Cam Newton has given Johnny Manziel advice before on how to handle the college football spotlight, and in particular, when that spotlight casts a negative light. But this week, Newton isn't looking to help the Texas A&M star quarterback.
In fact, he's looking for him to lose.
Newton told The Associated Press he is predicting his former team, the Auburn Tigers, will upset Manziel and the Aggies on their own field Saturday. But the Carolina Panthers starter and former No. 1 draft choice has due respect for Manziel's talent, as well as others at the position in the college game.
"Johnny is a great football player, and he's playing at a level that people don't even really see, as well as Clemson's Tajh Boyd," Newton said. "There are a lot of players across the nation that are playing great football at the quarterback position."
Last year in winning the Heisman Trophy, which Newton won in 2010, Manziel shattered Newton's SEC record for total offense in a season by more than 700 yards. Manziel finished with 5,116, including more than 1,400 on the ground to lead the league in rushing as well.
"When you look across the board, and me being a fan of the game, it's all about confidence. When you get a person playing with confidence who knows what they're capable of? That goes to show you, when I was at Auburn I played with confidence," Newton said.
Having just thrown for three touchdowns and rushed for another in a 35-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings, it's a good bet Newton's playing confidence is higher than his confidence in the Auburn upset.
Auburn in 2-1 in SEC play, but is a decided underdog to the Aggies, who are averaging a whopping 47.8 points per game with the league's top offense.
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter@ChaseGoodbread.
