If you talk to an Auburn fan, it’s likely they’ve at least tried to erase the Bryan Harsin era from their minds. As Hugh Freeze makes his return to the SEC, expectations are high on the Plains. Our experts are not convinced, and in our Auburn season predictions, we go game-by-game to give analysis on every Tiger opponent in 2023.
Auburn Season Predictions: Predicting the Game-by-Game Results
Using groupthink, College Football Network analysts have painstakingly gone through every game for every team in the SEC and across the country.
Picking these games straight up with a projected score using the rosters as up-to-date as the last spring practice, the Auburn season predictions indicate what fans can possibly expect for the Tigers in 2023.
Week 1 — Auburn vs. UMass: Win, 40-6 (1-0)
Hugh Freeze should start off with a win in Week 1 as the Tigers host the rare FBS “cupcake” with UMass. The Minutemen lack the talent on offense and defense to keep up with an SEC team, though it will be interesting to see what the quarterback play looks like from the Tigers, as Freeze himself has reiterated multiple times that he’s not happy with the development at that position.
MORE: SEC QB Rankings
Week 2 — Auburn @ Cal: Win, 27-17 (2-0)
While this marks the furthest road trip any SEC team makes in 2023, the competition is not that strong. Cal is likely one of the worst teams in the Pac-12, and — no offense to Golden Bear fans — the home-field advantage is negligible at best.
That being said, Auburn needs to be careful here. If the Tigers are not getting much production from their quarterback, this game could be indicative of a long season.
Week 3 — Auburn vs. Samford: Win, 41-12 (3-0)
The competition stays tame in Week 3, as Samford comes to Jordan-Hare Stadium. Still, the Tigers cannot take this one for granted, as the Bulldogs went 11-1 against FCS competition last season. Just two seasons ago, they put up 35 points on Florida, so even against Power Five competition, the Bulldogs are no slouch.
Week 4 — Auburn @ Texas A&M: Loss, 22-23 (3-1, 0-1 SEC)
Auburn finally opens SEC play in Week 4 against Texas A&M. Our analysts are all over the place when it comes to the Aggies, but all of us think this will be a close game for the Tigers on the road.
Cam Mellor and I have the Tigers dropping this one, while Oliver Hodgkinson is giving this to Auburn on the road. A lot of this will come down to how quickly Hugh Freeze can get his offense clicking against conference defenses.
Week 5 — Auburn vs. Georgia: Loss, 16-33 (3-2, 0-2 SEC)
The Tigers get defending champion Georgia the week before their bye. Once again, the Bulldog defense is among the strongest in the country, and whoever is leading the Tigers will find it difficult to move the ball through the air or on the ground.
In the grand scheme of things, our analysts have this as a closer game than most of Georgia’s conference games, which is a testament to our respect for Hugh Freeze as a coach.
Week 7 — Auburn @ LSU: Loss, 27-17 (3-3, 0-3 SEC)
Things don’t get easier after the bye for Auburn, as the Tigers have to go to Baton Rouge to face a strong LSU team. Our analysts are high on quarterback Jayden Daniels and think the Tigers from the Bayou could move the ball with ease against Auburn.
Week 8 — Auburn @ Ole Miss: Loss, 29-30 (3-4, 0-4 SEC)
As you can see by the score, our analysts were truly divided when it came to predicting the Ole Miss game. None of us have this as more than a three-point game, with most of us split on who wins.
With the tie-breaking vote, I gave this to the Rebels by a final score of 30-29. Auburn needs to be disciplined, as Lane Kiffin’s offense often gives opposing defense fits.
Week 9 — Auburn vs. Mississippi State: Loss, 25-27 (3-5, 0-5 SEC)
This time, I was the odd man out. While I have the Tigers winning this one in a close game, my colleagues both gave it to the Bulldogs. Part of that can be attributed to their views on Mississippi State quarterback, Will Rogers. While I think he’s an above-average signal-caller, Mellor and Hodgkinson believe he’s one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC.
Week 10 — Auburn @ Vanderbilt: Win, 26-25 (4-5, 1-5 SEC)
The final score of this prediction is so close because of me. Sorry Auburn fans, but I have your Tigers losing this one in Nashville. Even in Freeze’s best seasons, he’s been susceptible to a truly bad loss or two late in the year. Conversely, Clark Lea’s Commodores have shown the ability to upset more talented teams in November.
While all of us believe this will be a close game, that’s not a reflection of the talent level. The Tigers are clearly the more talented team here, but it seems that all of us believe this may be an upset spot.
MORE: Vanderbilt Season Predictions
Week 11 — Auburn @ Arkansas: Loss, 27-28 (4-6, 1-6 SEC)
This time, Auburn fans can blame my colleagues. While I’m high on KJ Jefferson and Arkansas, the exact same thing can be said about Sam Pittman’s squads. The Razorbacks typically experience a late-season stumble or two, and I’m having it happen against Auburn.
That being said, my colleagues each think that the more talented Razorback team will win this one. Jefferson could run all over the Auburn defense if they’re not careful, and this may end up being a truly good game late in the SEC schedule.
Week 12 — Auburn vs. New Mexico State: Win, 44-10 (5-6, 1-6 SEC)
One of the biggest things Auburn has going for it in Freeze’s first season is that the non-conference schedule is one of the easiest in the SEC. In fact, anything worse than 4-0 is probably a disappointment for the Tigers.
In the annual Week 12 FCS-SEC Showdown, Auburn doesn’t get an FCS team but rather hosts New Mexico State, a team fighting from the bottom of the FBS. Expect the Tigers to roll here and expect a few of the younger players to get some playing time.
Week 13 — Auburn vs. Alabama: Loss, 21-31 (5-7, 1-7 SEC)
As a programming note here, while our aggregate scores give the Tigers a 5-7 record, we each individually had them finishing 6-6 on the season. I know, math can be wonky sometimes, especially for a team with projections as all over the place as the Tigers.
Here, I’m the only one that has this as a blowout, picking the Crimson Tide by 24. My colleagues, on the other hand, think this will be an entertaining Iron Bowl, with Alabama winning by just one score.
