Auburn’s bye week was a chance to get healthy, take a break and re-focus. Now, things get serious with five consecutive SEC games on the horizon.

Of those 5 games, 3 will be against ranked opponents. Fair or not, first-year Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin will be judged by how he closes out the season. Things have been good to this point but the fan jury is still deliberating.

If the Tigers lose 3 games in their final 5, the season will be considered ho-hum among the Auburn fan base as it evaluates a 7-5 record. If the Tigers can win 3 games in this final stretch, an 8-4 record would be considered a step in the right direction. However, if Harsin can lead his Tigers to a 4-1 record in this final gauntlet, he’ll receive SEC coach of the year consideration at 9-3.

Here are 8 bold predictions about Auburn’s remainder of the season:

QB Bo Nix will start every game this season

What exactly makes this bold? It’s certainly not the fact that Auburn’s coaches have proved that they believe in Nix. That has been the case. This prediction is bold because Nix likes to run and takes some hits. However, he has shown the toughness and can endure the rest of the season, especially with a bye week under his belt. However, it would be nice if Bo Knows Sliding from time to time.

There’s always a chance that backup T.J. Finley could improve enough in practice and Nix could struggle enough in games to warrant a change. However, that doesn’t seem likely. Nix looks like the guy for the remainder of the season. That didn’t seem like the case when Finley saved the Tigers against Georgia State. Also, as has been pointed out before, Finley is not a great fit as a pocket passer behind the Tigers’ inconsistent offensive line.

Auburn will have two RBs go over 1,000 yards

Running backs Tank Bigsby and Jaquez Hunter are both in the top 10 in rushing yards per game this season in the SEC. Bigsby has 526 yards rushing. Hunter has 492. Auburn hasn’t had a running back run for 1,000 yards in a season since Kerryon Johnson ran for 1,391 in 2017.

Auburn legends Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams never ran for 1,000 yards apiece in the same season. The only time the Tigers have had two running backs top 1,000 yards in the same season occurred in 1979, when James Brooks ran for 1,208 yards and Joe Cribbs added 1,120.

Auburn will have 3 of the top pass rushers in the SEC

Auburn already has three pass rushers in the top 10 in sacks per game — edge rushers Eku Leota and Derek Hall and defensive end Colby Wooden. All are tied for ninth in the SEC with four sacks this season. That averages to 0.57-sacks per game. No, Auburn doesn’t have that one pass rusher that can disrupt games on his own. However, the Tigers approach in the defensive front gives more than just one player a chance to pressure opposing quarterbacks.

Auburn will only lose once more

You wanted bold? You got bold. Auburn hosts Ole Miss this week, then travels to Texas A&M, hosts Mississippi State, travels to South Carolina and hosts Alabama. With Ole Miss and Alabama both at home, Auburn will win one of those games and should win the other three against the Bulldogs, Gamecocks and Aggies. With rumors swirling around about Aggie coach Jimbo Fisher possibly taking the LSU job, MSU still struggling to find its identity and South Carolina just being plain bad, the Tigers can finish the season strong.

Auburn will be bowling in Florida

If Georgia and Alabama make the College Football Playoff, that would shift other SEC teams upwards in terms of bowl status. Don’t be surprised if Auburn ends up in the Citrus Bowl if they finish 9-3. That selection could come down to the Tigers, Ole Miss and Kentucky. If Auburn finishes 3-2 in their final five games, the Outback Bowl is very possible. Remember, Auburn always travels well to bowl games and has a history of committing to buying as many tickets as possible to get the bowl they want.

Auburn will finish in top 20 in recruiting

Prospects are taking a wait-and-see approach with Harsin in his first season on The Plains. That’s wise. The Tigers currently have the No. 35 class in the nation. That won’t keep a team competitive in the SEC over the long haul. Harsin has proven he can develop players but he needs elite talent. If Auburn finishes the season like I think it will, the staff will close strong in recruiting. Finishing in the Top 20 in recruiting is nothing to brag about in the SEC. That usually equates to the bottom half of the conference. However, finishing worse that that would be a serious cause for concern.

Auburn will receive a handful of impact transfers

It’s obvious that players have bought into Harsin’s system after having to play under Gus Malzahn, who was a bit unsure at times and relied on superior talent, especially at the skill positions, to win at a high level. Harsin’s players will recruit for him. There are plenty of opportunities to play immediately at several different positions for Auburn. It might not be a good long-term plan for Harsin to rely on transfers, but he’ll find some immediate impact players as soon as this season is complete.

Auburn will give Harsin raise & contract extension

Even if the Tigers close out the season with a 3-2 record, they’ll still be 8-4. Auburn was 6-4 last season in the bizarre COVID-19 season. Winning eight games would be a step in the right direction and Harsin will be rewarded for his efforts.