Auburn is 1-0 in the Alex Golesh era, but it didn't look like a polished offense in its 17-16 victory over Baylor.
The Tigers' biggest problem was that OGs Cole Skinner and Jacob Strand were getting bullied upfront. Some of their problems even caused the center, Cole Best, to give a bad snap. So when they both got injured on the same drive, OGs Kail Ellis and Jack Leyrer subbed in and immediately had an impact on the drive.
You could see Auburn's offensive line begin to move the Baylor front back, allowing for the go-ahead score. Thank goodness DJ Durkin's defense looked so good out there.
I hope Golesh potentially keeps Ellis and Leyrer on the field. There was a notable difference in how the offensive line operated after they both came in. Who knows if he actually plans to keep that setup with Jo Simmons at LT and Stanton Ramil at RT, then Jack Leyrer at LG and Kail Ellis in at RG.
But I digress. With the knowledge we have from the Baylor win, what will the rest of the season look like?
Sept. 12th vs. Southern Miss
Southern Miss is the right opponent for Auburn after a Week 1 scare. The Tigers need this game to become about getting Brown comfortable. Plus, allowing a potential new offensive line setup to build confidence by seeing the run game look like an actual strength.
If Auburn plays another fourth-quarter nail-biter, concern around the offense being able to compete in the SEC will only grow louder.
Prediction: Auburn wins. Record: 2-0.
Sept. 19 vs. Florida
Florida is Auburn’s first SEC test, and Baylor gave the Gators plenty to study. If Auburn is still losing too many plays in the backfield and putting Brown under constant pressure, it will be difficult to survive against better athletes for Jon Sumrall.
The Tigers will have actual home-field advantage this time, but this feels like it could be a loss until the offense proves it has changed.
This is a must-win for Auburn, and I'm still hopeful the offense will figure it out for a close win. Florida is vulnerable defensively, it seems.
Prediction: Auburn loses. Record: 3-0
Sept. 26 vs. Vanderbilt
Auburn cannot take Vanderbilt lightly, especially after Baylor showed the world that the Tigers are capable of making a game closer than it should be. Still, this game is at Jordan-Hare, and Auburn’s defense should give them a major advantage because Diego Pavia isn't there.
At this point, if the offense has figured it out, this could be a blowout. And it could be a major statement for their next matchup.
Prediction: Auburn wins. Record: 4-0
Oct. 3 at Tennessee
Tennessee is Auburn’s first SEC road game, and where the training wheels come off.
The Tigers cannot afford another afternoon where Brown is constantly escaping pressure and throwing three interceptions. The defense can keep Auburn competitive, but playing on the road against a more explosive opponent is a different challenge than Baylor. Plus, it's Tennessee's "Champions Weekend," and they are sporting their new Smokey Grey uniforms.
So it is going to be a boss-level challenge. Unless Auburn’s offense takes a major step forward in September, this is hard to pick as a win after watching Baylor.
Prediction: Auburn loses. Record: 4-1.
Oct. 17 at Georgia
The bye week gives Golesh extra time to get ready for Georgia, but Auburn will need more than a bye week to win in Athens.
The Tigers’ defense could keep the game respectable, but Auburn’s offensive inconsistency makes it tough to picture them trading punches with Georgia for four full quarters.
Rivalry games can get weird though, but this is still Auburn’s toughest road test of the year
Prediction: Auburn loses. Record: 4-2
Oct. 24 vs. LSU
Auburn will return home after the Georgia game, but LSU is not the opponent you want after a tough road game.
If the Tigers can protect Brown and create a physical run game, Jordan-Hare can give them a real chance at the upset. But after what Baylor exposed and what LSU did to Clemson, LSU has the edge until Auburn proves it can play cleaner football against quality competition.
Prediction: Auburn loses. Record: 4-3
Oct. 31 at Ole Miss
I think I am the only one not on the Trinidad Chambliss hype train that everyone else seems to be on. Auburn’s defense gives the Tigers a real shot, but the offense cannot expect to win a shootout if it still has problems finishing drives.
This is a difficult road spot at the end of a brutal October stretch. But I don't believe in Chambliss as much as others do, and I don't believe in Pete Golding either.
This could be the stunning loss for Ole Miss that shouldn't be that stunning because it was really Lane Kiffin who put the Rebels back on the map.
Prediction: Auburn "stunningly" wins. Record: 5-3.
Nov. 7 vs. Arkansas
By this point, Auburn should know exactly what kind of team it is.
Arkansas at home is a game the Tigers need if they want to stay in the bowl picture, and Auburn’s defense should be capable of making enough stops.
The offense will not have to be perfect, but it needs to not have the same problems that nearly cost Auburn against Baylor.
Against Arkansas? Bet on it.
Prediction: Auburn wins. Record: 6-3.
Nov. 14 at Mississippi State
Auburn’s defense should travel well after its last visit to Starkville, and that gives the Tigers a real chance in mid-November.
This is a game where Brown and the offense have to play smart and protect the football, then let the defense handle its side of the job against Kamario Taylor.
Auburn gets a well-deserved road victory, but it will probably be tighter than fans want because Kamario Taylor is very good.
Prediction: Auburn wins. Record: 7-3.
Nov. 21 vs. Samford
Samford is a game Auburn should win if they put their uniforms on correctly. It is also Auburn’s last chance to clean up anything still broken offensively before the Iron Bowl.
The Tigers need to use this game to build confidence and get healthy to avoid dashing fans' hopes of an Iron Bowl win.
Prediction: Auburn wins. Record: 8-3.
Nov. 28 at Alabama
No Auburn fan should ever walk into an Iron Bowl assuming the Tigers have zero chance. The problem is that Alabama on the road is a massive challenge for an Auburn offense that already has serious question marks after one game.
Auburn makes it competitive because the rivalry always has the potential to get weird, but Alabama gets the win at home if Auburn doesn't have every problem solved by this point. This game is most likely for a spot in the playoffs. If Kalen DeBoer loses this game and doesn't make the playoffs, heads may roll in Tuscaloosa.
The fall of the Crimson Tide dynasty will be a sweet one.
Prediction: Auburn wins in a final moment similar to 2010. Final record: 9-3
Auburn’s 17-16 win over Baylor did not ruin the season, and it would be dumb to act like Week 1 tells the entire story. Still, it changed the way the Tigers should be viewed. Auburn has a defense that can keep it in games, but the offense has to improve quickly for this team to move beyond simply surviving.
9-3 is a tall order for a first-year coach, but the game against Baylor showed Auburn could finally win when the spotlight is on and shining brightly. The Tigers lost six games last year by one score. Golesh's era started with a one-score win.
He promised to change the way people looked at Auburn, and he is doing that. A win is a win no matter how sloppy it looked.
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