Judging by the preseason hype, Auburn is poised for a huge season in 2017. Should the Tigers fulfill those lofty expectations, head coach Gus Malzahn will likely find himself being rewarded with an extension and potentially a raise.

On the other hand, if Auburn fails to live up to the hype, many will be calling for his job. Interestingly enough, USA TODAY oddsmaker Danny Sheridan isn’t even willing to wait before calling out Malzahn.

During his appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show Thursday, Sheridan claimed Auburn should open the season as only a 4-point underdog in the Iron Bowl. However, should the Tigers come out and prove to be as good as the offseason hype suggests, Sheridan believes the game would be closer to a complete toss up.

“Alabama will be a solid 4-point favorite at Auburn, I wouldn’t rate them any higher because Auburn at home, Stidham could be really, really good,” Sheridan said on the air. “If Alabama plays average and Auburn plays really well with Stidham, I’d make the Alabama-Auburn game Pick ‘Em — maybe Alabama -1.”

Sheridan then went out of his way to put the heat on Malzahn, saying he needs to win the Iron Bowl for the first time since 2013 or he will be on his way out on the Plains.

“Auburn has had their nose rubbed in the dirt, all this crap about Georgia is a rivalry, this is it for Malzahn,” Sheridan said. “You don’t beat Alabama, you are history this year. At least I think that.”

“If I’m the athletic director and I’m paying you 4-5 million dollars a year, and you’ve lost what, three straight to Alabama, three straight to Georgia, your alleged rival. You’re 8-5 three years in a row. (If) I’m an Auburn fan, (if) I’m an Auburn alumni giving a lot of money, I think we can do better. And I know they can do better. 8-5 for three years, that’s Sumlinesque.”

(Note: Despite Sheridan’s statements, Auburn has not gone 8-5 three years in a row. Auburn went 8-5 in 2016 and 2014 but went 7-6 in 2015).

While fans on both sides of the rivalry in the state of Alabama have much riding on the annual outcome of the Iron Bowl, if Sheridan is correct, the man with the most on the line this year could prove to be Malzahn.