Aaron Murray is leaning Florida in Saturday night’s SEC opener, and he’s not exactly hiding the reasons why.
On his Air It Out podcast, the former Georgia quarterback said the Gators have the edge when they head to Jordan-Hare Stadium for a matchup of 2-0 teams and first-year coaches. He sees Florida’s skill talent, likes the roster overall, and even put a score on it.
“I like Florida. I like their skill.
I just think they're a better overall team right now. I think the Gators get it done even on the road, 24-7.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, with Florida trying to snap a six-game road losing streak. The Gators also have to deal with Jon Sumrall’s track record against Auburn, which sits at 0-4 overall and 0-2 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Still, Murray’s confidence in Florida goes beyond a simple gut pick. He believes the matchup on that side of the ball lines up well for the Gators, especially with Myles Graham anchoring the front.
“This defense is built to stop Auburn,” Murray said. “They're big, fast and physical up front, led by Myles Graham.”
ESPN’s SP+ model is on Florida’s side too. It gives the Gators a 63% chance to win and projects a 26-21 final.
Auburn, though, has already shown it can handle Florida. Alex Golesh and quarterback Byrum Brown beat the Gators 18-16 in Gainesville last season while they were at South Florida.
Now Brown is back in a bigger spotlight, and Murray thinks the quarterback has to speed things up. Brown opened the year with three interceptions in a 17-16 win over Baylor, then bounced back with 319 total yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers in a 43-8 win over Southern Miss.
“Too many times in Week 1 and Week 2, he was late, and he was indecisive,” Murray said. “When he plays on time and in rhythm, I don't care what his arm looks like.”
Murray also flagged Saturday as Aaron Philo’s first road start. The Georgia Tech transfer has thrown for 517 yards with five touchdowns and one interception, and he’s added two rushing touchdowns. Murray, who played at Jordan-Hare three times with Georgia, expects the atmosphere to be a real factor.
“It’s going to be loud. It's going to be difficult to communicate.”
That’s where Murray’s warning came in for Philo: don’t try to do too much.
“Do you resort back to that gunslinger, 'let me rip it in there' kind of mentality?” Murray said.
“That is my one plea to him: Don't do it, man. Just continue to dink and dunk, get these playmakers the football and trust Jadan Baugh and his ability to run.”
Baugh has rushed for more than 100 yards in three straight games, dating back to last season. Against Campbell, he went for 136 yards and two touchdowns in Florida’s 52-3 win.
Murray also noted that Florida’s offensive line has only been tested against Florida Atlantic and Campbell so far.
There’s some uncertainty on Auburn’s side at receiver, where Eric Singleton Jr. is questionable with a sprained left ankle. Murray pointed to Chas Nimrod as the Tigers’ top threat on the outside. Nimrod, a former Tennessee receiver, caught 23 passes for 466 yards at South Florida last season before a season-ending injury.
And Murray isn’t sold on Auburn’s offensive line, either. He said he’s “very concerned” about how it will hold up against Florida’s front after the group had trouble moving the pile against Baylor.
On defense, Auburn does have one proven disruptor in Xavier Atkins. The linebacker led the conference with 17 tackles for loss last season, and Murray’s message on him was simple:
“You have to account for 17 at all times.”
In Other News...
Former Auburn WR Could Change How Dangerous Florida Looks Saturday
Eric Singleton Jr.s return to Jordan-Hare Stadium would have been an intriguing subplot on its own, given the path he took from Auburn to Florida and the production he has shown throughout his college career. Instead, his status is now tied to a left ankle injury he suffered in Floridas season opener, one that kept him out the following week and has limited him in practice as the Gators prepare for Saturdays game.
For Auburn, the uncertainty matters because Singleton has the kind of receiving ability that can change how a defense has to line up and react. If Florida has him available, it gives the Gators a more dangerous passing option to account for; if not, Auburn may get a slight break in a matchup that already comes with plenty of familiarity and extra edge. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Heads To Florida With One Big Question About Its Identity
Auburn heads into Week 3 with a familiar kind of test waiting in Gainesville, the sort that tends to expose what kind of team a program really is in September. Florida and Auburn both want to lean on physical football, but ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic sees the Gators as having the edge in that area, especially on offense, where line play and the ability to move bodies can set the tone early.
For Auburn, the question is whether its identity can hold up when the game turns into a trench fight. The Tigers have gotten a lift from the return of key edge rushers on defense, but the offensive line has been uneven enough to cast doubt on the rushing attacks ceiling. If Auburn cant match Floridas physicality up front, the rest of the trip could get uncomfortable in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn's Expensive Roster Overhaul Just Raised The Pressure On Alex Golesh
Auburns offseason makeover came with a price tag that makes the stakes around Alex Goleshs first year hard to miss. According to a report from The Athletic, the Tigers spent between $31 million and $35 million on the roster, putting the program 17th among Power 4 schools and ninth in the SEC. It was also the fifth-most expensive roster tied to a first-year head coach, a reminder that this wasnt a light reset but a major investment in getting Goleshs era moving quickly.
The roster churn has been just as striking as the spending. Roughly 40 players transferred out after Golesh was hired, and about the same number came in, including a dozen who followed him from South Florida. That kind of overhaul brings obvious uncertainty, but it also sharpens the pressure on Auburn to show the money and the movement translated into real progress, because this sort of spending usually comes with expectations that are anything but patient. [Read more 🡒]