Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
By Chris Marler
- Auburn ML -130
Auburn opens on the road. I usually like to dive into historical stats to help my case on why I bet on a certain team. Trends in either way are usually a staple for me so it feels like I’m not wagering something on a gut instinct. However, not in this game.
Hugh Freeze’s record at Auburn has been subpar at best. For a self-proclaimed QB whisperer and a guy with one of the best track records for quick turnarounds as a head coach, he has been underwhelming on the Plains. That changes this year. This is the most talented roster he’s had. I asked him at Media Days if it was the most talented roster he’s ever had, and he got very excited about that being very accurate about this unit. More talented than the 2014 and 2015 Ole Miss teams that went to a Sugar Bowl and beat Alabama.
Auburn is going to be much better than people think this year. I love them in this matchup, and to go against what I said earlier, there’s one specific reason why. This line opened with Auburn being a favorite, then around mid-July was bet all the way up to Baylor -1. Now it’s reversed course and is sitting at Auburn -2.5 and even -3 in some sportsbooks. Take Auburn, especially with how much value and little juice is on the moneyline.
- Syracuse +14.5
There is arguably no team in the SEC with more question marks and unknowns going into 2025 in comparison to 2024 than Tennessee. The quarterback situation is murkier than the river they keep throwing those goalposts into. I have been a big believer in Tennessee under Josh Heupel. The offense seems to not miss a beat no matter who is under, or behind, center.
The concern here is that not only is Tennessee unstable and undecided at quarterback, they are also one of the youngest teams in the country. Heading into Fall Camp, 49 percent of their team is a redshirt freshman or true freshman.
They’ll be facing a Syracuse team that was 5-2 against the spread a season ago as an underdog. That’s also a team that won ten games in Fran Brown’s first year as a head coach. They also scored 30 points or more in ten of their 13 games last season.
- Clemson -3.5
I hate this pick, but given the woes LSU has had in season openers over the last five years and this game being played at night in one of the most hostile environments they’ll see this year, I like Clemson. I’ve gone back and forth on this for most of the offseason because I am so high on LSU this year. That being said, I’m even higher on Clemson.
This pick is much more about my feelings on Clemson than anything negative about LSU. I personally think Clemson is the best team in the country going into the season, or at least has the best chance to be there by the end of the regular season. Part of that is their schedule and part of that is how incredibly loaded this roster is.
I’ve been to a majority of LSU’s Fall Camp practices this August, and there’s a lot to like about this team. However, if there’s one thing not to like it’s the offensive line, so far. That’s a concern against mostly anyone on their schedule from the conference or Power 4. It’s especially a concern with the defensive line that Clemson will throw out on August 30th. Clemson is the safe pick.
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