Auburn football: Closer look at Tigers' opener today against Arkansas State

Line: Auburn by 31 1/2.

Series Record: Auburn leads 1-0

What’s at Stake

For Auburn, it’s the only sure win on an August slate that includes a Thursday night road game against Mississippi State and home games against Clemson and South Carolina. After playing Texas and Iowa tough in the past, Arkansas State would like to get over the hump and beat a Top 25 team.

Key Matchup

Auburn averaged 33.3 points and 431.8 yards per game last season. Arkansas State boasts a defense that has ranked No. 1 or 2 in the Sun Belt in each of the last four seasons.

Players to Watch

Arkansas State: DT Bryan Hall is the preseason Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year after having nine TFLs and two sacks last year.

Auburn: QB Cam Newton is back in the SEC after leaving Florida and spending a year at Blinn (Texas) Community College, where he threw for 2,833 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran for 655 yards and 16 more scores.

Facts & Figures

Auburn is 14-0 all-time against teams currently in the Sun Belt. … The Tigers enter the season ranked for the seventh time in the last eight years. … Auburn’s offensive line, which features seniors Lee Ziemba, Mike Berry, Ryan Pugh and Byron Isom, has combined for 127 career starts, second most in the SEC. … The Red Wolves were picked to finish third in the Sun Belt by the coaches. … Arkansas State is 1-46-3 all-time against current members of the SEC. The lone victory was a 10-0 game against Ole Miss in 1915. … Ninth-year ASU head coach Steve Roberts is 0-10 against teams ranked in the Top 25. The average margin of defeat is 28.7 points.

— Andy Bitter