Texas A&M vs Auburn Week 3 Expert Pick & Odds

Both Texas A&M and Auburn had very disappointing 2015 seasons and both team's head coaches, Kevin Sumlin and Gus Malzahn, respectively, are on the hot seat entering 2016. The seat will get much hotter for whichever coach loses their Week 3 matchup. The Tigers are 6.5-point favorites on NCAA football lines.

Taking a Closer at the  Texas A&M vs Auburn Week 3 Expert Pick, Odds & TV Info

Next stop #SECMD16 #12thMan pic.twitter.com/NXivUvx7a2

— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) July 12, 2016

When: Saturday, Sept. 17, 7 PM ET Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn TV: ESPN Radio: Texas A&M / Auburn Opening NCAAB Lines: Auburn -6.5

Texas A&M vs Auburn Historic Betting Trends

One of Auburn’s best wins last year was 26-10 at then-No. 19 Texas A&M on Nov. 7. The Tigers rushed 52 times for a season-high 311 yards. Jovon Robinson led the way with 159 yards rushing and a touchdown and Auburn intercepted three passes, also a season best. QB Jeremy Johnson was effective in his first start since Auburn’s third game with Sean White out with an injured left knee. Johnson finished with 132 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers didn’t score a touchdown in the second half, but got four field goals by Daniel Carlson to secure the victory that snapped a two-game skid. Making his second start since Kyle Allen was benched, Kyler Murray threw for 105 yards before leaving after a hit to the head late in the third quarter. Jake Hubenak took over for Texas A&M and threw for 32 yards and a touchdown. Allen and Murray have since transferred.

Why Bet on Auburn

Malzahn says the 2015 season was both frustrating and humbling. We had high expectations and we do every year. We weren’t able to reach our goals. Malzahn says he’s extremely motivated this year. The coach said this week that four players arrested on April 30 won’t be suspended to start the season. The four players — sophomores Carlton Davis, Byron Cowart, Jeremiah Dinson and Ryan Davis — were all arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charges. Davis, an All-SEC freshman a year ago, and Cowart, the former No. 1 overall recruit in the ESPN 300, were the most notable, but all four played as freshmen for the Tigers in 2015. If Auburn wants to be better this year, it needs to win close games. The Tigers went 6-0 in the regular season in one-score games (eight points or less) in 2013, a season full of memorable finishes, before losing 34-31 to Florida State in the BCS championship. Auburn finished 3-1 in the same situation in 2014 before compiling a 3-4 record in games decided by eight points or less last season. To win those games, Auburn needs to find a starting quarterback, and Malzahn has three choices in Johnson, White and John Franklin III. There was no clear-cut answer in the spring.

Why Bet on Texas A&M

The Aggies’ new starting quarterback is Oklahoma transfer Travis Knight. He has the one thing no other Texas A&M quarterback on the roster does: extensive FBS starting experience. College football fans are well aware of Knight’s career highlight to date: a 348-yard, four-touchdown performance in the Sugar Bowl to lead the Sooners to a 45-31 win over Alabama on Jan. 2, 2014. The next offseason, he lost a preseason quarterback competition to Baker Mayfield. The last time that Knight played — coming in to relieve Mayfield against TCU on Nov. 21, 2015 — a 23-7 Sooners lead almost completely evaporated in two quarters as Knight went 5-for- 16 passing for 76 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in an eventual 30-29 Oklahoma win. In 24 career appearances, including 15 starts, Knight has a 57.1 percent completion rate, 3,424 yards, 25 touchdowns, 19 interceptions.

My Expert Pick

Go Auburn at home on NCAA football lines.