The Big 12 and SEC go toe-to-toe on Saturday as Dave Aranda and his Baylor Bears travel to Auburn on Saturday for a Week 1 contest that has the potential to fuel DJ Lagway’s fresh start, or possibly cast major doom on the Big 12 as a football conference.
Now, I’m not saying Baylor must win this game, but it’d certainly look good if Aranda’s program can fit the result somewhere inside of the 7.5-point spread favoring the Tigers on Saturday afternoon. It’s a litmus test on national television, and the Bears are out to prove themselves a contender after finishing 5-7 overall last year in Sawyer Robinson’s final run at quarterback.
Here is our game preview, prediction and pick:
PLAYERS TO WATCH
DJ Lagway, Baylor
Coming in from Florida, DJ Lagway holds the expectation that he can sustain a winning offense for the Bears in his second stop since committing to the Gators out of high school. Just one returning starter, right tackle Kaden Sieracki, is back to lead the O-line and provide the space for Lagway and the run game, led by Dawson Pendergrass and Caden Knighten. Fifth-year receivers Louis Brown IV and Gavin Freeman are among the weapons at Lagway’s disposal on Saturday; We’ll see how Auburn corner Rayshaun Pleasant lines up against Baylor’s air raid.
Jeremiah Cobb, Auburn
Third-year rusher Jeremiah Cobb is the weapon to watch in of the backfield for Auburn. The Montgomery, Alabama, native started 11 games last season and finished Third Team All-SEC with a team-high 969 rushing yards on 175 carries. He’d reach the end zone five times, and surpassed 100 rushing yards in five different games.
PREDICTION
Auburn 28, Baylor 23
Cobb and Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown are quite the duo to test this Baylor defense in Week 1. Look for Lagway to make some excellent throws and give the Bears a chance on Saturday, but my trust ultimately rests with Auburn and first-year head coach Alex Golesh from Southern Florida. If you’re Aranda, you’re playing to win, of course, but I can’t help but feel this one represents a lot more than most of his conference counterparts considering you’re on the road in the SEC. We’ll see how it goes, and, hopefully, it’ll fare decently for the Bears and the Big 12 as its conference.
