Auburn and Washington each won 10 games last year. This season, the two schools will play each other to open the new campaign, an exciting early non-conference matchup on Sept. 1.

The Tigers and Huskies had similar records in 2017, and ESPN analyst Brock Huard believes the two schools are fairly even entering the new season. And he expects a close game in the opener.

“I don’t think there’s an obvious advantage for either team,” Huard said during an interview with WJOX 94.5 on Thursday. “That’s why it will probably be a one-possession game into the fourth quarter. Now, both teams have a concern, and maybe even more so for Washington, and that is their kicking situation. And Auburn loses one of the best — if not the best — they’ve ever had [Daniel Carlson] in that spot. But for Washington last year, you can really point to the struggles there as a huge part of losing at Arizona State and not really helping them in a loss down on The Farm [Stanford] either. So that will be a watch — it always is for every coach.

“I think it will be a one-possession game and that special teams phase may just be the decider.”

Huard is a former Huskies quarterback. He played at Washington from 1996-98 before going on to the NFL.

The Huskies have won seven or more games in eight straight seasons, while the Tigers have done so in five straight. They were both ranked at the end of 2017, when Washington went 10-3 and Auburn went 10-4.

The Tigers and Huskies will play their season opener at a neutral site — Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

For the full interview with Huard, listen below: