UL Monroe @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2010 ) UL Monroe 3, Auburn 52

Auburn will open its 2012 home schedule looking for its first win of the season when it hosts Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. After a tough loss to No. 11 Clemson in their opener, the Tigers were sloppy in a visit to Mississippi State, turning the ball over five times in a 28-10 loss. The Warhawks, who compete in the Sun Belt Conference, enjoyed their moment in the national spotlight to open their season, overcoming a 21-point deficit to knock off No. 8 Arkansas 34-31 in an overtime thriller in Little Rock last week.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, SEC Network, ESPN3.com. LINE: Auburn -16

ABOUT LOUISIANA-MONROE (1-0): Quarterback Kolton Browning recorded 481 yards of total offense against the Razorbacks, leading Louisiana-Monroe to the first victory over a top 10 opponent for a Sun Belt school. Pairing a career-best 412 passing yards with 69 yards on the ground and four touchdowns overall, the junior evaded the Arkansas rush all night and will look for more of the same as he faces a second consecutive SEC opponent. Senior receiver Brent Leonard pulled in 11 catches for 112 yards and the game-tying touchdown with less than a minute to play.

ABOUT AUBURN (0-2): The Tigers, who have a minus-5 in turnover ratio, will need to clean up their game to find their way into the win column for the first time this season. Quarterback Kiehl Frazier has thrown four interceptions and lost three fumbles. Onterio McCalebb's 100-yard kickoff return was Auburn's only touchdown in the loss to Mississippi State and a Frazier-to-Emory Blake connection in the season opener remains the lone trip to the end zone for the Tiger offense.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Auburn is 18-0 against teams from the Sun Belt Conference.

2. Louisiana-Monroe will seek its first 2-0 start since moving up to the FBS level.

3. The Tigers have defeated the Warhawks by an average of nearly 35 points in eight meetings dating back to 1994.

PREDICTION: Auburn 30, Louisiana-Monroe 13