Auburn and Baylor are set to clash in the season opener Friday night under the lights. Here’s what some of our sports staff has to say about the matchup between the Tigers and Bears, complete with score predictions and analysis.
Jackie Dominguez, Sports Editor: Auburn 27-24
Auburn has done a lot of building in the offseason, so they will come out swinging in the opener to show they mean business. Baylor is a strong team, especially in the running game, and will be looking for an easy win considering Auburn’s record last season. Auburn might pull out the win, but expect a dogfight between Baylor’s running backs and Auburn’s defensive line.
Reid Farris, Assistant Sports Editor: Auburn 27-21
Auburn is eager to start the season strong and get a Power Five victory out of the gate, and I believe they will. This game should be close and relatively low-scoring thanks to Auburn’s stout defense, but the Tigers’ physicality in the trenches should give them the edge to hold on in the fourth quarter and secure the win.
Rory Garvin, Sports Reporter: 17-10 Baylor
All eyes will be on McLane Stadium on Friday night as Hugh Freeze and Auburn take on the Baylor Bears in the biggest game of Freeze’s tenure as Tigers head coach. Over the past two offseasons, Freeze and his staff have done a strong job bringing in talent such as KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Eric Singleton Jr. from the transfer portal, generating hype entering the season. Yet the preseason buzz has repeatedly fizzled after early-season setbacks under Freeze. Until the Tigers prove they can turn things around, I’m picking Baylor to hand Auburn a heartbreaking road loss.
Gunner Norene, Sports Writer: Auburn 28-20
This is one of the biggest season openers Auburn has played in recent memory. The Tigers need this win desperately, and considering their complete roster overhaul — which includes two consecutive recruiting classes and a successful offseason in the transfer portal — Auburn has all the talent it needs to compete with the top programs of the sport.
Baylor boasts a solid squad led by senior quarterback Sawyer Robertson and redshirt sophomore running back Bryson Washington, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in his redshirt freshman campaign last year. However, I believe Auburn has the more complete roster and possesses great depth at important positions. Headlined by Keldric Faulk and an elite young secondary, the Tigers’ defense is one of the most underrated in the country. On the offensive side of the ball, Hugh Freeze and company have one of the nation’s best wide receiving corps and a heavily improved offensive line.
At the end of the day, the outcome will depend on Jackson Arnold’s performance. He doesn’t have to be anything spectacular — if he’s solid and limits turnovers, Auburn will emerge victorious. I think it will be neck and neck throughout the entire game on a hot Friday night in Waco, Texas, but Auburn’s weapons will ultimately overpower the Bears, and the Tigers will make a few clutch plays late — something we haven’t seen in years.
Jonathan Wallin, Sports Writer: 24-17 Auburn
This is an intriguing matchup to kick off the Tigers’ season. Both teams have a multitude of playmakers on offense. Returning Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson is coming off an impressive junior campaign in which he amassed more than 3,000 passing yards. With all of his major offensive weapons returning to the Bears this fall, he is slated to continue his strong performance into the 2025 season. The Tigers’ offense, on the other hand, is primarily composed of promising young players looking for breakout seasons, along with highly touted transfer portal pickups projected to be first-rounders in the upcoming NFL Draft. With all the offensive firepower taking the field in Waco, Texas, tonight, it’s not hard to see this game quickly turning into a shootout. However, I believe the defensive side of the ball will be the determining factor in this game — and that is where I see Auburn holding a clear advantage. Last season, Baylor ranked as the No. 86 defense in Division I in terms of yards allowed per game — a bottom-half finish. Auburn, by contrast, finished in the top 25% of all Division I teams, ranking as the No. 31 defense. I believe the Tigers’ advantage on the defensive side of the ball — more specifically, in the secondary — will outweigh any edge Baylor may have on offense. Look out for a big game from Cam Coleman; I really like his matchup against the Bears’ secondary in this one.
Tyler Cox, Sports Writer: 21-17 Auburn
Auburn will seek to win against a tough Power Five opponent in what I believe will be extremely close. Dave Aranda will put together a good defensive game plan, but the Tigers should have enough newly acquired firepower to win a tight game against the Bears. I expect Auburn to try to set the tone through its passing game with Jackson Arnold and rely on all the talent at wide receiver to secure the win on the road.
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