Auburn faces Minnesota in Outback Bowl: 3 things to know, and a prediction
Call it an exhibition, a consolation game or anything else, but the ninth-ranked Auburn Tigers certainly are not treating their Outback Bowl matchup with No. 16 Minnesota (1 p.m. EST, ESPN) as such.
Head coach Gus Malzahn decided against running a play during one media viewing period of practice “because of the media out here.” According to one account, the Tigers even stood a table against a chain-linked entrance — and placed a towel over the rest of the opening — just so nobody could see into the practice area.
See, Auburn realizes what a win over Minnesota could mean. For one, it means continued momentum following a successful end of the regular season. The Tigers beat No. 9 Alabama in their regular-season finale, then followed with a solid early signing day in December, which was highlighted by the landing of five-star running back Tank Bigsby out of Callaway.
But Minnesota is no pushover and should provide a tough challenge.
The Gophers are 10-2, beat Penn State at home and their two losses came to Iowa and Wisconsin. They finished second in the Big Ten West behind the Badgers.
Here are three things to know about Auburn’s Outback Bowl matchup with Minnesota:
Minnesota can move the ball, and control the clock
Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan, a sophomore, has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2019.
That’s nearly double the yardage output (he threw for 1,401 yards his freshman season) and more than triple the amount of touchdowns (nine) than he threw for in 2018. Against the AP Top 25, Morgan has thrown for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns.
There is one question mark surrounding the offense, though: Gophers offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca took the same position at Penn State, did not travel to the Outback Bowl and, according to multiple reports, was in Dallas for the Cotton Bowl with the Nittany Lions.
Receivers coach Matt Simon will be the interim offensive playcaller in the Outback Bowl for an offense that ranks (as of Dec. 29) 23rd in scoring offense and seventh in time of possession.
Auburn’s defense will present a new challenge for Minnesota
While defensive lineman Nick Coe will not play in the bowl game, the Tigers defense is loaded with talent — talent that will present a massive challenge for Minnesota’s offense.
Wednesday will serve as the final game for Auburn defensive linemen Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson. They combined for seven player of the week awards and anchored a defense that held No. 1 LSU to 23 points, by far the fewest Ed Orgeron’s Tigers have scored all season.
“On the field he’s got a unique talent,” Malzahn said of Brown. “We had Nick Fairley in 2010, we won the national championship, and he was a dominant player, Outland Trophy and all that. But Derrick is in that same atmosphere. He’s just a big guy that can run. He has really good instincts. He’s got experience, too.”
The Tigers held opponents to fewer than five yards per play in the regular season, and held opponents to an average of fewer than 19 points per game.
Led by Davidson and Brown, the Tigers generated a stout pass rush all season. And Auburn also forced 22 turnovers (nine interceptions) in 2019.
“I think top to bottom it’s probably the best, just in every area,” Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck said. “You look at the D-line, and I mean, it’s not just Derrick Brown, it’s not just him. They have players everywhere, linebackers are really long, athletic, can run. They’re really good tacklers. One thing I’ve always loved about the SEC and watching SEC football is the tackling. There are a lot of sure tacklers. It’s a credit to Coach Malzahn and the way he’s been able to run his team.”
Motivation does not appear to be an issue for Auburn — or Minnesota
The conversation surrounding bowl games just isn’t what it used to be. Many players sit out either in preparation for the NFL, or to prevent injury. (Georgia may have up to a quarter of its scholarship players out for the Sugar Bowl.)
But motivation does not appear to be an issue for either team entering the Outback Bowl.
For the Gophers, it’s a chance to beat an SEC team — and prove that Fleck’s new contract extension is worth every penny.
“When you’re playing one of the most historical football programs in the country and one of the best-coached teams in the country, it’s a tremendous challenge, and it’s a challenge that I think both teams accept in terms of looking forward to it, and high, high competition, and that’s why you come to the Outback Bowl and it’s why you have a season like we did,” Fleck said.
Only one Auburn player — Coe, a redshirt junior —announced plans to sit out the bowl game. No other Tigers seniors or juniors have announced intentions to skip the New Year’s Day bowl game.
“We know that we’re playing a very good team,” Malzahn said. “We know they’re going to be extremely motivated. So our guys get that. Our coaches get it. Our players get it. Like I said, it ought to be a really good game.”
Betting line
As of Dec. 31, according to Vegas Insider:
Auburn -7
Prediction
Auburn 34, Minnesota 31
All quotes via ASAP Sports Transcripts.
