Auburn football: Updated game-by-game predictions for 2020 season
Sept. 26. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Auburn (Ala.). Kentucky Wildcats. 1. 833
In a cross-division game, Auburn will play host to the Kentucky Wildcats to start the season and this could be a bit of a trap game. Auburn has a huge game in Athens the following week against the Bulldogs, but they better not overlook Kentucky because the Wildcats bring back a sneaky-good football team heading into 2020.
This is a series that Auburn has dominated, despite the teams not playing annually. Auburn has won 17 out of the last 18 against the Wildcats, with the last Kentucky win coming in 2009.
Kentucky will be returning 17 starters on the 2020 team and the most important addition will be the return of quarterback Terry Wilson. Kentucky’s passing game struggled when Wilson was out for the season and they became too one-dimensional on offense.
Mark Stoops has built a solid program at Kentucky and they will be solid once again in 2020, but Auburn is too talented to lose at home to these Wildcats.
Final Score: Auburn 27, Kentucky 17 (1-0)
2. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Oct. 3. Georgia Bulldogs. 814. Athens (Ga.)
In the game known as the deep south’s oldest rivalry, Georgia and Auburn will meet and there will be a lot on the line in this early-season matchup. This game has been moved to October, so Auburn could avoid playing Georgia and Alabama in back-to-back weeks, which in the long run should be able to work in the Tigers’ favor.
Georgia has won the last three meetings in this series and has really dominated head coach Gus Malzhan’s offense in those meetings and that will be the big key for the Tigers to get a big road win in Sanford Stadium.
Auburn’s defense should be getting better heading into this game, after having to replace so many key components to last year’s defense.
This game will fall on Bo Nix. He was not very good against a stout Georgia defense last year, and the Dawgs bring back nine starters from an elite unit.
Since the game is in Athens and me not being a big believer in Nix’s passing ability, I’m going with the Bulldogs to win a close defensive struggle.
Final Score: Auburn 21, Georgia 24 (1-1)