Auburn Tigers 2017 NCAA Football Preview

College Football Predictions – Auburn Tigers 2017 NCAA Football Preview

2016 Recap

2016 Record – 8-5

2016 ATS – 7-6

Auburn fans may have been a bit disappointed with the 8-5 record, but to be honest, it seems that was a good job given the ongoing QB fiasco and their tough schedule. They got VOLCANO hot mid-season and won three games by a combined score of 152-24 (!) which included a plastering of the Razorbacks. Their losses ? Clemson, Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama and Oklahoma.

2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating

SEC – TBD

West Division – TBD

OFFENSE

This should be fun. <grabs popcorn>

New OC Chip Lindsey has quite the war chest to work with and he will try to get more balance out of the Tigers’ offense. New QB Jarrett Stidham (Baylor pedigree) will make defenses at least respect their ability to throw, and who knows, some of the raw talent at WR just might develop into legitimate weapons.

The real good stuff is still in the running game. Auburn has a phenomenal 1-2 punch in Kamryn Pettway (1,224, 7 TD; absolute BEAST) and Kerryon Johnson (895, 11 TD). There are other untold riches including RB Kam Martin (7.3 yards per carry). The offensive line paved the way for 271 yards rushing per game (#1 SEC by a wide margin) and 3/5 starters are back including AA Braden Smith.

Prognosis ? Points.

DEFENSE

Auburn’s defense played fantastic last season allowing only 17.1 points per game (#7 FBS) but will have to negotiate this campaign without a pair of devastating defensive linemen. Overall, the vast majority of last season’s sack total needs to be replaced, and no returning player registered more than three sacks in 2016.

The good news ? Seven starters return and they still have a fine DC in Kevin Steele. They also bring back their top-3 leading tacklers from a season ago and have a very talented secondary. Hopefully the Tigers can still find a way to apply pressure to the QB without the presence of AA Carl Lawson.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Auburn just might have the best PK in college football. 2nd Team AA Daniel Carlson connected on 28/32 FGs last year including 4/7 from 50+ yards. They will be breaking in a new punter. The return units should still be decent.

Potential ATS Trouble Spot

November 18 – ULM. The big game with ROLL TIDE is on deck, and at this point in the season, there is no need to go the extra mile and cover a yuuuuge point spread.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

The “Iron Bowl” name comes from the historic role that Birmingham, Alabama had in the steel industry way back when. #KnowledgeBomb

MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 8.0

MEGALOCKS says:

Overall, we give the TIGERS a 8.0 ATS Value Rating (Excellent) this season.

This team has some really intriguing upside. The offense should be devastating. We do worry a bit about the defense losing all those sacks from last season, but overall, the team appears loaded. The Tigers have been pretty shaky the past three seasons against the point spread compiling a 14-25 (36%) record. We can easily see the Tigers rattle off numerous wins vs Vegas but then have the value dissipate as the season rolls along. Keep them on your degenerate radar. War Eagle.

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