’s the first time they’ve played when both teams were ranked. The Auburn leads the nation in pass efficiency mostly because it averages the most yards per attempt (11.8) and touchdown percentage (13.73). Gamecocks have lost five straight SEC road games, dating back to win over Kentucky on Oct. 22, 2008. South Carolina has scored on all 12 red zone opportunities, including 10 touchdowns.
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