At first glance, Auburn doesn’t appear to be a front-runner within the SEC West.

The team’s projected top-two running backs — Roc Thomas and Jovon Robinson — are no longer with the program. Auburn lost its entire starting linebacker corps from a season ago, and with less than two weeks until the season opener, a starting quarterback has yet to be named.

Auburn is also 2-9 in its last 11 SEC games. The last home win over a conference opponent came in 2014 against South Carolina.

All of these aspects are going against Gus Malzahn’s team heading into 2016. Yet, it does have a major believer in the form of ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit. Per AL.com, he’s extremely bullish on Auburn’s defense.

“For me it’s more of I think the defense is going to be really, really good. I think they’re going to play with a chip on their shoulder. I think they’re going to be mad at the world when they play this year.”

He also expects Malzahn to work some of that offensive magic he’s had the propensity to display in recent years.

“I think defensively they’re going to stay in almost every game that they play and then it’s just a matter of the head coach, Gus Malzahn, and the offense finding ways to put enough points up on the board to win.”

Auburn opens its 2016 campaign at home against Clemson on Sep.3.