The Auburn Tigers will open their season as heavy college football betting favorites against the Georgia Southern Eagles.
- Date: Saturday, September 2nd
- Time: 7:35 PM
- Venue: Jordan-Hare, Auburn, Alabama
Online Sportsbook NCAA Football Lines:
Georgia Southern +35 (-110) +8500
Auburn -35 (-110) -23000
Hop on the bus, Gus
The Tigers wrapped up their preseason camp over the weekend with a final scrimmage.
Two weeks 🏈#WarEagle | #OurTime pic.twitter.com/E2De2Q4gPY
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) August 19, 2017
Head coach Gus Malzahn may not be very popular but he can certainly see the silver lining, in particular as it pertains to injuries. “Anytime you go through fall camp and it’s physical, you’re going to have some nicks and stuff like that,” Malzahn said per SEC Country.com. One of those nicks is defensive lineman Nick Coe, whose work with the first team was praised by the coaching staff. But Coe would have never had a chance to practice with the first team had sophomore Marlon Davidson not sustained a non-contact knee injury. Similarly, the coaches were able to have a closer look at quarterback-turned-receiver-turned-defensive back Jason Smith because safety Tray Matthews and defensive lineman Andrew Williams missed a few days of camp. Davidson, Williams, defensive back Daniel Thomas, and every defensive player who was injured in fall camp came back for Auburn’s last scrimmage “in some capacity,” Malzahn said. “Everyone of those guys we expect to be ready for game one.” The Tigers are considered college football betting faves – behind Alabama – to win the SEC Championship, but American football analyst for ESPN Mel Kiper Jr. has predicted that Auburn will reach the College Football Playoff. “I have a lot confidence in Jarrett Stidham and Mason Rudolph,” Kiper said on his radio show. “It came down to Auburn and Oklahoma State, and I’m going with Auburn. I think it’s Auburn’s year with Stidham at quarterback to get it done. The line is a veteran group. Offensive line play is key.”
The Summers of our Discontent
This will be Georgia Southern Eagles’ head coach Tyson Summers second season with the program but he will pretty much have to start over from scratch. Unlike his predecessors who used the triple option, Summers implemented a hybrid spread offense. Whether or not his starters learned the new system was rendered a moot point since only seven are returning. On defense almost all linebackers will be new. In light of all of this GSU began its preseason earlier than any other school in the Sun Belt conference and went back to the triple-option offense.
Fortunately, new offensive coordinator Bryan Cook has hit it right off with the team. “I love playing for Coach Cook,” running back L.A. Ramsby said. “He brings more energy to the offense than me, so that’s good. We’re doing things with Coach Cook that I’ve never seen in the triple option before, and I definitely like it because when I see it, it works. I’ve played in the triple option since I was in 11th grade, and some of the things we’re doing I’ve never seen before.” Will it be enough to pull the college football betting upset?