Red Zone Watch: Auburn thrives, A&M a mismatch for Arkansas

Unfortunately, ESPN hasn’t rolled out an SEC version of NFL RedZone for the conference’s new network. It would fit well on the alternate channel and would’ve rocked this season. But we’ll keep track of red zone stats for you each week.

Comparing the teams by red zone scoring percentage on offense and defense through three weeks, Auburn is the only conference program to rate in the top five in both categories.

In fact, the Tigers can credit red zone play (and a little luck) for a 20-14 win at No. 20 Kansas State on Thursday. Check out the result of red zone possessions by each team.

Auburn: FG, TD, FG
Kansas State: INT, TD, missed FG, missed FG, TD

In a defensive slugfest, the Tigers converted all three red zone drives into points and Kansas State converted just two of five, with a turnover and two missed field goals. (Tyler Lockett gifted Auburn the interception.)

Meanwhile, Missouri matched Auburn with two field goals and one touchdown in three red zone possessions, but it wasn’t enough for the Tigers. Playing against what has been one of the worst power conference defenses since the beginning of last season in Indiana, Mizzou failed to convert touchdowns at the end of the first and second half, leaving the door open for a Hoosiers touchdown drive that sealed the upset.

This week, Arkansas (3-1, 0-1) is getting some buzz after three strong wins, heading to Arlington, Texas, to take on A&M at a neutral site. But the Razorbacks have a major disadvantage in the red zone, as the Arkansas defense has allowed opponents to score touchdowns on 10 of 11 possessions. The Aggies have scored 20 red zone touchdowns, converting nearly 85 percent of red zone possessions into six points.

OFFENSIVE RED ZONE STATISTICS

Texas A&M and Alabama remain tied for the SEC lead with 24 red zone possessions. The Aggies have scored four more touchdowns than the Crimson Tide on those possessions. Alabama failed to score once every six red zone trips, while A&M’s one elusive possession ended with a first-and-goal at the South Carolina 3-yard line after Texas A&M drained the final 10:05 of the fourth quarter.

Two offenses have scored every red zone trip — Auburn and South Carolina. But Auburn’s two field goals in three tries elevated Arkansas (16 touchdowns in 20 possessions) to second in red zone touchdown percentage at 80.0.

Florida has settled for a field goal on six of its 15 red zone possessions, most in the conference.

Mississippi State reached the red zone five times against LSU and still only scored two touchdowns, but added two field goals. If the Bulldogs want to continue to upset SEC West teams, the team has to punch the ball into the end zone more often from close range. MSU has come up empty on a conference-high five red zone possessions.

After a week off, Kentucky has the worst red zone offense with SEC lows of 10 possessions and four touchdowns.

DEFENSIVE RED ZONE STATISTICS

Mississippi State’s red zone defense, by contrast, has been best in the conference, as LSU found out Saturday. The Bulldogs stopped four consecutive LSU runs from inside the 2-yard line in the first quarter for a turnover on downs, while the Tigers managed a touchdown and a field goal on two other red zone possessions.

South Carolina at Vanderbilt featured seven red zone possessions. The two defenses have combined to allow 43 red zone possessions and 26 red zone touchdowns this season. The Gamecocks have allowed opponents to score 91.3 percent of the time inside the 20, a bad combination considering opposing offenses have gotten there 23 times.

That made sense when the opponents were Texas A&M, East Carolina and Georgia, but Vanderbilt? Missouri (12) and Auburn/Arkansas (11) have allowed the third and fourth-most red zone possessions, but are only halfway to South Carolina.

Texas A&M and Alabama are the best at preventing red zone touchdowns. Each defense has allowed two on seven red zone possessions, but Alabama also has given up five field goals to four for A&M.

As mentioned, Arkansas has given up a league-worst 90.9 percent red zone touchdown percentage.

Florida hadn’t allowed a red zone touchdown in two games before giving up four to Alabama on five Crimson Tide possessions.