Auburn is a team that several have predicted to have a down year with some concerns across the roster, especially at quarterback with the ongoing competition between TJ Finley and Zach Calzada.

But ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum isn’t counting the Tigers out to exceed these lowly expectations.

“The prelude of the season is so comfortable for what Bryan Harsin is trying to figure out here,” Finebaum said in his appearance on an episode of McElroy and Cubelic In the Morning. “What I mean by that is self-explanatory. The first two games are just warm-ups. Regardless of who is named in a week or two, I think it will play itself out. Especially in time for the Penn State which is when, you know, the season really begins and where the season could be decided.”

There’s a chance Finebaum could ultimately be right here, but it’s always difficult for a large group to be high on a team with some of the question marks the Tigers do have, especially with a position like quarterback.

Auburn finished out the 2021 season with a lackluster 6-7 overall record, going 3-5 in conference play. The team will face its first test when the season opens against Mercer on Sept. 3 in Jordan-Hare Stadium.