Even though Clemson is the favorite going into Saturday night’s season opener against Auburn, the SEC’s Tigers do at least have history on their side.

AU has a clear-cut upper hand in the all-time series between the two teams, going 34-13-2 against Clemson. Then again, a bubble is somewhat bursted when considering Clemson has won the last two matchups entering this season.

With the fact that Auburn and Clemson have met just six times since 1971, it’s a little surprising that the hype for this game hasn’t been bigger. But there might be a very good reason for that.

The opening week of the season could be the biggest one in college football history. Historically, week 1 has served as an opportunity for powerhouses to feast on nonconference cupcakes.

But in 2016, that is definitely not the case. More so than any other time in recent memory, teams are kicking off the season against equal – if not superior – opponents.

There is no shortage of sexy SEC-ACC matchups. Auburn is playing host to Clemson, the team Alabama beat for last season’s national championship. Ole Miss takes on Florida State in Orlando – in what is essentially a home game for the Seminoles – and Georgia will face North Carolina at the Georgia Dome.

According to Vegas, the Georgia-UNC game is expected to be competitive. When it comes to the Rebels vs. Seminoles tilt and the Tigers vs. Tigers tussle, both SEC teams are getting at least a touchdown.

What are Clemson fans saying about Auburn? Do they feel their team will win?

Trash talk between the two fan bases has given this game a little more buzz. Clemson fans have been on the receiving end of more of it than usual thanks to a T-shirt that boasted about Alabama tight end O.J. Howard’s performance against the Tigers in last season’s national title game.

Despite the fact that their team couldn’t beat Bama, Clemson fans are using the Auburn game to promote the power of the ACC. Meanwhile, Auburn – in its latest big game against an ACC team – can do to Clemson what it couldn’t do against Florida State in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. And that’s win.

As far as talk actually related to on-field activities, Clemson fans seem confident about two things and concerned about two things.

Concerns:

1. Clemson fans’ greatest concern is in the secondary. Cornerback Mackensie Alexander and safeties Jayron Kearse and T.J. Green have moved on to the NFL, while safety Jefferie Gibson has transferred. Cordrea Tankersley, whose 887 snaps led Clemson last season, is the lone returning starter in the defensive backfield. Coordinator Brent Venables’ defense features talented players in Van Smith, Jadar Johnson, Marcus Edmond, Ryan Carter and Mark Fields, but all of them lack experience and could be exploited.

2. The other concern is the possibility that Clemson’s schedule might be too weak. Yes, Auburn plays in the toughest division in college football in the SEC West, but a victory over Gus Malzahn’s Tigers might not jump out on Clemson’s résumé by the end of the season. Clemson has just two ranked teams on its slate, and a loss at Florida State on Oct. 29 could very well knock it out of the ACC and national championship races. Playing an SEC East team might not help either. A win over rebuilding South Carolina and nonconference games against Troy and South Carolina State won’t produce much of a boost.

Areas of confidence:

1. Clemson’s offense is a matchup problem for any team. Just ask Alabama, whom Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson burned for 478 total yards (405 passing, 73 rushing) and 4 touchdowns in last season’s national championship game. Seven of Clemson’s top nine pass-catchers from last season – including four who had at least 5 TD receptions – have returned, which gives Watson plenty of targets. Plus, Wayne Gallman – who set a single-season school record by rushing for 1,527 yards — is also back, so Clemson has no shortage of weapons, and its backers know that.

2. Clemson fans also believe their team has a big advantage on defense against Auburn’s offense. AU starting quarterback Sean White goes into the Clemson game with seven career starts, but he doesn’t really have any potential receiving targets who will prevent Venables’ group from blitzing whenever it can. Plus, even if White happens to get going in the passing game, Auburn’s lack of a true feature back will make things less complicated for Clemson’s defense. Even though Clemson lost six defensive players to the NFL in the offseason, its fans believe that Venables can rebuild the D.