SEC Network predicts every Auburn game in 2015
At Auburn, it feels a little like 2010 all over again.
No, Cam Newton isn’t coming back to the Plains to play quarterback anytime soon, but Jeremy Johnson — who has been compared physically to the Carolina Panthers star — takes over the spot this year.
Expectations are high at Auburn — and they should be — especially since the Tigers were picked to win the conference championship at SEC Media Days and because numerous pigskin pundits have Gus Malzahn’s squad among their College Football Playoff picks.
SEC Network analysts Brian Doering and Greg McElroy recently got together to predict Auburn’s record for the 2015 season. They started with some sure wins already up on the board before they got into games in contention:
- vs. Jacksonville State
- vs. San Jose State
- vs. Idaho
Now come the matchups that are harder to decide:
SEPT. 5 — AUBURN VS. LOUISVILLE
Predicted result: Win
McElroy: “I like Auburn to win big.”
Doering: “I agree with you completely. I think that’s a win for the Auburn Tigers.”
SEPT. 19 — AUBURN AT LSU
Predicted result: Win
Doering: “I still like Auburn right now. I think that LSU has too many questions at the quarterback position, so I’m gonna go with Auburn in that one as well.”
McElroy: “That was a one-sided affair last year (a 41-7 Auburn victory), so I’m gonna go with you on that. I’m gonna give them the ‘W’ against the Tigers.”
SEPT. 26 — MISSISSIPPI STATE AT AUBURN
Predicted result: Win
Doering: “I think Mississippi State is falling back some from the rest of the pack this year. I’m gonna go with Auburn again.”
OCT. 15 — AUBURN AT KENTUCKY
Predicted result: Win
McElroy: “This is a sneaky one, especially with Shannon Dawson coming in at offensive coordinator for Kentucky. Auburn’s just more talented though, and I don’t think Kentucky can stop them. I’m gonna give Auburn a win on the road Thursday night.”
OCT. 24 — AUBURN AT ARKANSAS
Predicted result: Loss
Doering: “I’m going with the upset here. This is the first loss. I think Arkansas is too physical for this Auburn defense. That’s one of the problems they’ve had in the past, and I really believe it shows up here and they lose their first one in October.”
McElroy: “I agree — at Arkansas — I think that’s the first loss for the Auburn Tigers. It’s gonna be a tough game. That’s gonna be a physical, line-of-scrimmage type of environment. I just think, Arkansas, I like their defense better. I like their talent; I like their depth up front. They have so many pieces, especially in the front seven, (that) they can rotate, and they won’t be worn out by the tempo.”
OCT. 31 — OLE MISS AT AUBURN
Predicted result: Win
McElroy: Ole Miss, one of the best games of the year last year. I think they beat Ole Miss.”
Doering: “I agree. Think that’s a win for Auburn.”
NOV. 7 — AUBURN AT TEXAS A&M
Predicted result: Win
Doering: “I know we differ here. This is the one that I think Texas A&M goes ahead and gets the victory only because you’re gonna see a lot of spread formations, and I think that’s the problem with Auburn’s secondary. The first four (defensive backs) are pretty good, but as you get to the nickel and dime, it could be a problem. I think Texas A&M wins out.”
McElroy: “Until I see Texas A&M’s defense play more stout at the line of scrimmage, Auburn runs up and down the field. Now granted, this game last year snuck up on the Tigers, but it’s a good matchup in regards to the secondary versus the receivers, but I think Auburn’s defense is better than Texas A&M’s, so I lean toward Auburn.”
This is where moderator Dari Nowkhah chimes in, mentioning both team’s new defensive coordinators — Will Muschamp at Auburn and John Chavis at Texas A&M — before breaking the tie by saying: “I’m really, really high on Auburn. I like A&M, too, but I’ll give Auburn the win here though.”
NOV. 14 — GEORGIA AT AUBURN
Predicted result: Win
McElroy: “Georgia, this a tough one. Georgia, I think, is the team to beat out of the East, but it’s (the game’s) in Auburn.”
Doering: “I think that’s the difference here as well. I think Auburn is going to win this football game — one of the greatest rivalries in college football — but I give it to the Tigers.”
NOV. 28 — ALABAMA AT AUBURN
Predicted result: Win
McElroy: “Does it decide the West again? I think it does. I think Alabama’s defense — the front seven in particular — will make the offense of Auburn one-dimensional.”
Doering: “I think it decides the West and I think it goes in favor of Auburn. I think Auburn’s at home in this one. I think that is going to be the edge in this one. It’s gonna be a great game again, but I do think the Tigers win it.”
Nowkhah: “I do think it’s Auburn. I picked Auburn to win the SEC, so that’s the tiebreak, right?”
McElroy: “Eleven and one. Pretty good. I think it’s got a chance at the playoff with that record.”
Nowkhah: “I think you’re right.”
