We’re a little more than a month away from the college football season. While SEC Media days dominates local sports media, let’s take a look at what the upcoming season looks like in Lee County. Join us below for a preview of Auburn’s 2022 football season.
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SEPT 3: MERCER BEARS (Auburn)
The last time Auburn hosted this perennial punching bag, the Tigers struggled. Ultimately, they overcame five turnovers to limp across the finish line by two touchdowns. That won’t happen again. PREDICTION: Auburn wins 58-13 and fans will begin to price tickets to the playoffs.
SEPT 10: SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS (Auburn)
The Tigers continue their cupcake homestand in week two. Playing the Spartans will be a step up in comeptition for Auburn. If Tank Bigsby’s running attack doesn’t do in SJSU by halftime, it’ll be the biggest surprise of the day. PREDICTION: Auburn wins 38-12 and fans have several email alerts on Atlanta hotel prices for the Peach Bowl.
SEPT 17: PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (Auburn)
Penn State is currently a one-point favorite against Auburn. It’s unclear whether that includes the supernaturally annoying 14-point pad that Jordan Hare seems to bring to an Auburn home game. By week three, inevitable starting quarterback Zach Calzada will have the time to get into rhythm with his receivers and pass the Tigers’ first real test of the season. PREDICTION: Auburn wins 33-28 and Auburn fans have email alerts set for flights to the championship game in Los Angeles.
SEPT 24: MISSOURI TIGERS (Auburn)
Missouri is a struggling program. They won’t win a conference road game this year and if it weren’t for Vandy, they probably won’t notch a home win either. PREDICTION: Auburn wins 34-10 and Auburn fans are now wondering if they should just be let into the NFL.
OCT 1: LSU TIGERS (Auburn)
Like we said with Alabama’s season preview last week, LSU just isn’t there yet. They’re still rebuilding and Brian Kelly will likely be working on his accent or dance moves before he has any time to prep for Auburn. PREDICTION: Auburn wins 21-10 and this joke has run its course.
OCT 8: GEORGIA BULLDOGS (Athens, Ga.)
Auburn’s homestand and winning streak will end against Georgia. The Bulldogs are just too stacked and, even though Bryan Harsin will have his team bought-in by then, it’ll be too much for the Tigers to overcome. PREDICTION: Georgia wins 41-17 and turnovers will be the story of the day.
OCT 15: MISSISSIPPI REBELS (Oxford, Miss.)
Lane Kiffin is poised to have a big season. Last week, we had them beating Alabama on Nov. 12 and they won’t do that having lost to Auburn. Harsin’s defense is in danger of being embarrassed on this road trip. PREDICTION: Ole Miss wins 55-38 and Auburn returns home to lick its wounds for a bye week.
OCT 29: ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS (Auburn)
The Tigers return home at just the right time in the season before things get out of hand. They’ll handle Arkansas pretty soundly. The Razorbacks are headed for a season full of expectations but will ultimately regress from last year. PREDICTION: Auburn wins 31-21 to get its groove back.
NOV 5: MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS (Starkville, Miss.)
Remember when MSU featured names like Dan Mullen and Dax Prescott? Now it’s colossal cartoon Mike Leach at the helm and probably Mike Leach wearing makeup under center. I’m so angry that I have to write about Mike Leach. PREDICTION: Auburn wins 1,000-0 because I have just that much contempt for the opposing head coach.
NOV 12: TEXAS A&M AGGIES (Auburn)
Jimbo Fisher has the nasty habit of being paid tens of millions of dollars to never win more than ten games per season. By mid-November, they’ll be in a rhythm enough to take down Auburn in a very close game. PREDICTION: TAMU wins 27-24 and Fisher receives another contract extension.
NOV 19: WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS (Auburn)
Next. PREDICTION: Auburn wins 38-3 and we’re off to the Iron Bowl, unfortunately.
NOV 26: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (Tuscaloosa)
We put Alabama at 10-1 by this point in the season, also losing to Ole Miss. While both these teams should be at the top of their games, the Iron Bowl will once again a game filled to the brim with steaming sewage. PREDICTION: Alabama wins 24-12 in a game that is not worth watched. Because it never is.
SEASON SUMMARY
At 9-3, Auburn will improve and Harsin’s detractors will quietly back off. They will have avoided a return trip to the Birmingham Bowl. Even with that record, they could still lose a tiebreaker or three to land at fifth or sixth in the conference. Auburn could be looking at Gator, Liberty or Music City bowls once again.
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