Auburn Football 2013 Bowl Capsule


Auburn Tigers
SEC

 

No matter what happens in the bowl game, this will be a season Auburn remembers. With expectations relatively low heading into the season, Auburn lost their fourth game of the season at LSU and it looked like this team would finish fourth or fifth in the SEC West. But then the Tigers beat Texas A&M, Georgia and, of course, Alabama. Even simply ruining Alabama’s bid for a third straight BCS national championship would have been enough for Tiger fans. But this team is capable of more.

2013 Record: 12-1, 7-1
Coach: Gus Malzahn
Coach Bowl Record: 0-0

Big Wins: 10/19 at Texas A&M (45-41), 11/30 Alabama (34-28)
Bad Losses: 9/21 at LSU (21-35)

Strengths:
This team is built around the ground game. Junior running back Tre Mason rushed for 1,621 yards and 22 scores. He is a very tough back who Coach Gus Malzahn can depend on to carry the ball over 30 times per game if necessary. If Mason does need a break, Auburn can call on Corey Grant and Cameron Artis-Payne. The junior duo combined to rush for over 1,259 yards and 12 scores. And then there is quarterback Nick Marshall. The 6-1 junior rushed for 1,023 yards and 11 touchdowns. Marshall does throw a bit too, but has not been all that efficient. He completed less than 61 percent of his passes and threw just a dozen touchdowns. However, Marshall does do a fine job keeping the turnovers down and that is all Coach Malzahn needs him to do with such a potent shotgun option ground game.

Weaknesses:
By the numbers, Auburn allows about 23 points per game. That is not a great number by SEC standards and it really is misleading too. Easy wins over Arkansas State, Western Carolina and Florida Atlantic made that points allowed average look much better. The Tigers allowed many more points against SEC opponents. The run defense was not strong, but it was really the secondary that has been the biggest concern. Robenson Therezie has made some big plays and Chris Davis and Jonathon Mincy have had some decent outings, but some quarterbacks have had a pretty easy time picking apart the secondary. Finding somebody besides Dee Ford who can consistently get into the backfield would certainly be helpful.

Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Tre Mason, RB, 1,621 yards
Passing: Nick Marshall, QB, 1,759 yards
Receiving: Sammie Coates, WR, 841 yards
Tackles: Chris Davis, CB, 69
Sacks: Dee Ford, DE, 8.5
Interceptions: Robenson Therezie, DB, 4

2013 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 318.3 (5th in nation, 1st in conference)
Passing Offense: 172.8 (105, 11)
Total Offense: 491.0 (15, 2)
Scoring Offense: 38.6 (17, 4)
Rushing Defense: 157.6 (56, 10)
Pass Defense: 256.7 (100, 13)
Total Defense: 414.3 (75, 11)
Scoring Defense: 22.5 (31, 5)
Turnover Margin: 0.1 (56, 6)
Sacks: 2.08 (58, 4)
Sacks Allowed: 1.25 (21, 3)

Recent Bowl Appearances:
2011    Chick-fil-A Bowl    Virginia (43-24)
2010    BCS Championship    Oregon (22-19)
2009    Outback Bowl        Northwestern (38-35)
2007    Chick-fil-A Bowl    Clemson (23-20)
2006    Cotton Bowl        Nebraska (17-14)

*all team stats through 11/30

 

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