Auburn is back at Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday afternoon looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season when the Tigers host an undefeated Vanderbilt team in their second SEC game of the year. 

The Tigers enter the matchup 2-1 after falling to Florida 44-39 last Saturday, while Vanderbilt comes in at 3-0 after one of the wildest finishes of the college football season, rallying from a 17-point deficit to beat NC State 35-31 on a last-second fumble recovery. 

This will be Vanderbilt’s first road game of the season and its first SEC game, while Auburn is trying to even its conference record before heading into a difficult stretch of the schedule. 

There are several things Auburn needs to clean up, but the biggest questions start on both sides of the line of scrimmage. 

Auburn’s offensive line has to hold up 

The biggest matchup for Auburn could be its offensive line against Vanderbilt’s pass rush. 

The Commodores already have 12 sacks through three games, putting them among the nation’s leaders. Auburn, meanwhile, has allowed Byrum Brown to be sacked 16 times through three games. 

That cannot continue against Vanderbilt. 

Brown has shown that he can make big plays with both his arm and his legs, but Auburn needs to give him enough time to let the offense develop. Vanderbilt will likely look to pressure Brown early and force Auburn into obvious passing situations. 

That makes establishing the run even more important. 

Auburn has averaged nearly 200 rushing yards per game this season, but the Tigers were held to just 102 yards on the ground against Florida. Jeremiah Cobb, Omar Mabson and Bryson Washington will all need to be involved as Auburn tries to make Vanderbilt respect the run. 

If Auburn can consistently run the football, it should open up more opportunities for Brown and the passing game. 

Get Byrum Brown going early 

Another major issue from the Florida game was Auburn’s start. 

The Tigers finished the first quarter with negative three yards of offense and Brown threw an interception on Auburn’s opening possession, which Florida turned into a touchdown. 

Auburn eventually found its rhythm and scored on six of its final seven scoring opportunities, but the slow start put the Tigers in a hole they couldn’t completely escape. 

That cannot happen again. 

Brown has already thrown for 756 yards this season, and his connection with Chas Nimrod and Keshaun Singleton has become an important part of Auburn’s offense. If the Tigers can get the passing game going early while also establishing the run, Vanderbilt’s defense could be forced to play a much different game. 

The offensive line will be at the center of that. 

Make Jared Curtis uncomfortable 

On the other side of the ball, Auburn gets its first look at Vanderbilt freshman quarterback Jared Curtis. 

Curtis has played well through the first three games, throwing for 547 yards and four touchdowns while completing 41 of 65 passes. He also earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after Vanderbilt’s comeback against NC State. 

But this will be a completely different challenge. 

Curtis is making his first SEC start on the road at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and Auburn’s defense needs to make sure he feels that pressure early. 

The Tigers need to create pressure without constantly giving up opportunities for Curtis to extend plays. Xavier Atkins, Elijah Melendez and the rest of Auburn’s front seven have to make the quarterback uncomfortable and force him to make decisions quickly. 

Auburn also needs to contain Sedrick Alexander and the Vanderbilt running game. If the Commodores can consistently run the football, it will make Curtis’ job much easier. 

Auburn’s defense needs a response 

Florida exposed some problems that Auburn can’t afford to carry into the rest of SEC play. 

The Tigers gave up 495 yards last week, including 243 on the ground, and struggled to get off the field on third and fourth downs. 

Vanderbilt presents a different offensive challenge, but the same basic principle applies: Auburn has to finish drives. 

The Commodores have already shown that they won’t go away quietly. They erased a 17-point deficit against NC State last week and scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback. 

Auburn cannot give Vanderbilt extra opportunities through penalties, missed tackles or poor third-down defense. 

If the Tigers can get off the field and force Curtis into longer-yardage situations, Auburn’s pass rush should have opportunities to make plays. 

Prediction 

I expect Auburn to come out with much more urgency after the way the Florida game started. 

Vanderbilt deserves plenty of respect at 3-0, and the Commodores have already beaten Auburn in each of the last two meetings. But this is Vanderbilt’s first road game of the season, and Auburn should have the advantage of Jordan-Hare Stadium behind it. 

The biggest question is whether Auburn can protect Brown and run the football consistently. If the Tigers win that matchup, I think the offense has enough firepower to put together its best overall performance of the season. 

I also expect Auburn’s defense to respond after giving up 44 points to Florida. Curtis has played well, but this will be his first SEC road test, and Auburn’s defensive front should be able to create enough pressure to force mistakes. 

I think Vanderbilt keeps it competitive early, but Auburn pulls away in the second half. 

Prediction: Auburn 38, Vanderbilt 23.