This is it, everyone. This week Auburn football will play their last non-conference football game of the season, facing off against the Georgia State Panthers. Following Week 4, the Tigers will hit the SEC grindstone, beginning with a night game in Death Valley.
However, before the Tigers tackle another road trip, they will have to take care of a non-ranked, one-win Georgia State team at home. Obviously, Auburn football is not walking into this game as the underdog, but apparently, GSU head coach Shawn Elliot is not worried about the game in the slightest, per The Plainsman:
"“Just because they got a big ol’ stadium and they like to cheer and there is going to be a little eagle flyover, I don’t think we are going to be shellshocked,” Elliot said. “It is a football contest. So we will play it just like every other football contest.”"
However, despite Coach Elliot’s confidence that the SEC environment will not have any effect on his Sun Belt team, Bleacher Report has predicted a third non-conference blowout for the Tigers this weekend:
"And get ready for another blowout victory. Georgia State lost by 33 to Army and by 42 to North Carolina, each of whom rushed for more than 200 yards and four touchdowns against the Panthers. Auburn—which is averaging a nation-best 7.8 yards per carry thus far this season—is going to have some fun in this one."
Coach Elliot’s other insults to the Tigers included telling reporters that the team had not been preparing very much for their opponent and going on to say, “No one is going to put a ring on your finger for going out and beating Auburn.”
Well, the fact is that Georgia State is probably not going to beat Auburn, so Coach Elliot won’t have to worry about that. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller predicted a final score of Auburn 52 and Georgia State 10.