Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, top 25 predictions for Week Three of 2019
Kent State Golden Flashes at No. 8 Auburn Tigers
Line: Auburn -36; Over/Under: 54; TV: ESPN2
Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. E.T.; Jordan-Hare Stadium; Auburn, Ala.
It was the most Auburn Tigers thing to do to follow up a beautiful win over the Oregon Ducks with a hideous win over the Tulane Green Wave. But to be fair, they faced a very experienced Tulane team that was destined to give them some trouble. Now, Gus Malzahn’s seat is safer than Jeremy Pruitt’s. That wasn’t the case last year when Tennessee football beat Auburn.
This week, the Tigers will be looking to move to 3-0 against another Group of Five team in the Kent State Golden Flashes. After looking hideous last week, they need a bit of a wake-up call. With a true freshman quarterback in Bo Nix, learning how to handle success is going to be key with this team, but they have veteran players up front to do it.
Kent State was blown out 30-7 by the Arizona State Sun Devils to start the season but moved to 1-1 by barely beating Kennesaw State the next week, 26-23. After a 2-10 season, first-year head coach Sean Lewis is trying to prove that his program is taking the next step. Auburn is a great measuring stick for him.
Prediction
This one is hard. Auburn is definitely going to win, but the question is if they will cover. Do they have the offense to top a 36-point spread? We say yes. Kent State is just that bad, and Auburn will be able to win in a shutout. In a rarity, the Tigers will cover while this game hits the under.