Dozens of college football games are already in the books for the 2018 season, but the one that counts the most to folks on The Plains of Auburn, Alabama, is still to come.
This season, The Plainsman will again make staff picks of Auburn's weekly matchups. Also look for our selections for the national showdowns in the "Plainsman Pick 'Em" section in the print edition of our publication.
Here are our picks for No. 6 Washington vs. No. 9 Auburn (2:30 p.m. CST, Atlanta).
Nathan King, sports editor:
On paper, this matchup should be predicated on both team's proven defenses. Auburn's defensive line finally gets to strut its stuff against Myles Gaskin, an All-America candidate who accounted for over 1,500 total yards last season with 24 touchdowns. For UW, defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake makes his debut as defensive coordinator with an embarrassment of riches in the secondary.
Simply put, Jake Browning won't have much time to throw and Jarrett Stidham won't have much space to throw into.
Playoff-like matchups like these seem to find a way of becoming fourth-quarter games. You know, the ones where you look at the box score the next day and don't know how Team X scored 21 and Team Y dropped 14 in the final period. Defense will rule until late, then the outcome will be decided by the quarterbacks.
Stidham finally has a full offseason under his belt, but he'll trot out onto the turf with an inexperienced offensive line after performing poorly under pressure at the tail-end of 2017.
Browning won't have it easy, either, but I trust Chris Petersen to have his guys well prepared. A few trick plays stun Auburn, and a shaky pocket proves calamitous for Stidham and company.
Prediction: Washington 30, Auburn 24.
Tyler Roush, assistant sports editor:
This isn't a home game for Auburn, and it's not about finally winning in Atlanta.
The game is consistency, and head coaches Gus Malzahn and Chris Petersen both look to maintain that entering the 2018 season.
Despite Auburn's fall at the end of the 2017 season, Jarrett Stidham is poised to make more of a name for himself while trekking into another difficult schedule for 2018.
Washington's Jake Browning is now two seasons removed from his Heisman Trophy finalist campaign, while his running back counterpart, Myles Gaskin, is coming off three-straight 1,000-yard seasons.
Browning will be tested against the Tiger secondary while Auburn's offensive line will have to show that it's improved.
I'll take Stidham and Malzahn using some trickery to pull this one off in the final few minutes.
Prediction: Auburn 28, Washington 24.
Zach Tantillo, sports reporter:
This game will come down to who can control the line of scrimmage. Auburn’s defensive line is regarded as one of the best in the country, and last time Washington played an SEC opponent, it gave up five sacks and seven tackles for loss. The offense could not get going as Alabama controlled the line on defense.
I expect a similar result on Saturday with Auburn’s defensive line wreaking havoc all game. On offense, Jarrett Stidham’s ability to stretch the field vertically and hit targets accurately should keep Washington’s secondary honest, thus opening running lanes for Kam Martin.
Auburn kicks off the season with a top-10 win.
Prediction: Auburn 27, Washington 17.
Jake Wright, sports writer:
Auburn and Washington are both coming off 10-win seasons and New Years Six bowl game appearances. The Tigers and Huskies both have experienced quarterbacks as well. Jarrett Stidham has started 17 games in his career, while Jake Browning is the only four-year starter at quarterback in Washington history.
The Tigers vs. Huskies is the only top-10 game of the opening weekend and does not look to disappoint. The key matchups to watch are Stidham vs. the Washington defensive backs and Myles Gaskin vs. Auburn's front seven. Whoever controls this section of the game will walk away with the victory.
I think that Stidham has the experience and arm to win the matchup against Washington's secondary. Ryan Davis and Darius Slayton will have to step up and win one on one matchups. Up front Auburn has depth and talent to mitigate Gaskin's running lanes.
Prediction: Auburn 24, Washington 20.
Sumner Martin, sports writer:
College football is here and playoff implications are high for Week 1 in Atlanta. Both Auburn and Washington begin the season in the AP top 10 -- Chris Petersen and the favorites of the west versus Gus Malzahn’s reigning SEC West champions.
Both teams have dynamic playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Four-year starter and Heisman hopeful Jake Browning leads the Huskies high-octane offense along with running back Myles Gaskin. While the SEC’s most efficient passer last year, Jarrett Stidham, returns for the Tigers with his go-to receiver in the slot, Ryan Davis. Both offenses, however, have lost key pieces from last year and are still unproven.
The key to the game will be on the other side of the ball. Washington’s secondary, which only allowed 10 passing touchdowns in 2017, features two All-American candidates in cornerback Byron Murphy and safety Taylor Rapp. Auburn’s defensive line, led by returning starters Dontavius Russell and Derrick Brown, rivals any in the country and is sure to give any offensive line trouble.
All signs point to a low scoring game that will be decided in the trenches, and that is where the Tigers have the advantage. I expect both offenses to come out hot early and score touchdowns, but by the second half the defenses will settle in. Auburn’s defense will get the stop they need and Stidham will make one more play late than Browning.
Prediction: Auburn 27, Washington 20
Cole McCauley, sports writer:
Neutral-site games of this magnitude are usually a toss up and honestly, Saturday’s showdown in Atlanta should be no difference. However, with Atlanta less than a two hour drive away from Auburn, expect to see Mercedes-Benz Stadium filled with Tiger fans.
As we all know, the Tigers are tough to beat at home (6-0 at Jordan-Hare in 2017) and while this isn’t technically a home game, expect to see the Auburn faithful in full force come gameday.
There’s no doubt Washington is a talented team. The Huskies are expected to run through the Pac-12 North division this season and are a trendy pick to reach the College Football Playoff in head coach Chris Peterson’s fifth year in Seattle.
A strong defense (specifically a dominant group of defensive backs) and a dynamic duo of quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin, who were both named to all-conference teams in 2016 and 2017, respectively, should keep the Auburn defense on its toes.
However, the Tigers have their share of weapons on both sides of the ball. The Tigers should field a spectacular front seven on the defensive side of the ball headlined by senior linebacker Deshaun Davis, junior D-linemen Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson.
In terms of offensive firepower, three things are certain in life: death, taxes and an Auburn RB having a 1000-plus-yard season as junior Kam Martin takes over the starting job after the departures of Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway. Former Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham is receiving a lot of preseason hype, and for good reason, Stidham is one of the SEC’s best and the junior looks to improve in his second year in Malzahn’s system.
Despite solid offensive weapons on both sides, expect to see a battle between two elite defenses with the semi-home field advantage giving Auburn the edge.
Prediction: Auburn 23, Washington 17.
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