No. 23 Auburn tries to rebound with visit from Georgia State

Posted September 23, 2021 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Auburn running back Tank Bigsby (4) carries the ball in for a touchdown against Akron during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) The Associated Press

Georgia State (1-3) at No. 23 Auburn (2-1), Saturday at 4 p.m. EDT (SEC Network).

Line: Auburn by 27 ˆ½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Series record: First meeting.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Auburn is trying to bounce back from its first defeat under coach Bryan Harsin, 28-20 at No. 6 Penn State. After this, the Tigers open Southeastern Conference play at LSU. Georgia State wants to build on its first win of the season, 20-9 over a previously unbeaten Charlotte that has a win over Duke.

KEY MATCHUP

Auburn didn't muster much of a pass rush against Penn State, but does have the nation's No. 3 rushing defense. The Tigers are allowing 45.7 yards per game on the ground. The Panthers counter with an offense that ran for 298 yards - seventh most in program history - against Charlotte with four players topping 60 yards.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Georgia State: LB Blake Carroll is coming off a huge game against Charlotte. Carroll had nine tackles, a sack and a pass breakup. He also forced a fumble at Georgia State's 13 to help the Panthers preserve a 13-9 lead late in the third quarter.

Auburn: RB Tank Bigsby has opened the season with three straight 100-yard rushing games. The physical, hard-to-bring down Bigsby is averaging an SEC-best 7.3 yards per carry. Shaun Shivers could rejoin Bigsby and freshman Jarquez Hunter in the backfield after missing the past two games for undisclosed reasons.

FACTS & FIGURES

Auburn is 22-0 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt Conference, with every game played at home. ... The Tigers have won their last 29 homecoming games. ... Auburn kicker Anders Carlson has made 12 consecutive field goals, a career-best and the fourth largest current streak in FBS. ... The Panthers allowed just 276 total yards against Charlotte, the program's seventh-best single-game performance and the fewest yards allowed since 2018 (262 yards against Louisiana-Monroe). ... Georgia State hasn't played an SEC team since beating Tennessee 38-30 in the 2019 season opener. It was the program's first win over a Power Five team.

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Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin thanks the fans after an NCAA football game against Alabama State, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. Auburn won 62-0 over Alabama State. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) The Associated Press

Georgia State running back Destin Coates (17) gets tripped up by North Carolina defensive lineman Raymond Vohasek (51) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

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