Auburn is the unanimous pick at home this week, with all five Auburn Daily panelists backing the Tigers to beat Arkansas as they try to move past last weekend’s rough stretch against Ole Miss on the road and LSU at Jordan Hare Stadium. The matchup gives Auburn a shot at its fifth win of the season.
The staff’s SEC picks also leaned heavily in a few spots, with South Carolina drawing a clean sweep against Texas A&M and Texas Tech getting the same treatment against West Virginia. Alabama vs. LSU split the group, though, with Kyle Rush, Brad Law, and Christian Rauh going with LSU while Zac Blackerby and Christian Rauh picked Alabama.
Georgia vs. Ole Miss produced another divided board, but Georgia still took the majority. Kyle Rush was the lone pick on Ole Miss, while Darrell Dapprich, Zac Blackerby, Brad Law, and Christian Rauh went with Georgia.
Elsewhere in the SEC slate, Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State went three picks to two in favor of Vanderbilt, and Kentucky vs. Tennessee was almost as lopsided the other way, with four panelists choosing Tennessee and Christian Rauh sticking with Kentucky.
The AP Top 25 matchups brought more variety. In #7 Texas vs.
#18 Missouri, the group split with Missouri getting three picks and Texas two. #9 BYU vs.
#3 Utah tilted toward Utah, which earned four selections, while BYU got one from Darrell Dapprich. #8 UCLA vs.
Minnesota was similarly close, with UCLA taking three picks and Minnesota two.
The biggest favorites on the board were pretty clear. Florida was the unanimous choice over Oklahoma, Miami drew three picks against Notre Dame’s two, Wake Forest was picked by everyone against Merrimack, Houston was the unanimous call over Cincinnati, and Boise State got all five votes against Colorado State.
Iowa vs. Northwestern went the other way from the consensus in a couple of spots, with Northwestern earning two picks and Iowa three.
And in #23 Oregon vs. #12 Ohio State, Ohio State was the clear favorite with four picks, while Christian Rauh backed Oregon.
In Other News...
Auburn Fans Face A New Jordan-Hare Gameday Routine This Weekend
Auburn fans heading to Jordan-Hare Stadium this weekend will notice a different gameday rhythm as the North Project continues to reshape the stadiums north end. Auburn Athletics has been making operational changes around the venue to keep foot traffic moving, including adding metal detectors, reworking concession stand placement, relocating medical cart areas, boosting personnel and putting up more signage to ease congestion.
The construction is a long-term undertaking, with the project set to run through spring 2029 while keeping Jordan-Hares seating capacity intact. For now, the focus is on helping fans navigate a busier footprint without losing the familiar atmosphere that makes home Saturdays at Auburn feel like home, even as the stadium around them keeps changing. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Offense Faces One Familiar Problem Against Arkansas
Alex Golesh has made it clear Auburns offense cannot afford another uneven night when Arkansas comes to town, and the message starts with the basics: run the ball, stay on schedule and keep Byrum Brown upright. The Tigers have leaned on those themes all season, but this matchup puts a sharper spotlight on them, especially with the offensive line expected to be tested by Arkansass pass rush.
Auburn is looking for a cleaner showing in the trenches, where improved rushing production would help control tempo and give the offense more time on the field. The formula is straightforward enough, but the challenge is making it hold up for four quarters, and the Tigers will need all three of their offensive priorities to come together if they want to avoid another familiar problem. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Faces One Last SEC Test As Defense Starts Slipping
Auburn gets one last SEC checkup Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium, with Arkansas coming in for the Tigers final conference game of the season. It is also a fresh coaching matchup, as Alex Golesh will face Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield for the first time in his career, and Auburn is treating the game as a chance to put its best football on display before the year winds down.
The timing matters because Auburns defense has started to slip in recent losses, leaving little room for a soft finish. Arkansas brings its own struggles, sitting last in the SEC in points per game, which gives Auburn a clear opportunity to steady itself and close the conference slate on a stronger note. [Read more 🡒]