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Before each season, Saturday Down South makes 10 bold predictions for how each team will fare. In Auburn’s case, there was plenty of optimism and uncertainty regarding Chad Morris and Bo Nix, who appear to have recently turned the corner, and questions of whether this year’s defense would be up to par with Kevin Steele’s past units.
With just a little over half the season in the books and at least 4 games remaining, here’s a look at how those 10 bold predictions for the 2020 Auburn season have panned out:
1. Prediction: Auburn will finish 2nd in the SEC West
Verdict: Plausible
At 4-2, Auburn sits 3rd in the SEC West behind Alabama and Texas A&M, but it still controls its fate in terms of surpassing the Aggies. Auburn finishes its season by hosting Texas A&M at Jordan-Hare the week after the Iron Bowl. How depleted or emotionally exhausted will the Tigers be after the Iron Bowl? Did they take care of business against Mississippi State and Tennessee? Those answers will play a crucial role in determining how well Auburn plays in its final game, as well as what Texas A&M is playing for with possible fringe College Football Playoff hopes still on the line.
2. Prediction: Bo Nix will get the Joe Burrow makeover
Verdict: Wrong
It turns out the quarterback at the other SEC school in Alabama is getting the Joe Burrow makeover. After a turbulent 4 games to start the season in which Nix showed many of the same limitations he had during his SEC Freshman of the Year campaign of 2019, the sophomore QB finally showed some growth in the last 2 games under Chad Morris, albeit against Ole Miss and LSU. Much like his team, the verdict on Nix will be determined in the final 2 weeks of action, but by no means is his ceiling anywhere close to the prolific year Burrow had.
3. Prediction: Anthony Schwartz is set for a breakout season
Verdict: Plausible
Bringing in Morris to reinvigorate the offense, coupled with the big 2nd-year leap from Nix, this had all the ingredients to be a big year for the junior receiver. With 38 catches for 422 yards, he is all but guaranteed to leave the Mississippi State game Saturday with career-highs for a season, but to confirm 2020 as breakout year would be a bit of a stretch at this point. He ranks 10th in the SEC in receiving yards and 4th in receptions, but when in a pinch Nix still turns to Seth Williams. Schwartz is definitely the beneficiary of teams double-covering Williams, and until he emerges as Auburn’s lead option, you can’t quite call 2020 a breakout year.
4. Prediction: The running back room is better this season
Verdict: Confirmed
This was actually a fairly bold take considering Auburn’s run game had been down the last 2 seasons, leading rusher Boobee Whitlow transferred and there were questions about the offensive line. Shaun Shivers emerged as the top back during the offseason, but when Tank Bigsby had his first opportunity on the field, what a pleasant revelation he was. Bigsby quickly revealed himself to be one of the best backs in the country, and anytime a running back is mentioned in the same sentence as Bo Jackson at Auburn, something special is in the works. Auburn has rushed for at least 200 yards in 4 straight games, and there’s no signs of slowing down.
5. Prediction: Christian Tutt will be an All-SEC punt returner
Verdict: Wrong
Auburn hasn’t had many chances to return punts, with the team only returning 7 so far. Christian Tutt has returned 3 and averages a slightly-better-than-pedestrian 10 yards a return. The real star on special teams has again been Bigsby, who leads the SEC in kick return yards.
6. Prediction: The defense will be better than predicted
Verdict: Confirmed
Having to replace a pair of standouts like Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson would be no small task, but to Steele’s credit, he’s done an admirable job rebuilding the defensive line and secondary despite dealing with several injuries to guys like Big Kat Bryant, K.J. Britt and Jaylin Simpson. Allowing 22.8 points a game would be the most under Steele at Auburn, but in 2020’s era of high-powered offense, it’s good enough for 4th in the SEC. There’s still some work to be done when it comes to stopping the run, but overall Auburn’s defense has outperformed expectations.
7. Prediction: Owen Pappoe will lead the team in sacks
Verdict: Plausible
Pappoe is tied for the team lead of 2 sacks with Zakoby McClain and Derick Hall. Pappoe ranks 2nd on the team with 53 total tackles, also the 5th-most in the SEC. Even if Pappoe doesn’t win the sack battle, his role this year has been invaluable alongside McClain as Auburn’s linebackers has been riddled with injuries to Britt, O.C. Brothers, Romello Height and the opt-out by Chandler Wooten.
8. Prediction: Bo Nix will punt the ball
Verdict: Confirmed
Not only was this confirmed, but Nix actually had the first punt of the season, a 38-yard punt against Kentucky that pinned the Wildcats inside their 10-yard line. Nix has only punted twice more, averaging just over 32 yards a punt and hasn’t done so since the Arkansas game, but nonetheless Nix has punted the ball.
9. Prediction: Auburn will fall to Georgia
Verdict: Confirmed
The 27-6 loss in Week 2 was the worst of the season for Auburn in terms of margin. The Tigers’ offense recorded just a measly 216 yards while the defense helped ignite the temporary flame of legend Stetson Bennett as he passed for 240 yards and a touchdown. The loss to South Carolina 3 weeks ago is now a whole lot worse given the egg the Gamecocks have laid in recent weeks, but Auburn would probably like to have another shot at Georgia now that Nix has turned the corner and the Bulldogs have stumbled down the stretch.
10. Prediction: K.J. Britt will have an All-American season
Verdict: Incomplete
Labeling that “wrong” is too harsh considering why. Britt was rolling after an All-SEC 2019 and was expected to take the lead role on the defense this year until a thumb injury in the Georgia game forced the linebacker to have surgery and hasn’t seen the field since. The good news for Steele’s defense is that Britt will reportedly be back in time for the Nov. 28 Iron Bowl and then the season-finale against A&M. Britt recorded double-digit tackles in both the games he played in this year, so who’s to say what type of monster year he could have had.
