Vanderbilt at Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. (Interstat) — Vanderbilt will put its unbeaten record on the line Saturday when it visits Auburn in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The Commodores are 3-0 and coming off a 35-31 home win over North Carolina State. Auburn is 2-1 after a 44-39 home loss to Florida. The forecast at game time calls for 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis is a player to watch. In the win over North Carolina State, Curtis completed 20 of 34 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns and ran 12 times for 64 yards. He also was 7 of 9 for 60 yards and ran three times for 22 yards in a 28-9 win over Austin Peay. Sedrick Alexander ran seven times for 53 yards and caught two passes for 15 yards and a touchdown against North Carolina State. Makhilyn Young added four carries for 16 yards and two receptions for 10 yards and a score.

The Commodores also beat Delaware 35-26 and Austin Peay 28-9. Vanderbilt’s offense has leaned on Curtis, who has been efficient and productive in the early going. The Commodores will face an Auburn defense that has allowed 44 points in its most recent game and 16 in a season-opening 17-16 win over Baylor. Auburn also beat Southern Mississippi 43-8.

Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown is a player to watch. In the loss to Florida, Brown completed 20 of 35 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns and ran 18 times for 65 yards and another score. Jeremiah Cobb ran nine times for 32 yards and caught one pass for 11 yards and a touchdown. Bryson Washington ran three times for 8 yards and caught one pass for 6 yards.

The Tigers will look to Brown to spark an offense that has shown big-play ability. Auburn’s defense will try to contain Curtis and the Vanderbilt passing game. Saturday will mark Vanderbilt’s first road game of the season. The Commodores’ schedule includes a trip to Georgia and home games against Ole Miss and Arkansas. The Tigers have played their first three games at home.

Vanderbilt’s upcoming schedule includes games against Georgia, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Alabama, Florida and Tennessee. Auburn’s future slate includes Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Samford and Alabama.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Auburn 34, Vanderbilt 15. Interstat’s ELO system gives Vanderbilt a 62.3 percent probability to win. Vanderbilt has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +9.5, and the over/under is 55.5.