Auburn faces Baylor on Saturday in the opener for both teams. Look inside for a preview of the game and a final score prediction.
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This is easily one of the most intriguing games on the SEC opening weekend. Auburn and Baylor meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, providing Alex Golesh with a difficult first test as Auburn’s head coach. Baylor’s official game-week information confirms the neutral-site matchup and a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC.
Auburn enters the season attempting to reverse five consecutive losing seasons. Golesh inherited a roster mixing returning young players with transfers, including several familiar with his system. Auburn’s preseason expectations are relatively modest, but that makes the Baylor game especially important. A win would immediately provide momentum and belief in the new direction.
Baylor presents a legitimate challenge because the Bears are capable of matching Auburn physically and will not be intimidated by the SEC label. Auburn must avoid the offensive inconsistency that plagued the program in recent years. The Tigers need manageable third downs and must protect the football.
The key may be Auburn’s ability to establish the run. If the Tigers can create rushing success, Golesh can use tempo and play-action to stretch Baylor’s defense. Defensively, Auburn must prevent explosive plays and force the Bears to drive the length of the field.
This feels like a four-quarter game. Neither team has such a decisive talent advantage that an early mistake can simply be ignored.
I give Auburn a slight edge because of its athleticism and what should effectively be a pro-Auburn crowd in Atlanta.
Predicted score: Auburn 30, Baylor 27
