Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, top 25 predictions for Week Four of 2019

GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 07: A general view during the game between the Florida Gators and the LSU Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 07: A general view during the game between the Florida Gators and the LSU Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images /

No. 8 Auburn Tigers at No. 17 Texas A&M Aggies

Line: Texas A&M -3.5; Over/Under: 47.5; TV: CBS

Saturday, Sept. 21 at 3:30 p.m. E.T.; Kyle Field; College Station Texas

Nobody is facing more early tests than the Auburn Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies. So it’s only fitting that they face each other before the month of September ends. And this is a thrilling toss-up set to kickoff this weekend for SEC fans.

Auburn’s upset loss to Tennessee football now seems eons ago. After beating the Oregon Ducks earlier this year, Gus Malzahn may have them back looking like a national title contender, even with the inconsistencies that come in a true freshman quarterback like Bo Nix. He gets another major test Saturday on the road.

After losing to the Clemson Tigers, Jimbo Fisher is still trying to prove his Texas A&M Aggies have taken the next step as well. A game against a top 10 team at home is the perfect opportunity to do it. In fact, it’s almost a necessity given what Fisher sold when taking the job and how much he’s getting paid. The talent is in. It’s time to win.

Prediction

This game will come down to the 12th Man. Texas A&M has that home crowd advantage plus a more experienced quarterback. Kellen Mond will be the different late in the game, and the Aggies will pull out a very close victory.

However, we’re just picking them to cover on a coin flip. If you can, avoid betting on this game’s spread. But take the under. Auburn has a veteran defense and inconsistent offense. That’s why they’ll shut down A&M for much of the game until Mond makes a fourth quarter play while Nix can’t.

Texas A&M: 24 Auburn: 20 (Texas A&M -3.5; Under 47.5)