AUBURN
The Auburn Tigers finished the 2018 season with an 8-5 record, going 7-5 in the regular season before winning the Music City Bowl in blowout fashion.
That was considered a disappointing finish by many fans, so now the pressure is on the Tigers to improve quickly in 2019.
That won’t be easy, with a tough schedule that features games against Oregon, Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, LSU and Florida. However, CBS Sports analyst Chip Patterson thinks the Tigers will have a big year. On Monday’s episode of “The Paul Finebaum Show,” Patterson said he thinks the Tigers will win 10 games this fall:
"I have Auburn winning 10 games in the regular season. I love what they've got coming back on defense … I think they'll beat Oregon, LSU, and either Georgia or Alabama."
– @Chip_Patterson with a BOLD prediction about the Tigers. pic.twitter.com/TjquSAYSpg
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) May 20, 2019
Both the Georgia and Alabama games are at Jordan-Hare Stadium, but the Florida, LSU and Texas A&M games are all on the road. The Oregon game in Week 1 will be played in Arlington, Texas.
A bad year could spell the end for Gus Malzahn’s tenure in Auburn. However, if he can navigate this brutal schedule and win 10 games, it could go a long way toward repairing his relationship with Tiger fans.
I don’t see Auburn beating Georgia or Alabama. This is likely Kirby Smart’s best team yet in year four. Alabama is still Alabama, even if they have slipped just a bit.
Auburn will have a good defense but the offense has many questions to answer. First year QB, rebuilding O-line, and no proven SEC caliber backs.
Winning 10 games would be a good season, and would likely keep Gus on the Plains for another year. Besides, who would they replace him with? Auburn needs a coach who’s already bought into their way of doing things. Is there any HC candidates who meet that description available?
The line is returning every starter from last year. That’s not rebuilding. Considering that they hired Malzahn with only one year of HC experience I don’t see why anybody can’t do better. Maybe they will buy into a coach who doesn’t lose 4 games a year.
Tim knows absolutely nothing about the teams he tries to comment on… Just pay attention to his posts and you will see that more often then not he is wrong…
Auburns O-line isn’t rebuilding, we return all 5 starters from last year. As for the RB’s, we’ve got plenty of talent, but the o-line and playcalling last year was the issue. Qb’s? We’ve got 2 great options, and while they are unproven, I fully expect whoever wins to become one of the top qb’s in the SEC this year.
I’m not saying I buy into the 10 wins, but historically after a disappointing season of underperforming, Gus usually gets an unknown qb and excels coaching with his back against the wall.
I don’t know what to call Gus other than the SEC equivalent of Brian Kelly when it comes to developing quarterbacks. Bo and Gatewood both had really good spring games though so that may change that narrative.
Tim, you’re a friggin Idiot…Take ur biased, THUGA opinions elsewhere…
Aupwhatever, You act like a certain Bama fan who never has anything to offer to the conversation, just juvenile insults.
Not the best way to carry yourself.
You have yet to offer anything factual or accurate with any of your posts….
@ Tim Rupert
Its ok to disagree but not ok to get your facts mixed up. First of all Auburn returns every starting lineman from last year. They simply aren’t rebuilding the line. Secondly Georgia and Alabama aren’t the only two schools that can receive hype for a young QB. Truth is regardless of which of the two 5 star QBs Auburn decides to start this year either one will be an upgrade from Stidham (whom was a decent QB) Bo Nix had a higher rating then either Tua or Fromm out of high school.
Trolly123, Auburn finished No.10 in the SEC for Rushing Offense.
Alton’s Sports didn’t rank the Auburn O-line in it’s top 25. They didn’t even show up in the Just Missed, which covered 47 teams.
I get the point about the O-line not “rebuilding” in the sense of not replacing starters. My point is they were not very good last year.
They need a lot of improvement. Call it improvement, rebuilding, whatever you want to call it. They need to get much better to compete with the best teams.
Yes, I think Auburn will have a capable QB. Will he be better than Stidham in year one, I doubt it. Stidham was obviously somewhat limited by the line and backs, which should both be improved, but he was a third year QB with NFL skills. Asking a true freshman to be better is a tall order. As far as true freshman QB rankings go, that won’t have anything to do with Auburn’s true freshman facing Fromm and Tua, who will both have two years and half another season under their belts. Anything can happen in football. I just don’t like the match up for a Auburn who needs to improve, or rebuild when they face two teams that are simply going to be stacked at every position with more talent and depth…
I too predict Auburn will win 10 games….over this year and next year!
Yeah you’re dumb…
Gonna be awesome if they finally put one together in Baton rouge.Law of averages is screaming!
Lol, that’s not how probability works. “The law of averages is the fallacious belief that a particular outcome or event is inevitable or certain simply because it is statistically possible.”
I don’t see Auburn winning 10 games with this schedule. Eight would be a decent season, and 10 wins should make Gus the conference COY.
Gus is a box of chocolates. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him run the table or lose 6 games.
This is very accurate. With the schedule, Gus taking over play calling, and breaking in a new QB, 6 wins could definitely happen. Or everything comes together and Auburn pulls off 10+ wins.
Yeah this will be an interesting year for Gus and auburn. I don’t see 10 wins but anything is possible today. A new QB is always a question until it’s not. I would think with that schedule 8 wins is more likely than 10.
I would consider Gus calling the plays a positive for Auburn.
I see 9 wins for Auburn this year with a 10th coming at a bowl game.
Wins – Oregon, Kent State, Tulane, Miss St, UF, Arky, Ole Miss, Samford and either UGA or Bama
Losses – A&M, LSU and either UGA or Bama.
Having Bama and UGA at home is a plus so that’s why I think they’ll split. Wouldn’t be surprised if we beat A&M and lose to UF instead but my prediction is 9-3.
Jekyll or Hyde? Should be interesting to watch how their season develops. The schedule is very, very tough.