Paul Finebaum already singling out the problem if Auburn football looks terrible against Alabama A&M

Paul Finebaum believes that if Auburn football looks "terrible" against Alabama A&M in Week 1 under the lights at Jordan-Hare Stadium, it'll be Payton Thorne who'd be viewed as the problem by Tiger fans.

“I just think, in Auburn’s case, they want to feel good about themselves as they handle the weakest part of the schedule,” Finebaum said during an appearance on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning (h/t On3). “I think if Auburn looks terrible there might be a bigger reaction because there’s probably more question marks about Payton Thorne."

Finebaum will often have strange opinions on other coaches in the sport -- morphing into a heel WWE color commentator speaking about Deion Sanders in particular -- but he's on point about Auburn here.

Thorne would be the problem if this Tigers team doesn't handle a bottom-half SWAC squad from a season ago. It'd be an all-time shocker if every member of the running back room didn't go off. AAMU's Quad Brown, who would've been an intriguing depth piece in AU's QB room being from the Birmingham area, shouldn't be giving DJ Durkin's defense fits.

Hugh Freeze rebuilt the WR room for Thorne, who he has been loyal to, to a fault, since the start of the 2023 season. If it looks like he's taken a step back from what was a subpar debut on the Plains, those calls for Hank Brown are going to be loud as Auburn prepares to face Cal.

Auburn football a shaky bet in Week 1 against Alabama A&M

Auburn is one of several SEC teams with astronomical spreads facing FCS programs in Week 1. At a near-50-point favorite against AAMU, the Tigers may be a shaky bet as they implement new offensive and defensive coaching personnel and welcome 21 new defenders who can see the field.

Maybe Thorne surprises everyone and looks like the 2021 Michigan State version, but if he doesn't, it'll take several big runs and the backup gunslingers to run up the score in the second half enough to cover.