Auburn football vs. Mercer: Score prediction, scouting report for 2022 season opener

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser
·3 min read
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AUBURN — The television screens in Auburn's athletic facility always show film of the football team's next opponent. For most of the last month, that meant year-old game broadcasts of Mercer, the FCS squad from Macon, Georgia.

Then the Bears got their head start on 2022.

They smoked Morehead State 63-13 last week and the highlights now occupy the TV screens as Auburn prepares for its 2022 season opener Saturday (6 p.m. CT, ESPN+) at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

"They certainly have our attention when it comes to getting prepared this week," Auburn second-year coach Bryan Harsin said.

Here are three things to know about Mercer and a score prediction.

Play-makers at receiver provide first test for Auburn secondary

Mercer returns its starting quarterback and two leading receivers. Fred Payton, a former Coastal Carolina quarterback, was 57.7% last year with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. But his season opener against Mercer was a huge step, as he finished 11-for-17 with 248 yards and four touchdowns – all without a turnover.

It helps to have a receiver whose college career started at Georgia. Ty James was the Bears' biggest weapon the last two seasons, compiling 56 catches for 1,129 yards and 10 touchdowns. He started the season with a bang against Morehead State: five receptions, 192 yards, three touchdowns (including a 90-yarder). Then there's Devron Harper, who contributed a receiving touchdown and a 93-yard kickoff return. He even scored a 60-yard reception against Alabama last season.

Sure, it's FCS, but James and Harper still form an adequate tune-up for an Auburn secondary that lost Roger McCreary and Smoke Monday. Which safety will look best alongside Zion Puckett?

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Theme on defense? Same as offense: Experience

Five of Mercer's top seven tacklers from last season returned and got off to a strong start against Morehead State. Solomon Zubairu is the defensive lineman to watch. He recorded a sack last week after leading the team in 2021.

Linebackers Isaac Dowling and Ken Standley are back, and they got a boost from senior Zach Hopkins' seven tackles in the opener. It's a unit that has played together plenty. Auburn's goal needs to be zero sacks allowed. Anything more than that is alarming.

Auburn's staggering history against Mercer

Fans probably remember Mercer for the 2017 headache, when Auburn turned the ball over four times and needed a late touchdown just to make it 24-10. (Naturally, the Tigers won the SEC West that year.)

But Auburn has actually played Mercer 12 times in program history, dating back to a frequent series that started in 1896. In the first four matchups, Auburn outscored Mercer, 158-0. In the first 10? Tigers 456, Bears 5. Mercer only scored in one of those first 10 games. The highlight was a 92-0 bludgeoning Oct. 14, 1916.

Score prediction

Auburn 49, Mercer 17: Auburn is a 31.5-point favorite. Mercer will keep pace for a quarter before the Tigers blow it open. Backup quarterback Robby Ashford makes his college debut and delivers a backdoor cover.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football 2022 opener vs. Mercer: Prediction, scouting report