Last and least of the wild blind dart-throwing predictions of Alabama SEC opponents is the eternal soap opera in Lee County.

GAME 12, NOV 30: AUBURN TIGERS

Coach: Hugh Freeze (6-7, 3-5 SEC after one season at Auburn; 45-32 (58.4%) as a Power-5 coach, 89-49 overall in FBS, 138-0 in shoulda wons)
[SIDE NOTE: Bryan Harsin also went 6-7, 3-5 in his first season at AU.]

2023 record: 6-7 (3-5 in SEC, 5th in the West Division, lost the Music City Bowl)

Looking back: After three cupcake games to start the 2023 campaign, the Tigers dropped four straight to TAMU, UGA, LSU, and Ole Miss. This was followed by three wins in a row to the doormats of the league, MSU, Vandy, and Arky. Then, tragedy struck. The Auburn PlainsWarTigers were destroyed by New Mexico State at home, 31-10. Next was yet another chapter in the weird Iron Bowl series that ended in a Gravedigger W for the Tide. A sad listless loss to a Maryland playing without Lia Tagavailoa in the Music City Bowl ensured a losing season.

Returning starters: 5 on offense, 4 on defense, punter, kicker.

Key losses: OC and DC thrown under the bus after one season, RB coach Cadillac Williams resigned, CB Nehemiah Pritchett (Round 5, Seahawks), S Jaylin Simpson (Round 5, Colts), CB DJ James (Round 6, Seahawks), DT Justin Rogers (Round 7, Cowboys), DT Marcus Harris (Round 7, Texans), WR Ja’Varrius Johnson (xfer to UCF), WR Jay Fair (to So Cal), S Zion Puckett (grad), LB Larry Nixon (grad).

Top returnees: RB Jarquez Hunter (909 yds, 7 TD), leading tackler LB Eugene Asante, leading receiver TE Rivaldo Fairweather (394 yds – NOT A TYPO!), KR Keionte Scott, PK Alex McPherson, QB Payton Thorne.

Top newcomers: first time OC Derrick Nix, scandal-ridden DC DJ Durkin, WR Robert Lewis (877 yds, 7 TD, from Georgia State), WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (673-4, from Penn State), LT Percy Lewis (from Mississippi State), S Jerrin Thompson (from Texas), DT Isaiah Raikes (from TAMU), MLB Dorian Mausi (from Duke), DL Gage Keys (from Kansas), DL Trill Carter (from Texas), 5-star freshman WR Cam Coleman.

Strengths: Three of the top four running backs return led by preseason All-SEC Hunter (a fourth would’ve returned if not for getting shot in May)… Although many new faces, WRs should be better… Despite his checkered past, Durkin is an upgrade at DC… Punter and kicker are both back and are solid… Quite possibly the weakest non-conference schedule in all of FBS…

Weaknesses: Auburn fans are excited about their freshmen, several of whom who could start or highly contribute. Their enthusiasm s not unfounded, but depending on 18 year olds to lead your team can be difficult when playing in the SEC… Don’t believe the hype. Thorne is medicore to sucky… OL could be an issue as they rebuild… The secondary lost a TON of talent (See Key losses above)… The defense has some good individuals, but overall not great. There will be depth issues… Season tickets did not sell out until a few weeks ago. Is fan support wilting?…

Outlook: These days, everyone gets a pass for Year 1. Freeze has been full of a lot of big talk, but now it’s time to back it up. Another 6 or 7 win season might have the Auburn fans rolling their eyes with “here we go again”. Hunter should have a big season. The defense is a little shaky. The Tigers likely beat someone they shouldn’t – like they always do – and conversely lose to someone they shouldn’t – like they always do. Who those two opponents will be is anyone’s guess.

Win Total Odds

Over 7.5 +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
Under 7.5 -140 (bet $140 to win $100)

2024 AUBURN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:

My Lawd! What a godawful shamelessly easy non-conference schedule. The 8th place team from the SWAC, a so-called “Power” team that is 0-1 in bowl games over the last four season, and quite possibly the two worst FBS teams in the nation for 2024. AU misses Texas, LSU and Tennessee, but still has trips to Alabama, Georgia, and Mizzou to go with hosting TAMU and Okie.

Aubie at home is always dangerous. Aubie on the road is a different animal. Alabama 48-24.

Sat, Aug 31 Alabama A&M – W
Sat, Sep 7 Cal – W
Sat, Sep 14 New Mexico – W – UNM just lost at home to Montana State.
Sat, Sep 21 Arkansas – W
Sat, Sep 28 Oklahoma – L – this one could get weird.
Sat, Oct 5 at Georgia – L
Sat, Oct 19 at Missouri – L
Sat, Oct 26 at Kentucky – W – This could be a toss up.
Sat, Nov 2 Vanderbilt – W
Sat, Nov 16 Louisiana-Monroe – W – projected 2.5 wins.
Sat, Nov 23 Texas A&M – L – this one could go the other way.
Sat, Nov 30 at Alabama – L

ALABAMA SCHEDULE PREVIEWS:

Sat, Aug 31 vs Western Kentucky
Sat, Sep 7 vs South Florida
Sat, Sep 14 @ Wisconsin
Sat, Sep 28 vs Georgia
Sat, Oct 5 @ Vanderbilt
Sat, Oct 12 vs South Carolina
Sat, Oct 19 @ Tennessee
Sat, Oct 26 vs Missouri
Sat, Nov 9 @ LSU
Sat, Nov 16 vs Mercer
Sat, Nov 23 @ Oklahoma
Sat, Nov 30 vs Auburn