Vegas oddsmakers give Alex Golesh good news heading into 2026 season

We are a lot closer to the start of the football season than it might seem, and we know this because additional early odds from FanDuel dropped today, including the Tigers' opener against Baylor from Atlanta. 

The oddsmakers seem to have pretty high hopes for Alex Golesh in his debut at Auburn because they have made the Tigers 7.5-point favorites to beat the Bears.

Auburn is an early favorite in season opener against Baylor

It will be the Tigers debut for Golesh and his handpicked quarterback Byrum Brown, who joined him from South Florida. Brown had a banner year for the Bulls in 2025, accounting for 4,166 yards (3,158 passing, 1,008 rushing) and 42 total touchdowns.

Golesh will be making his return to the SEC, where he spent two years as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee. The 41-year-old had a 23-15 record at South Florida, going 9-3 last season, which was the Bulls' highest win total in nearly a decade. 

As Golesh begins his run at Auburn, Dave Aranda is trying to extend his time with the Bears. The former LSU defensive coordinator led Baylor to a 12-win season with a Big XII championship and a Sugar Bowl victory in the 2021 season, but he's 22-28 since then with only one bowl appearance in the past three seasons.

Baylor also has a noteworthy transfer quarterback in DJ Lagway. The former five-star recruit returns to his home state after two seasons at Florida. Even though Lagway has been having a rough spring, he's penciled in as the Bears' starter. Despite his SEC experience, Lagway has never faced Auburn as the Gators and Tigers will play this season for the first time in seven years. 

This line should get fans excited about the Golesh era. He's got a great offensive mind and his connection with Brown should make the transition seamless. Everything is trending in Auburn's favor as the spring reaches the midway point.