Auburn scraped by last Saturday, snagging a nail-biting 17-16 win against Baylor in Atlanta. Now, they are rolling into their home opener at Jordan-Hare Stadium as nearly a five-touchdown favorite against Southern Miss. It’s the first home game of the Alex Golesh era, and you gotta wonder if that narrow escape against Baylor has anyone on the coaching staff or in the locker room feeling a little uneasy despite the massive spread.
The Pressure of Expectations and a New Era at Jordan-Hare
Winning by a single point on the road is a win, sure, but it’s hardly the dominant statement you want to make before kicking off your home schedule as such heavy favorites. Coming home to Jordan-Hare for the first time under Coach Golesh, there’s a huge expectation to not just win, but to dominate. They’ve gotta carry that 2-0 record into SEC play, but doing it with another scare would be a rough way to build momentum. The Tigers are expected to crush Southern Miss, end of story. The betting line itself demands it. If they struggle, if it’s close again, what does that say about where this team is really at? That’s the question hanging in the air after a week one that was way too close for comfort.
Southern Miss: No Walkover, Despite the Numbers
Now, let’s not sleep on Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles also have a first-year head coach in Blake Anderson, and the man knows how to win. He’s stacked up 75 victories at the Group of Six level, so he isn’t some rookie getting his first taste of success. Southern Miss came out firing in their own season opener, absolutely demolishing in-state foe Alcorn State with a 49-3 victory last Saturday. They didn’t just win; they controlled that game. They ran the ball incredibly well, putting up a strong rushing attack, and they absolutely locked down Alcorn State’s passing game, creating multiple turnovers. This isn’t some pushover team showing up to collect a check; they’ve got an experienced coach and a dominant win under their belt.
This Saturday’s game is more than just a notch in the win column for Auburn. It’s about making a statement, about showing they deserve that five-touchdown favorite status before they plunge headfirst into SEC play. The Golden Eagles are coming in with confidence from a blowout win and a coach who knows how to prepare his team. Can Auburn live up to the hype, or will Southern Miss give them another reason to look over their shoulder heading into the toughest part of their schedule?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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