Auburn at Missouri College Football Odds & Game Preview for Week 4

Frankly, on the field there’s very little interesting about Saturday’s SEC matchup between No. 15 Auburn and Missouri. But there is one thing: both coaches, Gus Malzahn and Barry Odom, are hugely on the hot seat and a loss won’t help matters — especially if it’s Auburn losing. The NCAAF lines for Week 4 give Auburn the upper hand for this matchup, but there can always be a last minute surprise in the College Football odds, so keep yourself up to date!

Auburn at Missouri College Football Odds & Game Preview for Week 4

GAME WEEK! 👊#Mizzou hosts Auburn Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on @ESPNU! It’s #GoldRush at #TheZou 🎟 https://t.co/OhAs8knq5f#MIZ #ShowMe 🐯🏈 pic.twitter.com/MQO8QwF0jK

— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) September 18, 2017

When: Saturday, 7:30 PM ET Where: Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field TV: ESPNU Stream: WatchESPN Radio: 93.9 FM (Auburn) / 98.1 FM (Missouri) Opening College Football Odds: Auburn -18.5 (56.5)

College Football Week 4 Must Bet Games

Why Bet on Missouri?

The Tigers (1-2) come off an embarrassing 35-3 loss to Purdue. Mizzou was held to just 203 total yards of offense with its only points coming following a late second-quarter interception by Thomas Wilson that turned into a 29-yard Tucker McCann field goal as time expired in the half. It was a historic loss for Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Heupel. Heupel has been a Division I player and coach for a combined 198 games. That defeat was just the fourth time in all those games his team failed to score in double digits. This is Heupel’s seventh season as a Division I offensive coordinator. In 80 games as an OC at Oklahoma, Utah State and Mizzou, he’s had just one other game in single digits.

Where is Crockett?

Damarea Crockett didn’t start at running back against the Boilers. According to Heupel, Crockett being kept out of the lineup was “related to health” issues stemming from a bruised tailbone injury he suffered in a Sept. 9 home defeat to South Carolina. As a result, Heupel said Crockett was limited during practices last week. Crockett did end up entering the game against the Boilermakers, carrying 10 times for 19 yards. Since becoming a member of the SEC, Missouri is 3-7 in games as a home underdog as it is here. But only once in those 10 games were the Tigers double-digit underdogs, when No. 1 Alabama came to Columbia in 2012 as 21-point favorites. The Crimson Tide flattened Mizzou 42-10. Mizzou and Auburn share the SEC lead with eight turnovers and are both minus-five in turnover margin.

Team Statistics

Offense:

• Average Score For: 29.33
• Total Yards: 480.34
• Rush Yards: 180.67
• Passing Yards: 299.67

Defense:

• Average Score Against: 36.33
• Total Yards: 442.67
• Rush Yards: 172
• Passing Yards: 270.67

Why Bet on Auburn?

The Tigers (2-1) squeaked by Mercer 24-10 last week. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham, a transfer from Baylor, connected on 32 of 37 passes for 367 yards and completed balls to nine different targets. His 32 completions ranks second in Auburn single-game history to Patrick Nix, who completed 34 passes against Arkansas in 1995. Stidham’s 86.5 completion percentage ranks No. 2 in SEC history behind only Tim Tebow’s 88.6 percent against Cincinnati in 2009, in a game with 30 or more completions. Completing a school-record 18 consecutive passes from the middle of the first quarter until early in the third, Stidham delivered Auburn’s first 300-yard passing game since Nick Marshall threw for 456 in the 2014 Iron Bowl. “I feel like we moved the football and did some good things,” Malzhan told reporters. “I don’t remember the last time we had a quarterback (go) 32 for 37. That’s a positive sign. But the underlying thing that’s really carrying with me is the five turnovers.”

How Has the Defense Been for Auburn So Far?

The Auburn defense put together another stellar effort against Mercer, and through the first three weeks of the season, the Tigers are ranked No. 2 nationally in total defense. They have allowed 605 yards of total offense, the fewest Auburn has allowed in the first three games of a season since 1974. While Auburn’s offense has struggled with sacks allowed (15) and turnovers, Auburn’s defense has yielded just four touchdowns and an SEC-best 3.2 yards per play. Starting right tackle Darius James went down with a neck injury in the second quarter vs. Mercer. The senior had to be carted off the field and taken to East Alabama Medical Center for further evaluation. However, James got a good report and was back with the team in the locker room after the game. This will be Auburn’s first trip to Columbia, and though no team wants to open conference play on the road, it helps that this Auburn team has already played on the road this season. Alas, it was a loss at Clemson. Prior to the past two years, Auburn had gotten off to a fast start in SEC play, winning six of its seven league openers from 2008 to 2014.

Team Statistics

Offense:

• Average Score For: 23.67
• Total Yards: 387.33
• Rush Yards: 178.33
• Passing Yards: 209

Defense:

• Average Score Against: 10.33
• Total Yards: 202.67
• Rush Yards: 89.67
• Passing Yards: 113

College Football Odds Trends for Week 4

• Auburn is 1-3-1 ATS in the last 5 games
• Auburn is 9-4 SU in the last 13 games
• The total went UNDER in 7 of Auburn’s last 8 games on the road
• Missouri is 2-9 ATS in the last 11 games
• Missouri is 3-8 SU in the last 11 games
• The total went UNDER in 6 of Missouri’s last 8 games

Series History

• Total Meetings: 2
• First Meeting: December 29th, 1973. El Paso, Texas. Sun Bowl
• Last Meeting: December 7th, 2013. Atlanta, Georgia. SEC Championship Game
• All-Time Series: Tied 1
• Largest Margin of Victory: Auburn 59042 (2013)
• Longest Win Streak: Tied 1
• Current Win Streak: Auburn 1 (2013)

College Football Odds Pick & Expert Prediction

Auburn is better than Missouri, but not 18.5 points better on the road. Take the points.