Auburn football vs. Western Kentucky: Our scouting report, score prediction

AUBURN — Auburn football interim head coach Carnell "Cadillac" Williams was asked about the Iron Bowl during his weekly appearance on the SEC coaches teleconference. The only issue? There's still a game left for both teams to play before they meet in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 26.

The Tigers (4-6, 2-5 SEC) welcome Western Kentucky (7-4) to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday (3:00 p.m. CT, SEC Network) for Senior Day. The Hilltoppers, who have played one other Power 5 team this season — an overtime loss to Indiana —, are in second place in Conference USA.

"I cannot even think about (the Iron Bowl) because we've got a Western Kentucky team that is a doggone good team," Williams said. "I can't even answer that question. I'm sure next week I'll be able to rock and roll with it, but right now, it's all about Western Kentucky."

Here's our scouting report and score prediction for Saturday's matchup:

Quarterback Austin Reed pass happy

Although he's not putting up gaudy numbers like Bailey Zappe did a year ago, quarterback Austin Reed is amongst the nation's leaders in passing yards. Reed, who transferred to Western Kentucky from West Florida, is averaging 322.7 yards per game through the air, good for fourth best in FBS. He trails only Washington's Michael Penix Jr. (364), UNC's Drake Maye (341.2) and Georgia Southern's Kyle Vantrease (330.2). Reed's 31 touchdown passes are also only three behind the top of the leaderboard.

The 6-foot-2 Reed transferred to Western Kentucky after spending four years with the Argos, including a Division II national championship run in 2019 during his redshirt freshman season. In his last season at West Florida, Reed threw for 3,418 yards and 38 touchdowns on the way to a 9-2 record.

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Scheming up plays

In the two games Williams has been coach on the Plains, quarterback Robby Ashford has completed 13-of-35 passes for 135 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Production through the air has been sparse, and Williams took the brunt of the blame for that during his press conference Monday. He said he, along with co-offensive coordinators Will Friend and Ike Hilliard and quarterbacks coach Mike Hartline, have to figure out a way to make things easier for Ashford, who is an elite scrambler but struggles to make plays in structure.

Williams, along with the trio of assistants he named, received promotions after Bryan Harsin was fired Oct. 31. None of them have been in their new roles for long, but they've flashed some creativity through two games. There was a play against Texas A&M that saw wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson lined up as a wing and running a wheel route, an uncommon occurrence that confused the A&M defense and left Johnson wide open for Auburn's only touchdown of the game.

There should be more opportunity for creativity against the Hilltoppers, and getting Ashford going ahead of the Iron Bowl would be huge.

Auburn bowl eligibility still a possibility

After Auburn lost at home to Arkansas on Oct. 29, any chances it had of becoming bowl eligible looked all but dashed. The Tigers, however, have new hope with Williams running the show, and getting back to .500 before the season ends is still a possibility.

It'll first require beating the Hilltoppers, which will add even more implications to the Iron Bowl against Alabama. Bragging rights are always on the line against the Crimson Tide, but the storyline of Williams leading the Tigers into Tuscaloosa — a place they haven't won since 2010 — in hopes of winning a sixth game would be riveting, and one Auburn fans could cling to.

But before all of that, as Williams said, it's all about Western Kentucky.

Auburn football vs. Western Kentucky score prediction

Auburn 31, Western Kentucky 21: The Hilltoppers are a good Group of 5 team, but Auburn should still be able to handle them, especially at home. Ashford will have a chance to show improvement in the passing game, and as long as the Tigers don't look ahead to Alabama, this should be an Auburn victory.

Richard Silva is the Auburn beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football vs. Western Kentucky: Scouting, score prediction