Auburn vs Baylor: One Analyst Says Tigers Have What It Takes to Start Season Strong

Auburn fans have waited a long time to feel hopeful again. After years of falling short, the Tigers are stepping into a new era under first-year head coach Alex Golesh, and their very first test comes against a Baylor team that is hungry for a win of its own. The matchup takes place on September 5 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the stakes could not be higher for either side.

Betting odds lean toward Auburn, but only by a small margin. The Bears added some firepower over the offseason, picking up quarterback DJ Lagway as a transfer from Florida, which makes them far more dangerous than people might expect. Even so, CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford predicts the Tigers will come out on top. He described the game as a major early-season measuring stick, saying an Auburn victory would show that Golesh's offensive style can work right away against top-tier competition.

There is real pressure on Golesh to prove that his offense, which leaned heavily on transfers at USF, can produce results in the SEC. If Auburn stumbles against Baylor, critics will have their answer fast. But if the Tigers look sharp and confident, the fanbase finally gets a reason to believe again.

Baylor is dealing with its own set of problems. Their head coach Dave Aranda is feeling the heat, and they too are counting on a transfer quarterback who has struggled in big moments. Both teams need this win to show they are heading in the right direction, which is why the game may turn out to be much closer than the odds suggest.

Crawford pointed out that fans should keep an eye on Auburn's pace, how comfortable the quarterback looks, and whether the Tigers can make big plays without losing control. He called the matchup a referendum on where each program stands, with Auburn trying to rebuild and Baylor fighting to show Aranda deserves more time. For Auburn, beating Baylor matters even more because the rest of the schedule is brutal, especially in SEC play, and they have not hit six wins since 2024. A strong Week 1 showing would not just build momentum, it would give Golesh instant credibility heading into the hardest stretch of the year.